Westminster Forum Projects

About Arqiva
Arqiva operates at the heart of the broadcast and mobile communications industry and is at the forefront of network solutions and services in an increasingly digital world. The company provides much of the infrastructure behind television, radio and wireless communications in the UK and has a growing presence in Ireland, mainland Europe and the USA. There are three business units:

Terrestrial Broadcast provides transmission for all UK terrestrial TV broadcasters, including the new networks being built for the Digital Switch Over. Transmission is also provided for BBC Radio and most commercial radio stations, both analogue and DAB. The company owns and operates two of the six UK digital terrestrial TV multiplexes, enabling major media companies to bring their TV and radio services to Freeview.

Satellite & Media provides global communication platforms to enterprise, government and broadcast customers around the world. It owns and operates teleports at key locations including Los Angeles, Washington, London and Paris, as well as comprehensive satellite capacity, an international terrestrial fibre network and extensive media facilities. These enable Arqiva to provide world leading organisations with a comprehensive range of services to deliver their data, broadcasts and media across the globe.

Wireless Access provides cellular, wireless broadband, voice and data solutions for the mobile communications, public safety, local government, and commercial markets. Arqiva is the largest independent provider of radio sites in the UK and Ireland. With its own spectrum, the company can provide complete mobile communications networks including backhaul links.

Arqiva has its headquarters near Winchester and other major UK offices in London, Warwick, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire. The company is owned by a consortium of investors led by Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group. Major customers include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BSkyB, Classic FM, the five UK mobile operators, the RNLI and the Metropolitan Police.

The BBC exists to enrich people’s lives with great programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain. Its vision is to be the most creative, trusted organisation in the world.

The BBC provides a wide range of distinctive programmes and services for everyone, free of commercial interests and political bias. They include television, radio, national, local, childrens’, educational, language and other services for key groups. The BBC also runs orchestras, actively develops new talent, and supports training and production skills for the British broadcasting, music, drama and film industries.

BBC services are used by over 96% of the UK population every week and the Corporation is funded through a television licence fee.

The new Royal Charter which started on 1st January 2017 sets out five purposes for the BBC. They are:

• To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them.
• To support learning for people of all ages.
• To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive output and services.
• To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom.
• To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world.

The BBC word mark and logo are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996

BT is one of the world’s leading communications companies. We provide the essential backbone for fixed telephone services, mobile network operators and much of the UK’s terrestrial TV distribution.

BT is organised into a number of separate businesses:-

• BT Retail – provides services to small and medium sized businesses and to residential customers. It also runs the UK’s largest internet business as well as BT Vision – BT’s on-demand internet television service. It provides around 19 million fixed and 5 million broadband lines.
• BT Wholesale - supports the UK’s fixed and mobile communications industry with a range of products and managed services including, for example, major network capacity to the UK’s mobile companies, the transmission capacity for much of the UK television network, and ‘white label’ broadband, fixed line and other services for some of the biggest names in the competitive UK market. It also manages other operators’ networks on their behalf on an outsource basis.
• BT Global Services – provides services to large businesses, to multi-site organisations in the UK and across the world, and operates in over 170 countries worldwide.
• Openreach - looks after the ‘first mile’ of network, from the exchange through to homes and businesses. Its customers are not end users but the companies who supply their telecommunications services to them. It treats all its customers on an equal basis and thus provides the essential ingredients for the vibrant, competitive retail market in the UK. Is also the engine for BT’s extensive fibre rollout programme.
• BT Innovate and Design - is responsible for BT's research and innovation – with BT being a top investor in R&D.

• The UK has the world’s most competitive communications market in the world, with unrivalled broadband availability, take-up and prices.
• BT invests billions of pounds each year in infrastructure to boost productivity, create jobs, bring communities together and enrich peoples’ lives.
• Telecoms prices in the UK are down in real terms by 54% since 1990.
• More than 60% of UK homes now have broadband – up from 12% in 2003 and a higher rate than Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the USA.
• We are investing £1.5bn in providing fibre-based services to up to 10m homes by 2012 (40% UK households). Assuming an acceptable environment for investment, we plan to add a further £1bn by 2015, taking coverage to around 66% of the UK.

• Competition is better than regulation for protecting the interests of customers.
• Where there is regulation, it should promote competition.
• Markets worldwide should be open, with state authorities acting to promote competition, encourage innovation and challenge vested interests.
• Financial and social stability will be underpinned by sustainable digital economies.
• Investment in the communications infrastructures of such economies requires regulatory stability, technological neutrality, and appropriate financial rewards.

KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership operates from 22 offices across the UK with over 10,000 partners and staff. KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We operate in 148 countries and have more than 113,000 professionals working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative.

Within KPMG’s Information, Communications and Entertainment practice we focus on the issues faced by our media clients in this period of unprecedented change. The much heralded convergence is finally a reality, with the traditional lines between media, communications and technology companies now rapidly blurring. The digitisation of content, the explosion in broadband capacity and take up, and the rapid fall in the cost of data storage are forcing ‘old media’ companies to consider their future business models and to forge unprecedented partnerships. As traditional revenue streams fragment, and historic price points become unsustainable as the perceived value of content declines, the challenge is to ensure content is available as widely as possible to maximise potential revenues.

Broadband has enabled the coming of age of the internet, with online trading, the phenomenon of social networking and the rapid migration to online of advertising spend all causing seismic shifts in the business models of many old media companies. The music industry was the first to feel the force - it is now the turn of the broadcasters, newspapers and the film industry. For all media companies, the survivors will be those with the foresight and boldness to change with the times.

KPMG has a keen understanding of these challenges, and the specific threats faced by each of the media segments – broadcasting, advertising, music, film and publishing – enabling us to provide tailored services that address our clients’ needs. For example, our intellectual property, strategic and commercial intelligence and IT advisory specialists are ideally placed to help guide our clients through the challenges posed by the changes this sector faces.

Our teams of sector professionals can work with you to help you achieve your objectives and keep ahead of the game in this ever challenging environment.

KPMG International’s Trademarks are the sole property of KPMG International and their use here does not imply auditing by or endorsement of KPMG International or any of its member firms

About Arqiva
Arqiva operates at the heart of the broadcast and mobile communications industry and is at the forefront of network solutions and services in an increasingly digital world. The company provides much of the infrastructure behind television, radio and wireless communications in the UK and has a growing presence in Ireland, mainland Europe and the USA. There are three business units:

Terrestrial Broadcast provides transmission for all UK terrestrial TV broadcasters, including the new networks being built for the Digital Switch Over. Transmission is also provided for BBC Radio and most commercial radio stations, both analogue and DAB. The company owns and operates two of the six UK digital terrestrial TV multiplexes, enabling major media companies to bring their TV and radio services to Freeview.

Satellite & Media provides global communication platforms to enterprise, government and broadcast customers around the world. It owns and operates teleports at key locations including Los Angeles, Washington, London and Paris, as well as comprehensive satellite capacity, an international terrestrial fibre network and extensive media facilities. These enable Arqiva to provide world leading organisations with a comprehensive range of services to deliver their data, broadcasts and media across the globe.

Wireless Access provides cellular, wireless broadband, voice and data solutions for the mobile communications, public safety, local government, and commercial markets. Arqiva is the largest independent provider of radio sites in the UK and Ireland. With its own spectrum, the company can provide complete mobile communications networks including backhaul links.

Arqiva has its headquarters near Winchester and other major UK offices in London, Warwick, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire. The company is owned by a consortium of investors led by Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group. Major customers include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BSkyB, Classic FM, the five UK mobile operators, the RNLI and the Metropolitan Police.

The BBC exists to enrich people’s lives with great programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain. Its vision is to be the most creative, trusted organisation in the world.

The BBC provides a wide range of distinctive programmes and services for everyone, free of commercial interests and political bias. They include television, radio, national, local, childrens’, educational, language and other services for key groups. The BBC also runs orchestras, actively develops new talent, and supports training and production skills for the British broadcasting, music, drama and film industries.

BBC services are used by over 96% of the UK population every week and the Corporation is funded through a television licence fee.

The new Royal Charter which started on 1st January 2017 sets out five purposes for the BBC. They are:

• To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them.
• To support learning for people of all ages.
• To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive output and services.
• To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom.
• To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world.

The BBC word mark and logo are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996

BT is one of the world’s leading communications companies. We provide the essential backbone for fixed telephone services, mobile network operators and much of the UK’s terrestrial TV distribution.

BT is organised into a number of separate businesses:-

• BT Retail – provides services to small and medium sized businesses and to residential customers. It also runs the UK’s largest internet business as well as BT Vision – BT’s on-demand internet television service. It provides around 19 million fixed and 5 million broadband lines.
• BT Wholesale - supports the UK’s fixed and mobile communications industry with a range of products and managed services including, for example, major network capacity to the UK’s mobile companies, the transmission capacity for much of the UK television network, and ‘white label’ broadband, fixed line and other services for some of the biggest names in the competitive UK market. It also manages other operators’ networks on their behalf on an outsource basis.
• BT Global Services – provides services to large businesses, to multi-site organisations in the UK and across the world, and operates in over 170 countries worldwide.
• Openreach - looks after the ‘first mile’ of network, from the exchange through to homes and businesses. Its customers are not end users but the companies who supply their telecommunications services to them. It treats all its customers on an equal basis and thus provides the essential ingredients for the vibrant, competitive retail market in the UK. Is also the engine for BT’s extensive fibre rollout programme.
• BT Innovate and Design - is responsible for BT's research and innovation – with BT being a top investor in R&D.

• The UK has the world’s most competitive communications market in the world, with unrivalled broadband availability, take-up and prices.
• BT invests billions of pounds each year in infrastructure to boost productivity, create jobs, bring communities together and enrich peoples’ lives.
• Telecoms prices in the UK are down in real terms by 54% since 1990.
• More than 60% of UK homes now have broadband – up from 12% in 2003 and a higher rate than Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the USA.
• We are investing £1.5bn in providing fibre-based services to up to 10m homes by 2012 (40% UK households). Assuming an acceptable environment for investment, we plan to add a further £1bn by 2015, taking coverage to around 66% of the UK.

• Competition is better than regulation for protecting the interests of customers.
• Where there is regulation, it should promote competition.
• Markets worldwide should be open, with state authorities acting to promote competition, encourage innovation and challenge vested interests.
• Financial and social stability will be underpinned by sustainable digital economies.
• Investment in the communications infrastructures of such economies requires regulatory stability, technological neutrality, and appropriate financial rewards.

KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership operates from 22 offices across the UK with over 10,000 partners and staff. KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We operate in 148 countries and have more than 113,000 professionals working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative.

Within KPMG’s Information, Communications and Entertainment practice we focus on the issues faced by our media clients in this period of unprecedented change. The much heralded convergence is finally a reality, with the traditional lines between media, communications and technology companies now rapidly blurring. The digitisation of content, the explosion in broadband capacity and take up, and the rapid fall in the cost of data storage are forcing ‘old media’ companies to consider their future business models and to forge unprecedented partnerships. As traditional revenue streams fragment, and historic price points become unsustainable as the perceived value of content declines, the challenge is to ensure content is available as widely as possible to maximise potential revenues.

Broadband has enabled the coming of age of the internet, with online trading, the phenomenon of social networking and the rapid migration to online of advertising spend all causing seismic shifts in the business models of many old media companies. The music industry was the first to feel the force - it is now the turn of the broadcasters, newspapers and the film industry. For all media companies, the survivors will be those with the foresight and boldness to change with the times.

KPMG has a keen understanding of these challenges, and the specific threats faced by each of the media segments – broadcasting, advertising, music, film and publishing – enabling us to provide tailored services that address our clients’ needs. For example, our intellectual property, strategic and commercial intelligence and IT advisory specialists are ideally placed to help guide our clients through the challenges posed by the changes this sector faces.

Our teams of sector professionals can work with you to help you achieve your objectives and keep ahead of the game in this ever challenging environment.

KPMG International’s Trademarks are the sole property of KPMG International and their use here does not imply auditing by or endorsement of KPMG International or any of its member firms

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim operates globally with 142 affiliates and a total of more than 47,400 employees. The focus of the family-owned company, founded in 1885, is researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing new medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

Taking social responsibility is an important element of the corporate culture at Boehringer Ingelheim. This includes worldwide involvement in social projects, such as the initiative “Making more Health” and caring for the employees. Respect, equal opportunities and reconciling career and family form the foundation of the mutual cooperation. In everything it does, the company focuses on environmental protection and sustainability.

In 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 14.1 billion euros. R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.5% of its net sales.

For more information please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

At Cambridge Assessment, our purpose is to help learners demonstrate and fulfil their potential. As a department of the University of Cambridge, we provide education programmes and exams in over 170 countries, offering global recognition through our three awarding bodies OCR, Cambridge Assessment English and Cambridge Assessment International Education. Each year we unlock the power of education for millions of learners of all ages and abilities.

We have unrivalled depth of experience in national education systems, international education and English language learning. We are an international not-for-profit organisation with unique strengths and 160 years of expertise. We support and learn from teachers, schools and governments and together we are shaping education and creating a confident future for learners and a real and lasting impact on the world.

Our qualifications are backed by the largest research capability of its kind and this enables us to help teachers, learners and governments stay at the forefront of education and unlock its power. Our research is not just about ensuring our qualifications and services are the very best for learners, it is also designed to add to knowledge and understanding about assessment in education, both nationally and internationally.

We strive to open doors for learners, to unlock the power of education and give them the confidence to thrive. We work with many national educational organisations and ministries through our international organisations, Cambridge Assessment English and Cambridge Assessment International Education. We work to improve standards of education, creating opportunity for learners around the world.

Cambridge Assessment has a high number of experts, with proven experience in curriculum and assessment design, and as a part of the University of Cambridge has access to world-leading resources, skills and research. We work in collaboration with institutions such as University of Cambridge Faculty of Education and Cambridge University Press to offer a comprehensive service to our partners.

cambridgeassessment.org.uk

Text supplied by the sponsor Cambridge Assessment

Economic Insight is an economics consultancy that provides an unrivalled level of client service. Our unique proposition is that we combine the rigour of technical economics with the consultancy skills of leading strategy houses. We use economics to provide our clients with a fresh perspective on the issues that matter most to them and to support superior decision making.

Our expertise is in helping clients solve critical, real world, strategic problems across the areas of business strategy, regulation, competition law and public policy. Our track record of delivering value-adding results means that we are trusted by major private and public sector organisations to advise at the most senior level. We work across all sectors, from fast moving consumer goods and retail through to regulated utilities. Our breadth of experience allows us to offer cross-sector insights that help our clients achieve their objectives.

As you would expect of a firm of specialist economists, our advice is underpinned by rigorous economic, statistical and financial analysis. But it’s how we use our analysis that makes us different. Our focus is on translating it into clear and valuable advice for our clients. In our opinion, that’s what makes economics relevant.