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Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Global: Salem’s Lot: a faithful but shallow adaptation of Stephen King’s classic vampire novel

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrew Dix, Senior Lecturer in American Literature and Film, Loughborough University

    The vampire story dwells among the undead of literary and cinematic genres, ever available for reanimation. This year alone has seen the publication of more than 30 vampire novels in the US (from Rachel Harrison’s So Thirsty to K. M. Enright’s Mistress of Lies), alongside the release of several vampire movies, including Abigail (with Nosferatu, rebooting the silent German classic, due at Christmas).

    Now comes Salem’s Lot. Written and directed by Gary Dauberman, it’s the first feature-film adaptation of the 1975 novel in which Stephen King set himself the thought experiment of transposing Bram Stoker’s Dracula to contemporary New England. The book has been adapted twice before, in 1979 and 2004, but each time as a TV miniseries.

    Of these precursors, the more interesting is the first, directed by Tobe Hooper. Made five years after The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it signified Hooper’s move towards the mainstream, while retaining some gory scenes and choppy editing reminiscent of his old grindhouse aesthetic.

    The new Salem’s Lot begins with a series of maps that trace how the master vampire, concealed in a chest, has reached Maine. The film’s own passage, stalled for years by the calculations of marketers and schedulers, has been equally arduous. It arrives now rather belatedly and without blockbuster flourish. While UK King fans can enjoy it on the big screen, it is consumable in most other locations only via the streaming service Max.

    The trailer for Salem’s Lot.

    Literary and film scholar Robert Stam offers a profusion of terms to describe the work undertaken by screen adaptations. They may, for example, “rewrite”, “transmute” or even “critique” their source-texts. Indicating a gentler kind of process, however, Stam also allows that an adaptation can offer an “incarnation” or “performance” of the material it is adapting. Performing Salem’s Lot in this sense, responding in audio-visual form to King’s prompts and refusing major reinventions, appears to be Dauberman’s goal.

    King is a successor not only to Stoker and other horror writers such as H. P. Lovecraft, but to the late-19th century “local colorists” in New England, who attentively documented the sights and sounds of their region. On the page, Salem’s Lot is visually abundant. The new adaptation attempts to be similarly conscientious.

    Dauberman takes care in matters of colour and lighting. A church’s doors, shut against the vampiric menace, glow a vivid red. Two boys walk through a wood silhouetted at sunset, their bodies ominously already lacking substance against a sky that is turning from pink to black. There are other visual pleasures, too, representing a shift away from Hooper’s version, where the shots are rougher-edged and decidedly non-pictorial.

    The cast of this Salem’s Lot is likeable and struggles gamely, in the face of regular jump scares, to solicit audience engagement. Unlike Hammer’s Dracula adaptations, say, in which the monster has all the charisma, this is something of a democratic vampire film and devolves interest to members of the opposing force.

    A pleasing modification is also made to the overbearing whiteness of King’s narrative world, with two of the pluckiest vampire hunters reimagined as African American.

    Beyond the scare

    But if this latest adaptation of Salem’s Lot is easy enough on the eye, intellectually it is shallow. This matters, because the best vampire fictions prompt us not merely to be terrified, but to start interpreting – they generate meanings as well as scares.

    What, precisely, is signified by their monstrous protagonists? As expert in Victorian literature, Nina Auerbach, wrote in her still valuable book Our Vampires, Ourselves (1995): “No fear is only personal: it must steep itself in its political and ideological ambience, without which our solitary terrors have no contagious resonance.”

    Writing his novel in 1975, as the progressive dreams of the 1960s faded, King found in the vampire an apt image of power and cruelty in America. In his own words, from the afterword to Salem’s Lot: “I saw a metaphor for everything that was wrong with the society around me, where the rich got richer and the poor got welfare … if they were lucky.” When vampires strike in the book, there is therefore the sense of a nation at risk, not merely a few families or a handful of individuals.

    The new adaptation, by contrast, represses rather than invites such interpretive effort on our part. It carries across the novel’s mid-1970s setting, but is interested more in accurate period detailing – the right model of car, the appropriate hairstyle – than in substantive historical exploration. It also doesn’t use the category of the vampire movie to say something insightful about our own time: the post-COVID moment, for example, or the era of Donald Trump (a figure with rich vampiric possibilities).

    Dauberman’s version of Salem’s Lot is certainly respectful of its source-text (unsurprising, perhaps, with King himself listed among its executive producers). And it functions perfectly well as a showcase for the varied skills of props designer, prosthetic artist and special effects engineer. But, as a work of cultural and social inquiry, this latest vampire story is disappointingly de-fanged.


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    Andrew Dix does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Salem’s Lot: a faithful but shallow adaptation of Stephen King’s classic vampire novel – https://theconversation.com/salems-lot-a-faithful-but-shallow-adaptation-of-stephen-kings-classic-vampire-novel-241278

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City celebrates unique green awards hat-trick

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool has scored a unique treble at a major international climate change awards ceremony.

    Liverpool City Council’s Urban GreenUP project, which was recently shortlisted for a world Green City Award, won big at the CIRIA 2024 Big Biodiversity Awards.

    Held in London, the city’s innovative nature-based solution programme secured awards in the following categories:

    • CIRIA Innovation Award
    • CIRIA Habitat Creation Project of the Year Award
    • CIRIA Biodiversity Overall Winner

    The EU-funded programme, which has introduced urban raingardens, green walls and pollinators posts around the city centre as well as a number of floating islands in the city’s docks and parks, was also Highly Commended in the ‘Living Green for Climate Change’ category at the World Green City Awards 2024 held in Utrecht.

    The accolades follow hot on the heels of the programme scooping a golden pineapple trophy for its Climate Resilience submission at the 2024 Festival of Place.

    Liverpool has also recently become the world’s first ‘Accelerator City’ for climate action, under UN Climate Change’s Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) programme.

    The title comes in recognition of Liverpool’s impressive commitment to innovation and smart regulation to rapidly decarbonise the live music and TV/Film production sectors – both vital parts of the city’s economy – following several years of developmental work by ACT 1.5, an artist-led research and action effort, and climate scientists from the  Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

    • Liverpool’s Urban GreenUP programme involves a collaboration between the Council, the Mersey Forest and the University of Liverpool. It has set a number of goals to mitigate climate change impact on the city, such as enhancing air quality, reducing flooding risks, improving water management, and increasing urban sustainability.

    For more information go to: https://www.urbangreenup.eu/cities/front-runners/liverpool/liverpool-uk-re-naturing-urban-plan-with-nbs.kl

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: River of Light Shines Bright For All

    Source: City of Liverpool

    With just over a week to go until River of Light returns, Liverpool City Council unveils plans to make the popular event even more accessible, inclusive and engaging.

    Building on the success of last year, the FREE event will once again offer Quiet Hour sessions to accommodate visitors with additional sensory needs. These special sessions will run from 4-5pm on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 October, and the same times on Sunday 3 and Monday 4 November. During these hours, the 12 featured installations will have reduced soundscapes or will operate entirely without sound. Where possible, lighting will also be softened, creating a calmer environment for those with sensory sensitivities.

    This year’s light festival runs from Friday 25 October to Tuesday 5 November, taking place at the same time as Diwali – the Hindu festival of lights. To mark the cultural celebration, on Friday 1 November visitors can enjoy a programme curated by Indian arts organisation, MILAP, featuring performances by the popular Bombay Baja Brass Band and Piano with Bhav between 5-8pm– all taking place near the Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos installation by award-winning artist MURUGIAH.

    The young people’s engagement programme, developed by the City Council’s Culture Liverpool team returns this year and connects young people with three of the event’s featured artists, offering creative, hands-on workshops that encourage artistic expression and learning.

    • Families attending Granby Children’s Centre and Family Hub will have the opportunity to work with MURUGIAH, who will guide participants through the creation of Mandalas – repetitive geometric designs which represent harmony and balance.
    • Students at St John Bosco Arts College will have a masterclass in sign-making from locally commissioned artist Liz Harry, learning the art of communication through visual design.
    • Pupils at Holy Family Catholic Primary School will collaborate with Rachel Darnell and Jorge Fernandez from Australia’s Amigo & Amigo, designing and crafting their very own gnomes – inspired by their 2024 River of Light installation, No Place Like Gnome.
    • Working with the City Council’s Children and Young People’s team, there will also be a guided tour for young people who are part of the Positive Pathways scheme, aimed at those who could otherwise be at risk of being involved with anti-social behaviour.

    The theme for this year’s outdoor trail and the engagement programme is Play, tying into Liverpool’s ongoing pledge to become a recognised UNICEF UK Child Friendly City. The initiative highlights the importance of children’s rights to play, recreation, rest, and leisure, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. #ChildFriendlyLpool

    To get the latest information visit http://www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight or follow @visitliverpool (X, Facebook and TikTok) or @visitliverpool_ (Instagram).

    River of Light will be part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority. Avanti is the official travel partner for the event.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

    “We’re thrilled to bring back the quiet hours this year after receiving such positive feedback from visitors in 2023. It brought in a new audience who hadn’t experienced the trail previously, and thanks to some adaptations to the light and sound, they felt part of this massively popular event. 

    “It’s also great to see the return of the workshops – they’re so unique, and the youngsters and the artists always get a huge amount out of the sessions. Encouraging children to express themselves through art and creativity is an incredibly powerful tool that will hopefully inspire future artists.

    “Celebrating Diwali as part of the River of Light is a fantastic way to embrace cultural diversity and unity and we’re delighted to be working with Milap on this. Bringing together communities through art, music, and tradition, fostering a real sense of belonging and is certain to be a highlight of the festival.”

    Alok Nayak, Milap’s CEO and Artistic Director, said:

    “We are excited to be part of River of Light 2024, an event that unites art, culture, and community. At Milap, we believe in the power of the arts to inspire, educate, and bring people together.

