Members of the Business and Trade Select Committee visited Cambridge on October 27 as part of their annual UK engagement programme, which this year focuses on economic growth priorities.
The delegation included Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Committee, along with Charlie Maynard MP (Witney), John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway), Sarah Edwards MP (Tamworth), and Daniel Zeichner MP (Cambridge). They met with senior academics, business leaders, and investors at the Ray Dolby Centre, home to the Cavendish Laboratory. The session aimed to gather insights for shaping the committee’s work in 2026.
Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, welcomed the group. She referenced recent government announcements that identify the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor as a key area for strengthening the UK’s global standing in science and technology.
Discussions centered on attracting and retaining top talent. Participants highlighted investment in opportunities for international graduates to pursue PhDs in the UK, supported by a competitive visa system. Other topics included improving access to finance for spin-outs and scale-ups through capital investment and foreign direct investment. Attendees also discussed infrastructure needs such as housing, transport, water, and energy systems to support sustainable growth in regions like Cambridge.
The meeting conveyed optimism about high-growth sectors including life sciences, technology, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and quantum engineering. These fields were noted as areas where Cambridge has established itself as a global leader.
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP said: “We had a brilliant first session in Cambridge with lots of people from across this extraordinary innovation ecosystem - they’ve got a lot of things right here, not least the Innovate Cambridge model.
“The big overriding issue that’s come out today is making sure that the UK, including through places like this, is a place where you can access world class talent - because of course it’s people that drive world-leading innovation, and create a system that drives through into creating the companies for the future that are not just scale-ups, but world-beaters.”
Jonny Davidson, Senior Business Development Manager at Riverlane added: "I was delighted to meet with members of the Business and Trade Committee, alongside partners in the city, to hear about the success, and opportunities, here in Cambridge. We discussed how Riverlane, a global leader in quantum error correction technology, is a national success story, driving advances in quantum computing,and economic growth. For companies like Riverlane continued investment in science and infrastructure and a financial system that rewards long-term growth will be key to helping Cambridge and the wider UK remain a world leader in advanced technologies."