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A few weeks ago, we announced our exciting plans to celebrate the Fraser of Allander’s 50th anniversary.
As part of this, we were thrilled to announce that we are hosting our first economic and social policy conference.
Today, we are delighted to share further details on some of our planned programme across both days of the conference.
When? 18th and 19th September 2025
Where? Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde
The conference is free to attend and aims to provide insight on the work the institute and its partners conduct, and the importance this has across Scotland.
It will also provide an opportunity for economists, policy makers and those with an interest in economic and social policy to network.
Lunch will be provided at the conference, including refreshments across both days. There will also be designated quiet spaces within the conference centre to allow you to work and take calls
We have confirmed several exciting keynote speakers, as well as dynamic themed sessions delivered by our team and partners.
Programme
Thursday 18th September
8:30 – 8:55, Registration + Tea and Coffee
9:00 – 9:30, Welcome Address
9:30 – 10:30, Using our Work in Industry, Angela Mitchel, Marc Crothall, Liz Cameron and Claire Mack
10:30 – 10:55, Tea and Coffee
11:00 – 12:30, Themed Sessions A:
- Let’s Get Critical (Friend): Constructive Scrutiny in Scottish Policy Debates
- To Evaluate or Not Evaluate: That is the Rubric
- Perspectives on the labour market and employability programmes in Scotland
12:30 – 13:25, Lunch
13:30 – 14:15, Keynote Speaker: To Be Confirmed
14:20 – 15:50, Themed Sessions B:
- Exploring socioeconomic policy implementation as a means to addressing health inequality
- What can we learn from long-term analysis of the UK’s fiscal history?
- Scotland’s business community in 2025- Taking a 5-year stock.
16:00 – 17:30, Themed Sessions C:
- Paying for poverty reduction: How can Scotland meet its 2030 child poverty targets?
- Who gains from Trade? Trade and Tariffs in turbulent world.
- Data that delivers: Building a Stronger Evidence Base for Policy Impact
17:30 – 19:30, Poster Session and Networking Event
Friday 19th September
8:30 – 8:55, Registration + Tea and Coffee
9:00 – 9:45, Special Guest
9;45 – 10:50, Scottish Health Equity Research Unit Annual Report Launch with Stephen Boyle
11:00 – 12:30, Themed Sessions D:
- How far away is the UK from fiscal sustainability?
- Addressing evidence gaps and supporting better futures for underrepresented groups
12:30 – 13:25, Lunch
13:30 – 14:30, The value of research, an insight from the media
14:30 – 15:30, Professor Sir John Curtice
15:30 – 15:45, Closing Remarks
Below we set out more detail on what each of our sessions will include.
Keynote Sessions
Using our work in industry, Thursday 18th September
This session chaired by Mairi Spowage will provide perspective from key voices across the business community on the benefits of FAI research for industry. Panellists include Angela Mitchell – Deloitte Practice Senior Partner for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Claire Mack, CEO of Scottish Renewables; Mark Crothall, CEO at The Scottish Tourism Alliance; and Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
SHERU Annual Report Launch and Insight from The Auditor General, Friday 19th September
The Scottish Health Equity Research Unit will launch their annual report for 2025 at our conference. The report provides an update on health and socioeconomic inequality in Scotland featuring a deep dive into prevention and death from drugs, alcohol and suicide among young adult men. The launch will be followed by insight from the Auditor General for Scotland, Stephen Boyle.
The value of research, an insight from the media, Friday 19th September
This session, chaired by journalist and political commentator Peter McMahon will provide insight on the value of timely and clear economic research for journalist. Joined by a panel of Douglas Fraser, Business and Economic Editor at BBC Scotland; Chris Musson, Associate Editor at The Scottish Sun; and Gina Davidson, Scotland Political Editor with LBC.
Professor Sir John Curtice, Friday 19th September
Professor Sir John Curtice provides a look ahead to the 2026 Scottish election including discussion of the latest polling results. There will also be an opportunity for John to take questions.
Themed Sessions
As well as hearing from our keynote speakers, across the two days you will have the opportunity to attend several parallel themed sessions, highlighting the breadth of research and insight the Institute provide. Some of these include:
Let’s Get Critical (Friend): Constructive Scrutiny in Scottish Policy Debates
This session provides an overview of the Institute’s scrutiny work and the importance of good scrutiny in order to hold policymakers to account. The panel will share insight on what good scrutiny looks like, with an opportunity to provide suggestions on how it could be improved across different policy areas. This will include an audience participation exercise and an opportunity for Q&A.
