13 Aug 2026

techUK at Party Conferences 2026

techUK will be at the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Reform party conferences this autumn with a programme of panels and receptions bringing the technology sector together with parliamentarians, policymakers and party members. 

Working with member companies and partner organisations, our sessions this year focus on the issues where technology meets the government's growth agenda: digital adoption among SMEs, the quality of the UK's mobile networks, and the foundations the NHS needs to use AI at scale. 

All sessions listed below are open sessions. Registration details and sign-up links will be shared shortly - this page will be updated as they are confirmed, and further events may be added.

Who from techUK is attending 

A number of techUK colleagues will be at each conference across the policy, public affairs and programme teams. You can see the full list of who is attending which conference, and their policy areas, in the document below. 

If you would like a techUK speaker for one of your own events, or would simply like to catch-up with one of us over a coffee, please get in touch with Oliver Alderson here

 

Labour Party Conference

Labour Party Conference 

ACC Liverpool | Sunday 27 - Wednesday 30 September 2026 


Panel | Doing more with less: SME digital adoption and the growth agenda 

In partnership with: Visa
Date: Sunday 27 September 2026
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Location: Delhi House, Albert Dock, Liverpool
Admission: Open session. Sign-up link to follow.

As the cost of doing business in the UK rises, SMEs continue to look towards digitisation as a tool to do more with less and drive efficiencies across their operations. Similarly, the Government’s core ambition throughout this Parliament is to drive growth across the UK economy. A thriving economy is reliant on widespread digital and financial inclusion across all parts of the business ecosystem, especially with non-digitally literate businesses and SMEs. 

This session will consider whether the UK has the right structures and support in place to help businesses of all sizes on their digital adoption journey, and what levers should be used by the Government to further unlock the opportunities that digital technologies can bring to organisations. It will also provide the opportunity to platform Visa’s work in this space, including its soon-to-be published economic impact report on the topic. 


Panel | Signal failure: 5G quality and the growth agenda

In partnership with: Cellnex UK
Date: Tuesday 29 September 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Location: Delhi House, Albert Dock, Liverpool
Admission: Open session. Sign-up link to follow.

Mobile connectivity sits at the heart of the Government’s growth agenda. Whether it is the deployment of AI across public services, the levelling up of regional economies, or the emergence of new technology-led industries, almost all of it depends on consistent, high-quality connectivity. Coverage maps continue to improve, but quality remains a persistent issue – with consequences ranging from lost productivity on rail routes to real barriers for mobile-first businesses in underserved areas, and a cap on the ambitions of frontier industries such as autonomous vehicles and logistics robotics. 

This panel will ask what it would actually take to close the mobile quality gap, how that connects to the Government’s wider industrial and regional growth strategy, and what the policy levers are to make it happen. The discussion will be informed by new research on the relationship between 5G quality and the UK’s growth agenda, produced by Cellnex UK in partnership with the Progress think tank. 


Panel | Foundations first: building an NHS ready for AI at scale 

In partnership with: Cisco
Date: Tuesday 29 September 2026
Time: 11:30 – 12:30
Location: Delhi House, Albert Dock, Liverpool
Admission: Open session. Sign-up link to follow.

The Government has been clear that it sees innovative technology solutions, including AI, as integral to delivering better public services - and nowhere is this clearer than in the NHS, as the Department for Health and Social Care continues its mission to build a healthcare system fit for the future. Whilst there are innovative solutions being trialled and exhibited across the health tech sector, uptake and scaling of such technologies remain low. 

Getting there starts with the basics. Cyber security and digital foundations underpin any serious AI ambition, and this session will argue that investment in the fundamentals can't be an afterthought to the more exciting use cases. 

Scaling also depends on getting place-based care right. Real impact happens locally, through partnerships between NHS trusts, providers, academia and industry that last well beyond a single trial. Cisco's Lister Alliance is a live example of this: its Living Labs bring NHS Trusts, industry and academia together to test and embed technology in practice, and this session will explore what it will take to build more of that kind of collaboration across the country. 

Conservative Party Conference

Conservative Party Conference

ICC Birmingham | Sunday 4 – Wednesday 7 October 2026 

Tech Reception 

With: The Digital Tories and Startup Coalition
Date: Monday 5 October 2026
Time: To be confirmed
Location: To be confirmed
Admission: Sign-up link to follow.

An evening reception bringing the technology sector together with parliamentarians and party members.

Liberal Democrat Conference

Liberal Democrat Conference

Brighton Centre | Saturday 19 – Tuesday 22 September 2026 

Tech Reception 

With: The Digital Liberal Democrats and Startup Coalition
Date: Monday 21 September 2026
Time: To be confirmed
Location: To be confirmed
Admission: Sign-up link to follow.

An evening reception bringing the technology sector together with parliamentarians and party members. 


Invitation-only events 

Alongside our open programme, techUK is also hosting a small number of private, invitation-only events during conference season for members, partners and invited guests. Details of these are not published, but if you have questions about our wider conference activity please get in touch with Oliver Alderson

Get in touch

Registration links for our open sessions will be added to this page as soon as they are live. If you would like a techUK speaker for your own conference event, or would like to invite us to something you are hosting, please email the public affairs team. 

Oliver Alderson

Oliver Alderson

Public Affairs Manager, techUK

Antony Walker

Antony Walker

Deputy CEO, techUK

Doniya Soni-Clark

Doniya Soni-Clark

Associate Director of External Affairs, techUK

Nimmi Patel

Nimmi Patel

Associate Director - Skills & Talent Policy, techUK

Tom McGee

Tom McGee

Associate Director - Government Affairs, techUK

Dan Johnston

Dan Johnston

Head - Public Affairs, techUK


techUK's Policy and Public Affairs Programme activities

techUK helps our members understand, engage and influence the development of digital and tech policy in the UK and beyond. We support our members to understand some of the most complex and thorny policy questions that confront our sector. Visit the programme page here.

 

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Meet the team 

Antony Walker

Antony Walker

Deputy CEO, techUK

Nimmi Patel

Nimmi Patel

Associate Director - Skills & Talent Policy, techUK

Doniya Soni-Clark

Doniya Soni-Clark

Associate Director of External Affairs, techUK

Tom McGee

Tom McGee

Associate Director, Digital Economy, techUK

Dan Johnston

Dan Johnston

Head - Public Affairs, techUK

Edward Emerson

Edward Emerson

Head of Digital Economy, techUK

Samiah Anderson

Samiah Anderson

Head of Digital Regulation, techUK

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Jake Wall

Jake Wall

Policy Manager, Skills and Future of Work, techUK

Daniella Bennett Remington

Daniella Bennett Remington

Policy Manager - Data and AI, techUK

Luke Newcombe

Luke Newcombe

Programme Manager – Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Stephanie Barr

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Oliver Alderson

Oliver Alderson

Public Affairs Manager, techUK

Tess Newton

Junior Policy Manager, techUK

 

 

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