    “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the richness of Indian arts, while contributing to Liverpool’s dynamic cultural landscape. Diwali, the festival of light, is beautifully reflected in Liverpool’s own light festival, making our collaboration with Culture Liverpool to bring MURUGIAH’s ‘Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos’ to the city even more meaningful.

    “Rangoli patterns are recreated in homes, in designs and works of art worldwide, and this concept will come to life on Liverpool’s waterfront through MURUGIAHS’s unique reimagining. We’re eager to share this experience with the public and celebrate the positive impact of creativity and diversity!”

    Denise Wright, Liverpool City Council’s Family Learning Co-ordinator for Children Centre’s and Family Hubs, said:
    “This is a wonderful opportunity for families with young children to work with a world-renowned artist at one of our main Family Hub sites. The River of Light’s theme of PLAY this year is great for engaging families in rich creative and cultural experiences in their own communities and for connecting families to a major interactive and cultural event in the city.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trailblazing fostering hub celebrates its first birthday

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Foster with North East was launched last year with the aim of recruiting more foster carers across the North East by offering dedicated support and a specialised recruitment hub working alongside all 12 local authorities in the region.

    Since then more than 850 people have come forward to enquire about becoming a foster carers, many of whom are in the process of being approved as foster carers.

    A direct response to the call for more foster carers, Foster with North East has also been a trailblazer for the Department for Education’s pathfinder project, leading to a further nine spin off schemes now operating in other parts of the country.

    The hub acts as the first port of call for prospective foster carers offering a warm welcome, directing enquiries to their local authority, and providing support throughout the application process.

    It seeks to recruit foster carers from a range of different backgrounds and circumstances in the region to improve the experience of foster carers and offer the best outcomes for children in care.

    While nationally the average length of time from application to approval for anyone applying to be a foster carer is 6 months, Foster with North East have managed to condense this to 4.8 months. And there are plans to do this even quicker.

    The percentage of initial enquiries to Foster with North East from prospective foster carers which ultimately convert into successful applications (regardless of subsequent outcome), is also much higher at 23.1 per cent than the national rate of 12 per cent.. 

    Newly approved foster carers Vicky and Phil Metcalfe are some of the first to be approved as foster carers since the launch of Foster with North East. 

    Speaking about their experiences at the one year on celebration, Vicky said: “Fostering is something I thought about doing for years. Eventually last year I spoke to my husband and said I wanted to do it. We applied, and now here we are celebrating our approval alongside other new carers from the region.

    “Fostering has always been in my mind. I’ve got a son of my own and I just kept thinking that there are kids out there that need that love and care and if I ever needed someone to look after my son, I’d want to know there was somebody out there that would do this for us. We’ve a lot of love to give and to us it was a no brainier to look at fostering.

    “The whole application process with Foster with North East was really smooth, and our social worker was really lovely, she kept us informed and we felt very comfortable talking to her. 

    “The training also included meeting young people who are care experienced and gave us really good insight. It helped us to better understand their side of things.  A lot of what they said was also very positive and really showed how much difference you can make.  

    “Our was son was on board with our plans to foster from the minute we told him. He’s been absolutely brilliant and has welcomed our first child to our home too recently who is fantastic – we couldn’t have asked for a more loving little boy, he’s got the best smile, and he loves to learn, he’s very creative and it’s lovely to see him getting along so well with our son.

    “For anyone thinking about fostering, I’d say that if it’s in the back of your mind go for it. I’ve only been doing it a short time, but I’m all in, this is me now.”

    In its first year:

    • The collaboration between the 12 local authorities has brought together fostering teams, marketing experts and fostering families to support and drive recruitment of new carers.
    • Information sessions, events and pop-up stalls fostering a strong network of support have been held across the region.
    • Foster with North East has provided extensive training, equipping applicants with the tools they need to thrive as foster carers.
    • As the heart of the work lies in the stories of the children and families, Foster with North East has captured the joys of fostering directly from foster carers through several heartwarming video case studies to showcase the real-life transformative power of fostering.

    Daniel Kenny, Hub (Service) Lead for Foster with North East, said: “Foster with North East was created to tackle the decline in foster carers in the region and it’s been fantastic to see the progress and collaborative work over the last 12 months.

    “This has included building and strengthening connections across the region to reach as many people as possible with our fostering message, and ensure we are offering the best service possible to those looking to become foster carers.

    “We’ve had great support from our local authorities and positive feedback from newly approved carers at our celebration event, with some sharing their experiences on camera to shed light on the impact of our hub. The day highlighted everyone’s commitment to improving the lives of children in care, and it was wonderful to share such an important milestone with all those who have been part of our journey and be able to recognise the new foster carers as they embark on their fostering career.

    “We know there’s still a long way to go, as we need even more people from all walks of life to provide the safe homes for children and young people in care whether that’s for one night, a week, for a few months at a time or long-term.

    “But we’re really excited about continuing our work to grow the number of foster carers in the North East fostering for their local authority and ensure every child has a safe and stable home. As more regional hubs are being launched across England, we’re also looking forward to sharing our stories of hope throughout the country and supporting the other hubs.”

    Anyone interested in fostering in the North East, can visit the Foster with North East website here to find out more and make an enquiry.

    Foster with North East is a collaborative partnership between 12 local authorities from across the North East of England. For the first time every, fostering services all across the region are joining forces to recruit much-needed prospective foster carers for vulnerable children and young people.

    Anyone considering fostering in the region will benefit from a united, single support hub. The hub provides additional support for prospective foster carers and is supported by the Department for Education.

    The 12 local authorities involved in Foster with North East are:

    • Darlington 
    • Durham 
    • Gateshead 
    • Hartlepool 
    • Middlesbrough 
    • Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
    • Northumberland 
    • North Tyneside 
    • Redcar and Cleveland 
    • South Tyneside 
    • Stockton-on-Tees
    • Sunderland (Together for Children)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council pledges to plant 8,000 trees by 2028

    Source: City of Salford

    Salford City Council has pledged to support the planting of 8,000 trees by 2028, as part of their commitment to fighting climate change.

    The council will work with the Greater Manchester community forest and charity, City of Trees, to identify planting sites for street trees and new woodland areas, and work together to plant the trees over the next four years.

    They will also work with developers in the planning process to plant new trees as part of new developments.

    Trees have a host of benefits, from improving air quality by taking up pollutants and helping to reduce flood risk by intercepting water in their leaves and roots, to releasing chemicals which strengthen people’s immune, hormonal and nervous systems.

    Importantly, they absorb carbon dioxide, helping us in the fight against climate change. A single, fully-grown tree can absorb up to 22kg of carbon every year. 

    Cllr Jane Hamilton, Executive Support Member for Climate Change, Low Carbon and Green Agenda at Salford City Council said “the council declared a climate emergency in 2019 in recognition of the need for more urgent action to combat climate breakdown and ensure the city is as resilient as possible. Responding to climate change is one of the key priorities in our corporate plan, This is our Salford, which aims to create a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all.

    “Our pledge to plant 8,000 trees by 2028 is just one of the practical steps we are taking to protect current and future generations from the impacts of climate change.”

    Kevin Wigley from City of Trees said “We have the funding for trees and woods, and so finding suitable locations for them to be planted is a priority of ours. We’re pleased to be working with Salford City Council to identify the best place for the new trees to be planted so their benefits can be enjoyed by residents for generations to come.

    “We would  encourage any other landowners in Salford to get in touch about planting woodlands on their land. Each wooded area contributes to creating a greener, more climate-resilient Salford.”

    To find out more about how Salford is responding to climate change visit Greener Salford.

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    Date published
    Tuesday 15 October 2024

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Electric blanket testing sessions15 October 2024 Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (JFRS) will once again be supporting Jersey Electricity’s (JE) annual electric blanket safety testing on Thursday 17th October and Friday 18th October 2024. ​No need to book,… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    15 October 2024

    Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (JFRS) will once again be supporting Jersey Electricity’s (JE) annual electric blanket safety testing on Thursday 17th October and Friday 18th October 2024.

    ​No need to book, simply take your electric blanket along on:

    • Thursday 17th October to Western Fire Station, between 10am and 3pm

    Or,

    • Friday 18th October 2023 to Fire Headquarters, Rouge Bouillon, between 10am and 3pm.

    The free safety test will be completed by Jersey Electricity’s electrical engineers.

    If it can’t be tested on the spot while you wait, they will tell you what time you can collect it if it passes the test.

    If your blanket fails the safety test, Jersey Electricity will keep and dispose of it. You will receive a Powerhouse 10% discount voucher, which can be redeemed against the purchase of a new one.

    JFRS recommend that all electric blankets over 10 years old should be replaced. For this reason, JE staff will not test any blankets over 10 years old but will provide a Powerhouse 10% discount voucher in return for your old electric blanket.

    A Community Fire Safety Officer will also be on hand throughout the testing to offer advice on fire safety in the home.

    Here are some simple tips to stay safe when using electric blankets:

    • Regular Inspections: Examine your electric blanket for any signs of wear, fraying, or damage before use.
    • Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding usage, washing, and storage of electric blankets.
    • Avoid Overheating: Never leave an electric blanket turned on for an extended period, and switch it off before getting into bed.
    • No Pets or Heavy Objects: Keep pets and heavy objects off the electric blanket to prevent damage.
    • Replace Old Blankets: If your electric blanket is more than ten years old or shows signs of wear, consider replacing it with a newer model.

    ​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New bus service will help shoppers get to the city centre

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 15th October 2024

    Residents in Norton without a nearby bus service are being encouraged to make the most of a new service.

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been working closely with local bus operators to reintroduce a bus service for residents in the area.

    Now the number 42 service is officially up and running after the city council struck a deal with Stantons of Stoke.

    The weekday service, which goes from Ball Green to Hanley via Norton Lane, Milton Crossroads and Abbotts Square in Abbey Hulton, will run on a temporary basis ahead of a more formal tender process.

