APGDI Newsletter: December 08

26 / 02 / 09 APGDI Newsletter: December 08

Newsletter
Issue 18
December 2008
 

Upcoming Events

Parliamentary Researchers’ Design and Innovation Briefing

20^th February 2009

A lunchtime briefing for researchers to learn more about the value of Design and Innovation to their constituencies and MP’s work in Parliament.

Food will be served 12-2pm in the Jubilee Room.

To enquire about attending APGDI events please email Oliver Coppard

Design and Innovation News

• Boris unveils new Routemaster design winners
• Brown promises support for SMEs in final press conference of 2008 
• Design Nation seeks new talent
  For more click here and here
• ‘Design Bugs Out’ competition winners announced
• Spring brands Tory conference
• Peter Mandelson ‘design champion-in-waiting’
  For more click here and here
• Rob Brydon hosts ‘Excellence in BSF’ Awards
• Accelerating Scientific Innovation through Design
• Michael Peters launches 3^rd consultancy
• ‘Innovative brands will save the day’
• LDF Spinvox wishing well in Covent Garden
  
  

In Parliament

• Bradford: City of Film (Mr. Davies)
• BSF: Post-occupancy Evaluations (Mr. Sheerman)
• BSF Procurement Guide (Mr. Gove)
• BSF Waves 7-15 (Mr. Laws)
• C&binet branding (Mr. Hunt)
• Computer Games: Contribution to Economy (Ms. Moffat)
• DCMS: Adaptation to climate change (Mr. Ainsworth)
• DCMS: Plans to strengthen creative industries (Ms. Moffat)
• DIUS: Marketing (Mr. Russell)
• Eco-Towns: BRE Standards (Mr. Davies)
• London Underground: Renewable Energy (Mr. Webb)
• Manpower in the textile industry (Sir Nicholas Winterton)
• SMEs: Financial Support (Mr. Efford)
• SMEs: Funding (Mr. Bayley)
• Value of IP and Creative Industries to the UK (Mr. Hunt)
   

Parliament is now in recess until the 12^th January 2009.

And finally…

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at the APGDI!

09/12/08 Design and Innovation Breakfast Series

Last November, the APGDI brought together prominent members of the UK Design Sector to discuss their concerns around the Government’s support for the design industry.

Chaired by Labour MP Hilary Armstrong, the meeting saw a lively discussion between senior level operators from across the design sector including David Godber, Deputy Chief Executive of the Design Council, Deborah Dawton, CEO of the Design Business Association and Will Knight, Deputy Director of the London Design Festival.

Other design representatives present included:

Jim Dawton, Independent Design Consultant
Dids Macdonald, Chief Executive, Anti Copying in Design
Joe Ferry, Head of Design and Service Design, Virgin Atlantic
Barry Sheerman MP, APGDI Secretary
Simon Ward, Head of Operations, British Fashion Council
David Worthington, Deputy Chair, UK Design Skills Alliance
Bruce Wood, Director, Centre for Creative Industries

There was widespread concensus over the prominent issues

• procurement - significant capital investments like Olympics should have a design criteria
• Peter Mandelson's role
• high level representation of design in government
• harnessing intellectual property - not falling behind other economies
• vulnerability of small businesses in an economic downturn - but importance of not sacrificing innovation in unstable times - those companies that keep up will come out better
   

In response to concerns raised during the discussion, Hilary Armstrong has since challenged the Government in the House of Commons on a number of issues, including:

• progress towards the objectives set out in the Creative Britain paper
• financial support available to the SMEs - vital to the health and growth of innovation capital - who are suffering in the current economic crisis
• what take-up has been of the Innovation Voucher pilot scheme
• what the impact the Innovation Voucher scheme has had on the commercial design sector
   

To read more about the questions and Ministers responses, click here.

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