About Lord Harrington
Richard Harrington, Lord Harrington of Watford is a British businessman and politician. He was enobled in 2022 with a life peerage after a successful business and political career spanning four decades.
Following a successful 30 year career in business, he took his expertise into politics, where as an MP and Minister, and later appointed a Peer, he delivered on the government’s key objectives from co-writing the Industrial Strategy to implementing the ground-breaking Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
His expertise is in cross government working, being the first ever Minister to hold office in 3 departments together, and on partnerships between the private and public sectors.
Most recently he used his unique experience and insight to write a well received report on Foreign Direct Investment for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, which recommended a reorganisation of Government towards attracting investment to the UK. It was accepted by the Government, opposition and business groups across all sectors.
He currently advises large firms on their growth and engagement strategy as well as being a trustee for an organisation that supports UK start-ups, in addition to being on the board of notable charities and a regular media contributor.
My Work
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The Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment
In March 2023, the Chancellor and Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade asked Lord Harrington to conduct a Review into the UK’s approach to attracting foreign direct investment in the face of increasing competition for internationally mobile investment. The Review focused on the use of tools and structures to secure major FDI investments into the key growth sectors outlined by the Chancellor – Green Industries, Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Digital Technologies, and Creative Industries.
The Review engaged with over 200 companies, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds to identify how the UK government can build on its strengths and address key barriers to ensure it is the most attractive destination in Europe for inward FDI. Lord Harrington’s recommendations put investment at the heart of all parts of government.
The Review was published on 22 November 2023 at Autumn Statement.
The government response to the external review sets out how the government intends to respond to the Review’s recommendations.
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Refugee Resettlement
Minister of State for Refugees, jointly Home Office and DLUHC – March to September 2024
Following the invasion of Ukraine in March 2024, Richard was asked back to Government to successfully deliver on the then Prime Minister’s commitment to provide sanctuary to an uncapped number of Ukrainians fleeing war.
Using his experience in his former role as Minister for Syrian refugee resettlement, he implemented the innovative Homes for Ukraine scheme, which has brought over 200,000 Ukrainians to safety in the UK.
Sitting both in the Home Office and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, he was able to oversee a process that worked from beginning to end.
Minister for Refugees, jointly Home Office, DCLG and DfID, September 2016 – July 2016
In his first Ministerial role, Richard sat across three departments where he implements his ideas for cross government working. This model of working and a new model for refugee resettlement led to the successful resettlement of 20,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees.
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Business Career
Growing up in a small family-run shop, Richard has always been passionate about business.
After graduating from Oxford, he completed a graduate training programme with John Lewis Partners, deciding afterwards he wanted to create a company of his own.
With two friends he set up a property company in 1983 which still exists today. He was also jointly responsible for a number of other enterprises including a hotel and resort property business, now owned by Hilton and a wealth management business in the City, now owned by Canaccord Genuity.
Upon leaving politics in 2019, he returned to the business world becoming UK Chair of APCO, a strategic consultancy firm as well as advising an investment bank. He gave up his business interests on returning to Government in 2022.
Today, Richard has built a successful portfolio career, as an advisor to large corporate firms, investor in start ups and sits on the board of NESTA, which specialises in investing in social impact enterprises.
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Political Career
Richard served as a Minister in a number of Departments, delivering on the Government’s key objectives of the day.
He has specialised in improving cross- departmental working, becoming the first Minister to hold office in three departments together.
BUSINESS ROLES
Business and Industry Minister and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, June 2017 – March 2019
As Business and Industry Minister he was responsible for striking sector deals with industry, including life sciences, automotive, aerospace, professional services and creative industries.
His role was to develop partnerships between Government and private sector and in securing the innovative sector deals have led to significant investment from Government and private industry in Britain’s key manufacturing and services industries.
As minister with responsibility for Energy between 2017 and 2018 he moved Government focus to nuclear and renewable technologies.
Pensions Minister, Department for Work and Pensions, July 2016 – June 2017
Richard’s brief was to develop and implement the auto-enrolment system for workplace pensions, a transformative scheme for both employers and the majority of the working population.
Prime Minister’s Apprenticeship Advisor and Chairman of the Apprenticeship Board, June 2015 – July 2016
Richard was appointed to help the Government deliver it’s pledge to deliver 3 million new Apprenticeship starts by 2020.
