Policy Connect

According to their own account:
:Policy Connect is a not for profit organisation which bridges Parliament and industry to promote effective policy in five key areas: Skills, Environment, Health, Design & Sustainability. Established in 1995, Policy Connect has developed a niche position within the policy-making process, working across the political spectrum with parliamentarians and decision-makers.Policy Connect About Us, accessed 14 August 2008
This and their activities suggest that Policy Connect is a lobbying outfit which helps clients to get close to decision makers. In June 2013 PRWeek reported that Policy Connect holds more parliamentary passes than any other organisation through its secretariat work for eight groups - three All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) and five Associate Parliamentary Groups. Six staff holding passes for the provision of secretariat services for four APGs. Lynsey Barber, The real influencers in Westminster outnumber lobbyists, prweek.com, Thursday, 13 June 2013, 8:00am, acc 2 Sept 2013 
Policy Connect deals with APPGs by bringing their cause to the attention of MPs and lobbying to have the groups concerns raised in Parliament. All Party Groups are an amalgamation of MPs from across the political spectrum uniting over a particular subject. These groups in theory have no official political power over legislation, but are extremely influential in their given topic. Dr. Howard Stoate. What is an All Parliamentary Group? Accessed April 21 2010 
One such group is the influential Associate Parliamentary Health Group. Policy Connect. Policy Connect Health. Accessed March 16 2010 It includes private institutions, MPs, professors and other individuals with links to the health sector. The group aims to inform policy makers with information about the health sector through publications and various events. Associate Parliamentary Health Group Associate Parliamentary Health Group Accessed April 26 2010 
==History==
Policy Connect was co-founded by Barry Sheerman MP, a Labour politician for Huddersfield. Since its establishment, Policy Connect has worked with parliamentarians and decision makers to ensure that positive relationships between key sectors and parliament are maintained and that the economy remains competitive yet sustainable. Policy Connect has done this through the production of research and policy reports, sharing latest policy with all stakeholders and by running events which allow greater communication between different sectors, experts and stakeholders. Policy Connect Policy Connect, about us accessed on Feb. 23 2010 
==Barry Sheerman MP==
Barry Sheerman MP is a member of 6 of the All Party Groups that are clients of Policy Connect. All Party GroupsRegister of All Party Groups accessed 25 April 2010 Between 28th February 2010 and 31st July 2011 Sheerman was both an MP and a member of staff at Policy Connect. He received £2200 for twenty hours work a month for chairing meetings and advising on policy. Register of Members Interests 20th February 2012 Barry Sheerman UK Parliament Publications, accessed 7th March 2012 
==Affiliations==
Policy Connect is involved with a number of different groups that fall under its five key topics of Skills, Environment, Health, Design and Sustainability.
===Skills===
Policy Connect is associated with The Skills Commission, which is a select group of key individuals in the skills sector which acts as a steering body to the National Skills Forum and the Associate Parliamentary Skills Group (APSG). They oversee and give direction to the work of the National Skills Forum and APSG, bringing "fresh thinking to the skills debate and campaigning on major skills issues in Parliament and beyond." The Skills Commission is co-chaired by Policy Connect founder Barry Sheerman MP and Dame Ruth Silver who is the Principle of Lewisham College. Policy ConnectPolicy Connect Skills accessed April 22 2010 Policy Connect provides administrative support to the Skills Commission to help fund meetings; provide staff who act as clerks to the group; project and events management; share costs of telephone, IT, web and email hosting; provide financial services and provide office space external to Palace of Westminster. All Party GroupsRegister of All Party Groupsaccessed 23 April 2010 
===Environment===
For their key topic of the Environment, Policy Connect deals with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, which aims to "develop a deeper understanding between government, parliamentarians, business leaders and the waste sector in the sustainable management of waste" All Party GroupsRegister of All Party Groups accessed 23 April 2010 and the Strategic Waste Forum, who run a number of select member only events. Policy Connect provides services to the Sustainable Resource Group as the group’s secretariat which includes staff who act as clerks to the group, office space, telephone, IT and secretarial services.
Policy Connect Manager Philip Armstrong is also paid member of the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group.All Party Groups Register of All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010 
===Health===
Under their Health umbrella, Policy Connect support the Associate Parliamentary Health Group (APHG). The APHG is a forum which is dedicated to the sharing of impartial and high quality information as well as the stimulation of discussion on health issues that are dealt with by local and national UK Parliament. "The Group enables parliamentarians, policy makers, healthcare professionals and the health industry to promote and discuss the national health agenda, bringing them together in a forum that encourages constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue". Globalisation: Associate Parliamentary Health GroupAssociate Parliamentary Health Group accessed April 22 2010 Policy Connect has several ties with the Associate Parliamentary Health Group . Founder of Policy Connect, Barry Sheerman MP, is one of the 20 members of the All Party Group for the APHG and according to the Register of All Party Groups, Policy Connect serves as the ASHG's secreteriat, which "includes staff acting as clerks to the group, telephone, IT, web and e-mail hosting, accounts administration and office space". Another link between the two organisations is Sally Percy who is a Group Manager for Policy Connect and also a paid member of the APHG. She holds a parliamentary pass. All Party Groups Register of All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010 
 
