London, UK — The Institute for Prosperity has appointed Katherine Fletcher, Conservative MP for South Ribble, to its Advisory Board which is calling for a manufacturing-led economic revival to support left behind regions across the UK.
Her appointment follows on from the announcement of the Advisory Board late last year, which saw a cross-party team of nine political heavyweights join the Board, including former Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, former Labour Minister Rt. Hon Caroline Flint, and Conservative MP John Penrose.
Before becoming an MP, Katherine ran her own small manufacturing business, which exported globally. This experience puts her in a unique position to understand the problems that manufacturers face and assist the Institute in its goal of increasing the levels of manufacturing and economic growth in the UK.
Katherine has been a long-time supporter of entrepreneurship in her constituency and, as such, recognises the pressing need to bring manufacturing back to places like the North West, where it once flourished.
She is a supporter of a ‘green’ manufacturing revival, achieved by increasing industrial activity in the North and transitioning to clean, renewable sources of energy, as well as creating jobs in green industries.
One of her key focuses within the Institute is to build links with the SME manufacturing community and ensure all policy proposals are grounded with practical and deliverable solutions for manufacturers of all sizes.
The addition of another MP to the Advisory Board demonstrates the Institute’s commitment to a radical shakeup in Britain’s economic agenda, campaigning across the aisles to fix social, cultural and economic divides in the UK in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Founded in 2020 by businessman and economist John Mills, the Institute for Prosperity is a cross-party research institute that seeks to provide policymakers with new, innovative, and fresh ideas to increase levels of prosperity and economic growth in the UK.
Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble, said: “I’m pleased to be joining the Institute’s Advisory Board at a crucial time for Britain. The moves we make now will have very real effects on generations to come, and it’s in everyone’s best interests to kickstart manufacturing again in the UK.”
“I have seen first-hand the effect that jobs in industry have, both in my family and among my constituents. There are areas that used to be full of manufacturing jobs that have sadly felt the negative effects of deindustrialisation.
“The good news is that the country is full of untapped potential, and if we were to harness it properly, we could bring prosperity to every corner of Britain.”
John Mills, Founder of the Institute, said: “We’re really pleased to have Katherine on board. Katherine’s experience in business, manufacturing and politics makes her uniquely well-positioned to help the Institute reach a broader consensus on the importance of manufacturing in the UK. This real-life experience will prove extremely valuable as we scale up our work.”
