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Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Global: England plans to make academies follow the national curriculum – but it’s been getting more prescriptive for years

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dominic Wyse, Professor of Early Childhood and Primary Education, UCL

    Juice Flair/Shutterstock

    A national curriculum sets out what state school pupils should be taught during their time at school. But in England, the national curriculum currently applies to only around 44% of children – those in schools run by their local authority.

    The remaining children, including 81.7% of secondary school pupils, are at academies. These schools, the result of a policy to address disadvantage in education, are free to set their own curriculum. Independent, fee-paying schools have never had to follow the national curriculum.

    The government’s children’s wellbeing and schools bill proposes that academy schools would, for the first time, be required to follow the national curriculum.

    This proposal, along with others set to reduce the autonomy of academies, has raised some debate. Academies and their associated freedoms were a flagship policy of the previous Conservative government. Laura Trott, shadow education secretary, has said: “The Bill seeks to turn its back on Labour’s history and take back those academy freedoms on curriculum, on pay and on behaviour. You name it, they are reversing it — all the things that have done so much to improve our education system … And who will suffer? The poorest pupils in society.”

    As well as considering whether all pupils should be taught the national curriculum, England is currently in the middle of a review of the content of the curriculum itself. This is an excellent opportunity to consider how England’s national curriculum can best serve pupils and improve their education. Much evidence suggests the current curriculum is too prescriptive.

    One advantage of not having to follow the national curriculum is that schools can develop a programme of teaching, and how they go about teaching it, that is more closely aligned with the particular context of their school community and pupils.

    Teachers value having autonomy over what they teach.
    LightField Studios/Shutterstock

    Also, for many teachers, the power to control their curriculum is an appealing prospect that links with their professional identity (although evidence has shown that in some multi-academy trusts – groups of academy schools run together – teachers actually have less autonomy).

    Evidence from my forthcoming book with colleague Yana Manyukhina on how children experience the national curriculum shows that some schools who do not have to follow the national curriculum make use of it anyway. However, the academy school in our research project was also able and confident to innovate with their school curriculum by giving children more choices over their learning – in ways that the children we interviewed said highly motivated them.

    Government control

    A national curriculum was first established in England in 1988. Since then, there have been multiple significant revisions. Sometimes these revisions have been quite radical, overturning the ideas and details of previous national curricula.

    The current national curriculum was instituted in 2014. It was developed under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government and during Michael Gove’s time as secretary of state for education.

    One of the claims in favour of a country or region having a national curriculum is that this ensures that all pupils in a country have an entitlement to learn the same knowledge, skills and other aspects, such as values. The idea is that this will support educational standards by ensuring that all pupils have access to a baseline of knowledge.

    But national curricula often give power to governments to control what happens in lessons in schools. This limits what teachers can make professional decisions about, and provides less scope for teachers to build their teaching on the interests of the pupils that they teach.

    Before 1988, primary school teachers had full control over the curriculum and the teaching methods that they used. England’s first national curricula specified the knowledge to be taught but did not stray into the methods that teachers should use in order to teach.

    For more than two decades, my colleagues and I have tracked the intensification of control, by successive governments in England, over not only the content of the subject of English in primary schools but also the way it is taught. For instance, from 2021 guidance was added to the national curriculum prescribing that the teaching of reading must be taught through the one approach of “synthetic phonics”.

    Government actions are often to some degree based on political ideology. If they have the power to control the curriculum, their ideology can sometimes result in programmes of study that are not sufficiently based on what research shows is likely to be effective.

    For instance, my research shows that the heavy emphasis on the teaching of formal grammatical terms in the current curriculum is not based on evidence as to its value in teaching writing, suggesting that it is rather the result of ideological commitment.

    Irrespective of whether ultimately all schools are required to follow the national curriculum, the new curriculum should be much more evidence-based than the current one.

    A national curriculum can be a useful framework for schools. But it should not restrict subjects and teaching methods that may be of great benefit to children. I would argue that all schools should be given more freedom over the curriculum, and particularly over teaching methods. The government should publish a recommended curriculum that, crucially, schools are not bound in law to follow.

    Dominic Wyse receives funding for the research centre The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy (HHCP) from The Helen Hamlyn Trust. The Children’s Agency and the National Curriculum research project was funded by The Leverhulme Trust. He is currently advising on the primary curriculum for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in Ireland. He is advising the Welsh Government as part of his membership of the expert group on literacy.

    – ref. England plans to make academies follow the national curriculum – but it’s been getting more prescriptive for years – https://theconversation.com/england-plans-to-make-academies-follow-the-national-curriculum-but-its-been-getting-more-prescriptive-for-years-248508

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Innovating to detect deepfakes and protect the public

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Innovating to detect deepfakes and protect the public

    Collaborating to find ways to mitigate the growing threat from AI-generated deepfakes is an urgent national priority. 

    The rise in deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has been scarily rapid – a projected eight million will be shared in 2025, up from 500,000 in 2023. This sheer scale combined with greater sophistication and convincingness means finding ways to quickly detect and mitigate this ever-growing threat is an increasingly urgent priority. 

    Concerns over criminal manipulation of digital text, images and video are not new, but the proliferation in recent months of generative AI tools that enable anyone, anywhere to quickly, easily and cheaply create deepfake images has significantly changed the game.

    As deepfakes threaten to hit the mainstream across a range of harmful activity, from online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) to fraud and election interference, there is a corresponding drive to develop the tools and methods needed to tackle them at the required scale and pace. 

    In its role as an innovative enabler connecting frontline government and law enforcement with cutting-edge technology from industry, the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) is at the heart of this ramp-up in activity designed to find practical solutions to arguably the greatest challenge of the online age. And 2024 was a year where the marriage of cutting-edge technology, collaboration and fresh thinking enabled significant strides forward. 

    Circular collaboration 

    Clear results that accelerate crucial deepfake detection in a range of domains have been made across a series of focused commissions carried out by ACE. And just as importantly, learnings and practical experiences developed in one commission have been shared with others to pass on deeper knowledge and skills.  

    The biggest event in this space was the Deepfake Detection Challenge. Initiated by the Home Office, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, ACE and the renowned Alan Turing Institute, this visionary idea brought together academic, industry and government experts to develop innovative and practical solutions focused on detecting fake media.

    More than 150 people attended the initial briefing where five challenge statements pushing the boundaries of current capabilities were launched. The critical importance of collaboration and sharing of skills and knowledge was a recurring theme, and major tech companies including Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) provided practical support.  

    Eight weeks were spent developing innovative ideas and solutions on a specially created platform, which hosted approximately two million assets made up of both real and synthetic data for training and testing. Following this, 17 submissions were received, and six teams from our community – Frazer-Nash Consulting, IBM, Oxford Wave Research, Open Origins, Safe and Sound from the University of Southampton, and Naimuri – were selected to demonstrate their ideas in front of more than 200 stakeholders. 

    Solutions from Frazer-Nash, Oxford Wave, the University of Southampton and Naimuri, a combination of existing products that have been identified as potentially showing operational value as well as early-stage proof of concepts being developed against specific use cases including CSEA, disinformation and audio, are now going through benchmark testing and user trials. 

    Key insights from the initial challenge work, alongside the clear success in accelerating the state-of-the art in deepfake detection possibilities, included that curated data was critical to be able to make as much progress as possible in the time and conditions available, and that creating a dataset that was more representative of real-world operational scenarios would have been helpful.  

    Using better data to detect child abuse deepfakes 

    When another significant commission to further deepfake detection was brought to ACE by the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (OCSA), data development was a top priority.  

    To mature the EVITA (Evaluating video, text and audio) AI content detection tool the focus shifted away from volume.  

    As part of developing next-step recommendations, ACE leveraged its expertise from the Deepfake Detection Challenge to create a reusable ‘gold standard’ dataset. This dataset was designed to effectively test detection models, including those targeting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    By combining this ‘gold standard’ dataset with ACE’s extensive domain and community expertise – drawing on insights from Naimuri and Bays Consulting – ACE delivered rapid insights into the maturation of EVITA through comprehensive and diverse testing. 

    This work not only enabled ACE to deliver the requested next-step recommendations for the EVITA programme but also led to the development of a repeatable testing and evaluation approach for deepfake detection. This approach enhances the ability to interpret and understand the results generated by detection tools. 

    Alongside this, another piece of work was taking place exploring how AI can be used to detect deepfakes in policing. The biggest challenge is in digital forensics where, the ACE team heard, officers can be faced with up to a million child abuse images on a single seized phone.  

    This commission, working with community members Blueprint, Camera Forensics and TRMG, seeks to understand where deepfake detection tooling fits into the investigation stage to add most value. Next steps in this particular project are ‘making this real’ – working towards commissioning a proof of concept or trial of an existing capability.  

    And so the learning is becoming circular once more as the next stage of the Deepfake Detection Challenge progresses. This will push further than any work in this field so far, focusing on making the initial solutions presented more user-centric and deeply relevant to practitioners in the field. 

    Deepfakes are both a growing menace and an evolving threat, but bridging the gap between models and reality will be critical to tackling them at scale and at pace. ACE, its customers and suppliers remain laser focused on this evolution from the theoretical to the practical. The potential of innovation combined with collaboration has already proved to be a potent force in this area, the challenge – in all ways – is maximising the potential of what comes next.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: PM call with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada: 5 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The leaders began by reflecting on the close and historic relationship between the UK and Canada. From global security to clean energy and growth, they agreed on the importance of shared values between the two nations. 

    Discussing recent global events, the Prime Minister said he welcomed an international conversation on the importance of trade and collaboration between allies and partners. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, including his focus on stemming the deadly drug trade across Canada’s borders.

    The leaders also discussed the strong trading relationship between the UK and Canada, worth £26 billion, and how together both countries could go further to support growth and deliver for the hardworking Canadian and British people.

    As the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, both leaders underlined their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position. 

    On Syria, they agreed on the necessity of a political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. 

    They looked forward to speaking soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Martyn Oliver’s speech at the Sixth Form Colleges Association

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, spoke at the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) 2025 Winter Conference/AGM in London.

    Thank you, it is a great honour to be here. I was actually a head of sixth form for quite a few years in my career. It is one of the best things I ever did.

    So, thank you so much for the invitation to speak to you today and my real sincere thanks to Bill for the very many numerous meetings that we’ve had over the past year – it really helped me significantly Bill.

    As you may know, on Monday we launched a consultation on our renewed education inspection framework. This is what we’ll use to inspect schools, early years providers, initial teacher education, and of course further education and skills providers including colleges like all of you.

    Now, hopefully some of you, all of you I hope, have already had a look at the proposals, or seen them reported in the media. Some of you may even have already taken part in the consultation. If so, thank you! But if you haven’t yet, please please do.

    We have designed what we believe will be a really strong new framework that will better inform parents and families, drive higher standards for children and learners, and reduce pressure on leaders and professionals like you.

    But we are sure there are things we can do to improve. So, take a look, take part, and let us know what you think. Maybe there’s a way we can better tailor things for you? Maybe there’s some language that could be clearer? Maybe there’s a way we can do more to highlight your strengths and help you improve?

    Whatever it is, please don’t miss the chance to make a real difference.

    Aims of the new framework

    If you haven’t had a chance to look yet, let me tell you a little bit about what we are proposing.

    We have designed our new approach very carefully. We have built on everything we heard in the Big Listen. We have worked closely with experts, parent groups, unions, professionals, and sector representatives. We have done all that with several aims in mind.

    First of all, we want to give parents and families better, more nuanced, and more helpful information about the places educating their children. We want reports that make sense to them, that give them the information they want and need, and that fairly represent what it is or would be like for their children at a provider.

    Secondly, we want to put a strong focus on inclusion. On the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. We are proposing a specific evaluation area for inclusion. But it will also be a thread running through everything else we look at. Because I believe that if you get it right for the most disadvantaged, you get it right for everyone. I don’t think there’s a provider out there getting it right for them, and wrong for everyone else.

    And thirdly, we want to make a better system for all of you. The people making a difference through educating young people. We will of course rightly continue to expect high standards for all, but we know we can do that in a better way for those being inspected.

