Tech Hub At Labour Conference
Sunday 27th September - Tuesday 29th September
Delhi House Liverpool, Unit 2b, Britannia Pavilion, Royal Albert Docks, Liverpool L3 4AD
Below is our list of events just minutes from the Secure Zone at Labour Party Conference - we look forward to seeing you there.
Any questions? Please use our contact form on the homepage.
Sunday 27th September
14.00 - 15.00
Doing more with less: SME digital adoption and the growth agenda
As the cost of doing business rises, small firms are turning to digital tools to do more with less. This panel asks whether the UK has the right support in place to help businesses of all sizes adopt technology, and what levers Government should be pulling to unlock the productivity gains on offer.
15.00 - 16.30
Plugging the Gap: The Grid Can’t Expand Fast Enough - Britain’s Homes and High Streets Can
Panel
Hosted by: Startup Coalition and Nodi
Solar got the spotlight; batteries got forgotten. Smart tech could turn Britain’s homes and high streets into flexible grid infrastructure, powered by British ingenuity. This panel asks what policy, finance and market reform are needed to turn consumers into power infrastructure.
Speakers:
Chair: Vira Veselukha, ClimateTech Policy Lead at Startup Coalition
Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West and Minister for Energy Consumers
Luke Murphy, MP for Basingstoke
Catherine Jeong, Founder & CEO of Nodi
Lucy Shaw, Cllr Lucy Shaw, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Guy Newey, CEO of Energy Systems Catapult
18.00 - 20.00
The Quiz in the North! Startup Coalition & Moneybox’s LPC Charity Pub Quiz Night
Pub Quiz
Hosted by: Startup Coalition and Moneybox
Put your policy and general knowledge to the test at the Startup Coalition & Moneybox Pub Quiz with a charity donation made for every team entered. Join founders, policymakers, parliamentarians & ecosystem friends for an evening of friendly competition. Invite-only, but if you've got a team ready and want in, reach out to Startup Coalition.
Confirmed rounds with:
Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts
Luke Charters, MP for York Outer
Gordon McKee, MP for Glasgow South
Rosie Writing, MP for Kettering
20.30 - 22.30
Digital Participation Reception: Unlocking Growth, Opportunity and Better Public Services
Reception
Hosted by: Good Growth Foundation, Good Things Foundation and VodafoneThree
Join VodafoneThree, Good Things Foundation and Good Growth Foundation to discuss how investment in network infrastructure, devices, skills and local support can translate into genuine digital participation, driving opportunity in work, education, public services, and community life across every postcode.
Monday 28th September
8.30 - 9.30
How AI and inclusion will power Britain's economy
While the UK aims to become a global AI superpower, millions still lack the basic digital skills needed to participate safely, risking a severe digital divide. Bridging this skills gap is critical economic infrastructure required to build an inclusive, highly skilled workforce. Hosted by the Good Things Foundation and Startup Coalition, this session brings together leaders across sectors to explore how collaboration can ensure the AI revolution drives nationwide prosperity for everyone.
Speakers:
Chair: Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham North
Nicola Wallace Dean, CEO at Starting Point
John Park, Director of Government Relations at Accenture
Michaela Neild, Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager at Google
Panel
Hosted by Startup Coalition & Good Things Foundation
09.30 - 11.00
Made in Britain, Paid in Britain
Panel
Hosted by Startup Coalition and GoCardless
British businesses are paying too much to get paid. From card fees to settlement delays and failed transactions, outdated payment infrastructure is costing the economy billions. Join the Startup Coalition and GoCardless to discuss how smarter payment technology can put money back in the pockets of businesses, and what Government should do next.
Speakers:
Chair: Charlie Mercer, Policy Director at Startup Coalition
Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare
Tom Burton, Director of External Affairs & Public Policy at GoCardless
Sacha Sadan, Senior Advisor at the Financial Conduct Authority
Briony Krikorian-Slade, Head of Governance and Strategy at UK Payments Initiative
11.00 - 12.30
Building Britain's Wealth: How fintech can drive UK growth
Panel
Hosted by Startup Coalition and Moneybox
Join Startup Coalition & Moneybox to explore how British fintechs are helping millions build financial confidence, invest, and take control of their pensions. We'll examine how Government can use regulation to unlock fintech-led innovation, broaden access to wealth creation, and drive growth and financial inclusion across the UK.