The other group that Policy Connect deals with under their Health banner is the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition (CPPC). The CPPC provides a forum for patients, professionals and parliamentarians who believe in raising the profile of chronic pain as a pressing health and social issue amongst policymakers. The CPPC seeks to develop policies that will enable patients and their families to better manage their pain.Policy Connect Policy Connect, Health accessed on April 22 2010 Policy Connect provides this group with administrative support in the form of staff who act as clerks to the group and by funding office space; funding meetings, telephone, IT and email and web hosting. All Party Groups of All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010 
===Design===
Under their design remit, Policy Connect works with the Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group, which exists to generate an exchange of knowledge and understanding between Parliament and the design industry about the role of design and innovation in improving competitiveness and quality of life. SCDF APGFDAI accessed April 23 2010 Policy Connect Policy Connect provides services as the group's secretariat which consists of staff acting as clerks to the group, funding telephone, IT, web and email hosting, accounts administration and office space). This was funded by funded by £10,000 from the Design Council and £10,000 from the Design Business Association. Policy Connect Manager Jocelyn Bailey and Policy Connect Events Manager Daniel Golding are also on the payroll of the Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group. All Party Groupsof All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010 
===Sustainability===
Regarding sustainability, Policy Connect is linked with the Westminster Sustainable Design Forum (WSBF), Carbon Connect and the Mars & Pluto Financial Forum. The Westminster Sustainable Business Forum says it aims
:to stimulate discussion and understanding amongst parliamentarians, business leaders and other stakeholders about issues relating to sustainable business. In doing so, the WSBF aims to ensure a platform for dialogue to discuss best practice in the UK. The aim of the forum is to demonstrate that to be sustainable is to be competitive. Sustainability Forum WSBF accessed April 23 2010 
Carbon Connect is a coalition of Parliamentarians and industry leaders committed to advancing the low carbon agenda. It was launched in June 2009, by Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Policy Connect Carbon Connect Accessed April 23 2010 
The Mars & Pluto Financial Forum says it was 
:established to foster a constructive and lasting dialogue between the financial services sector, policy-makers and Parliament on issues crucial to the financial services sector. Politically neutral, the Forum provides an invaluable platform to inform debate between industry and policy leaders. Our vision is a sustainable future for the financial sector built through informed, high-level debate. It provides a unique opportunity for industry leaders, policy-makers and legislators to engage at the centre of debate surrounding the future of the financial services sector in the UK. Policy Connect Mars & Pluto Financial Forum accessed 23 April 2010 
==People==
Policy Connect is formed by a nine member board, as well as 15 other team members, all with a range of knowledge and experience in the private and public sector. Policy Connect Policy Connect, our Board accessed on Feb. 23 2010
===Board Members===
As of February 2010:Policy Connect Policy Connect, our Board accessed on Feb. 23 2010
*John Cox
*Duncan Eaton
*Jacqui Henderson CBE
*Peter Jones OBE
*Phil Kirby 
*Clare Morley
*Les Pyle 
*Lynva Russell (Chief Executive)
*Barry Sheerman MP (Co-founder and Chairman)
===Team Members===
As at February 2010:Policy Connect Policy Connect, Our Team accessed on Feb. 23 2010
*Lynva Russell - Chief Executive, Policy Connect
*Nicki Williams - Office Manager, Policy Connect
*Daniel Golding - Communications Manager
*Natasha Adade - Events and Admin, Co-ordinator Policy Connect
*James Epps - Skills Manager
*Christopher Hall - Researcher & Project Co-ordinator in May 2009
*Liane Cresswell - Researcher & Project Co-ordinator
*Philip Armstrong - Project Co-ordinator, Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group
*Hayley Thomas - Project Co-ordinator, Skills team
*Sally Percy - Manager, Associate Parliamentary Health Group 
*Jocelyn Bailey - Manager, Design & Innovation
*Vihelm Oberg - Head of Sustainability
*Leo Trinick - Project Manager, Westminster Sustainable Business Forum
*Kate Munro - Project Manager, Carbon Connect & Strategic Waste Forum
*Sarah Griffin - Manager, Chronic Pain Policy Coalition & All-Party Parliamentary Group on Chronic Pain
==Lobbying groups==
Policy Connect provides the secretariat for a number of Parliamentary lobby and policy discussion groups:About Us, Policy Connect website, acc 7 June 2010Liz Stephens and Jim Pickard, All-party groups urged to be open on funds, Financial Times, 28 Mar 2010, acc 7 Jun 2010
*Associate Parliamentary Group for Design and Innovation
*Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group
*Chronic Pain Policy Coalition.
*Associate Parliamentary Health Group (APHG)
*The Skills Commission, a select group of key individuals in the skills sector which acts as a steering body to the National Skills Forum and the Associate Parliamentary Skills Group
*Strategic Waste Forum
*Westminster Sustainable Business Forum
==Events==
===Party Conference Fringe Events===
====Labour 2014====
*22nd September
:Higher Ambitions - ensuring excellence in vocational education and apprenticeships. Speakers including Liam Byrne MP, Rod Bristow, Ian Walsh and Chris Husbands. Hosted by Pearson and The Sutton Trust.
:Celebrating Apprenticeships, a reception with special guest, Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt MP. Hosted by Demos and the City & Guilds.
*23rd September
:The pre-16 curriculum is not up to the job of preparing young people for the 21st century: discuss. Hosted by The AOC, 157 Group, and NIACE.
:What should Labour’s Further Education and Skills Manifesto promise. Hosted by OCR. Labour party conference Policy Connect, accessed 6 October 2014 
====Conservative 2014====
*29th September
:'Higher Ambitions' - ensuring excellence in vocational education and apprenticeships. Speakers: Nick Boles MP, Rod Bristow, Ian Walsh and Alison Wolf. Hosted by Pearson and The Sutton Trust.
:What should the Conservatives’ Further Education and Skills Manifesto promise. Speaker include: Nick Boles MP and Charlotte Bosworth. Hosted by OCR.
*30th September
:Celebrating Apprenticeships. Speaker: Nick Boles MP. Hosted by Demos and the City & Guilds.
:The pre-16 curriculum is not up to the job of preparing young people for the 21st century: discuss. Chair: Lynne Sedgmore. Panel: Nicky Morgan MP andMartin Doel.Hosted by The AOC, 157 Group, and NIACE.
:Does business care about politics? Speakers include: Nadhim Zahawi MP, Sarah Hathaway, Mike Cherry, Simon Walker and Jon Bernstein. Hosted by ACCA and the New Statesman.Conservative party conference Policy Connect, accessed 6 October 2014 
====Liberal Democrats 2014====
*6th October
:'Higher Ambitions' - ensuring excellence in vocational education and apprenticeships. Speakers: Stephen Williams MP, Rod Bristow, Conor Ryan and Brian Lightman. Hosted by Pearson and The Sutton Trust
:Does business care about politics? Speakers include: Rt. Hon Vince Cable MP, Sue Almond, Mike Cherry and Jon Bernstein. Hosted by ACCA and the New Statesman.
:Celebrating Apprenticeships. A reception with special guest Gordon Birtwistle MP. Hosted by Demos and the City & Guilds
*7th October
:The pre-16 curriculum is not up to the job of preparing young people for the 21st century: discuss. Chair: Martin Doel, Panel: David Laws MP and David Hughes (Others TBC). Hosted by The AOC, 157 Group, and NIACE.
:What should the Liberal Democrats’ Further Education and Skills Manifesto promise. Panellists include: Gordon Birtwistle MP and Charlotte Bosworth. Hosted by OCR. Liberal Democrat party conference Policy Connect, accessed 6 October 2014 
== Contact Details ==
POLICY CONNECT LIMITED
CAN Mezzanine
32-36 Loman Street
 
Southwark
 
London
 
SE1 0EH 
Company No. 03117836
==Notes==
Category:Lobbying