    Improved reporting

    But let me start with our new report cards. As I said, we know from the Big Listen that parents wanted a more nuanced picture. They want to know what a provider is doing well, and what it could improve upon. They want an honest and fair appraisal of what it’s like for children at the provider.

    I think it’s fair to say, our old approach wasn’t doing that. Overall effectiveness judgements were too broad brush. They weren’t helpful. They weren’t doing you justice.

    So here’s what we’re proposing:

    We’ll be grading providers against a range of evaluation areas. Here you can see the areas for a 6th form college. We expect most providers to look something like this one – with most areas in the ‘secure’ column and perhaps a few in the ‘strong’ column. If we have any concerns, they would appear under ‘attention needed.’

    Then we have two grades at either end. We have ‘causing concern’ when serious improvement, and possibly intervention, is required. And we have ‘exemplary’ for the truly remarkable, sector-leading practice. The sort of things that we think others could learn from and want to highlight.

    We know that not everyone will be happy with idea of grades and this approach. But our top priority always has to be children and learners, and their families. Clarity and accountability for providers is not a nice to have for them, it’s a must have. Parents told us that’s what they wanted, and that’s what we’re delivering.

    But through grading specific areas, not providers as a whole, our reports, we hope, will be fairer.

    Through the secure grade, a high standard on its own, and then through the strong grade, our reports will really show off what providers do best.

    Through the attention needed grade we hope that will help guide leaders as to what you need to work on. And we will return sooner to check on progress.

    Through the causing concern grade, we will continue to call out unacceptably low standards.

    And through the exemplary grade, we will share the very best work in the sector, and drive standards ever higher.

    So, anyone reading the report will be able to get this sort of instant snapshot of a provider. What they’re doing well, and where they can do better. But they will also be able to click on to any of the areas and if they want to know more they can see the detail of what we found when we inspected.

    Now, congratulations because 6th form colleges have always been one of the strongest types of further education, with high grades and real added value for the young people that you educate. I’m sure that may well continue, but this way it will be possible to see in more detail what it is that you are doing well. A richer, a fuller, and a more representative picture.

    Inclusion

    As you will undoubtedly have heard, we now have inclusion as one of the evaluation areas. But if, after this, you take a look at the detail of what we’re proposing, you’ll also see that it is a theme throughout the other evaluation areas too.

    I make no apologies for that. Inclusion is important to me, but we know through the Big Listen, it’s important to children too. So we want to make sure providers are considerate of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in everything that they do.

    I’m really interested in your views on what we’re proposing here. Many of you are already doing a great deal to help disadvantaged and young people. I know many 6th form colleges often do more than their neighbours to educate children with SEND, children from poorer backgrounds, children with lower grades, and children with other disadvantages.

    But of course, this is incredibly complicated, and only gets more so when trying to define what it is to be disadvantaged or vulnerable for young people once they turn 16. So, once again, your input will be really valuable to Lee and I.

    And of course, we need to be really clear on what we mean by inclusion. We have a working definition in the consultation as well, but we want to consider all views so it can be improved.

    So please do take part in this section of the consultation if you can. It’s something we absolutely have to get right, and with your help we will.

    Improved system for you

    But as well as improving the way that we report, and making sure we never lose sight of the most vulnerable, we also want to make sure we reduce the pressure on you. We want to let you focus on doing what’s best for the young people you educate.

    So, we will use new toolkits that are bespoke for the different types of provision. There will be a toolkit for further education and skills providers like you. And then different ones for schools, independent schools, early years, and initial teacher education.

    Obviously, there will be some overlap. Some of what you do is pretty similar to what schools with 6th forms do. And where appropriate we will use the same standards to inspect you both. But there are also differences, which we want to make sure we recognise and account for. Leadership of a school educating children from 11 to 18 is obviously different to a college. So, we want to be fair and balanced, while recognising the real differences that do exist.

    But no matter whether you’re a 6th form college or a nursery, or anything in between, we will still do what we can to reduce pressure and complexity for you.

    Here’s an example of one of the proposed toolkits that we’ll be using to inspect you.

    There’s a table like this for each of the evaluation areas that you saw on the previous slide. Within each area there are themes that say 6th form evaluation area curriculum and then you can see the theme is possibly attention needed, secure and strong. There is a description of what provision would look like at each of the grade levels too. You can see those as the standards on this slide.

    These will be published in full. We want to be fully transparent, and will be publishing our inspector training materials too. But we also want you to be able to use the toolkit when we inspect, and also in between inspections.

    And we have based these toolkits on the legal requirements and professional standards that you are already working to. We don’t want you doing anything different just ‘for Ofsted’.

    We’ll also be taking more account of your context, the circumstances in which you’re working. We of course can’t excuse unacceptably low standards, but we do want to do more to recognise the value you’re adding, the difference that you’re making.

    So our inspections will be different, but we also want them to feel different. We want to be more collaborative. We want to be more supportive. We want inspection based around professional dialogue. We’ll have a discussion, starting with the secure grade. We’ll ask you things like, “where do you think you are?”, and, “what evidence can you show us?”, “what are you really proud of”, and “what are you currently working on?”

    Every provider will also be able to select a nominee. A senior staff member who will work with us closely throughout the process and be fully involved and informed.

    And we’re taking other steps like dropping deep dives as the only main method for gathering evidence, only having a single type of inspection so you know exactly what inspection to expect, developing inspection teams with experience of working in each remit, and introducing more iterative monitoring visits to support rapid improvement.

    We hope these will combine with steps that we’ve already taken to make life a little easier for you during inspections, and when you’re expecting one.

    Please take part

    So that’s a whirlwind tour of what we’re proposing. But please please do take part in the consultation and take a look at all of it in more detail. You can get straight to the consultation through the QR code on the slide there.

    As I said, we have developed it really carefully and deliberately over many months, and with lots of external input. But it is also not set in stone. I didn’t come here today just to tell you ‘this is what is happening’. I came to ask for your help.

    I want your scrutiny, your expertise, your consideration. So please let us know if you think something could be better, or clearer, or fairer. And if you think something’s great, definitely tell us that too! I’d be delighted, Bill, to receive a response from the Sixth Form Colleges Association too.

    We’re consulting until 28 April and we’ll be testing our approach during that time too. Our inspectors will complete full training on the new finalised approach before they start inspecting colleges like yours in November. That gives us the whole of the period from the consultation closing and all of September and all of October to train you and to train our staff. This will be an unprecedented amount of training that takes place if this consultation stands.

    With your help and input, we can build the best system for parents and families, for you, and most importantly for children, young people, and all learners.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada: 5 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.

    The leaders began by reflecting on the close and historic relationship between the UK and Canada. From global security to clean energy and growth, they agreed on the importance of shared values between the two nations. 

    Discussing recent global events, the Prime Minister said he welcomed an international conversation on the importance of trade and collaboration between allies and partners. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, including his focus on stemming the deadly drug trade across Canada’s borders.

    The leaders also discussed the strong trading relationship between the UK and Canada, worth £26 billion, and how together both countries could go further to support growth and deliver for the hardworking Canadian and British people.

    As the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, both leaders underlined their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position. 

    On Syria, they agreed on the necessity of a political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. 

    They looked forward to speaking soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Net Zero Council relaunched to supercharge Clean Energy Superpower Mission

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Government relaunches an expanded Net Zero Council, bringing together business, civil society and local authorities to drive the clean energy transition as part of the Plan for Growth.

    • New Net Zero Council is tasked with ensuring the clean energy transition drives economic growth and creates jobs as part of government’s Plan for Change
    • brings together a broader range of representatives from organisations including World Wildlife Fund, Design Council and Local Government Association, alongside others including Siemens, HSBC and Nestle
    • Council to deepen public-private partnership to maximise economic opportunities for the UK

    Leaders from major businesses, civil society and local authorities have backed the government’s pro-growth and clean energy superpower missions following a meeting of the relaunched Net Zero Council (5 February), with a plan to help sectors accelerate to net zero and support thousands of jobs.

    Co-chaired by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Co-operative Group CEO Shrine Khoury-Haq, the Council brings together leaders from some of the UK’s biggest businesses, charities and organisations, as well as trade unions and local authorities.  

    New members include representatives from the Trades Union Congress and Design Council, bringing expertise of green skills and jobs creation to the council to support the government’s mission for clean energy growth on the path to net zero.  

    This broader coalition strengthens the Council’s ability to unlock the opportunities of decarbonisation, with major industry players such as Siemens, Nestle and HSBC returning to the Council alongside new members including the Local Government Association and Aviva Investors to seize the growth opportunities of decarbonising the economy. 

    The first meeting focused on agreeing the Council’s priorities for 2025/26, which will include: 

    • a new focus on providing expert input to inform government strategies relating to net zero
    • supporting the development and delivery of sector roadmaps, helping businesses to develop transition plans and investors to identify opportunities
    • supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to decarbonise while maximising the benefits of the transition
    • informing the government’s approach to public engagement and developing products to support public participation with net zero

    A new Delivery Group will oversee the Council’s workstreams and help to drive progress. 

    The relaunch reflects a new mission-led approach, ensuring government actively engages with a broad range of industry leaders and stakeholders to drive progress towards net zero. This will support the Plan for Change to help deliver new jobs and economic opportunities while ensuring a fair transition. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    Businesses and leaders across our country recognise that clean power and accelerating towards net zero represents the economic opportunity of the 21st century.  

    It is one which will protect bills, create jobs, and tackle the climate crisis. This Council is about mission-driven leadership, bringing government, business and civil society together to turn ambition into action. 

    By working in partnership, we can drive the investment, innovation and industrial transformation needed to make the UK a clean energy superpower.  

    Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said: 

    The relaunch of the Net Zero Council comes at a critical moment in the UK’s journey towards a clean energy future.  

    Bringing together leaders from across business, finance and civil society, the Council will play a crucial role in accelerating net zero ambitions, driving economic growth and creating thousands of jobs. 

    Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of The Co-operative Group, said: 

    Working urgently for a faster, fairer transition to a greener, cleaner economy is an absolute imperative. For the sake of our planet and for every community here in the UK and around the globe, it’s crucial we work together to unlock the significant opportunities the transition will bring for economic growth too. 

    I’m therefore delighted to be continuing in my role as Co-chair of the Net Zero Council. The science couldn’t be clearer that we must act collectively and decisively, and co-operation between businesses, civic society and government is what we need now more than ever. 

    While the Council itself is made up of senior leaders from key sectors, it is committed to an inclusive engagement strategy, ensuring a broad range of voices contribute to net zero delivery beyond formal members. This approach will ensure that businesses, communities and experts across the UK have opportunities to inform strategy, share best practices and help shape the transition. 

    Statements from Net Zero Council and Delivery Group members  

    Bev Cornaby, Director of the UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK), said:

    The relaunch of the Net Zero Council marks an important step in strengthening collaboration between government, business, civil society, and local government to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero. Businesses are ready to lead, invest, and innovate, but they need the right policy framework and long-term clarity to unlock the full potential of a clean, competitive economy. The UK Corporate Leaders Group welcomes the opportunity to bring business leadership and ambition to the Council, supporting accelerated delivery and ensuring that government strategies are informed by real-world insights and that industry can play a central role in delivering a net zero future.

    David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Redrow, said:  

    I’m pleased to join the Net Zero Council at a critical time for the environment and as we scale up to build the new high quality, energy efficient homes the UK desperately needs. 

    Government has set out its clear ambition to shift to clean energy, meanwhile the homebuilding industry is making good progress towards delivering net zero homes and places – but we must unite behind one plan and work together to build a sustainable future.

    Minnie Moll, Chief Executive of the Design Council, said:   

    I am honoured to join the Net Zero Council to contribute to this crucial national mission and represent the voice of design as a transformative tool for innovation. Design has the power to cut across sectors, fuelling innovative thinking, embracing circular approaches, and turning the challenges of climate change into opportunities for economic growth, improved quality of life, and a cleaner, more sustainable future for all. We are excited to bring our expertise to this ambitious mission and support the UK’s leadership in becoming a clean energy superpower.