Speakers:
Chair: Clio Batchelor, Fintech Policy Lead at Startup Coalition
Callum Anderson, MP for Buckingham and Bletchley
Karen Kerrigan, COO of Moneybox
Sarah Pritchard, Deputy Chief Executive of the FCA
Jocelyn Tasker, Founder & CEO of Sync Savings
Tanisha Aggarwal, Chair of Labour in the City
12.30 - 14.00
Securing Britain's future: AI sovereignty in an age of interdependence
Panel
Hosted by Startup Coalition and Cohere
Exploring AI Sovereignty and building resilience: What does sovereignty mean for Britain in a fast-moving and interdependent world? Join Startup Coalition and Cohere to discuss how we build AI resilience in an age of technological volatility.
Speakers:
Chair: Dom Hallas, Executive Director at Startup Coalition
Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and West, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Aidan Corley, UK Government Affairs and Public Policy Lead at Cohere
Will Blyth, Founder and CEO at Arondite
14.00 - 15:30
Sovereignty in the stack: How policymakers can deliver sovereign infrastructure
Roundtable
Hosted by Startup Coalition and Era4
Join Startup Coalition and Era4 for a discussion around how the UK can build sovereign compute infrastructure on British soil to secure our AI future, national defence, and economic independence. If you would like to join reach out to the Startup Coalition team.
14.00 - 15:30
Full Fibre Britain: How Digital Infrastructure Competition is Driving Growth in Every Postcode
Panel
Hosted by Labour Digital and CityFibre
Over the last decade, digital infrastructure competition has driven economic growth, broadband speeds, and lower prices. Can Labour ensure competition is promoted and protected to ensure good growth in every postcode? Join Labour Digital & CityFibre to discuss competition, digital growth and local digital futures. Info at www.labourdigital.co.uk
15.30 - 17.00
Tech Sovereignty - the Big Debate
Panel
Hosted by Labour Digital
Tech Sovereignty is increasingly seen as an important part of the UK's tech future. Join us for this crucial debate about what matters most when thinking about UK tech sovereignty in practice. Find out more at www.labourdigital.co.uk
17:00 - 18:30
Making AI & Tech Work in Every Postcode
Panel
Hosted by Labour Digital
Skills are a crucial part of the UK’s AI, hi-tech future. How do we prepare workers to not just compete in a new AI economy but ensure workers everywhere can grab hold of new opportunities? Join us for this important discussion about making the UK the best place in the world to learn and build tech skills. Find out more at www.labourdigital.co.uk
18:30 - 20:30
Labour Tech Party
Party
Hosted by Startup Coalition, Labour Digital, HSBC Innovation Banking, Labour Women in Tech
We are bringing the best of the Tech Ecosystem together for our annual Labour Tech Party - Startup Coalition, Labour Digital, HSBC Innovation Banking, and Labour Women in Tech.
Speakers:
Kanishka Narayan, MP for the Vale of Glamorgan and AI Minister
Samantha Niblett, MP for South Derbyshire and Founder of Labour Women in Tech
Emily Turner, CEO of HSBC Innovation Banking
Neil Ross, Chair of Labour Digital
Dom Hallas, Executive Director of Startup Coalition
20.30 - 22.30
DC to the Docks: Transatlantic Brews with PPI & Startup Coalition
Party
Hosted by Startup Coalition and The Progressive Policy Institute
Join Startup Coalition and the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) for a transatlantic drinks reception bringing together UK and US policy leaders
23.00 - Late
Labour Tech Lates
Party
Hosted by Startup Coalition , Labour Digital and CityFibre
Join Startup Coalition, Labour Digital and CityFibre for Labour Tech Lates: the unofficial official afters of conference. Expect a great crowd, from across the tech and policy worlds and a few punny surprises from behind the bar!