To Evaluate or Not Evaluate: That is the Rubric
This session will explore the importance of evaluation in policy setting and programme development. This discussion will provide insight on what robust evaluation looks like and the current issues with conducting them. This will include insight on the challenges faced by organization’s looking to evaluate the impact of the services they provide, the factors that are considered when looking to aid organization’s evaluating their impact, and overall why evaluation is important for those looking to fund programmes and develop policy.
Perspectives on the labour market and employability programmes in Scotland
This panel session will hear from people working in roles across Scotland’s employment landscape, discussing opportunities for the employability sector and the labour market as a whole.
Exploring socioeconomic policy implementation as a means to addressing health inequality
This session explores SHERU’s work on policy implementation in Scotland. The session will look at local-level issues, featuring a panel discussion with people working in local authorities to put specific policy initiatives into action.
What can we learn from long-term analysis of UK fiscal history?
How have the UK Government’s tax and spending priorities changed over time, and how have we ended up with our current fiscal set-up?
Luke Lanskey, a senior fiscal analyst at the Office for Budget Responsibility, will present his work on a 300-year public finances database for the UK, highlighting the motivation for the work and the changes in historical patterns both in terms of how the UK Government raises money and what it spends it on.
This will be followed by a presentation by FAI Deputy Director João Sousa on the historical contingencies that have led to the UK’s fiscal architecture. How did we end up with a Spending Review process? Why do we have two forecasts a year, when most commentators and politicians would prefer a single one? Why are fiscal rules set out the way they are, and how could they be made better?
The session will conclude with Q&A.
Scottish business community in 2025 – Taking a 5-year stock?
It’s been over five years since the pandemic. Scottish Businesses have weathered lockdown restrictions, the energy crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U-turns and reverse U-turns in National Insurance Contributions. This session provides an insight on just how unprecedented this five year period been and how has that affected business sentiment in Scotland.
Paying for poverty reduction: How can Scotland meet its 2030 child poverty targets?
Scotland has set child poverty targets to be met by 2030, but evidence shows that current measures are far from enough. How can Scotland meet the targets – and where should the money come from?
This session combines presentations from FAI researchers on current spending and policy options with a panel discussion on which policies should be prioritised and where funding can be reallocated or raised under devolved powers.
The session will conclude with Q&A.
Who gains from Trade? Trade and Tariffs in turbulent world.
International turmoil over recent US trade policy decisions has highlighted the importance of trade for the health of the global economy. This session builds on the FAI’s work for the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) to discuss why trade matters and explore the factors that enable or prevent businesses from engaging more in trade. It will also cover national trade policy strategy, followed by panel discussion and Q&A.
Data That Delivers: Building a Stronger Evidence Base for Policy Impact.
High-quality data is the backbone of effective policy—but too often, gaps, inconsistencies, or blind spots limit our ability to design interventions that truly reflect lived realities. This session explores the enablers of meaningful data improvement: from better data design and infrastructure to stronger collaboration between analysts, policymakers, and communities.
How far away is the UK from fiscal sustainability?
This session will present some new FAI analysis on the long-term sustainability of the public finances, showing the critical role of long-term productivity growth and fiscal drag in determining the scale of the challenge facing the UK’s public finances
Addressing evidence gaps and supporting better futures for underrepresented groups
People with learning disabilities continue to face significant barriers in accessing paid employment, inclusive services, and opportunities to thrive. At the same time, there are critical gaps in the evidence needed to inform policies and practices that truly support this underrepresented group. This session will explore how we can build a stronger understanding of what works—particularly in helping people with learning disabilities find and sustain meaningful work. We’ll also consider how research can drive real-world change that promotes genuine inclusion.
Poster Session
There will also be a poster session on Thursday evening after the conference, which will provide an opportunity to network and explore the broader work conducted by the Institute. We will also have a number of exhibitors in attendance from organisations the Institute contributes to and supports, as well as those from across the Strathclyde Business School. Drinks and refreshments will also be provided.
We look forward to celebrating 50 years of the FAI with you in September!
If you have any questions about the conference, please get in touch at fraser50@strath.ac.uk