    John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK said: 

    I am delighted to bring SUEZ’s expertise in the circular economy to the Net Zero Council. Often unseen, the work of the waste and resources sector sits at the core of the delivery of the Industrial Strategy – at the same time as we are taking steps to decarbonise our own operations, the sector is helping other sectors to decarbonise by providing secondary resources for manufacturing, and energy and fuels for transport, homes and industry. A resource efficient economy is a thriving economy and I’m looking forward to working in partnership with industry peers to advance the Government’s mission to become a Clean Energy Superpower.

    Ian Simm, Founder & Chief Executive, Impax Asset Management said:  

    It’s very encouraging to see the Net Zero Council relaunched and I welcome the decision to expand its membership to include representatives from civil society and local government. The Council has a vital role to play at a moment when pivotal decisions are being made that will decide the future shape of the UK economy, not least on housing, infrastructure, and energy supply. I look forward to providing an investor’s view regarding how the Council can maximise its impact and effectiveness, both in helping to shape the shift to a net-zero economy and in supporting the Government’s broader and much needed growth agenda.

     Jennifer Beckwith, Senior Manager, CBI, said: 

    Accelerating to net zero and achieving growth is society’s defining economic challenge – one that can only be achieved through industry and government partnership. Inaction on the transition is costlier than action and business wants to play its part in achieving sustainable growth. 

    Increasing decarbonisation beyond the power sector is the big opportunity to grow clean energy markets, scale infrastructure and advance green technologies. The government leading collaboration across business and finance sectors powerfully signals to investors a focus on delivery that can help get capital moving.

    Ed Lockhart, Convenor, Broadway Initiative, said: 

    UK businesses need certainty, including on the transition to a clean energy future, to invest, grow and ultimately improve living standards. 

    By launching the Net Zero Council aligned to the clean energy mission, the Government is providing a much-needed platform for the business community, financial institutions, civil society and Government to work in partnership on a shared and inclusive long-term plan. 

    The Broadway Initiative looks forward to bringing business and environmental organisations together to make the most of this opportunity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Help make Salford pharmacies better

    Source: City of Salford

    The Salford Health and Wellbeing Board is working on a new Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for local Salford pharmacies.

    Residents across Salford are being asked to share their experiences. What services do you currently use at local pharmacies, and what services do you need? Are some of the questions being asked.

    The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) examines the current provision of pharmaceutical services in Salford and whether this meets the population’s needs.

    The assessment helps identify any potential gaps in pharmaceutical service delivery. For example, NHS England will use the PNA to help decide whether to approve applications for new pharmacies in Salford.

    Salford Health and Wellbeing Board is conducting a new Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for Salford, which involves gathering feedback from the public regarding pharmacy services.

    The PNA is a legal requirement for the Salford Health and Wellbeing Board. However, residents sharing opinions can help ensure that pharmacy services in Salford are tailored to residents’ needs.

    Responses will assist in identifying any gaps in services and could influence future decisions regarding changes in pharmacy provision.

    Councillor Mishal Saeed, Executive Support Member for Social Care and Mental Health, said: “Our local pharmacies are essential pillars of our community, providing invaluable care and support through services like NHS Pharmacy First and the NHS Minor Ailment Scheme. With many pharmacies offering weekend access and free consultations for common illnesses, we are making healthcare more accessible than ever.

    Pharmacists are on hand to address medication concerns, promote healthy living, and offer vital services such as contraception and smoking cessation support. By collaborating and promoting initiatives within our networks, we can enhance the support for local pharmacy services in Salford and ensure that every member of our community has access to the care they need.

    We would greatly appreciate your support in promoting the survey within your networks, community groups and digital channels to encourage as many responses as possible. Your contribution will be invaluable to local pharmacy services in Salford.”

    Residents looking to share their feedback and have their say should visit, www.salford.gov.uk/pharmacysurvey.

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    Date published
    Wednesday 5 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New climate plan set to be scrutinised

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A range of new measures designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout Plymouth are set to be discussed by members next week.

    The latest incarnation of the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP), a three-year delivery strategy that sets out the City Council’s response to its pledge to reach net zero, will be debated by the Natural Infrastructure and Growth scrutiny panel on Wednesday 12 February.

    While detailing updates on a number of ongoing actions like the continuing electrification of fleet vehicles, as well as the retro-fitting of low-carbon heating methods on buildings, new initiatives are also in the pipeline.

    These include:

    • Beginning the delivery of the externally-funded £400m heat network which will see major buildings in the city centre with the waterfront connected and heated by a central source
    • Submitting an expression of interest for participation in the Department of Transport’s e-scooter trial scheme
    • Support the delivery of the UK’s first end-to-end commercial waste recycling plant for electric vehicle batteries in Plymouth
    • Following the lead of other similar-sized cities by exploring the feasibility, potential role and benefits of emissions-based vehicle charging tariffs.

    Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, will present the plan to colleagues.

    Tom said: “This latest version of the Net Zero Action Plan is bold and brings forward a raft of measures that will make great strides towards our net zero ambitions.

    “Although previous plans have also been effective, this time we have gone back to the data and thus have an increased focus on the city’s most high emitting sectors, namely transport and buildings.

    “I do understand that for some people, parts of this plan may seem ambitious but ambitious is what we must be if we are to ensure the environmental sustainability of our city and planet.”

    The NZAP covers two areas – commitments to reduce emissions from Council-owned facilities and also how the Council can use its influence to help the city as a whole move towards net zero.

    The Council has been producing the plan with annual updates since it first declared a climate emergency in 2019, and through actions already completed has reduced its own carbon emissions by 18.1 per cent between 2019 and 2022.

    Following its appearance at the cross-party scrutiny committee, any recommendations will be considered before the NZAP is voted on by Full Council on 17 March.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Isle of Wight Council unveils 2025/26 budget amid financial pressures 5 February 2025 Isle of Wight Council unveils 2025/26 budget amid financial pressures

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    In the face of escalating costs and funding challenges, the Isle of Wight Council has today (Wednesday) unveiled its budget for 2025/26, with a spotlight on community protection and essential improvements.

    The draft budget seeks to tackle the substantial pressures on public finances while safeguarding the wellbeing of residents and preserving the essential frontline services that many Islanders depend on.

    The financial climate for local government remains tough, with costs climbing faster than income and funding. The council faces the daunting task of additional spending of £15.8 million in children’s services and adult social care next year, merely to maintain services at existing levels.

    This significant increase is driven by rising demand and the need to ensure vulnerable residents receive the care and support they require.

    In response, the council proposes a five per cent council tax increase, including two per cent specifically for adult social care. This is in line with the majority of councils across the country, which are facing similar pressures, although some authorities are contemplating increases as high as 15 to 25 per cent. The Isle of Wight Council is striving to keep increases as low as possible.

    The council’s strategy relies on careful use of reserves to manage its underlying budget deficit over time. However, it’s crucial to maintain these reserves at responsible levels to ensure financial stability and to be able to continue providing services at sustainable levels.

    Of the £1.5 million savings needed next year, efficiencies and income generation will deliver the required savings without cutting services. This includes streamlining operations and exploring new revenue streams to maintain service levels.

    After listening to the needs of local businesses and residents, the council is proposing to freeze parking charges at their current levels for the second consecutive year. This measure aims to alleviate the financial strain on household budgets and support the high street. Additionally, crossing charges on the floating bridge will remain unchanged.

    The council will also continue to invest in highway drainage schemes to reduce flooding and fund repairs to footpaths and bridleways damaged by the recent winter storms. These investments are crucial for maintaining safe and accessible infrastructure across the Island. A key highlight of the budget is the investment in schemes to support coastal protection, crucial for protecting the homes and livelihoods of residents in vulnerable coastal regions.

    This includes repairs or improvements to promenades, seawalls, railings and groyne refurbishment, which are essential for mitigating the impacts of coastal erosion and climate change.

    The budget also includes improvements at Beaulieu House, the children’s disability residential and respite home in Newport, ensuring it can continue to provide essential services and support to those in need. These upgrades will enhance the facility’s capacity to deliver high-quality care and support. Meanwhile, the council is introducing schemes specifically designed to help young people who are leaving the care system find stable and long-term housing options.

    The budget also prioritises responsible repairs and renewals in public spaces. By maintaining and improving the public realm, the council aims to create a safe, functional, and welcoming environment for all residents and visitors. This includes replacing play equipment, litter bins and benches where necessary.

    In addition, the council has planned investments in capital schemes for school maintenance and adaptations to disabled residents’ homes as part of a £13 million capital programme. These projects will improve educational facilities across the Island and enable disabled residents to live independently in their own homes.

    Furthermore, there is more planned investment in the Gouldings care home in Freshwater and the Parklands Dementia Hub in Cowes, building on the significant improvements already made in these important facilities.

    Council leader, Councillor Phil Jordan, said: “Despite the challenging financial climate, our commitment to protecting and improving our community remains steadfast. We are dedicated to ensuring our community continues to thrive, even in the face of economic pressures.

    “One of our top priorities is the protection of our coastal areas. By investing in coastal infrastructure, we are taking proactive steps to safeguard our coastal regions from erosion and flooding. This investment goes beyond infrastructure; it’s about securing the homes and livelihoods of our residents.

    “The council continues to advocate for fair funding for the Island from the government. By maximising spend from minimal funding, keeping charges down, investing in capital schemes, balancing the budget responsibly, using reserves wisely, and re-structuring where possible, we are working hard to minimise any adverse impacts on our residents.

    “This draft budget is about balancing our financial responsibilities with the needs of our community, and I believe it strikes  that balance effectively.”

    Looking ahead, the council acknowledges the need for ongoing savings and has forecast a savings requirement of £2.5 million for 2026/27 and £2 million per annum for the subsequent years, to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

    The budget will be considered by the council’s Cabinet on Thursday, 13 February, and by Full Council on Wednesday, 26 February.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Residents can now sign up for this year’s garden waste collections in Sunderland.

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Registration is now open for garden waste collections, and residents with a garden are being encouraged to sign up before Friday 28 February to guarantee receiving all 17 fortnightly collections between March and November 2025.

    This year garden waste will be collected from Tuesday 25 March, with a subscription fee of £38.50. Anyone who signs up after Friday 28 February may not receive all the collections, but the price will remain the same.

    Garden waste collected from brown bins is taken to a facility where its first shredded and then naturally processed into compost.

    There are many benefits to recycling your garden waste. These include cutting disposal costs while turning waste into a useful and valuable soil conditioner, for landscaping and gardening. It’s also a natural method of processing material which prevents unnecessary waste and helps reduce your carbon impact.

    Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet for the Environment, Net Zero and Transport, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: “By turning garden waste into compost, you’re not only helping the environment, but also supporting a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.” 

    “While signing up for the collections is optional, garden waste collections play a vital role in helping our community recycle more and reduce the amount of waste sent for energy recovery. It’s more convenient for residents to allow us to dispose of the garden on your behalf.”

    To sign up and find out more information visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/gardenwaste

    Use the ‘find my bin day’ service to check when to put your garden waste bin out for collection at www.sunderland.gov.uk/bindays

    If you currently don’t have a garden waste bin or you would like to order an additional garden waste bin, call 0191 520 5550 or visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/gardenwaste

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London Assembly Member Leonie Cooper welcomes Government support for Super Reservoir in Abingdon. 

    Source: Mayor of London

    Leonie Cooper, Labour Group spokesperson for Environment, has welcomed Government plans to build a new super reservoir in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

    The proposals, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today, would see nine new reservoirs built, as the Government has agreed for water companies to invest £7.9b to improve the UK’s water infrastructure. 

    When complete, the Abingdon Reservoir is set to produce up to 270 million litres of water per day, providing additional water supplies for millions of people across London and the South-East. 

    Expanding the UK’s reservoir capacity will secure safe, high-quality water for several generations to come, and demonstrates the government’s commitment to kickstarting economic growth by investing in the UK’s water infrastructure. 

    Assembly Member Cooper has campaigned for the reservoir to be built since 2016 when first elected, raising the issue at City Hall. She has welcomed the progress, saying this will be of enormous benefit in providing clean water for Londoners in the decades to come. 

    London Assembly Labour environment spokesperson Leonie Cooper AM said: 

    “London has some of the highest quality drinking water in the world. For nearly 15 years more than 99.95 per cent of tests taken from Londoners’ taps have met the stringent standards set by Europe and the UK.

    “I am delighted with the plan to go ahead with the long-planned Abingdon Reservoir project. This will be of enormous benefit to Londoners and will provide clean water for decades to come.

    “I will continue to campaign for the water companies and central  government to make sure that construction of the Abingdon Reservoir project is accelerated to 2035 – two years sooner than planned.” 

    ENDS 

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Redeveloped Derby Market Hall built with accessibility and inclusion as key priority

    Source: City of Derby

    When the newly redeveloped Derby Market Hall opens in the spring, it will be one of the most accessible and inclusive public buildings in Derby and the wider region.

    Through thoughtful design with access and inclusion as a key priority, the £31.5m transformation of the historic building, part funded with £9.43m from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF), will ensure that the Market Hall and its surrounding areas, including Osnabruck Square, are easily accessible and inclusive to all visitors who can navigate the space with ease. 

    The redevelopment includes a new lift to provide seamless access between the ground and first floors.  The flooring has also been levelled to facilitate step free access, removing any barriers, and creating an inclusive public space. 

    A key addition to the Market Hall’s new facilities is the installation of a changing places toilet, which is the fifth in Derby’s city centre. These larger than standard toilets are equipped with extra features such as hoist, changing bed, shower and height adjustable wash basin. 

    With accessibility and inclusion at the core of the Market Hall’s restructure, the Market Hall’s colours remain the same but have now been muted to support visually impaired visitors. Additionally, the lighting has been designed at the correct lumens to improve visibility. Fixtures, fittings and furniture have also been specifically coloured contrasted to enhance accessibility. 

    Beyond the Market Hall, Osnabruck Square has been transformed with accessibility and inclusion in mind. Featuring new inclusive benches with arm rests to assist with getting on and off, the outside space will also be accessible. A modern linear drainage system has also been installed to remove surface water, ensuring a smooth experience for disabled people.

    Additionally, Osnabruck Square will also feature three designated blue badge parking spaces, making it easier for blue badge holders to access the Market Hall and surrounding areas.

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of the Council, and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy said:

    Accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of our work in the city centre and beyond. I am so proud that accessibility features have been key priorities in the redevelopment of the Market Hall from the beginning through to construction. 

    Derby is an inclusive city for all, and the new features available at the Market Hall sets a new benchmark for regeneration and development projects both in Derby and the wider region. We hope that this space will be welcoming for everyone, and I am looking forward to welcoming visitors to the inclusive and accessible Market Hall when it opens in Spring 2025.

    The Market Hall redevelopment is a £31.5m project part funded with £9.43m from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF). It is in the second phase of the transformation, focusing on refurbishing the interior and developing the public space outside at Osnabruck Square. 

    Located at the heart of the City Centre, linking Derbion and St Peter’s Quarter with the Cathedral Quarter and Becketwell, the new Market Hall will play a key role in widening the diversity of the City Centre and will generate £3.64m for the local economy every year. 

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London Assembly Member Mahfouz urges transports chiefs to create bus stop outside West Drayton Cemetery entrance

    Source: Mayor of London

    London Assembly Member Mahfouz urges transports chiefs to create bus stop outside West Drayton Cemetery entrance

    Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, has written to Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of Transport, to present the case for a new bus stop outside West Drayton Cemetery to serve mourners and visitors.

    The letter is in response to a petition started by members of the Hayes Muslim Centre which has gained 350 signatures so far.

    West Drayton cemetery is located within a residential neighbourhood on Harmondsworth road. Local people travelling to West Drayton currently take the 350 bus to the closest bus stop located outside Tesco’s on Station Road before walking around 15-minutes to the cemetery.

    Transport for London (TfL) aims for local people within the capital to live within 400 meters of a bus stop, however at more than twice the distance residents, mourners and staff are often forced to drag gardening tools, flowers and incense from the nearest bus stop on Station Road to the graveside. This presents significant difficulties for many visitors, especially those with mobility issues and respiratory health conditions.  

    Local resident, Imran Bhani, who lost his wife and child three years ago said:

    “The events which took place in January 2021 will haunt me for the rest of my life. In just seven short hours I lost my wife to a long-term illness and my son to Covid-19.

    “Nobody should ever have to bury their 26 – year- old child but due to the global pandemic I was one of many people that have. They say that time can be a great healer but for me visiting them and honouring them with prayers and fresh flowers each day makes my grieving process a little easier.

    “I would urge TFL and the Mayor of London to make life easier for fellow mourners at West Drayton Cemetery, every day I see older and disabled people dragging watering cans, spades and gardening forks from the nearest bus stop which is about 15 minutes away on Station Road.

    “We are all getting older and whilst I am just about managing the journey each day there will come a time when I will no longer be able to cope.

    Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon said:

    “Losing a lost one is always traumatic.  Family and friends want to be able to pay their respects to family and friends who are no longer with them.  It is quite unbelievable that this large cemetery has a bus drive straight past the entrance, but not stop at the front gates.  I am convinced that many local people would benefit from this proposal and make it easier for mourners, especially those who are older, or with mobility issues.

    Ends

     

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Return of 222, U1 and U3 Bus Services to West Drayton Station

    Source: Mayor of London

    Return of 222, U1 and U3 Bus Services to West Drayton Station

    Commuters and residents in West Drayton can celebrate the return of vital bus services to the station forecourt as routes resume on Saturday, 18 January.

    The restoration of services includes key routes such as the 222, U1, and U3 buses, enhancing connectivity for the area. The resumption of bus services to the forecourt further solidifies the station’s role as a key transport hub for the area, and will reinforce West Drayton’s connectivity to Greater London.

    The return of bus services follows the completion of major works in December 2024 to improve the station forecourt by addressing drainage problems and improving pedestrian access to ensure safer and more accessible transport options for the community.

    Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz has long been advocating for the completion of the forecourt improvement works and the reinstatement of accessible bus services.

    Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said:

    “After months of dedicated work and significant upgrades, I’m delighted to see buses once again serving West Drayton Station. This marks a huge step forward in improving accessibility and connectivity for local residents and commuters. The completion of these works represents not just an infrastructure improvement but also a meaningful enhancement to the quality of life for everyone who relies on these services.”

    Danny Beales, Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said:

    “I’m incredibly pleased to see the return of essential bus services to the station. As the local Member of Parliament, I’ve worked collaboratively with the GLA, Network Rail and local residents to work to get this bus back up and running. This marks a significant milestone in bettering transport links for our community, and from now on, local commuters will have a more convenient and accessible option for their everyday travel.”

    ENDS

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Works to create step-free access restart following four-year delay

    Source: Mayor of London

    Construction work has resumed at Northolt Tube station to make it step-free, after being paused four years ago due to the global pandemic.

    Commuters with mobility issues and residents with young children living in Northolt can finally look forward to the station improvements as work resumed on Monday, 3 February.

    Transport for London (TfL) will carry out cable diversions at Northolt Underground station which are part of the preparatory works needed to make the station step-free.

    The main construction works to make the station step-free are expected to start this spring and are expected to be completed by summer 2026.

    Accessibility champion, Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz, has long been campaigning to create step-free access at Northolt, having successfully campaigned to get lifts installed in neighbouring Greenford and Hanwell underground stations.

    Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said:

    “Northolt is an incredibly busy station and local residents deserve the right to have an accessible platform to connect them into central London and beyond. I was delighted to gain the commitment to make it step free in 2019. Now with COVID out of the way, it’s full steam ahead to open up the station to parents with buggies, shoppers, the elderly and disabled, really putting Northolt on the map.”

    John McGeachy, Campaigns Manager, Age UK London said: “It is very good news to hear that work is restarting to make Northolt Station step-free. This will make a huge difference to the many older and disabled people who will be able to use services from the station. Any efforts to make transport more accessible for everyone is very welcome.”

    Cyreeta Donaldson, Regional Campaigns Officer for London at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: “We’ve been advising TfL to help ensure step-free access is prioritised at Northolt Station and across the Tube network where appropriate. We’re pleased work is now set to progress and we look forward to continuing to work with them on further station upgrades including improved signage and tactile markings which have huge benefits for blind and partially sighted people.”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reading and writing boost to drive high and rising standards

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Thousands of pupils set to benefit from a £2 million investment in reading and writing, breaking down the barriers to opportunity.

    Thousands of pupils across England are set to benefit from a £2 million investment to drive high and rising standards in reading and writing, building on the Education Secretary’s plan for a new era of school standards.  

    In her speech to the Centre of Social Justice (Monday 03 February), the Education Secretary outlined how the success of phonics delivered for millions of children but now was the time to build on this work with a new focus on reading and writing.  

    A third of children leave primary school without fundamental reading, writing and maths skills, this increases to over half for disadvantaged pupils.   

    There also continues to be a decline in children and young people reading for pleasure with the number of children aged 8-18 who enjoy reading in their spare time reduced by a third since 2019. Reading for pleasure has been associated not only with increases in reading attainment but also with writing ability, text comprehension, grammar and breadth of vocabulary.

    Building on the success of phonics, teachers will receive additional training to help children progress from the early stages of phonics in reception and year 1 through to reading fluently by the time they leave primary school. This will be delivered through the English Hubs programme, a school-to-school improvement programme to drive up standards.  

    In secondary school, teachers will be offered new training and resources this year to help them support readers at all levels, and next year the Department will commission further training that will be focused specifically on struggling readers in secondary school who are at risk of falling behind.      

    As part of the £2 million investment, £1 million will be available for secondary schools with the greatest need to apply for, to support them to purchase reading programmes and other resources to support struggling readers. 

    A strong foundation in reading and writing is crucial for children to achieve and thrive, enabling them to not only benefit from the rest of the curriculum, but also help them develop a love for reading from an early stage.    

    As part of the government’s drive to improve reading and writing, the department will also publish a writing framework in the summer, that will be a first step to support schools in delivering high quality writing provision across England ensuring all pupils have a strong foundation in writing.   

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:  

    This government will build on the successes of recent decades, raising the bar when it comes to standards and delivering on our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success.  

    Reading and writing are the cornerstones of learning. They hold the keys to the rest of the curriculum, with pupils who struggle to read so often struggling across the board.   

    So while progress has been made – in particular when it comes to phonics – now is the time to take that work to another level.  

    That means continuing to drive up quality of teaching, giving our brilliant teachers the tools and resources they need, and extending further support directly to the children and young people who need it most – because no child should leave school without a strong grasp of the basics.

    The curriculum review, launched in July, will make sure all pupils benefit from a curriculum that delivers excellent foundations in reading, writing and maths to ensure they can develop the skills needed to succeed in work and life.   

    The government has also committed to spearheading real-world primary maths teaching through evidence based progammes to ensure every child is given the foundations to develop lifelong numeracy skills.

    These reforms follow plans set out by the Education Secretary this week reaffirming her commitment to high and rising standards in schools with an excellent teacher in every classroom, a high-quality curriculum for every school and a core offer of excellence for every parent so that every child can achieve and thrive.   

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Southport perpetrator Prevent Learning Review

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Security Minister Dan Jarvis gave an update on the Prevent Learning Review – jointly commissioned with Counter Terrorism Policing following the Southport attack.

    With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement updating the House on the government’s response to the Southport murders.

    The attack in Southport in July last year was one of the most appalling and barbaric crimes committed in this country.

    For young children and adults to be attacked in this way and 3 young girls killed is utterly heartbreaking. The Home Secretary and I would like to thank those people who showed great bravery in attempting to stop the attack.  

    For this foul act of violence to happen while children were enjoying themselves at a dance class at the beginning of the school holidays is beyond comprehension.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 3 girls and all those injured as they continue to live with the trauma of that dark day.

    No one should have to go through what they have, and we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring they get every possible support.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, responsibility for this abhorrent attack lies with the perpetrator. Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He will serve a minimum of 52 years in prison.

    And Mr Justice Goose said it is highly likely that he will never be released.

    When the Home Secretary addressed the House on this case last month, she outlined the multiple interactions the perpetrator had with state bodies in the years before the attack. This included police, social services and mental health services.

    There are serious questions about how various agencies failed to identify and collectively act on the warning signs.