Tuesday 29th September
10.00 - 11.00
Signal failure: 5G quality and the growth agenda
This panel asks whether coverage maps tell the whole story, or whether it's connectivity quality that really determines how far AI and autonomous systems can scale across the UK — and what better digital infrastructure could unlock for innovative businesses nationwide. Marking the launch of Progress's new report, 'The Future Has 5G Foundations', the panel explores what it will take to build that foundation.
Panel
Hosted by techUK and Cellnex UK
11.15 - 12.15
AI Hackathon: Building Consensus on the Future of Work
How to unlock the benefits of AI? Watch the results of a two-day hackathon in which a team of Multiverse apprentices build a working AI tool to solve a real-world policy problem. A demonstration of the AI solution will lead into panel discussion on how AI can deliver good growth and stronger public services, and how to ensure workers have the skills and support to gain from the transition. Stay tuned for how to submit that policy problem you have always wanted to fix.
Speakers:
Kate Dearden MP, Minister for Future of Work
Patrick Hurley MP, Vice-Chair of Future of Work APPG
Location: The Bluecoat, Liverpool - 8 School Lane, L1 3BX
Find out more Here!
Panel
Hosted by Multiverse and Fabian Society
11.00 - 12.30
Future of the City
Roundtable
Hosted by Startup Coalition and Coinbase
Join Startup Coalition and Coinbase for a discussion on agentic commerce, tokenised markets and AI’s place in reshaping financial services. Can the UK move at the speed the opportunity demands and how do we close the gap between political rhetoric and delivery?
Get in touch with the Startup Coalition team if you are interested in attending.
11.30 - 12.30
Foundations First: Building an NHS Ready for AI at Scale
Innovative health technology is being trialled across the NHS, but uptake and scaling remain low. This panel looks at what it takes to move from pilots to national scale — the cyber security and digital foundations that AI depends on, and the place-based partnerships needed to embed technology where care is actually delivered.
12.30 - 14.00
Backing Britain: Capital Beyond the Capital
Panel
Hosted by Startup Coalition and HSBC
Join the Startup Coalition and HSBC Innovation Banking for a discussion on investing across the UK. The session will explore how government, investors, and industry can strengthen regional ecosystems, and help ambitious startups scale.
Speakers:
Chair: Dom Hallas, Executive Director at Startup Coalition
Emily Turner, CEO of HSBC Innovation Banking
Carl Wong, CEO at Baltic Ventures
14.00 - 16.30
Leader’s Speech Watch Party
Party and Panel
Hosted by the Startup Coalition and Milltown Partners
Not everyone can fit inside the conference hall for The Leader’s Speech but don’t worry we have the place for you. Come join the Startup Coalition & Milltown Partners Watch Party, followed by our very own tech and policy punditry. We will have food, drinks and a lot to discuss! Register at www.sc-techhub.co.uk
17.00 - 18.30
Digital Devolution: Delivering real devolution through AI policy, Growth Zones & Tech Towns
Panel
Hosted by Startup Coalition and UK Tech Cluster Group
How can AI policy underpin local economic growth? Join regional leaders to discuss everything from AI Growth Zones and Tech Towns to AI sovereignty. We will explore the impact to date and the plans needed moving forward for local policymakers and companies looking to adopt AI. Followed by a drinks reception!
18.30 - 20.00
Digital Devolution: Delivering real devolution through AI policy, Growth Zones & Tech Town
Party
Hosted by Startup Coalition and UK Tech Cluster Group
This session will focus on how AI policy can underpin local economic growth and exploring AI development and adoption. From AI Growth Zones and Tech Towns to AI sovereignty plans - there are lots of levers which could catalyse local tech ecosystems and the wider economy. We are bringing together policymakers from Westminster and across the UK to discuss what impact we’ve seen to date and what plans should be put in place moving forward.
Speakers:
Kanishka Narayan MP, AI Minister
Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor