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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

Link to full briefing here: britishprogress.org/briefings/es...

Establishing An Exceptional Talent Office For National Competitiveness

Britain should establish an Exceptional Talent Office to headhunt the world’s best talent – those who will drive the next scientific and technological breakthroughs and build the leading companies of ...

britishprogress.org

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

The ETO will:
- Have the flexibility to design packages to incentivise exceptional talent to relocate to Britain
- Cover all STEM fields
- Target the diaspora as well as international talent.
- Provide a fast-tracked ETO visa (capped at 100 a year)
- Leverage philanthropic co‑funding

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

The ETO’s goal: relocate world-class talent so they discover, build & scale in Britain – in service of economic growth and prosperity for the British people.

We want a new idea forge that builds the future in Britain.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

But the UK is making itself unattractive to high-skilled migrants, and we are a net exporter of AI talent.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

- Highly skilled immigrants are responsible for about 36%–37% of US innovation.
- 15% of British residents are foreign-born, but 39% of our fastest-growing startups have an immigrant co-founder.
- In the US, ~70% of the top AI talent is foreign-born. In Britain, it is ~77%.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

Advancing the technological frontier & delivering growth, often depends on a small number of top performers:
- 1% of scientists capture more than 1/5th of citations globally
- A handful of researchers account for most high-value patents
- Star inventors build better companies than their peers

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

In the 1960-90s: Immigrant engineers— the “Traitorous Eight,” Andy Grove, Morris Chang— seeded Silicon Valley; by 2012, 44 % of its high-tech firms had immigrant founders.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

In the 1930-50s: European émigrés filled labs from Los Alamos to Bletchley, tipping the balance in rocketry, code-breaking & nuclear science; the US even ran Operation Paperclip, the UK Operation Surgeon, to headhunt and relocate them.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

History shows that human talent can shift the balance of global power. Inflows of exceptional talent shaped the rocket age, powered Bletchley Park’s wartime code-breaking, and built Silicon Valley & the chip industry.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · May 8

Britain’s long-term economic growth and strategic heft depend on winning top-tier scientists, engineers, and technical founders.

Following the government's announcement of a new head-hunting unit for exceptional talent, I wrote for
@britishprogress.bsky.social on what it should look like:

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

James O'Malley @jamesomalley.co.uk · Apr 7

New episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA!

Why we love Luton Airport, and a terrible plan for changing the London Mayoralty.

Plus we speak to @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social and @jujulemons.bsky.social about the launch of @britishprogress.bsky.social !

Listen:

www.abundancepod.com/p/why-we-lov...

Why we love Luton Airport, and a terrible plan for changing the London Mayoralty

Plus the exciting launch of the Centre for British Progress

www.abundancepod.com

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Christopher Smith @christophersmith.bsky.social · Apr 5

@britishprogress.bsky.social
A new project focussing on policies for British growth for the material and social well being of the British people.
Very much worth following, and featuring the excellent @ersatzben.bsky.social

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

Cover of the essay Rediscovering British Progress available at https://britishprogress.org/articles/rediscovering-british-progress

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Anna Stansbury @annastansbury.bsky.social · Apr 3

Across the pond, an exciting new voice on policy for productivity growth and progress!

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Marley Miller @marleygmiller.bsky.social · Apr 3

Very excited to be working with @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social @jujulemons.bsky.social and team to make the progressive case for growth as a fellow at the new Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.bsky.social

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

UK Day One @ukdayone.bsky.social · Apr 3

The @ukdayone.bsky.social election year project has now concluded and is now part of @britishprogress.bsky.social - you can check out our founding essay here... 👀

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · Apr 3

This is an intriguing addition to the centre-left think tank space, with an impressively dynamic leadership - I will be interested to see the ideas they produce!

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · Apr 3

I am incredibly proud to be founding @britishprogress.bsky.social
with @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social.

For the past year, we've been publishing ideas on economic growth and British progress with @ukdayone.bsky.social.

This will be a continuation and expansion of that work.

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Freddie Poser @freddieposer.com · Apr 3

So excited to be joining this team!

Can't wait to work with @jujulemons.bsky.social and @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social!

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Joe Hill @jo3hill.bsky.social · Apr 3

Great to see the team launch the Centre for British Progress today!

And fantastic to see people across the political spectrum making the case against Everythingism. Well done @jujulemons.bsky.social, @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social and the rest of the team!

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Centre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · Apr 3

💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress

Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.

It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇

britishprogress.org/articles/red...

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · Mar 10

Great piece by @chriscurtis94.bsky.social in @thetimes.com

"In the end, our test for the bill’s success is simple: will it stop the next bat tunnel?"

www.thetimes.com/article/8330...

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Reposted by Julia Willemyns

Jenny Read @jennycaread.bsky.social · Mar 9

I had the pleasure of attending a @starshiprobots.bsky.social event recently and seeing their extremely cute robots in action. I'd certainly love them to deliver to me up in Newcastle!

Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · Mar 8

This week I learnt cute delivery robots are illegal in the UK because a law ***from 1835*** still governs how things move on British pavements. 🧵

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · Mar 8

The UK government must update legislation to create a distinct legal category for delivery bots—separate from motor vehicles—to allow safe and regulated use on pavements.

Because these two images are obviously not the same…

Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · Mar 8

4) And it is an environmental setback. Every delivery made by a diesel van instead of a lightweight, electric-powered robot contributes to unnecessary emissions and urban congestion.

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Julia Willemyns @jujulemons.bsky.social · Mar 8

3)UK businesses are missing out on cost-saving automation that could cut last-mile delivery expenses by 40%.

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