    All those questions must be answered – we owe that to the families, who deserve the truth about what went wrong.

    That is why the government is committed to understanding and addressing the failings in this tragic case through a comprehensive public inquiry.  

    It will examine the issues raised in this case but also wider challenges around rising youth violence.

    We are moving swiftly to set up the inquiry.

    We will consult the families to ensure all critical issues are addressed while remaining sensitive to the needs of those most affected. We expect to announce further details about the inquiry next month.

    While we do not pre-empt the conclusions of the inquiry, there are areas where action can and must be progressed immediately.

    Prevent is a vital part of our counter-terrorism system. We must endeavour to identify those susceptible to radicalisation early and before they go on to commit terrorist acts.

    Prevent receives nearly 7,000 referrals every year and our hard-working frontline staff have supported nearly 5000 people away from terrorism since 2015. We must get Prevent right.

    That is why the Home Office and Counter-Terrorism Policing commissioned a rapid Prevent learning review immediately after the attack.

    These are usually internal technical reviews intended to identify swift learning and improvement for Prevent.

    But the importance of the families needing answers has meant that, today, following close engagement with the families, we are taking the unusual step of publishing the Prevent Learning Review.

    And I can update the House that the perpetrator was referred to Prevent 3 times between December 2019, when he was aged 13, and April 2021, when he was 14. Those referrals were made by his schools.

    The first referral reported concerns about him carrying a knife and searching for school shootings on the internet. The second referral was focused on his online activity relating to Libya and Gaddafi. His third referral was for searching for London bombings, the IRA, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

    On each of these occasions, the decision at the time was that the perpetrator should not progress to the Channel multi-agency process.

    But the Prevent Learning Review found that there was sufficient risk for the perpetrator to have been managed through Prevent.

    It found that the referral was closed prematurely and there was sufficient concern to keep the case active while further information was collected.

    The review is clear on the concerning behaviours that the perpetrator demonstrated. It highlights his interest in the Manchester Arena attack.

    That he talked about stabbing people.

    And it flagged that some of the grievances that could have been a motivation, were not fully considered.

    The review also highlights the perpetrator’s clear vulnerabilities and complex needs that may have made him more susceptible to being drawn into terrorism.

    The review concluded that:

    1. Too much focus was placed on the absence of a distinct ideology, to the detriment of considering the perpetrator’s susceptibility, grievances, and complex needs.
    2. There was an under-exploration of the significance of his repeat referrals and the cumulative risk, including his history of violence.
    3. There were potentially incomplete lines of enquiry.
    4. And that at the time, the perpetrator could have fallen into a Mixed, Unclear or Unstable category for Channel due to his potential interest in mass violence.

    Indeed, the overall conclusion of the review is that he should have been case-managed through the Channel multi-agency process, rather than closed to Prevent.

    This would have enabled co-ordinated multi-agency risk management and support.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, the Prevent Learning Review made 14 recommendations for improvements to Prevent.

    We have accepted these findings and rapid action has been taken to implement the recommendations.

    Counter Terrorism Policing have conducted in-depth assurance visits to every region to determine whether the issues identified in this case have been resolved by operational improvements made since 2021.

    Urgent work is underway to address the findings.

    The Prevent Assessment Framework was launched in September and is now in place across all regions. It was developed by experts and is being used to triage and risk-assess all Prevent referrals. It will improve decision-making at all stages of the Prevent system. Roll-out of this tool has been accompanied by rigorous mandatory training.

    We have begun an end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds to ensure Prevent can deal with the full range of threats we see today, from Islamist extremism, which is the most significant terrorist threat the UK faces, through to the fascination with mass violence we saw in the Southport case.

    This internal review will complete in April and further strengthen the approach to repeat referrals, and ensure that clear policy, guidance, and training is in place.

    We have completed the first stage of a policy review into how Prevent supports referrals who have mental ill-health or are neurodivergent.

    Actions for improving the operational approach have been identified and will be implemented swiftly, with oversight from the new Prevent Commissioner.

    We are also strengthening our approach to the oversight of referrals that do not meet Prevent thresholds, to make sure that people receive the right support.

    Next week, a pilot starts in several local areas to test new approaches to cases that are transferred to other services.

    And, of course, the government has appointed Lord Anderson as Interim Prevent Commissioner. This is the first time that Prevent will have a dedicated independent oversight, in its history and this will ensure Prevent is always held to the highest standards.

    His first task is to review the perpetrator’s Prevent history, drawing on the Prevent Learning Review. This will identify whether there is further learning, examine improvements made to Prevent since 2021, and identify any remaining gaps that require further improvement. 

    Lord Anderson will complete the review within his term as Interim Commissioner, which will end with the appointment of a permanent commissioner in the summer of this year.

    But it is simply not enough to focus only on this case. We need to take an even more robust approach to identifying learning swiftly and driving that learning through the Prevent system.

    The Prevent Commissioner will be tasked with overseeing a new approach to Prevent learning reviews that enables rapid debriefing and urgent action after incidents, but also provides a clear framework that binds other agencies into the joint learning process.

    Transparency and enabling public scrutiny is also fundamental.

    And that is why we will take steps to publish the findings of other independent Prevent learning reviews where there has been an incident of national significance.

    So, Madam Deputy Speaker, next week, we will publish the Prevent Learning Review into the appalling attack on Sir David Amess to enable further public scrutiny of this important programme.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, the first duty of government is to ensure the security of our country and the safety of our people, because nothing matters more.

    And while we can never undo the hurt and pain caused by this unthinkably wretched attack, we can, we must and we will do everything in our power to prevent further atrocities.

    As the Prime Minister said, Southport must be a line in the sand for Britain.

    If that means asking difficult questions about shortcomings or failures, so be it.

    If it means holding institutions and processes to account, we will do so without fear or favour.

    And if changes are required to protect the public and combat the threats that we face, then this government will not hesitate to act.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: InnovateUkraine opens second round of investment for clean energy projects

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Additional £17m will foster UK-Ukraine collaboration in the clean energy field.

    • InnovateUkraine’s second round will focus on low-carbon solutions to boost Ukraine’s energy resilience

    • First InnovateUkraine cohort preparing for demonstration and accelerator stage

    The UK will invest £17 million in innovative energy projects to support the recovery and future sustainability of Ukraine’s energy system. The funding announced during the visit of Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Kyiv will support the second round of the InnovateUkraine competition, a challenge fund to pilot low-carbon solutions tailored to Ukraine’s energy needs.

    The second round of InnovateUkraine will spur innovative collaborations between British, Ukrainian and international businesses and research institutions, to develop the scalable and sustainable energy innovations of the future.

    InnovateUkraine 2 will focus on the following technologies: 

    • Smart green grids
    • Renewable generation
    • Renewable heat
    • Green fuels
    • Low-carbon buildings and homes
    • Industrial decarbonisation
    • Repurposing existing energy infrastructure

    The British Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris said:

    I am proud that the UK is further increasing its funding to the Ukrainian energy sector. This latest contribution underpins our commitments under the 100-Year Partnership, signed by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy in January.

    These projects, led jointly by British and Ukrainian business, universities, and civil society, will help both our countries develop clean and sustainable energy solutions for the future.

    InnovateUkraine is a showcase for the forward-looking partnership between our countries. The UK is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for the next century.

    Applications for InnovateUkraine Round 2 will open in mid-March 2025. Once they have undergone screening, successful projects will run for 24 months from late 2025. The teams will receive support and guidance from an accelerator programme, to help with attracting further investment.

    InnovateUkraine’s first cohort of projects is already transforming the lives of the Ukrainian people by creating reliable and novel methods of heating and powering buildings, as well as fuelling the imagination of the next generation of scientists and innovators.

    These projects include: a new, locally manufacturable battery storage technology which potentially undercuts and outperforms existing technologies; a technology which allows the upcycling of waste concrete to dramatically reduce the embodied emissions of new buildings and structures; and a new tool to make production of geothermal energy in Ukraine more efficient and ripe for investment.

    To find out more about the scope and eligibility requirements, please visit: www.innovateukraine.io

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Member of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Sentenced to 44 Years in Prison for Terrorism Offenses

    Source: US State of California

    Minh Quang Pham, also known as “Amim”, 41, was sentenced today to 44 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for attempted suicide bombing in alliance with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

    “The defendant was sentenced for an attempt to commit an act of terrorism and plotting a suicide bombing on behalf of AQAP,” said Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will not rest in seeking justice for acts of terrorism and will continue to thwart any attempt to jeopardize global security.”

    “Pham coordinated with known terrorist Anwar al-Aulaqi on a plot to conduct a suicide bombing at Heathrow International Airport which could have killed or injured many people, but fortunately that plan was stopped,” said Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Pham also tried to recruit others to commit acts of terrorism. The FBI will work with our partners to hold accountable those who align themselves with terrorist organizations and attempt to carry out acts of violence.”

    “Minh Quang Pham’s actions were not just an affront to the safety of this country, but to the principles of peace and security that we hold dear,” said U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon for the Southern District of New York. “Today’s sentencing underscores our collective resolve to stop terrorism before it occurs, and place would-be terrorists in prison.”

    According to court documents, in December 2010, Pham informed others that he planned to travel to Ireland while residing in London. From Ireland, he traveled to Yemen, the principal base of operations for AQAP. Pham traveled to Yemen in order to join AQAP, wage jihad on behalf of AQAP, and martyr himself for AQAP’s cause. After arriving in Yemen, he swore an oath of loyalty to AQAP in the presence of an AQAP commander.

    While in Yemen in 2010 and 2011, Pham provided assistance to and received training from Anwar al-Aulaqi, a U.S.-born senior leader of AQAP. Al-Aulaqi advised Pham to return to the U.K. for the purpose of finding and making contact with individuals who, like Pham, wanted to travel to Yemen to join AQAP. Al-Aulaqi also provided Pham with money, as well as a telephone number and e-mail address that Pham was to use to contact al-Aulaqi upon his return to the U.K. In addition, Pham exchanged his laptop computer with al-Aulaqi, who provided him with a new “clean” laptop to take with him when he returned to the U.K. so that the authorities would not find anything if they searched his computer.

    In or about June 2011, prior to his departure from Yemen, Pham approached al-Aulaqi about conducting a suicide attack whereby he would “sacrifice” himself on behalf of AQAP. Al-Aulaqi personally taught Pham how to create a lethal explosive device using household chemicals and directed Pham to detonate such an explosive device at the arrivals area of Heathrow International Airport following Pham’s return to the U.K. in 2011. Al-Aulaqi instructed Pham to carry an explosive in a concealed backpack and target the area where flights arrived from the U.S. or Israel. During this time, Pham made videos depicting his preparation to carry out that attack. In one video, Pham is shown wiring an electrical device for the use of making an explosive device. In another video, he sketches an explosive device to be contained in a backpack, and in a third, Pham wears a backpack with wiring for explosives on it, which he turns on in the video.

    During this time, around June or July 2011 — shortly before Pham returned from Yemen to the U.K. — Pham recorded a video in which he attempted to recruit and encourage individuals in the West to engage in violent jihad abroad or in their home countries. In this video, he also expresses a desire to martyr himself. At the outset of this video, consisting of an approximately 13-minute-long monologue, Pham states that, “America itself is not fighting a war with a group or an organization, they are fighting with the army of Allah, the believers.” He continues, in part, “We have that opportunity, that ability to be in their midst, in their land . . . and I advise the brothers inshallah to, whatever you can, to gather and prepare and strike the enemy in their own land . . . The saying, a thousand cuts, you hit them with as much as you can until inshallah the enemy will bleed to death.” During his time in Yemen, Pham also assisted with the preparation and dissemination of AQAP’s propaganda magazine, Inspire. Pham, who has college degrees in both graphic design and animation, worked directly with now-deceased U.S. citizen, Samir Khan, who was a prominent member of AQAP responsible for editing and publishing Inspire.  

    Pham also received a six-page document entitled “Your Instructions” from al-Aulaqi in Yemen, which provided detailed instructions on how Pham was to commit his suicide attack at Heathrow. The document from al-Aulaqi instructed Pham, “[d]o not do anything for the first three months” and “[y]ou should target Christmas/ New Year season[.]” The instructions from al-Aulaqi provided explicit direction about the importance of using shrapnel to kill as many people as possible, including that “[t]he proper use of shrapnel is as important as the main charge itself. The detonation wave from a main charge of AP by itself is most likely not going to cause the death of anyone except those who are in its immediate vicinity. It is the shrapnel that would do the job. You may imagine this IED as a shotgun that is firing in all directions.” The document therefore instructed Pham to take “special care” with the “proper arrangement and choice of shrapnel,” and to “poison” it to inflict maximum death.

    On July 27, 2011, Pham returned to the U.K. Upon his arrival at Heathrow, U.K. authorities detained Pham, searched him, and recovered various materials from him, including a live round of 7.62mm caliber armor-piercing ammunition, which is consistent with ammunition that is used in a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a type of weapon for which Pham received training from AQAP in Yemen. U.K. authorities released Pham and cautioned him for his possession of the live round of ammunition, before, in December 2011, arresting him pursuant to their authorities under U.K. immigration law. In searches of Pham’s residence, other locations, and vehicles, U.K. authorities recovered several pieces of electronic media. Among other things, a forensic analysis of Pham’s electronic media showed that he was accessing speeches and writings of al-Aulaqi as late as December 2011 — months after Pham’s return to the U.K.

    On May 24, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Pham with terrorism offenses and U.S. authorities sought Pham’s extradition from the U.K. He was provisionally arrested with a view towards extradition on June 29, 2012, and he was extradited to the United States on Feb. 26, 2015. On Jan. 8, 2016, Pham pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses related to certain of the same underlying conduct. On May 27, 2016, Pham was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan principally to a term of 40 years in prison. On Sept. 12, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed Pham’s conviction and sentence. Thereafter, Pham made a motion that, based on intervening Supreme Court decisions, resulted in the vacatur of one of the counts of his conviction. Ultimately, the government, with Pham’s consent, moved to vacate Pham’s earlier convictions. On April 8, 2021, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment, reinstating certain charges and filing other new charges against Pham, and which formed the basis for Pham’s May 11, 2023, guilty plea and conviction.

    The FBI Washington and New York Field Offices investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Metropolitan Police Service/SO 15 Counter Terrorism Command at New Scotland Yard, Crown Prosecution Service, and the Home Office provided assistance in the investigation, extradition, and prosecution of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob H. Gutwillig for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer Delivers Remarks Before the National Asian American Coalition and National Diversity Coalition

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Thank you Faith for those kind words and for your outstanding leadership of the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC).  The NAAC and its partners in the National Diversity Coalition have become important voices and strong advocates for communities – in particular, minority and poor communities – that far too often go unheard in our society.  Day in and day out, you provide hope and a helping hand to many hardworking Americans struggling to attain the American dream.  In my three years in this job, one highlight is meeting regularly with your coalition.  You are always informed and effective advocates on behalf of your communities.

    But I appreciate that advocating on behalf of consumers when you visit D.C. is only a small part of what the NAAC and the National Diversity Coalition do.  You provide training to the laid-off father searching for a job that will put food on the table and a roof over his family’s head.  You provide financial advice and resources to the mother hoping to start her own business.  You help families purchase their first home or refinance their mortgage so they can hold onto the home they purchased with their life savings.  You inspire countless young people to dream big and to strive for excellence by providing them with mentoring, after-school programs and scholarships.  I spoke with some of these students this morning.  I believe, as President Obama has noted, that “[t]here is no stronger weapon against inequality and no better path to opportunity than an education that can unlock a child’s God-given potential.”

    The mission of the Antitrust Division also involves ensuring economic opportunity for all consumers.  Our antitrust laws seek to promote fairness in our marketplaces, safeguard the economic freedom of our citizens and strengthen our economy through vigorous competition.  Our first antitrust law – the Sherman Act – was passed 125 years ago.  That law seeks to protect American consumers and businesses from the harm to competition that results when too much economic power is held by only a few corporations and individuals.  The Sherman Act became a vital tool under President Theodore Roosevelt – a progressive reformer often referred to as the “trust buster” – as he spearheaded the movement to bring fairness to the marketplace and to ensure that consumers benefit from healthy competition for their hard earned dollars.  Some years later, his distant cousin – President Franklin D. Roosevelt – established the Antitrust Division at the Justice Department to help continue the fight to protect hardworking Americans from the higher prices and reduced innovation that can result from the consolidation of economic power in a few hands.

    Here are a couple of examples of the Antitrust Division’s work.  Earlier this year, I stood with Attorney General Loretta Lynch when she announced the criminal guilty pleas of five of the world’s largest and most influential financial institutions – Citicorp, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays, UBS and The Royal Bank of Scotland – for manipulating the massive foreign currency exchange market.  As part of their guilty pleas, these institutions were required to pay almost $3 billion in criminal fines, including the largest antitrust fines ever obtained in the Justice Department’s 145-year history.

    A few years ago, we uncovered international conspiracies to fix the prices for all kinds of automobile parts, including seatbelts, airbags and antilock brake systems.  This illegal conduct made it more costly for companies like General Motors, Ford and Toyota to manufacture cars.  At the end of the day, we all know who paid the price for these cartels – the American consumer.  As of today, we have charged 58 corporate executives and 37 companies and obtained more than $2.6 billion in criminal fines.  And we are not done yet.

    Sometimes antitrust crimes are local.  Here in Northern California, our San Francisco office has spent the last several years prosecuting individuals who rigged the bids on foreclosed homes being sold at public auctions.  As you know, many Californians lost their homes during the Great Recession because they could not afford to pay their mortgages.  Some real estate investors saw the misfortune of these homeowners as an opportunity to line their pockets by agreeing not to bid against each other when these homes were auctioned.  They took turns winning these auctions at suppressed prices and deprived the banks and homeowners of the benefits of a competitive auction.  Thus far, we have charged more than 110 individuals who engaged in this type of bid rigging here in Northern California and other parts of the country.  Our San Francisco office also successfully prosecuted a conspiracy to fix the prices of liquid display panels sold worldwide.  LCDs are used in all kinds of electronic products, including flat screen televisions, computer monitors and tablets.  This conspiracy made it more expensive for companies to manufacture electronics, which, in turn, caused millions of Americans to pay higher prices.

    These cases showcase the Antitrust Division’s strong record of criminal antitrust enforcement during the Obama Administration.  Since President Obama took office, we have charged over 400 individuals and 140 corporations with criminal misconduct.  We obtained over $8.5 billion in criminal fines and penalties.  These large criminal fines and penalties serve an important deterrent effect because they directly affect something that corporate executives and investors care deeply about: a company’s bottom line.  But another thing to note: the criminal fines obtained by the Antitrust Division provide funding for the Justice Department’s Crime Victim’s Fund, which helps victims of all types of crime obtain the medical, legal and financial services that they need to move forward with their lives.  In California, this fund has helped victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.

    We challenge other misconduct that raises – or threatens to raise – the prices that you as a consumer pay.  Here are some recent examples.

    Think about e-books, a popular alternative to hard copies.  Because they cost less to produce, they should be cheaper.  And until early 2010 they were.  Suddenly, prices shot up.  Why?  Because certain book publishers and Apple entered into an illegal agreement to raise prices.  We sued Apple and the publishers to put an end to their unlawful coordination.

    What happened to e-book prices when the publishers and Apple were forced to compete?  Prices for e-books fell.  In 2010, when the price fixing conspiracy was in place, you often had to pay $12.99 or $14.99 for a best-seller.  After we obtained judgments against Apple and the publishers, prices for best-sellers fell significantly, with many available for $9.99 or less.  Thus, competition, once restored, worked to benefit you and other consumers.

    But what about those who were victims of higher prices during the e-books conspiracy?  Based on the facts we developed, state attorneys general and private plaintiffs have thus far secured over $160 million in refunds for the victims of this conspiracy.  These refunds were directly credited to the consumers’ accounts with Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple.

    At the Antitrust Division we also worry about mergers between competitors that put the American public at risk of higher prices and lower quality products.  That was our concern a few years ago when AT&T wanted to buy its rival, T-Mobile.  AT&T claimed that by eliminating T-Mobile as a competitor, you, as a consumer, would be better off.  Our job at the Antitrust Division is to kick the tires on those claims and make sure they are accurate.  Here, the facts we uncovered told us that the elimination of T-Mobile as a competitor risked having you pay higher prices and receiving worse contract terms for mobile service.  We challenged the deal and AT&T ended up abandoning it.

    And guess what happened next?  Just like e-books, when the antitrust laws are enforced, competition flourishes.  T-Mobile went back to competing to win your business.  It spent billions of dollars improving the products it offers; it fought to woo customers by offering lower prices and better services; and it gave customers freedom of choice by offering to pay the early termination fees for those who switched to T-Mobile.

    And T-Mobile’s competitors were compelled to respond.  Sprint began offering lower prices and better plans.  AT&T targeted T-Mobile customers with a $200 credit, plus money for smartphone trade-ins, if they switched to AT&T.  T-Mobile responded by offering plans that allow customers to upgrade their phones twice a year.  AT&T, Verizon and Sprint all felt compelled to match these plans.

    A couple of months ago, in one of his final speeches as the lawyer for the American people, former Attorney General Holder summed up the role and purpose of antitrust enforcement.  He said: “In the appropriate enforcement of the antitrust laws we make real the promise of our democracy and our founding documents.  Vigorous competition in all spheres is what makes this nation exceptional.  It makes progress more likely and promotes the general welfare.”

    The hardworking men and women of the Antitrust Division remain true to this mission.  We should be proud of them and grateful to them.  They make the economy work for all of us.

    Similarly, we are grateful for the work that the NAAC and the National Diversity Coalition do on a daily basis to help some of our most vulnerable citizens and communities.  Together we can help to promote marketplaces where companies compete on price and quality for the hard earned dollars of American consumers.

    Thank you for your time today and congratulations on organizing another great conference.

    AAG Baer Remarks to NAAC 10-23-15 (53.39 KB)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fast-track devolution approved for the city and wider region

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth City Council has welcomed the Government’s decision to fast-track establishing a new Strategic Authority for Portsmouth, Southampton Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight.

    The confirmation today that the area will be included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme is a major step towards establishing the new Strategic Authority for the region with elections for a new Mayor now likely to be held in May 2026.

    A new Strategic Authority would bring significant additional funding and powers devolved from government departments to the region, with a focus on driving economic growth, investment in infrastructure and strategic transport and planning. The elected Mayor will have responsibility for these new powers, all other council services, such as parks, libraries and waste collection, would continue to be delivered by existing councils.

    Last year the four upper tier authorities across Hampshire & the Solent (Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council) submitted a joint expression of interest to Government signalling their support for establishing a regional ‘strategic’ authority in order to access the additional funding and powers it could bring. This was followed in January by a request to be included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), a fast-track programme designed to deliver new Strategic Authorities across England.

    Government have signalled they will launch a public consultation on proposals for Strategic Authorities to seek local residents’ views. Government has been clear this is to gather feedback but is not a referendum on the proposals.

    Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:

    “I am pleased Hampshire and The Solent has been selected as part of the Devolution Priority Programme and will ensure our area can benefit sooner from additional powers and investment for jobs and skills, housing and transport at a sub-regional level.

    “I have always said I favoured a deal for just the Solent area without an elected Mayor, but government ruled this out as an option so we now focus on what we can do to make a positive impact for our area, and one benefit a Mayor would bring is a seat for our region at the Government’s new Council of Nations and Regions.

    “We’re expecting government will fund the necessary changes without any impact on local taxpayers and once it has set out the next steps we’ll work with our partners to move things forward and get the best possible deal for our residents.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on fire at Barrow Centre, Mount Edgcumbe

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park has been closed to all visitors today (Wednesday) following a fire at the Barrow Centre yesterday evening.

    Two flats and two holiday lets at the Centre have been seriously damaged by the fire, which was put out by crews from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service assisted by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, who are still on site this morning.

    The Barrow Centre was evacuated as soon as the fire was discovered and fortunately no one was injured.

    Other sections of the Barrow Centre housing businesses and flats are now being assessed. Mount Edgcumbe House itself has not been impacted.

    Sadly, those living in the damaged flats have lost their personal belongings. They were provided with temporary accommodation elsewhere in the park last night.

    The cause of the fire is being investigated.

    The buildings will now be assessed by structural engineers and the area around the Barrow Centre made safe and cordoned off.

    The park is expected to reopen tomorrow and an update on when businesses in the Barrow Centre can re-open will be provided once all the assessments have been completed.

    The Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park team is contacting anyone who have any upcoming events or bookings that may be affected by the fire.

    Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park is jointly owned and managed by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council.

    Plymouth councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Joint chair of the Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee, said: “Everyone here is obviously devastated by the damage caused to the properties on the estate and our sympathies are with the families who have lost their possessions and the affected business owners. We will be supporting those families and the affected businesses however we can.

    “We are very thankful no one was injured by the fire and will leave it to the fire service to investigate its cause and how it spread. We are grateful for the efforts of the fire crews throughout the night.

    “Our priority is to support the families affected and to make the area safe so we can reopen the park and help the businesses resume their operations as soon as possible.”

    Cornwall councillor Kate Ewert, Joint chair of the Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee, said: “The fire is devastating for everyone involved and I know there is a sense of shock amongst those who live and work here but we can be thankful that no one has been hurt. The fire service did an incredible job in getting to the site quickly and protecting the remainder of the property.

    “Our thoughts are with those who have lost all their possessions and I know the community is keen to pull together and provide support in whatever way it can. We will all be working together to help those impacted by this to get the Barrow Centre back up and running as soon possible.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Register now to avoid missing out on this year’s Sperrins and Killeter Walking Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Register now to avoid missing out on this year’s Sperrins and Killeter Walking Festival

    5 February 2025

    Demand for the annual Sperrins and Killeter Walking Festival is extremely high this year, with one day of the event already sold out.

    This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, 1st and Sunday 2nd March. Part of the Sperrins Walking Programme this event provides a unique chance to discover the breath-taking landscapes of the Sperrins and Killeter, all while supporting physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Led by the outdoor experts at Far and Wild in collaboration with Derry City and Strabane District Council, it is a must-attend for every avid walker!

    Due to high demand, the Saturday, 1st March 8km walk, ‘The Moat at the Heart of Glenelly,’ is now sold out. But don’t miss your chance to join the stunning Killeter walk on Sunday, 2nd March ‘Myths & Stories from the Edge of Time’. This moderate 8km walk will take you from Lettercran in Co Donegal to Killeter village in Co Tyrone via the scenic Carrickaholten Forest. This fascinating walk traces the footsteps of emigrants, market-goers, smugglers, and travellers who have crossed the border area throughout history. Along the way, participants will learn stories at key landmarks and hear about the region’s rich cultural heritage.  Registration will begin at 10am at the Killeter Heritage Centre but remember to pre-book your place at www.farandwild.org. The cost is £10.

    A highlight of both days is the incredible community spirit and hospitality shown to all walkers. Whether at registration at Watt’s Bar in Plumbridge on Saturday, 1st March or at the Killeter Heritage Centre on Sunday, 2nd March, and after the walks, participants will experience the warm local welcome the Sperrins and Killeter are famous for. Enjoy refreshments, home-baked scones and bread, and the cosy comfort of open fires to dry off those soggy socks and rest tired feet. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax, swap stories, and enjoy some good craic with fellow walkers.

    Encouraging people to come out and take part in the Killeter walk, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr said: “It’s brilliant to see so many people have already registered for the Glenelly walk, and I’m sure the Killeter walk will sell-out soon. So please make sure and register to take part in the walk today.

    “These walks will take you through the spectacular scenery that is the Sperrins, and it’s right on our doorsteps. We have no excuses, get out and enjoy all that this beautiful area has to offer. As well as experiencing the benefits of a day in the outdoors, you’ll also learn some fascinating facts about the history of the area and meet lots of new people. And when the hard miles are over, you can relax and enjoy a cuppa and a chat among friends.”

    Both walks are part of the Sperrins Walking Programme, offering an excellent chance to discover the area’s scenic beauty and historical depth. While Saturday’s walk is fully booked, don’t miss out on the remaining spaces for Sunday’s event.

    For further information and to book your place visit: www.farandwild.org

    For more information about the whole Sperrins Walking Programme visit: https://sperrinspartnershipproject.com/sperrins-walking/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: INEOS cuts brutal blow for community

    Source: Scottish Greens

    05 Feb 2025 Economy Energy

    Local Green MSP reacts to brutal INEOS cuts at Grangemouth

    More in Economy

    INEOS has announced redundancies of over 400 staff members at their Grangemouth refinery in central Scotland.

    Gillian Mackay, the Scottish Greens MSP for Central Scotland, grew up just 200 yards from the refinery.

    Ms Mackay said:

    “This is a brutal blow for Scotland, but particularly for the community I grew up in and the workers who I know well. I know how hurt the community feels at this time; my thoughts are with everyone.

    “All of us in the town know somebody who is employed directly or indirectly by the refinery. They’re the ones now suffering. Many people will be extremely worried and possibly angry about what will happen next. I am too, I feel the same.

    “This is the opposite of the just transition that is needed for the site and for Grangemouth. We have known for a long time that change is needed. The workers at Grangemouth are some of the most talented and skilled anywhere in Scotland, they must be at the heart of shaping Scotland’s green industrial future. Scotland deserves better; what is happening in Grangemouth is a warning sign for the lack of government support for the just transition in Scotland.

    “Our community has yet again been let down by both governments. Politicians of all parties need to step up and work with trade unions and the community to do everything they can to support local people.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Deputy Prime Minister brings six areas onto the Devolution Priority Programme with Mayors to be elected by May 2026 plus four new devolved institutions created.

    A major package of devolution has been announced today – with six new areas confirmed to join the government’s Devolution Priority Programme. 

    Delivering on the government’s commitment to widen devolution, areas will be given sweeping new powers, putting them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing for local communities.  

    The programme – one of the largest ever single packages of mayoral devolution in England – will support the areas to move towards devolution at pace, becoming mayor-led strategic authorities by May next year if they proceed.

    Today’s measures brings another 8.8m people under mayoral devolution – or another 15.38% of the population – bringing the total population who will see the benefit from devolution to over 44 million – close to 80% of the country.

    Greater devolution is key to unlocking regional growth, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change and putting more money into working people’s pockets, while also empowering them to direct change in their communities.

    For too long, political power has been hoarded in Whitehall. That’s why the government set out its proposals in the landmark English Devolution White Paper.

    The following areas agreed to join the programme:

    • Cumbria
    • Cheshire & Warrington
    • Norfolk & Suffolk
    • Greater Essex
    • Sussex & Brighton
    • Hampshire & Solent

    These six successful areas will now work to an ambitious devolution timetable, with full government backing, with consultations set to launch shortly. 

    In a further step forward for devolution being delivered at pace, today legislation comes into force to establish four new devolution institutions – as a result of devolution agreements confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister last year

    This includes establishing two new mayoral authorities in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire, and the formation of combined county authorities in Devon and Torbay, and Lancashire.

    The government is also focused on fixing the foundations of local government, with simpler and more effective structures and a reduction in unnecessary layers of bureaucracy. Through a national programme of ambitious local government reform, the government will cut waste and improve accountability, ensuring taxpayers get value for money from their services. To achieve this, all councils in two-tier areas and small neighbouring unitary authorities are now being formally invited to develop unitary proposals – which will bring together lower and upper tier local government services in new unitary councils.   

    Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:

    The truth is that for all the promises of levelling up, central government’s first instinct is all too often to hoard power and hold our economy back. Too many decisions affecting too many people are made by too few.

    We promised to achieve a devolution revolution by overseeing the greatest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, and today’s announcement will help raise living standards, improve public services and build the homes we so desperately need.

    By taking a common-sense approach to reorganisation, boosted by our reforms to give mayors a suite of vital new powers, we will make sure areas can truly deliver on our Plan for Change.

    Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP said:

    In December, we asked areas to come forward to be part of our Devolution Priority Programme. The response was clear—this country is ready for change.

    While devolution can be hard to understand sometimes, the aims of this programme are simple: it puts more money in people’s pockets,  leads to quicker, better, cheaper transport, designed with local people in mind and puts politics back in the service of working people.

    Today’s announcements come just weeks after plans were set out in the English Devolution White Paper to grant mayors control over key areas including strategic planning, housing, transport and skills.

    This will equip these local leaders with the tools they need to deliver for their communities, putting England’s regions centre stage in the government’s Plan for Change missions to grow the economy, deliver 1.5 million homes, and boost opportunity across the country.

    The English Devolution Bill – which is due to be brought forward later this year – will also hardwire proposed new mayoral powers into law.

    In order to allow areas to deliver devolution to this ambitious timetable, the government has carefully considered requests from local councils to postpone a number of May 2025 local elections.

    The bar to postpone elections has been extremely high, and the government has been clear that delays will only be agreed where there is strong justification set out by the local authority. The government has agreed to half of these requests, and will postpone elections due in May 2025 until May 2026 for nine local councils. These councils made the strongest possible case that this is strictly necessary to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

    There is an established precedent, including in the cases of North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Somerset elections, and Buckinghamshire district councils elections, under the previous government when reorganisation happened there. The legislation to enable this  will shortly be laid, subject to Parliamentary timetables. 

    In North Yorkshire, unitarisation enacted in 2023 has enabled the council to manage financial pressures though structural changes and service transformation, which is expected to achieve more than £40m in savings by March 2026. 

    Ministers will also continue to work with Lancashire, which is in a unique position as it is establishing a non-mayoral institution and is committed to reviewing its future devolution arrangements by the autumn, including steps to deepen devolution. This review will consider all options available for the area, including aligning with the Devolution Priority Programme when it concludes. 

    Also, given the urgency of creating sustainable unitary local government for Surrey, we will postpone the county election for that area from May 2025 to May 2026, helping to speed up reorganisation and deliver the local ambitions for devolution with the benefits it will bring.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ukraine has every right to determine its own future: UK Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Military Advisor, Joby Rimmer, says Russia’s war of aggression has achieved little except the catastrophic loss of life, the loss of Russia’s military credibility, and the loss of Russia’s international reputation.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. Sadly, we have started this year like the last, and the overwhelming concern of this forum remains: Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The UK remains resolutely committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their homeland. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the UK has provided over £3 billion per year in military, humanitarian and financial assistance, and this support will continue for as long as necessary to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are fully restored.

    What has Russia accomplished so far? Russia’s full-scale invasion has been nothing short of a disaster. The Russian state’s bold assertion that the subjugation of Ukraine would be accomplished within a matter of days was made almost three years ago. Having failed in pursuit of its own strategic aims, the campaign has achieved little except the catastrophic loss of life on both sides, the loss of Russia’s military credibility, and the loss of Russia’s international reputation.

    The UN estimates that more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians and some 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed as a direct result of Russian aggression. Independent reports suggest approximately 830,000 Russian casualties, a number that demonstrates President Putin’s disregard for his own countrymen sent to fight in a war they did not choose. On 29th January alone, the Russian military lost 1,670 men with Russian casualties for January averaging over 1,500 per day. At the current rate of loss, Russia will have suffered over 1 million casualties by June 2025. As Russian casualties mount, Russian recruitment in Moscow has reduced, with military recruitment currently at 40 personnel a day, five times lower than the Summer-Autumn 2024 average of 200 recruits a day. Half of these recruits are reportedly indebted Russians and foreign nationals. The direct participation of DPRK troops in combat operations is another dangerous expansion of Putin’s illegal war. Of the 11,000 DPRK troops deployed in Kursk, reporting indicates that 4,000 are already casualties, including 1,000 fatalities.

    What has Russia accomplished militarily? Reports from the region paint a stark image of Russian military mediocrity. Russia has reportedly now lost over 3,700 Main Battle Tanks, over 8,000 armoured vehicles and 1,800 pieces of artillery. Any marginal Russian gains around Donetsk, Toretsk and Pokrovsk have been extremely costly, with progress augmented through the cynical use of glide bombs, drone and missile attacks, causing widespread damage to local housing, medical facilities and critical infrastructure. Independent reports state that Russia launched over 1,250 aerial bombs and over 1,000 attack drones into Ukraine in the last week of January. Nearly all resulted in civilian casualties.

    Last week, the Ukrainian army’s general staff reported that Russian forces bombed a boarding school in an area of Kursk under Ukrainian control, where civilians were sheltering and preparing to evacuate. Four people were killed and dozens injured. Russia’s continued disregard for human life cannot, and will not, be overlooked.

    Russia is also suffering the cost to its international reputation. The war in Ukraine clearly violates the UN Charter and contravenes our shared commitments of the Helsinki Final Act – respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. This full-scale invasion is not just an illegal act that contravenes international law; it is a serious miscalculation and one that fundamentally represents loss; most appallingly, the loss of human life, the loss of Russia’s international reputation, and the loss of Russia’s military credibility.

    Finally, the UK remains firm in its belief that any path to peace must be grounded in a position of strength for Ukraine. Ukraine must not be coerced into peace talks under duress or pressure from the aggressor. Ukraine has every right to determine its future, and its right to self-determination must be upheld. The UK is proud to be a steadfast friend of Ukraine and will not rest until Ukraine achieves peace on its own terms – Russia must cease hostilities in Ukraine and remove its forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders. Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Apprenticeship Week shines spotlight on opportunities for city residents

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The theme is Skills for Life, helping apprentices forge career pathways and secure permanent jobs.

    City of Wolverhampton Council is hosting a drop-in event at The Mander Centre on Saturday 15 February as part of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2025.

    Those interested in learning how to ‘earn while you learn’ can turn up to the event between 10am and 2pm. It is on the ground floor, near TJ Hughes and is being held in partnership with Wolverhampton Black Country Careers HUB.

    Register in advance at Eventbrite and you could win one of four £25 Enjoy Wolverhampton gift cards.

    Since January last year the council has recruited another 32 apprentices, alongside upskilling staff and supporting city partners to develop apprenticeships.

    City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, Councillor Chris Burden, said: “National Apprenticeship Week shines a spotlight on the benefits of apprenticeships in putting local people into good jobs and training, which in turn helps to deliver a thriving economy in the city.

    “Apprenticeships can change lives, helping people find employment, improve their skills and gain qualifications, while providing valuable alternative recruitment options for employers.

    “I encourage anyone with an interest in apprenticeships to come and get involved in the event at the Mander Centre and find out more about how you can earn while you learn.”

    Council apprentice Jude Aston recently gained a distinction in his Public Relations and Communications Level 4 Public Health Apprenticeship.

    He said: “I was nervous about how I was going to apply all my learning, but the best piece of advice I would give is trust the apprenticeship process, because it has worked and is a great way to develop your knowledge and skills.”

    Former library assistant Lucy Barford had a career change to become a Level 7 Solicitor Apprentice through Damar Training and the council and has been named the Damar Apprentice Champion Award.

    She said: “Changing careers to start an apprenticeship in law changed my life and opened possibilities I hadn’t previously considered.

    “My first apprenticeship was to become a certified paralegal, and I’m now working through a second apprenticeship training to be a solicitor. I’m proud and grateful to Damar and the council for such wonderful opportunities.”

    Esha Dadral, Level 3 Digital Content Apprentice, said: “I always wanted to kickstart my career in marketing, so when this opportunity came up it was a no brainer for me. In my opinion, an apprenticeship is the best way to gain the essential skills and knowledge for the career of your choice.”

    There are many types of apprenticeships on offer with employers in Wolverhampton. The different levels of qualification are Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship (GCSE equivalent), Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship (A-Level equivalent), Level 4 or 5 Higher Apprenticeship (Foundation degree and above equivalent) and Level 6 or 7 Degree Apprenticeship (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree equivalent).

    Help is available through Wolves at Work which offers free, one to one employment support and advice for local people. If you are interested in finding out more about apprenticeship opportunities at the City of Wolverhampton Council email OD.Team@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: VelocityEHS Recognized as a Best Places to Work

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS®, the global leader in EHS & ESG software solutions, is honored to be named as one of Built In’s 2025 Best Places to Work. The company has been recognized in both the Midsize and Remote categories, reflecting its commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace culture.

    Built In’s annual awards program honors companies of all sizes—from startups to enterprises—and celebrates top employers in major tech markets across the U.S., including remote-first organizations.

    “At VelocityEHS, we believe that our people are the heart of our success,” said Rachel Kaiser, SVP Chief People Officer, VelocityEHS. “This recognition reflects our commitment to creating a collaborate workplace where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow—both personally and professionally.”

    To align with the benefits candidates increasingly value through Built In, the program celebrates companies that offer the best compensation and total rewards packages. It evaluates key factors such as remote and flexible work opportunities, initiatives that promote engagement and belonging, and a culture that prioritizes people-first values.

    “Being recognized as a Best Place to Work is a testament to these companies’ commitment to building a workplace where individuals and innovation thrive,” says Built In CEO and Founder, Maria Christopoulos Katris. “At Built In, we understand that great companies are powered by great teams, and this achievement showcases their dedication to fostering a culture of growth and excellence. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.”

    Read more news and insights on the VelocityEHS press page.

    About VelocityEHS

    Relied on by more than 10 million users worldwide to drive operational excellence and achieve outstanding outcomes, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform is the definitive gold standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for managing Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. In addition, Velocity offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.

    The VelocityEHS team includes unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified experts in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, the environment, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized by the EHS industry’s top independent analysts as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS is committed to industry thought leadership and to accelerating the pace of innovation through its software solutions and vision. Its privacy and security protocols, which include SOC2 Type II attestation, are among the most stringent in the industry.

    VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Western Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com. 

    ABOUT BUILT IN
    Built In is the “always on” recruiting platform that reaches the tech professionals that other leading recruiting platforms don’t. Designed to help companies hire expert tech talent, Built In continuously drives brand awareness with content. Monthly, millions of the industry’s most in-demand global tech professionals visit our site to stay ahead of tech trends and news, learn skills to accelerate their careers, find the right job opportunities and get hired. Thousands of companies, from fast-growing startups to the largest enterprises rely on Built In. By putting their stories in front of our uniquely engaged audience, we help them hire otherwise hard-to-reach technical and expert talent. www.builtin.com

    Media Contact:
    Jennifer Sinkwitts
    VelocityEHS
    jsinkwitts@ehs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Isle of Wight joins government’s fast-track devolution programme 5 February 2025 Isle of Wight joins government’s fast-track devolution priority programme

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Isle of Wight has been included in the government’s fast-track plans for devolution.

    The Isle of Wight Council, alongside Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council, received confirmation today (Wednesday) that their joint expression of interest in the government’s devolution priority programme has been accepted.

    This acceptance marks a pivotal step towards the creation of a new mayoral strategic authority, aiming to transfer power and funding from Whitehall to the Solent and Hampshire region while enabling local councils to collaborate on strategic, region-wide issues.

    The mayoral strategic authority will not replace local councils, but rather work closely with local authorities in the region to develop and deliver their plans with most of its focus on responsibilities which are currently held by Whitehall.

    Councillor Phil Jordan, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said: “Currently, central government and Whitehall departments make some key strategic decisions about policy and funding for the Island and the wider area.

    “Devolution would shift more of these policy-making powers and additional funding to local authorities such as the Isle of Wight Council.

    “This change is expected to provide greater local control over vital areas such as major transport infrastructure, and health services, giving residents more power to shape the things that are important to them and ensuring robust local accountability.”

    As part of devolution proposals, a mayor would, subject to agreement and approval, be elected in the spring of 2026 to head up the new strategic combined authority. The mayor would promote the interests of the wider region to central government with the aim of driving local economic growth.

    The government is due to launch a public consultation in the spring to gather residents’ views on the plans. Any devolution deal would then undergo scrutiny and approval by Isle of Wight councillors.

    To facilitate devolution, the government has agreed to defer this year’s Isle of Wight Council elections by 12 months. However, this postponement is contingent on the necessary legislative changes being laid down and approved.

    The government has not yet confirmed arrangements in relation to town, parish, and community council elections.

    Councillor Jordan added: “Given the pressing deadlines, this decision by government is understandable and provides us with the necessary time and capacity to focus intently on this critical work.

    “By collaborating across political parties and engaging with local communities, we can ensure we secure the best possible outcomes for our residents.”

    He added: “The devolution proposal is incredibly promising, with the potential to deliver significant advantages to local residents and businesses.

    “It offers a unique opportunity to tailor decisions to local needs and priorities. This would enable us to shape our own future while potentially attracting significant funding to improve quality of life and promote business growth.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Firms which took customers’ deposits but didn’t fit their kitchens are shut down following phoenix concerns

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Insolvency Service investigations found the Manchester-based companies took upfront payments from more than 20 customers, but there is no evidence they installed the kitchens as promised

    • Customers complained they did not receive the kitchens they had paid deposits for to Smart Choice Kitchens Limited and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited  

    • A phoenix company, Connect Kitchens Limited, was suspected of being set up to continue the same operation 

    • The three companies, connected by a shared director, were shut down in court following investigations by the Insolvency Service 

    A group of linked kitchen design and fitting companies based in Manchester have been shut down after taking upfront payments from more than 20 customers for products they did not provide. 

    Smart Choice Kitchens Limited, Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited, and Connect Kitchens Limited were all wound-up at a hearing of the High Court in Manchester on Tuesday 4 February following an investigation by the Insolvency Service into their business practices which also identified a pattern of phoenixism. 

    The companies encouraged customers to make payments before the kitchens were delivered and installed. 

    They then failed to supply the kitchens and customers were left unable to obtain refunds. 

    A total of 21 customers complained to Action Fraud about the actions of Smart Choice Kitchens and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms. Combined, the complainants had paid deposits of more than £50,000 to the two companies. 

    The victims all said that after paying a deposit, they were then falsely informed that the companies had gone into liquidation, or “went bankrupt”. 

    Insolvency Service investigators were also concerned that Connect Kitchens was acting as a successor company to Smart Choice Kitchens and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms, putting consumers at risk of losing further sums of money due to phoenixism. 

    David Hope, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Our investigations into Smart Choice Kitchens and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms concluded that they were taking money from customers for kitchens they never had any intention of fitting. The victims found out about the companies through Facebook or Google and were then treated in very similar ways, losing hundreds if not thousands of pounds. 

    We were concerned that Connect Kitchens was a phoenix company created to continue the same operation. Our concerns only increased when our investigations uncovered three previous companies run by the same director and her associate, all of which appeared to use the same objectionable and dishonest trading practices. 

    Phoenix companies being set up with the sole purpose of causing clear financial harm to the public will not be tolerated by the Insolvency Service. 

    Stopping these companies from trading will protect potential future victims, disrupt suspected fraudulent activity, and act as a deterrent to others considering a similar business model.

    Smart Choice Kitchens, Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms, and Connect Kitchens were all established between November 2022 and July 2023. 

    The three companies shared a director, known as Toni Amana or Toni Amana Warrington. 

    Connect Kitchens appointed a second director in October 2024 but Warrington remained the sole person with significant control over the company. 

    Warrington and a known associate of hers were directors of three other companies which operated a similar business model to Smart Choice Kitchens, Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms, and Connect Kitchens. 

    Those three companies, Your Style Kitchens Ltd, Your Style Kitchens & Bathrooms Ltd, and Designer Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited, all stopped trading and were struck-off the Companies House register in August 2023, October 2023, and January 2024. 

    Bank statements obtained by the Insolvency Service for Smart Choice Kitchens and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms revealed that the majority of payments were made to Warrington’s associate. 

    Warrington also failed to co-operate with the Insolvency Service’s investigations. 

    No accounting records were produced for any of the three companies and both Smart Choice Kitchens and Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms did not file accounts at Companies House on time.  

    The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator of Smart Choice Kitchens Limited, Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited, and Connect Kitchens Limited. 

    All enquiries concerning the affairs of the three companies should be made to the Official Receiver of the Public Interest Unit: 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ. Email: piu.or@insolvency.gov.uk. 

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –