Emma McClarkin MEP Graduates Industry scheme

Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin attended a presentation at the House of Lords by the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) last week, to mark the completion of her Industry & Parliamentary Fellowship Scheme with them.

The IPT Fellowship aims to link MEPs up with specific industries so that they can learn about how they operate in order to give them a greater knowledge and understanding of those sectors of the economy.

Fellowships are educational, non-lobbying attachments for parliamentarians, providing a unique perspective of the challenges and issues facing UK industries and businesses.

The Fellowship requires the parliamentarian to commit to 18 days to work with the businesses through a programme of agreed work and visits to various aspects of their industry.

Miss McClarkin, one of the MEPs representing the East Midlands in the European Parliament, did her fellowship with several East Midlands businesses, including Rolls Royce, BASF, Caterpillar, Denby Pottery and many small businesses at her own request. Miss McClarkin also looked at broadcasting with ITV and Channel 4.

She said:

“The IPT Fellowship has been a real eye-opener, giving me a great insight into what goes on behind the scenes in television production and in businesses across the region.

“Schemes such as this are a very important way for us to gain an understanding of various industries. It also gives us the chance to hear about how European Legislation is affecting different sectors and what we can do to improve the environment they work in.”