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker said: “We have listened to residents, and I am so pleased that we have been able to start the long-awaited bus service along Ford Green Road which residents are so desperate for. The number 42 service will mean residents can easily visit the local shops, the crematorium and the city centre – something they have not been able to do for a long time.

    “The contract for the number 42 is currently only until early next year but it will give us a chance to establish if this service will be viable going forward. We have tried our best to include the areas around Norton which are not currently very well served to give this service the best chance of survival, and we would really encourage residents to make use of this new bus route.”

    The service is being delivered through the city council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which is being funded by £31.6 million of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).

    The plan has so far seen the launch of the council’s flagship Affordable Fares scheme which offers discounted bus tickets for adults and young people, the introduction of a number of new bus routes and enhanced services across the city.

    It also comes ahead of the launch of the city council’s new Transport Prospectus which will outline the council’s proposed vision for transport in Stoke-on-Trent through to 2040.

    Keith Stanton, managing director at Stantons of Stoke, said: “We are keen to work closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, who are making all this possible.

    “With funding via the Bus Service Improvement Plan we are able to re-establish areas with a bus link, which brings so much with regards to connectivity and inclusion that other areas take for granted.

    “We look forward to future opportunities and we will ensure that the travelling public are provided with a reliable, affordable service.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New UK sanctions target illegal outposts and organisations supporting extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    New sanctions target three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank.

    • New sanctions target three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. 
    • Today’s measures put strict financial restrictions on those who commit these acts. Measures respond to a continued rise in violence that is devastating Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  
    • Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, “the Israeli government must crack down on settler violence and stop the legalisation of settler outposts.” 

    The Foreign Secretary has announced sanctions in response to continued violence by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. 

    Today’s measures target three settler outposts and four organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Settler violence often seeks to force Palestinians to leave their homes, and seize their land for the construction of outposts, which are illegal under both international and Israeli law.  

    The measures follow an unprecedented rise in settler violence in the West Bank over the last year, with the UN recording over 1,400 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities since October 2023.  
     
    The month of October sees the beginning of the olive harvest in the West Bank, an important time both culturally and economically for Palestinians. It has traditionally suffered spikes in violence as organised settler groups disrupt and attack Palestinians.  

    The measures taken today are part of wider UK efforts to support a more stable West Bank, which is vital for the peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. 

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

    When I went to the West Bank earlier this year, on one of my first trips as Foreign Secretary, I met with Palestinians whose communities have suffered horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers.   

    The inaction of the Israeli government has allowed an environment of impunity to flourish where settler violence has been allowed to increase unchecked. Settlers have shockingly even targeted schools and families with young children.    

    Today’s measures will help bring accountability to those who have supported and perpetrated such heinous abuses of human rights. The Israeli government must crack down on settler violence and stop settler expansion on Palestinian land. As long as violent extremists remain unaccountable, the UK and the international community will continue to act.

    The illegal settler outposts sanctioned today – Tirzah Valley Farm Outpost, Meitarim Outpost, and Shuvi Eretz Outpost – have been involved in facilitating, inciting, promoting or providing support for activity that amounts to a serious abuse of the right of Palestinians not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 

    The four organisations sanctioned today are Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva, Hashomer Yosh, Torat Lechima and Amana. 

    Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva is a religious school embedded in the Yitzhar settlement known to promote violence against non-Jewish people. 

    Hashomer Yosh is a non-governmental organisation that provides volunteers for illegal outposts, including Meitarim Outpost (also sanctioned today). Meitarim was founded by the extremist settler Yinon Levy, who the UK sanctioned in February.  

    Torat Lechima is a registered Israeli charity that has been documented as providing financial support to illegal settler outposts linked with acts of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.   

    Amana operates in practice as a commercial construction company. Amana has overseen the establishment of illegal outposts and provides funding and other economic resources for Israeli settlers involved in threatening and perpetrating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

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    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Civil Service recruiting new head to oversee regulatory divergence

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister:

    “Far from the Sea Border being gone, the Civil Service is now recruiting a “Head of Regulatory Divergence Co-ordination” at a cost of up to £59,000 a year to the public purse.

    “Clearly Stormont is perfectly aware that the deal which restored devolution on the pretext that the damage done by the Protocol had been addressed was a sham.

    “No nation with any self-respect would tolerate a situation where such a post is necessary – a senior civil servant whose sole responsibility is to monitor how the internal market of the United Kingdom is being trashed.

    “This post is yet further confirmation of the monumental constitutional damage inflicted by the Protocol on the integrity of the UK and Northern Ireland’s place within it.”

    Note to editors

    You can view the advert for this position here.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dan Corry appointed to lead Defra regulation review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Defra announces internal regulatory review led by economist Dan Corry

    The economist Dan Corry has been appointed to carry out an internal review into the regulation and regulators at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

    The review will examine whether the inherited regulatory landscape is fit for purpose and develop recommendations to ensure that regulation across the Department is driving economic growth while protecting the environment.

    The review will explore:

    • Whether Defra regulators are equipped to drive economic growth, secure private sector investment and protect the environment
    • The customer and stakeholder experience of regulation, including the impact on those who are regulated.
    • The efficiency of regulation, in particular whether the current regulatory landscape involves any duplication and/or contradiction, and whether there are opportunities to make improvements.

    The review is part of wider work to position Defra as a key economic growth department with regulatory reform to:

    • Boost private sector investment into the water sector, creating tens of thousands of jobs and speeding up the delivery of infrastructure to clean up water pollution and enable economic growth. 
    • Transform regional economies across the country through the development of a circular economy by reusing more existing materials, driving down waste across key sectors such as construction and packaging, reducing import costs for businesses and cutting carbon emissions.
    • Develop pragmatic solutions that are needed to build the homes and infrastructure this country needs, while protecting and improving environmental outcomes.
    • Strengthen economic resilience in communities that need better flood defences.
    • Drive rural economic growth by cutting red tape for farmers and boosting Britain’s food security.

    Dan Corry brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as Head of the No10 Policy Unit under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and adviser in many Government departments where he was involved in regulatory reform. 

    It comes as yesterday (14 October) the government hosted the International Investment Summit with 300 industry leaders, where the Prime Minister set out billions worth of investment deals, as well as plans to tackle unnecessary regulation. This is part of the government’s growth mission to create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry holiday programme voted a brilliant success!

    Source: City of Coventry

    A Coventry teen enjoyed one of his best summers ever, thanks to the Holiday Food and Activities programme (HAF).

    Corey, a student at Woodfield School in the city, was anxious and reluctant to go along to any of the HAF sessions at first, but after attending one, he couldn’t wait to take part in more.

    Mum, Gemma, said:

    “He has enjoyed the experience of all activities provided, seeing him being so excited to come home and telling me about his days and showing pictures and making phone calls to me, tells me how much fun he’s having.

    “Corey’s told me his experiences were good and he scores summer school a nine out of 10. Just want to say a massive thank you to the staff for organising everything.”

    Over 4000 Coventry children enjoyed a fun-filled summer break with activities and a meal, thanks to the government-funded, council supported HAF programme.

    16,000 children are eligible in Coventry to attend the HAF programme across Easter, Summer and Winter.

    Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member, Education and Skills, commented:

    “It’s always really heart-warming to hear and read how people’s lives are impacted so positively by programmes such as this. As we know, there are lots of other young people, like Corey, who I’m sure would benefit from the activities being delivered via the Holiday and Activities programme.

     I’d urge Coventry families to check if they are eligible to access the Holiday Activity Fund programme in the future, especially as we will be offering another excellent range of activities over the Christmas holiday season.”

    Families are being encouraged to see if they qualify for the programmes by checking online and registering now to benefit in time for the Christmas holiday programme.

    The HAF programme gives those families who are eligible for free school meals the chance to take part in fun and enjoyable sessions during the holidays, all with food provided.

    Tuesday, 15th October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester Libraries twin with Ukraine Library

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester Libraries has been twinned with a Ukrainian library through a partnership programme set up to bring closer links with libraries in Ukraine.

    Libraries Connected, the organisation of all public libraries in the United Kingdom, has overseen the development of a library twinning partnership with Library County, the Ukrainian library association.

    The announcement has seen Manchester Libraries, twinned with the Lviv Regional Youth Library. It is one of several UK libraries twinned with a counterpart in Ukraine.

    Being twinned with a Youth Library is particularly apt because of Moss Side Powerhouse Youth Library, a library specialising in offering a service to young people. Lviv, like Manchester is a UNESCO City of Literature.

    Since the war broke out, libraries in Ukraine have had to adapt to changing conditions with a focus on supporting their communities’ mental health, countering misinformation, and providing practical help.

    The twinning programme aims to promote information exchange about language, literature, and culture, to develop joint initiatives, connect audiences through exchange of experience, books and digital material as well as celebrating both UK and Ukrainian literature and culture.

    Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure welcomed the opportunity to twin with the Lviv Regional Youth Library today and said:

    ” We are delighted that Manchester has been given this opportunity to twin with a Ukrainian library. We have a strong Ukrainian community, and we have been eager to show solidarity and connect with them in this way.

    “Libraries whether here or in Ukraine sit at the heart of and are the bedrock of communities and are an important resource for our young people, we hope to support Lviv Youth Library and the library staff in whatever way we can.”

    Manchester Libraries is a Library of Sanctuary having been re-awarded Libraries of Sanctuary Status for another three years, earlier this year. It recognises and celebrates libraries that go above and beyond to welcome sanctuary seekers and refugees, demonstrating solidarity and inclusivity and the benefits of a welcoming culture to everyone.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bring photo ID if voting in the Harpenden North & Rural by-election

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    Voters in the Harpenden North & Rural ward are reminded to bring approved photo ID to their polling station for a by-election on Thursday 17 October.

    They are required to present the ID or a Voter Authority Certificate in order to vote in the by-election for a vacant seat on St Albans City and District Council.

    Approved ID includes a UK passport or driver’s licence, a Government-funded bus pass for older or disabled people, and a PASS card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram.

    Documents must be originals but they can be current or expired if the photo still bears a true likeness of the voter. 

    Full details of approved ID are available on the Electoral Commission’s website here. 

    Voters are asked to check their poll cards to see which polling station they should attend as it may be different to where they usually vote.

    A list of the candidates for the by-election, together with other information, is available here.

    Amanda Foley, Returning Officer for St Albans City and District, said:

    Approved photo ID is now established as a requirement for people voting at a polling station.

    We are just reminding the voters of Harpenden North & Rural to bring approved ID along. If they do not have it, they will not be able to vote.

    The by-election was called following the resignation of former District Councillor Beth Fisher.

    Votes will be counted overnight on Thursday 17 October and the elected District Council candidate will serve until May 2028.

    Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Restart a Heart Day 202414 October 2024 ​​​Staff from the States of Jersey Ambulance Service and members of the Health and Community Services Resuscitation Service will be teaching CPR and defibrillation techniques to members of the public for… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    14 October 2024

    ​​​
    Staff from the States of Jersey Ambulance Service and members of the Health and Community Services Resuscitation Service will be teaching CPR and defibrillation techniques to members of the public for Restart a Heart Day, this coming Wednesday (16 October).

    ​Restart a Heart Day is an annual initiative, led by the Resuscitation Council (UK) to help people to learn CPR, and raise awareness and confidence in dealing with out of hospital cardiac arrest.

    UK statistics show that whereas only one in 25 victims of a cardiac arrest is likely to survive without receiving CPR, their chances increase to one in four where CPR takes place. 

    A stall will be set up next to the fountain on Broad Street between 09:00-14:00, to teach as many people as possible CPR and defibrillation skills.

    The event offers the chance for members of the public to try their hand at CPR, get to grips with a ‘defib’ and become more comfortable with what is involved, should they encounter someone who’s had a cardiac arrest. It takes just three minutes before damage to the brain can commence, and CPR can keep the blood flowing.

    Katie Campbell, Clinical Tutor for the States of Jersey Ambulance Service said: “Early CPR and defibrillation can double the chances of survival for someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest, so it is important as many people as possible know what to do in an emergency.

    “Restart a Heart Day is a brilliant initiative that spreads awareness and builds confidence to do the right thing in an emergency.”

    ​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New leader for ARU’s work-based courses

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Published: 14 October 2024 at 10:30

    Specialist in education and workforce development Carl Dawson joins university

    Carl Dawson, a globally renowned expert in online education and workforce development with over 20 years of experience, has been appointed to lead Anglia Ruskin University’s Online and Degrees at Work teams.

    Relocating to the UK from Texas, Carl has previously worked closely with universities, governments and companies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Bangladesh, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

    Carl has extensive experience across both the public and private sectors and has implemented digital learning programs for institutions and governments, including the UK Cabinet Office. In 2013, he co-founded Construct Education, later recognized by Deloitte as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the UK and now operating globally.

    He helped build accredited online education programs at institutions such as Howard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Tennessee.

    In 2021, Carl became an advisor to the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on new digital learning strategies in a post COVID world. 

    His academic research includes time as a Transformational Leadership Fellow at Oxford University, a Policy Fellow at Cambridge University, and a Senior Research Associate at Jesus College, Cambridge, focusing on new economic models for higher education.

    The Degrees at Work team is at the forefront of driving growth for ARU’s distance learning and apprenticeships. The team collaborates closely with employers and academics to identify future talent needs, generating insights that shape ARU’s innovative, professional work-based programs.

    Carl, who takes the role of Director of Learning Development Services at ARU, said:

    “I’m thrilled to return to the UK to join Anglia Ruskin University and help shape the future of work in the East of England and beyond, ensuring this unique region leads in preparing learners for tomorrow’s industries and societal needs.

    “Being part of the University of the Year is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to build on our Gold Award for teaching, pioneering degree apprenticeships, and decade-long distance and online learning success.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bring photo ID if voting in the Harpenden North & Rural by-election

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    Voters in the Harpenden North & Rural ward are reminded to bring approved photo ID to their polling station for a by-election on Thursday 17 October.

    They are required to present the ID or a Voter Authority Certificate in order to vote in the by-election for a vacant seat on St Albans City and District Council.

    Approved ID includes a UK passport or driver’s licence, a Government-funded bus pass for older or disabled people, and a PASS card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram.

    Documents must be originals but they can be current or expired if the photo still bears a true likeness of the voter. 

    Full details of approved ID are available on the Electoral Commission’s website here. 

    Voters are asked to check their poll cards to see which polling station they should attend as it may be different to where they usually vote.

    A list of the candidates for the by-election, together with other information, is available here.

    Amanda Foley, Returning Officer for St Albans City and District, said:

    Approved photo ID is now established as a requirement for people voting at a polling station.

    We are just reminding the voters of Harpenden North & Rural to bring approved ID along. If they do not have it, they will not be able to vote.

    The by-election was called following the resignation of former District Councillor Beth Fisher.

    Votes will be counted overnight on Thursday 17 October and the elected District Council candidate will serve until May 2028.

    Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Four Stoke-on-Trent shops closed as part of a raid on illegal cigarettes and vapes

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Monday, 14th October 2024

    Four shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with closure orders after an operation by trading standards found illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold.

    Four shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with closure orders after an operation by trading standards found illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold. This follows several months of investigation and test purchasing, including under age test purchasing, and a co-ordinated joint trading standards and police operation last week to target illegal cigarettes and vapes in the City. The officers were also supported by a tobacco detection team including sniffer dog, from Wagtail UK.

    The raids, linked to Operation CeCe, a national initiative which aims to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco, resulted in the seizure of  563 illegal vapes (£7319), 4.5kg of fake hand-rolling tobacco (retail value of £4300, street value £825 and £3000 of evaded duty), 17,600 illegal cigarettes (retail value of £11,000, street value £4000 and £8000 of evaded duty), and 40 packs of illegal shisha (estimated value £700) from the shop premises and one car which was also searched. 

    The council has now used its powers to issue four of the premises with a 48-hour closure notice and last week, Newcastle Magistrates Court made a closure order for each of the premises extending the 48 hours to three months. The city council will now work with the landlords of the premises to re-purpose them.

    Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability advised: “Another great result by the trading standards team. Premises found to be selling items illegally will face the consequences.
    “I encourage any resident to report any suspicious activity relating to the sale of illegal vapes, tobacco, underage sales and anything related.
    “We want Stoke-on-Trent to be a safe, thriving place, and this type of activity undermines the hard work of residents and legitimate businesses.”

    “When we have the evidence, we will continue to take action like this against businesses who sell illegal goods in Stoke-on-Trent.”

    Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes, 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, Operation CeCe, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.” 

    Anyone who wants to report a similar issue to trading standards can call the Trading Standards Hotline 01782 238444 or visit stoke.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Speech: PM International Investment Summit Speech: 14 October 2024

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

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech at the International Investment Summit 2024.

    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    And thanks to all you for being here…

    It’s fantastic to stand here and look out and see so many of you here…

    And I’m really grateful that you have made the effort, and you are here. It means a huge amount to me and my government…

    And welcome to this Government’s first International Investment summit.

    And some of you I know have come a very long way to be here…

    You have flown in from a great distance, some of you will be going straight back out again afterwards.

    You have made a huge effort to share with us the precious gift of your time…

    And we are really, really grateful for that.

    And welcome to the Guild Hall…

    London’s ancient Town Hall…

    Isn’t it a fantastic building, it’s really breathtaking this Guild Hall.

    Not of course to be confused with the nearby Guildhall school of music…

    Where I once pursued a fleeting ambition to play the flute professionally. I kid you not…

    Complete with then long hair and very, very flared jeans. 

    All photographic evidence has been destroyed.

    But today we are pursuing a different ambition…

    A shared ambition…

    Growth.

    You have to grow your business.

    And I have to grow my country.

    I’ll leave it to you to decide if you think voters or shareholders are the more forgiving audience…

    But without growth – let’s just agree it’s a difficult conversation…

    And that therefore, growth is a cause that binds us together.

    The shared endeavour of prosperity.

    It’s why we’ve made it the number one test of this government…

    I am determined to do everything in my power to galvanise growth…

    Determined for this country to be the highest growing economy in the G7…

    That is our most important national mission.

    Because it’s the only way to deliver the mandate for change that we won.

    Growth is higher wages.

    Growth is more vibrant high streets.

    Growth is public services back on their feet.

    It’s less poverty, more opportunity, more meals out, more holidays, more precious moments with your family, more cash in your pocket.

    And of course, for any business…

    It means a bigger market.

    Higher demand…

    A more secure and prosperous future…

    Your effort and enterprise – rewarded in profit.

    But it’s much more important, even than all that. 

    We live in an age when political fires rage across the world.

    Conflict. Insecurity. A populist mood that rails against the open values so many of us hold dear.

    Values which, as you know…

    Are so crucial for making business easy to do.

    And yet – at the same time…

    Look around the world…

    Look at the investments you and others are making.

    This is an age of great possibility, as well. 

    Huge revolutions in digital technology, clean energy, medicine, life sciences…

    Each – with the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and the way that we work…

    Each – with the possibility to transform the lives of working people for the better.

    And so, in times like this…

    Economic growth is vital – as it always has been…

    If we are to steer our way through a great period of insecurity and change…

    And on to calmer waters. 

    Because when working people benefit from that growth…

    When every community enjoys the fruits of wealth creation…

    It stops a country turning in on itself and against the world.

    And that in turn, helps provides a stable foundation…

    Breathing space… 

    For a country to take advantage of those opportunities for a better future.

    To put it more simply…

    It’s not just that stability leads to growth – though we all recognise that. 

    It’s also that growth leads to stability…

    Growth leads to country that is better equipped to come together…

    And get its future back.

    That’s why it’s always been so critical to my political project.

    The key ingredient of that ‘Great Moderation’ we became accustomed to before the financial crash…

    But which together, in partnership…

    We now have to earn again. 

    Every one of you here today…

    Has been invited for that reason.

    It’s not just that you lead some of the most important businesses in the world.

    It’s also because you are pivotal to this great cause of our times. 

    And the reason we are focusing so much on investment…

    Is because the mission of growth, in this country in particular…

    Demands it.

    Private sector investment is the way we rebuild our country…

    And pay our way in the world.

    And make no mistake – this is a great moment to back Britain…

    This is great moment to back England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

    We have an amazing education system that produces some of the best talent in the world.

    The largest tech sector in Europe.

    Leading positions in some of those great industries of the future…

    Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, Clean energy, the creative industries.

    We’re a country where businesses thrive – small and large alike…

    With clear regulatory frameworks and protections…

    A legal system that sets high standards around the globe…

    A location which means we can speak to our colleagues in the Americas or Asia in the same day…

    A high ranking in the Global Innovation index, every year…

    Our wonderful global language…

    Our world-renowned sport and culture… 

    This great modern city…

    And all around us…

    A heritage steeped in commerce and trade…

    A set of shared values – centuries-long…

    For being a country that is open for business.

    You can’t put a price on any of this.

    Now we have our problems – of course we do.

    As I’ve said – our public services need urgent care… 

    And our public finances need the tough love of prudence…

    Challenges we cannot ignore. 

    Because, we know – just as every leader here knows…

    That those early weeks and months are precious.

    And, no matter how many people advise you to ignore it…

    That you must run towards the fire to put it out…

    Not let it spread further.

    So we will fix our public services…

    We will stabilise our economy… 

    And we will do it quickly.

    Because we don’t want any of those problems associated with our inheritance…

    Misting up the shop window of Britain…

    Distracting you – from all those assets I just listed.

    Assets that may feel more intangible…

    But are more valuable…

    More enduring…

    Deeper in the bones of this nation.

    And which are ready to be unlocked…

    If we take firm and decisive action on policy – which we can and we will…

    To give you total confidence that this is the moment to back Britain.  

    So let me quickly run through four crucial areas in our pitch for Britain.

    I know – it’s a kind of CEO heresy to have a list of four not three…

    So I apologise!

    But please indulge me.

    First – stability.

    We have a golden opportunity to use our mandate…

    To end the culture of chop and change…

    The policy churn…

    The sticking plaster politics…

    That makes it so hard for investors to assess the value of any proposition.

    Now, you may think – well every government says that…

    But the stability that comes with a large majority in our system…

    That is a unique advantage.

    And we have the determination…

    The focus on clear long-term ends…

    A mission-led mindset that thinks in years…

    Not the days or hours of the news grid…

    Needed to unlock that potential. 

    And don’t doubt that.

    Second – strategy.

    We are building a more strategic architecture for growth. 

    A way for investors to have a much steadier hand on the tiller.

    That’s why we’ve announced a new National Wealth Fund…

    And switched on Great British Energy…

    Which will accelerate investment in clean power and future technologies.

    Like Carbon Capture and Storage, for example…

    Which we just backed – alongside BP, Equinor and Eni

    And which shows the hard-headed approach we will bring to industrial policy.

    A partnership – sharing the risk with the private sector…

    Ambitious – absolutely. 

    But also unsentimental.

    Guided by the market…

    Focused, at all times…

    On the real potential for comparative advantage in this country.

    You know – this is the point I would always make about our Modern Industrial Strategy. 

    In this country, there has been a long rather arcane political debate about “picking winners”.

    Well, we’re not in the business of individual picking winners.

    But we are in the business of building on our strengths.

    Mowing the grass on the pitch…

    Making sure the changing rooms are clean and comfortable…

    That the training ground is good.

    So that when our businesses compete…

    They are match fit…

    That, to put it simply…

    We give the businesses of this country the best conditions to succeed.

    I don’t know why that’s sometimes controversial in this country…

    Industrial policy seems fairly commonplace elsewhere around the world.

    But it is fundamental to the way we see our job on growth…

    And our relationship with a room like this.

    Third – Britain’s global standing.

    We’re determined to improve it.

    Determined – to repair…

    Britain’s brand as an open, outward-looking, confident, trading nation.

    Look – I see this as a diplomatic necessity…

    And I think it’s clear how much priority I have given it in the first 100 days of government.

    All around the world…

    Whether it’s countries, or investors…

    People want to know that Britain can be a stable, trusted, rule-abiding partner.

    As we always have been…

    But that somehow, during the whole circus that followed Brexit… 

    The last Government made a few people less sure about. 

    Needlessly insulting our closest allies…

    And of course a few choice Anglo-Saxon phrases for business. 

    Well – no more.

    We have turned the page on that – decisively…

    And we will use that reset for growth. 

    Finally fourth – regulation

    Now, I don’t see regulation as good or bad.

    That seems simplistic to me.

    Some regulation is life-saving…

    We have seen that in recent weeks here, with the report on the tragedy of Grenfell Tower.

    But across our public sector…

    I would say the previous Government hid behind regulators.

    Deferred decisions to them because it was either too weak or indecisive…

    Or simply not committed enough to growth. 

    Planning is a very real example of that…

    Or – for our friends from across the pond…

    ‘Permitting’ is a really clear example of that… 

    The global language…

    But anyway – the key test for me on regulation…

    Is of course – growth. 

    Is this going to make our economy more dynamic?

    Is this going to inhibit or unlock investment?

    Is it something that enables the builders not the blockers?

    Now – I know some people may be wondering about our labour market policies introduced last week.

    Let me be clear – they are pro-growth.

    Workers with more security at work…

    With higher wages…

    That is a better growth model for this country.

    It will lead to more dynamism in our labour market.

    And seriously – we have to think differently about this…

    A nation’s position in the world is changing all the time…

    As must its growth model. 

    So while I know this is a room full of businesses who take investing in their human capital seriously…

    When I look at the British economy as a whole…

    It does seem as if sometimes, we are more comfortable hiring people to work in low paid, insecure contracts…

    Than we are investing in the new technology that delivers for workers, for productivity and for our country.

    And so we’ve got to break out of that trap.

    But we’ve also got to look at regulation – across the piece. 

    And where it is needlessly holding back the investment we need to take our country forward…

    Where it is stopping us building the homes…

    The data centres, the warehouses, grid connectors, roads,  trainlines, you name it…

    Then mark my words – we will get rid of it.

    Take the East Anglia 2 wind farm.

    A £4 billion investment.

    One Gigawatt of clean energy.

    An important project – absolutely.

    But also the sort of thing a country as committed to clean energy as we are…

    Needs to replicate again and again.

    Now regulators demanded over four thousand planning documents for that project…

    Not 4000 pages – 4000 documents.

    And then six weeks after finally receiving planning consent…

    It was held up for a further two years by judicial review.

    I mean – as an investor…

    When you see this inertia…

    You just don’t bother do you?

    And that – in a nutshell…

    Is the biggest supply-side problem we have in our country.

    So it’s time to upgrade the regulatory regime…

    Make it fit for the modern age..

    Harness every opportunity available to Britain.

    We will rip out the bureaucracy that blocks investment…

    We will march through the institutions…

    And we will make sure that every regulator in this country…

    Especially our economic and competition regulators…

    Takes growth as seriously as this room does.

    And look – tell us about your frustrations on this. 

    Speak to my team…

    Speak to me, to Rachel, to Jonny, to Ed…

    And our new Minister for Investment, Poppy. 

    Any leader knows the importance of a good team – and we’ve got one here.

    We are united behind growth…

    Our door is open…

    And the work of change has already begun.

    We’re reforming the planning system…

    The onshore wind ban has gone… 

    New projects in solar, wind, tidal energy…

    Carbon Capture and Storage…

    Tax relief for the creative industries…

    Investment from the world’s leading companies…

    Blackstone, Amazon…

    A new partnership with Cyrus One to build data centres in Didcot…

    Finally grasping the nettle on airport expansion…

    A new £1 billion commitment from Manchester Airport Group to expand Stansted…

    Opening up new routes to work and holiday destinations…

    The first of tens of billions worth of inward investment deals we will sign today.

    Because we are determined to lead the way on growth. 

    Determined to get Britain building…

    Determined to get our economy moving…

    Through the shock and awe of investment.

    That’s the message to take home today.

    When the big decisions are made…

    When you go back to your board rooms and ask…

    Where does our money go…

    Where do our jobs go…

    Where does our investment in a better future go?

    Let me offer you a new answer…

    It’s time to back Britain.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1.1 billion investment to expand Stansted Airport welcomed by ministers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Funding will expand Stanstead Airport terminal by one-third, helping to support UK businesses and the aviation sector.

    • 5,000 jobs expected from £1.1 billion investment in London Stansted Airport 
    • expansion will double the airport’s annual economic contribution to the UK to £2 billon
    • latest boost for the government’s core mission to grow the British economy and boost opportunities

    More than 5,000 jobs will be created as a result of a 5-year, £1.1 billion investment in London Stansted Airport, welcomed today (14 October 2024) by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. 

    The plans were unveiled by the Prime Minister at the flagship International Investment Summit in London and will see Stansted unlock the potential of its runway through the extension of its existing terminal.

    The funding will expand the existing terminal by a third, securing new air routes to key business and holiday destinations – boosting local supply chains and further cementing the UK’s place on the international stage.

    The investment consists of £600 million for the terminal extension, alongside another £500 million to improve the existing terminal and wider airport estate.

    It will also deliver Stansted’s 14.3 megawatt on-site solar farm, which will support the airport’s current and increasing electricity demands. It follows the recent creation of a new electric vehicle charging forecourt at the airport.

