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7 July 2025: Industrial Strategy Advisory Council meeting minutes

Published 2 October 2025

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The eighth meeting of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) took place in-person at Old Admiralty Building on Monday 7 July. It was chaired by Deputy Chair Nancy Rothwell. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade joined the meeting for item 4 of the agenda only.  

Members

Members are:

  • Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell – Deputy Chair
  • Dr Aislinn Rice
  • Professor Dame Diane Coyle
  • The Rt Hon Greg Clark
  • Greg Jackson
  • Professor Henry Overman
  • Henrik L. Pedersen
  • Roy Rickhuss
  • Kate Bell
  • Chris Grigg (ex-officio)
  • Phil Smith (ex-officio)

Ministers

Ministers are:

  • Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds
  • Minister for Industry, Sarah Jones

Officials

Officials are:

  • Sam Lister – Director General (DG), Industrial Strategy, Department for Business and Trade
  • Leonie Lambert – Director, Industrial Strategy Council, Department for Business and Trade
  • Sean Jones – Director, Companies and Economic Security, HM Treasury
  • Jonathan Bateman - Chief Analyst, Industrial Strategy Council
  • Rachel Richards - Deputy Director, Industrial Strategy Council
  • Sravya Rao - Deputy Director, Economy and Strategic Analysis, Department for Business and Trade
  • ISAC Secretariat

Apologies

Apologies from:

  • Dame Clare Barclay
  • Tunde Olanrewaju

Agenda item 1: introduction from Deputy Chair and Sam Lister, Director General (DG) Industrial Strategy

  1. Nancy Rothwell (NR) welcomed members. NR confirmed that Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir John Kingman had stepped down from the Council at this transition point in the Council’s work. Tributes were paid to the significant and valuable contribution the departing members had made to the work of the Council. The Secretariat confirmed that Ministers would be considering candidates to replace the departing members and would consult the Council Chair and Deputy Chair.

  2. The Council reflected on the Industrial Strategy (IS) launch and agreed that initial stakeholder feedback has been broadly positive. Members emphasised the need to focus the next phase of the Council’s work on supporting Government to ensure effective implementation and delivery of the IS.

  3. Sam Lister (SL) updated members on implementation of the Strategy and how the Department was setting up to support effective delivery.

Agenda item 2: the post-publication role of the Council – Leonie Lambert, Sravya Rao and Jonathan Bateman

  1. Leonie Lambert (LL) outlined the Council’s transition from its pre-publication remit to its long-term strategic role, which was to provide advice, monitor delivery, and build the evidence base to support future policy development.

  2. Jonathan Bateman (JB) was introduced as the new Chief Analyst for the Council.

  3. There was discussion of the three broad areas of work that the Council would focus on, in line with its Terms of Reference:

a. Monitoring and Evaluation

b. Government commissioned projects, including work as part of the Labour Market Evidence Group (LMEG).

c. Council generated projects and research

4․ Members noted the Council should work closely with government departments and public bodies that are responsible for developing the Monitoring and Evaluation programmes for individual Sector Plans and policies and should not duplicate this work. The ISAC agreed it would take a data-led approach to its work, drawing on analysis and evidence to develop insights and recommendations where appropriate.

Agenda item 3: engagement plan – Rachel Richards, Deputy Director Industrial Strategy Advisory Council

  1. Rachel Richards (RR) provided an overview of the approach to the Council’s future engagement programme and noted this will be strategically aligned with the Council’s objectives and its workplan. The Secretariat would review opportunities for engagement with a range of institutions, business representative organisations, civil society and partners cross the UK, including devolved governments and Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs).

  2. Members agreed that it is important to define clear questions and objectives to ensure productive discussions with stakeholders.

Agenda item 4: reflections from Secretary of State, Jonathan Reynolds

  1. The Secretary of State expressed gratitude for the Council’s work during strategy development. He emphasised the importance of building confidence in the Strategy through visible progress on delivery and welcome further collaboration with the Council.

  2. The Deputy Chair closed the meeting and thanked Members for their contributions.

Addendum note

At this natural transition point in the Council’s work post publication of the Industrial Strategy, Sir John Kingman, Baroness Shriti Vadera and Dame Anita Frew have stepped down from the Council.

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