Special Motorsports Event - MIA Takes Motorsport To Parliament In Order To Help Create Jobs

London, July 28, 2011: The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) took leading employers from the UK high-performance engineering and motorsport industry to meet key members of the British Parliament recently. This group outlined the jobs and investment opportunities arising from a surge in export and domestic business, which the Government could access through closer engagement with this world-beating UK industry.

Meetings with ministers, select committee chairs, shadow ministers and MPs heard the proposals made to help the UK economy. The industry is not seeking grants or funding, but wants Government to help access business from diverse UK sectors, so creating more employment and bringing new investment.

"Government needs to be more aware of our potential to create new jobs and bring economic benefit to the UK at this critical time. The real value to the UK of our high-performance engineering cluster is being overlooked, at a time when jobs are so much in demand. Our sector is crying out to recruit more good people to meet increasing global demand," said MIA CEO Chris Aylett.

The two panels were led by MIA Honorary President, Lord Drayson of Kensington and Alistair Fergusson, Chairman of the MIA.

Lord Drayson commented: "The day was a tremendous success. As well as providing an opportunity for the industry to explain to Parliamentarians the significant contribution that high performance engineering and motorsport businesses bring to the UK economy, it allowed us to explore the potential for increasing economic and employment growth in wider industrial sectors, such as aerospace, defence and clean energy. The response from MPs and Peers was very positive and we look forward to working together on a number of policy initiatives to make this happen in future."

Alistair Fergusson added: "This was undoubtedly the best Parliament Day to date. I was particularly encouraged to discover a much improved appreciation of the immense value of our industry to the UK economy and a resulting willingness to take action to support and develop it."

The group met Ian Lucas MP - Shadow Minister for Business Innovation & Skills; David Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales; Rt Hon Peter Hain MP - Shadow Secretary of State for Wales; Adrian Bailey MP - Chair of the Business Innovation & Skills Select Committee; Mike Penning MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Roads & Motoring) Department for Transport; Andrew Miller MP - Chair of the Science & Technology Select Committee; together with a presentation to the All Party Motoring Group chaired by Richard Burden MP.

The Motorsport in Parliament Day was followed by the MIA's Summer Reception, which took place in the House of Lords, with over 350 guests attending, including MIA members, industry leaders, Peers, Ministers of State, Ambassadors and MPs.