8 IN VIEW


Karim’s view GETTING INTO TROUBLED WATERS by Sajjad Karim


Business needs politicians to be pragmatic. Politicians traditionally strike a balance between pragmatism and principle. Ultimately the public are the arbitrators. When the balance is struck right business has opportunity, the people have work. Simple.


It is natural, based on our geography, that our waters are important to us. Who exploits the fruits of our seas clearly should be a matter in our control and on a point of principle for an island family of nations this is non-negotiable. Simple.


Except it isn’t.


Fish has become the symbolic defining point of our negotiations with the EU. Wrapped up in this symbolism are very complex issues of sovereignty, rule of law, quotas, rights, environment and indeed patriotism.


As a country today we are faced with a choice. On one hand we have ideology which determines we defend an ancient trade cloaked with symbolism of patriotism or we have pragmatism and an opportunity beyond that which we can create just on our own. Here I am talking about the huge digital advancements that are going to revolutionise the globe.


Digital disruption to whole industries is about to go wholesale, encouraged by the mega-disruption that Covid-19 has brought. In


the coming months and years, we will see multiple industries going through the uber experience.


This is going to bring many opportunities for those who are best placed to grab them. And it is here that our purists and pragmatists collide.


We have declared that we will walk away from the EU Single Market and not play any role in the development of the EU’s Digital Single Market as this involves compromises on sovereignty and our judiciary that are best symbolised by our protection of our fish.


For this we will surrender barrier free industrial, services and financial market access and facilitated future digital collaboration. The EU must accept us on our terms completely or we walk.


Walking away with no deal was never what was promised to the electorate in 2016 or 2019. If our politicians allow ideology to trump pragmatism the resulting imbalance will not be one that the British public will continue to sign off - once they realise the true economic price and the consequences for their lives.


Sajjad Karim was MEP for Lancashire from 2004 to 2019 and was awarded the Parliament Magazine 2019 award for International Trade. He is now CEO of Haider Global, a Brussels-based international strategic consultancy specialising in EU and government relations


EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY WORKING TO CREATE ‘THE NEW EXTRAORDINARY’


Now’s the time to step forward. To take the lead. To forecast and plan. To share and empower.


Now’s the time for the Further Education Sector to consolidate its links with industry and employers to drive forward the nation’s recovery post-Covid-19.


Our future prosperity and success as a nation relies on us sharing expertise; on anticipating future needs and putting the mechanisms in place now to ensure we can deliver when the time is right; on developing the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will help us adapt, be more flexible and resilient.


This is the area where colleges come into their own. Where their expertise and focus lies.


The pivotal role colleges are already playing in helping others to navigate the roadmap to recovery has become clear to me.


When lockdown started, it quickly became apparent that the community – including the business community – was looking towards us here at Burnley College as a safe harbour in a turbulent sea of conflicting information, speculation and fear.


Neil Burrows


As a college we moved quickly to combat rumour with fact. We informed and empowered. We acted as a central hub for the dissemination of information. We shared our expertise willingly. We highlighted what was possible when we worked together.


Never was our role more important. Never had our partnerships and engagement with employers been more meaningful.


Now, with Covid-19 slowly slipping from the headlines, we as a college – and others across the county – should retain and develop that position, working closely with employers and individuals to create not only ‘the new normal’ but ‘the new extraordinary’.


Working closely with stakeholders and partners, we hold the key to success post-Covid. Our representation on boards, in forums and round tables is more important than ever – bringing new insights and transferring learning from industry to industry.


Our future planning will provide industry with the skills, knowledge and dynamism it needs at the right moment, in the right place. Let’s harness today’s talented young people and those with the drive to reskill and reshape their future and nurture their potential until their moment comes to shape industry. And it will come.


Now’s the moment for FE colleges to work with others to create the roadmap to prosperity.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72