    Manchester Airports Group (MAG), owner of London Stansted, is in the final stages of the procurement process, with construction expected to begin in 2025. The project will take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

    This scheme will significantly improve passengers’ experience at each stage of their journey from check-in to immigration. It will deliver a larger security hall, an airfield taxiway upgrade and an overhaul of gate rooms, boosting capacity and comfort for passengers before boarding.

    The expansion plans already have planning permissions to begin construction and are in line with previously agreed passenger and flight numbers.

    Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said:

    We have been steadfast in our commitment to help British businesses grow and in turn boost the UK’s economy. This announcement is a clear signal that Britain is open for business. 

    Transport is central to this government’s core mission of growing the economy. This is about giving companies like Manchester Airports Group the confidence to invest, boosting regional and national economic growth and supporting the aviation sector while also meeting our existing environmental obligations.

    Ken O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer of MAG – which owns London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands Airports, said:

    By investing more than £1 billion in Stansted over the next 5 years, we will be able to connect people and businesses in London and the east of England to even more global destinations, while welcoming millions more visitors to the UK.

    We are proud to be investing in our infrastructure in a way that will create jobs and stimulate trade, investment and tourism. 

    Aviation is an essential enabler of the success of the UK’s key high-value industries, and we look forward to helping the government achieve the highest sustained growth in the G7 through the sustainable growth of our airports.

    Cath Bowtell, IFM Investors Chair, said: 

    As co-owners of MAG, our commitment to this exciting new Stansted project reflects our confidence in the airport’s future growth story. 

    As one of the world’s largest infrastructure investors, IFM invests over decades to enhance the value to customers of the UK infrastructure we own and operate. 

    MAG goes from strength to strength under the long-term stable co-ownership of IFM alongside Manchester and Greater Manchester local authorities.

    Aviation, Europe and technology media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM International Investment Summit Speech: 14 October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech at the International Investment Summit 2024.

    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    And thanks to all you for being here…

    It’s fantastic to stand here and look out and see so many of you here…

    And I’m really grateful that you have made the effort, and you are here. It means a huge amount to me and my government…

    And welcome to this Government’s first International Investment summit.

    And some of you I know have come a very long way to be here…

    You have flown in from a great distance, some of you will be going straight back out again afterwards.

    You have made a huge effort to share with us the precious gift of your time…

    And we are really, really grateful for that.

    And welcome to the Guild Hall…

    London’s ancient Town Hall…

    Isn’t it a fantastic building, it’s really breathtaking this Guild Hall.

    Not of course to be confused with the nearby Guildhall school of music…

    Where I once pursued a fleeting ambition to play the flute professionally. I kid you not…

    Complete with then long hair and very, very flared jeans. 

    All photographic evidence has been destroyed.

    But today we are pursuing a different ambition…

    A shared ambition…

    Growth.

    You have to grow your business.

    And I have to grow my country.

    I’ll leave it to you to decide if you think voters or shareholders are the more forgiving audience…

    But without growth – let’s just agree it’s a difficult conversation…

    And that therefore, growth is a cause that binds us together.

    The shared endeavour of prosperity.

    It’s why we’ve made it the number one test of this government…

    I am determined to do everything in my power to galvanise growth…

    Determined for this country to be the highest growing economy in the G7…

    That is our most important national mission.

    Because it’s the only way to deliver the mandate for change that we won.

    Growth is higher wages.

    Growth is more vibrant high streets.

    Growth is public services back on their feet.

    It’s less poverty, more opportunity, more meals out, more holidays, more precious moments with your family, more cash in your pocket.

    And of course, for any business…

    It means a bigger market.

    Higher demand…

    A more secure and prosperous future…

    Your effort and enterprise – rewarded in profit.

    But it’s much more important, even than all that. 

    We live in an age when political fires rage across the world.

    Conflict. Insecurity. A populist mood that rails against the open values so many of us hold dear.

    Values which, as you know…

    Are so crucial for making business easy to do.

    And yet – at the same time…

    Look around the world…

    Look at the investments you and others are making.

    This is an age of great possibility, as well. 

    Huge revolutions in digital technology, clean energy, medicine, life sciences…

    Each – with the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and the way that we work…

    Each – with the possibility to transform the lives of working people for the better.

    And so, in times like this…

    Economic growth is vital – as it always has been…

    If we are to steer our way through a great period of insecurity and change…

    And on to calmer waters. 

    Because when working people benefit from that growth…

    When every community enjoys the fruits of wealth creation…

    It stops a country turning in on itself and against the world.

    And that in turn, helps provides a stable foundation…

    Breathing space… 

    For a country to take advantage of those opportunities for a better future.

    To put it more simply…

    It’s not just that stability leads to growth – though we all recognise that. 

    It’s also that growth leads to stability…

    Growth leads to country that is better equipped to come together…

    And get its future back.

    That’s why it’s always been so critical to my political project.

    The key ingredient of that ‘Great Moderation’ we became accustomed to before the financial crash…

    But which together, in partnership…

    We now have to earn again. 

    Every one of you here today…

    Has been invited for that reason.

    It’s not just that you lead some of the most important businesses in the world.

    It’s also because you are pivotal to this great cause of our times. 

    And the reason we are focusing so much on investment…

    Is because the mission of growth, in this country in particular…

    Demands it.

    Private sector investment is the way we rebuild our country…

    And pay our way in the world.

    And make no mistake – this is a great moment to back Britain…

    This is great moment to back England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

    We have an amazing education system that produces some of the best talent in the world.

    The largest tech sector in Europe.

    Leading positions in some of those great industries of the future…

    Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, Clean energy, the creative industries.

    We’re a country where businesses thrive – small and large alike…

    With clear regulatory frameworks and protections…

    A legal system that sets high standards around the globe…

    A location which means we can speak to our colleagues in the Americas or Asia in the same day…

    A high ranking in the Global Innovation index, every year…

    Our wonderful global language…

    Our world-renowned sport and culture… 

    This great modern city…

    And all around us…

    A heritage steeped in commerce and trade…

    A set of shared values – centuries-long…

    For being a country that is open for business.

    You can’t put a price on any of this.

    Now we have our problems – of course we do.

    As I’ve said – our public services need urgent care… 

    And our public finances need the tough love of prudence…

    Challenges we cannot ignore. 

    Because, we know – just as every leader here knows…

    That those early weeks and months are precious.

    And, no matter how many people advise you to ignore it…

    That you must run towards the fire to put it out…

    Not let it spread further.

    So we will fix our public services…

    We will stabilise our economy… 

    And we will do it quickly.

    Because we don’t want any of those problems associated with our inheritance…

    Misting up the shop window of Britain…

    Distracting you – from all those assets I just listed.

    Assets that may feel more intangible…

    But are more valuable…

    More enduring…

    Deeper in the bones of this nation.

    And which are ready to be unlocked…

    If we take firm and decisive action on policy – which we can and we will…

    To give you total confidence that this is the moment to back Britain.  

    So let me quickly run through four crucial areas in our pitch for Britain.

    I know – it’s a kind of CEO heresy to have a list of four not three…

    So I apologise!

    But please indulge me.

    First – stability.

    We have a golden opportunity to use our mandate…

    To end the culture of chop and change…

    The policy churn…

    The sticking plaster politics…

    That makes it so hard for investors to assess the value of any proposition.

    Now, you may think – well every government says that…

    But the stability that comes with a large majority in our system…

    That is a unique advantage.

    And we have the determination…

    The focus on clear long-term ends…

    A mission-led mindset that thinks in years…

    Not the days or hours of the news grid…

    Needed to unlock that potential. 

    And don’t doubt that.

    Second – strategy.

    We are building a more strategic architecture for growth. 

    A way for investors to have a much steadier hand on the tiller.

    That’s why we’ve announced a new National Wealth Fund…

    And switched on Great British Energy…

    Which will accelerate investment in clean power and future technologies.

    Like Carbon Capture and Storage, for example…

    Which we just backed – alongside BP, Equinor and Eni

    And which shows the hard-headed approach we will bring to industrial policy.

    A partnership – sharing the risk with the private sector…

    Ambitious – absolutely. 

    But also unsentimental.

    Guided by the market…

    Focused, at all times…

    On the real potential for comparative advantage in this country.

    You know – this is the point I would always make about our Modern Industrial Strategy. 

    In this country, there has been a long rather arcane political debate about “picking winners”.

    Well, we’re not in the business of individual picking winners.

    But we are in the business of building on our strengths.

    Mowing the grass on the pitch…

    Making sure the changing rooms are clean and comfortable…

    That the training ground is good.

    So that when our businesses compete…

    They are match fit…

    That, to put it simply…

    We give the businesses of this country the best conditions to succeed.

    I don’t know why that’s sometimes controversial in this country…

    Industrial policy seems fairly commonplace elsewhere around the world.

    But it is fundamental to the way we see our job on growth…

    And our relationship with a room like this.

    Third – Britain’s global standing.

    We’re determined to improve it.

    Determined – to repair…

    Britain’s brand as an open, outward-looking, confident, trading nation.

    Look – I see this as a diplomatic necessity…

    And I think it’s clear how much priority I have given it in the first 100 days of government.

    All around the world…

    Whether it’s countries, or investors…

    People want to know that Britain can be a stable, trusted, rule-abiding partner.

    As we always have been…

    But that somehow, during the whole circus that followed Brexit… 

    The last Government made a few people less sure about. 

    Needlessly insulting our closest allies…

    And of course a few choice Anglo-Saxon phrases for business. 

    Well – no more.

    We have turned the page on that – decisively…

    And we will use that reset for growth. 

    Finally fourth – regulation

    Now, I don’t see regulation as good or bad.

    That seems simplistic to me.

    Some regulation is life-saving…

    We have seen that in recent weeks here, with the report on the tragedy of Grenfell Tower.

    But across our public sector…

    I would say the previous Government hid behind regulators.

    Deferred decisions to them because it was either too weak or indecisive…

    Or simply not committed enough to growth. 

    Planning is a very real example of that…

    Or – for our friends from across the pond…

    ‘Permitting’ is a really clear example of that… 

    The global language…

    But anyway – the key test for me on regulation…

    Is of course – growth. 

    Is this going to make our economy more dynamic?

    Is this going to inhibit or unlock investment?

    Is it something that enables the builders not the blockers?

    Now – I know some people may be wondering about our labour market policies introduced last week.

    Let me be clear – they are pro-growth.

    Workers with more security at work…

    With higher wages…

    That is a better growth model for this country.

    It will lead to more dynamism in our labour market.

    And seriously – we have to think differently about this…

    A nation’s position in the world is changing all the time…

    As must its growth model. 

    So while I know this is a room full of businesses who take investing in their human capital seriously…

    When I look at the British economy as a whole…

    It does seem as if sometimes, we are more comfortable hiring people to work in low paid, insecure contracts…

    Than we are investing in the new technology that delivers for workers, for productivity and for our country.

    And so we’ve got to break out of that trap.

    But we’ve also got to look at regulation – across the piece. 

    And where it is needlessly holding back the investment we need to take our country forward…

    Where it is stopping us building the homes…

    The data centres, the warehouses, grid connectors, roads,  trainlines, you name it…

    Then mark my words – we will get rid of it.

    Take the East Anglia 2 wind farm.

    A £4 billion investment.

    One Gigawatt of clean energy.

    An important project – absolutely.

    But also the sort of thing a country as committed to clean energy as we are…

    Needs to replicate again and again.

    Now regulators demanded over four thousand planning documents for that project…

    Not 4000 pages – 4000 documents.

    And then six weeks after finally receiving planning consent…

    It was held up for a further two years by judicial review.

    I mean – as an investor…

    When you see this inertia…

    You just don’t bother do you?

    And that – in a nutshell…

    Is the biggest supply-side problem we have in our country.

    So it’s time to upgrade the regulatory regime…

    Make it fit for the modern age..

    Harness every opportunity available to Britain.

    We will rip out the bureaucracy that blocks investment…

    We will march through the institutions…

    And we will make sure that every regulator in this country…

    Especially our economic and competition regulators…

    Takes growth as seriously as this room does.

    And look – tell us about your frustrations on this. 

    Speak to my team…

    Speak to me, to Rachel, to Jonny, to Ed…

    And our new Minister for Investment, Poppy. 

    Any leader knows the importance of a good team – and we’ve got one here.

    We are united behind growth…

    Our door is open…

    And the work of change has already begun.

    We’re reforming the planning system…

    The onshore wind ban has gone… 

    New projects in solar, wind, tidal energy…

    Carbon Capture and Storage…

    Tax relief for the creative industries…

    Investment from the world’s leading companies…

    Blackstone, Amazon…

    A new partnership with Cyrus One to build data centres in Didcot…

    Finally grasping the nettle on airport expansion…

    A new £1 billion commitment from Manchester Airport Group to expand Stansted…

    Opening up new routes to work and holiday destinations…

    The first of tens of billions worth of inward investment deals we will sign today.

    Because we are determined to lead the way on growth. 

    Determined to get Britain building…

    Determined to get our economy moving…

    Through the shock and awe of investment.

    That’s the message to take home today.

    When the big decisions are made…

    When you go back to your board rooms and ask…

    Where does our money go…

    Where do our jobs go…

    Where does our investment in a better future go?

    Let me offer you a new answer…

    It’s time to back Britain.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Technology partnerships between the UK and Central and Eastern Europe: Science and Innovation Network impact story

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Countries in Central and Eastern Europe offer a significant opportunity for science, innovation, and technology partnerships with the UK.

    The first outcome of the UK-Bulgaria meeting on semiconductors was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between TechWorks (UK) and BASEL (Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics).

    Summary

    The 9 countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) offer a significant opportunity for science, innovation, and technology partnerships with the UK. Together, the region’s combined GDP is over €2 trillion – an economy of emerging innovators leading a tech revolution (the region has increased its enterprise value since 2017 by 7.6 times).

    This is driven by each countries’ effort to combine their science and technology expertise and skilled workforces (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania make up 4 of the 6 EU countries in the Top 25 countries of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) excellence) together with traditional strengths in manufacturing, IT and science. 

    The priorities of the UK’s International Tech Strategy align with pockets of excellence across the region. Austria, for example, is the fourth largest producer of semi-conductors with expanding supply chains through Czechia and Bulgaria, Croatia’s unicorns drive 4% of the country’s GDP and Poland and Czechia’s retention of 90% of their startup enterprise value show the strength of the emerging ecosystems. A recent report estimated that AI would further boost the regional economic value by €100 billion. 

    UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) teams in Central and Eastern Europe are working to communicate these opportunities to UK stakeholders and build connections. The appetite to work with the UK is high – during the previous Horizon Europe programme, the UK was among the top partners of choice for CEE researchers. 

    Following the UK’s reassociation to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, we are keen to maintain and strengthen those connections. Our events on tech, showcased below, all help to communicate and encourage collaboration while engaging on policy approaches that will be critical to the safe and secure emergence of critical tech. 

    Impact

    Semiconductors

    In January, SIN organised a high-level roundtable on semiconductors to connect Bulgarian and UK stakeholders looking to develop cooperation and exchange approaches on semi-conductors.   

    Semiconductors is a priority sector for the UK, in the context of the UK Semiconductors Strategy and Bulgaria is recognised as partner in this area under the UK-Bulgaria Strategic Partnerships Agreement. 

    Why Bulgaria?

    Bulgaria is rapidly developing opportunities in the sector, building on its ICT strengths (contributing over 7% of GDP, the highest level among CEE countries). This is a legacy of chip manufacturing (by the late 1970s, Bulgaria was one of the top 10 biggest electronics manufacturing countries in the world).

    In 1989, Bulgaria exported more computers than all other countries in CEE with 11% of workers employed in the production of computers and electronics. Today there are over 400 microelectronics, many supporting the growing demand for chips from Bulgaria’s automotive industry. 

    Bulgaria is positioned well to become a supply chain hub under the EU Chips Act – it has attracted investment by global companies such as Melexis (producing equipment and critical materials for semiconductor fabs) and Global Foundries and the government is investing in R&D centres to support the developing capacity.

    The roundtable enabled government, industry and academic contacts to share government strategy and approaches, including on skills development, explore potential commercial R&D and academic collaboration opportunities. This has led to an opportunity to work with the Bulgaria Ministry of Innovations and Growth as they prepare a report and recommendations to develop the sector in 2024, the potential to develop an accelerator programme based on the UK’s Chipstart programme and a memorandum of understanding signed between the Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) and TechWorks UK.

    Artificial intelligence (AI)

    In February, SIN hosted the first UK-Romania research conference with a focus on AI to help us better understand emerging opportunities in AI research with Romania. Bringing together contacts from academia, SMEs, NGOs, and senior officials.

    The event was part of series of SIN initiatives on AI which started in 2021 with a UK-Romania high-level dialogue in London, an online workshop on national AI strategies, and a visit to present the Romanian government’s AI advisor, “Ion”, to the UK. The roundtable helped secure the topic as part of the forthcoming UK-Romania Bilateral Forum in 2024 within the frame of the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in March 2023.

    Why Romania?

    A surge in AI startups and a rapidly developing ecosystem is drawing significant international attention. Romania’s IT and cyber sector drives a significant proportion of GDP – Romania is number one in Europe and sixth in the world in terms of the number of IT professionals. Companies such as Amazon, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Oracle have long operated in Romania’s IT sector, which generated €9 billion in 2022.

    In March, SIN supported a wider delegation of AI stakeholders from Czechia, Slovakia and Poland to the UK to attend the Alan Turing Institute AI Expo 2024, using the opportunity to share policy approaches on AI regulation, build connections for AI influencers in the region, and connect researchers. 

    Tech mapping

    To find out more about opportunities across the wider Central and Eastern Europe region, read our report on tech opportunities commissioned by SIN and created by researchers at Public International (a UK-based tech insights organisation). The report provides country by country snapshots on why CEE is important to the UK under each of the 5 priority technologies. 

    Technology and Innovation in Central and Eastern Europe (public.io).

    Contact details:

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Berlin Process Summit 2024: Minister Doughty intervention

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories outlines UK support for the Western Balkans and calls for a strong and connected Europe.

    Location:
    Berlin
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you, Chancellor Scholz, Madam President, Excellencies, friends.

    Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine shows that we cannot take peace and security in Europe for granted and so we must guard against all those who seek to destabilise the Western Balkans.

    Our work to achieve common goals and diffuse tensions is even more important than it’s already been in the 10 year history of this process.

    And indeed, the challenging outlook requires a strong and connected Europe, and that is why, under its new government, the United Kingdom is resetting our relations with friends across the continent, in this room and many more today at the Foreign Affairs Committee in Luxembourg, which my colleague, Foreign Secretary David Lammy is attending today.

    Indeed, the Western Balkans is one of the areas I believe that we, the United Kingdom, the European Union, all of whom in this room can work together much more closely, because our shared goals are basics we all need for a good life. Security. Prosperity. Equality.

    Buoyant business, solid infrastructure and strong institutions are crucial for driving regional growth.

    The United Kingdom is playing, and will continue to play its full part in supporting the European alignment of the region.

    We are very supportive of the Common Regional Market, and we are delighted to see progress on the Central Europe Free Trade Agreement.

    Over the life of this process, the United Kingdom’s trade with Western Balkans has quadrupled to over £4 billion.

    Through the Global Clean Power Alliance, we will roll out renewables faster and work with partners around this table on energy security and green transition.

    And through UK export finance, new infrastructure projects to help growth take off, working alongside partners here.

    But there is much more we can do.

    We must create more jobs for young people, curbing the ‘brain drain’ that damages a country’s economy.

    We must continue to make progress on the rights of women and girls as part of wider improvements on rights governance and ensuring pluralist democratic societies.

    Not just because that is the right thing to do, but because it is the cornerstone of our efforts to create a more peaceful, stable, prosperous region.

    So, I hope we will build on the success of the Gender Equality Forum and make that an annual feature.

    Chancellor Scholz – the drumbeat from the ministerial meetings has heightened expectations for the Berlin Process.

    And we can now make the most of the momentum and make amazing things happen. I look forward to our work together.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: InFocus: Updates from the Government Property Agency (October 24)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    InFocus brings together news and views from across the Government Property Agency.

    WELCOME TO INFOCUS, October 2024

    Yvette Greener, Client Director

    It’s been a busy few months here at the Government Property Agency (GPA) as we supported clients through the General Election period and transition to a new Government.

    Last month we confirmed the permanent appointment of Mark Bourgeois as our Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mark has filled the post as interim CEO since November 2023, during which time we have identified a number of focus areas for improved performance across our services. With this insight, along with his extensive leadership experience from the private sector, Mark is now well positioned to lead our organisation in delivering on these priorities for our clients.

    I am also pleased to welcome Georgina Dunn to our Executive Committee as interim Capital Projects Director, following the retirement of Clive Anderson. Georgina has joined on secondment from Turner & Townsend, where she is Director and Global Head of Government and Public Sector. Her experience leading large scale and high-profile infrastructure, property and construction programmes is already bringing great value to our team.

    Carly Ersser will join the GPA as interim Director of Workplace Services in November, replacing Louis Roberts. Carly will transfer from HM Treasury, where she worked as Deputy Director Multisite Darlington Economic Campus Programme. Carly has an excellent insight as to what it’s like to be a GPA client, a very clear strategic view of the GPA and a real passion to deliver for our clients. She will make an excellent addition to the leadership team and drive the development and improvement of our workplace services.

    Last week our new Strategic Client Committee convened for the first time. More details about the Committee are included in this newsletter, and I’m looking forward to the strides forward we can take with the Committee’s strategic recommendations and feedback.

    Ongoing plans to improve the workplace experience of people in our buildings include the redevelopment of our Customer Service Portal, which will provide helpful information, resources and community forums across a number of our offices. Our new PropTech Experience Group, which is open to technology professionals across government, is also ensuring that we are proactive in understanding how our technology services can be optimised to meet the needs of end users.

    We’ve made substantial progress on a number of projects in our Government Hubs Programme in recent months, with key milestones reached in Manchester, York, Croydon and Darlington. Our Peterborough Hub, which opened in 2023, has also been recognised as one of the world’s leading public sector offices for workplace experience.

    I hope you enjoy reading our latest updates below. On behalf of our executive and client teams, thank you for your continued support.

    In this issue:

                                                         

    Focus on audiovisual (AV) for upcoming Property Technology Experience Group events

    Following the success of our Property Technology Experience Group launch in June, two more events are coming up which focus on how we are advancing our AV capabilities across the government office estate.

    AV Solution Show & Tell – date TBC

    We will showcase our latest v3 AV solution at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London. This in-person and hybrid event will offer an exclusive demonstration of meeting rooms with cutting-edge AV technology. This is a fantastic opportunity to see our latest AV advancements and learn about how they can be applied across government hubs.

    AVIXA Day, 19 December, Peterborough, Quay House

    A dedicated day with AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, a leading organisation that supports AV professionals worldwide, offering resources that can greatly benefit those working in the civil service. At this event, they will raise awareness of international standards for AV, explore industry groups, and introduce a comprehensive range of training programmes and online webinars.

    These events are designed to keep technology professionals in government at the forefront of our technology developments and ensure departments are equipped with the latest knowledge and best practice in AV. It will also be a valuable opportunity for us to hear from you about your own AV experiences within your department, allowing an exchange of insights and effective strategies across the community.

    Join our Property Technology knowledge community

    Members of our Knowledge Hub group can gain access to a wealth of resources, participate in ongoing discussions with fellow professionals, and benefit from shared knowledge and experiences. There will also be information about future events and developments in the Property Technology space. 

    Interested in attending?

    Please register interest in the events by completing our Google Form. More details and official invites will follow.

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    Coming soon: a relaunched customer service portal

    We are pleased to announce that our customer service portal will soon be relaunched to provide a better, accessible platform for building users to access and share information about their workplaces. The portal is currently available to people working in 28 of our managed buildings, and will be rolled out across more buildings in the future following the improvements.

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    Our new Strategic Client Committee

    We have introduced a new Strategic Client Committee to gather strategic insight, feedback and recommendations regarding your current and future requirements, and to inform our future direction

    The committee is made up of a small group of senior leaders invited from a representative selection of client organisations. The clients represented will change on a yearly basis and work alongside the chair of the government COO network and our own senior leaders.

    The committee will meet quarterly and serve as a collaborative forum to ensure that you have a senior level voice into the GPA, as part of our commitment to fostering a client-centric culture.

    The first meeting took place last week and covered topics including the spending review, closing the funding gap and workplace design and space planning.

    In addition, we are introducing a quarterly Client Working Group, replacing the previous Client Committee meetings, which will include representation from all of our Portfolio clients. Further details of the Client Working Group will be shared in due course.

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    More than five tonnes of furniture reused

    We’ve coordinated more than 170 items of used office furniture, the equivalent of five tonnes, to be reused ensuring they didn’t end up in landfill, saving over 13 tonnes of carbon emissions.

    The surplus furniture was removed from Feethams House in Darlington. It was part of a project to maximise workpoints within the hub following the successful recruitment of over 700 roles at the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC).

    The refurbishment was completed in April and resulted in surplus used furniture. Rather than sending the items to landfill, our Innovation and Assurance team worked with Go Green Managed Services to reuse the items on our other projects across the government’s office portfolio as well as sending some items to the Department for Education.

    Miguel Godfrey, Head of Sustainability said:

    With millions of pieces of furniture discarded in the UK each year, it is vital that we as an organisation are able to redistribute our equipment to our other projects enabling teams and departments to help their staff operate effectively while also saving on carbon emissions and taxpayer spend.

    Of the 178 items of furniture, we reused 13%, 57% is being stored for use on some of our other projects (including Temple Quay House in Bristol) and 30% is being reused by the Department for Education, saving a total of 13.2 tonnes of carbon emissions.

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    Croydon Hub fit-out close to completion

    We have entered the final phase of one of our most challenging and complex projects to-date – our Croydon Hub.

    Set to be home for more than 7,000 Home Office (HO) civil servants, 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon will be the largest new build government hub we have delivered.

    The project has been carefully designed to support the Home Office requirements, with a range of operational facilities including a significant public facing area with specialist interview rooms, family areas and a café to support customer needs.

    There will also be new, fully inclusive furniture to suit all working styles including meeting pods, railway carriages and focus settings. The hub will have a range of interoperable technology including GovWifi, GovPrint and GovPass.

    The programme has focused on the efficient transition and migration of staff to ensure the existing HO estate is successfully decommissioned ahead of the lease end date. This has been achieved by combining much of the CAT B and C works into the main fit out contract, minimising the time required to complete the project. The early integration of our teams across Capital Projects, Workplace Services, Customer Experience, Client Solutions and property has allowed us to deliver more efficiently.

    Rationalising the HO estate is expected to return savings to the public purse, by reducing operating and property costs.

    Leading the fit out and preparation of this 10-storey, 33,000 square metre building is our GPA Integrated Delivery team, in collaboration with AECOM, AtkinsRealis, Hoare Lea, Tetra Tech, Turner & Townsend, our construction partner Wates and furniture supplier Southerns Broadstock. As well as fully inclusive refreshment hubs, home zones and meeting rooms, the building will deliver an effective mix of flexible and hybrid workspaces which will support neurodiversity, collaboration and wellbeing.

    The project also included mobilising new facilities management contracts as part of our Workplace Services Transformation Programme (WSTP) to achieve greater efficiencies across the government office estate.

    Georgina Dunn, interim Director of Capital Projects said:

    Ruskin Square will provide inclusive, flexible, digitally connected workspaces to support greater productivity and will enhance carbon reduction. We are extremely proud to deliver this brand new, purpose built hub to support the Home Office.

    The Croydon hub is highly sustainable with fully decarbonised power. It will form part of the nine-acre Ruskin Square development and sits alongside One Ruskin Square, the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regional centre which opened in 2017 adjacent to East Croydon train station.

    The Government Hubs Programme has so far supported regeneration and economic development in 17 locations throughout the UK including; Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Peterborough and Bristol to support around 60,000 civil servants and in so doing create a smaller, better and greener public estate.

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    Mystery shopping across our portfolio

    Our Workplace Experience team is working in partnership with our Performance Partner, JLL, to lead the development of a set of standards across all areas of the customer journey within our government office spaces. Our aim is to implement a single, consistent set of standards across our estate, ensuring everyone receives a consistent service wherever they choose to work.

    Once these standards are launched, JLL will support us in evaluating how successfully these are being delivered.

    In preparation, JLL’s workplace experience team has already started to conduct mystery-shop style visits across our estate. Their purpose is to cast an objective eye over the experience people have and provide recommendations to support our drive for continuous improvement.

    During the visits they will be looking at the overall performance of our Supply Chain Partners across the following areas:

    1. Welcome experience focusing on reception and security services experienced by visitors on arrival.

    2. Diversity and inclusion – are there accessible means of entry and mobility throughout the building, supportive signage on display, hearing loops available, and environment and lighting suitable for neurodiverse colleagues?

    3. Soft services such as cleaning and general building appearance.

    4. Hard services such as maintenance and heating, ventilation and air conditioning

    5. External areas – is the street lighting adequate, are pathways clear, car park and bicycle facilities well maintained and are smoking areas kept tidy?

    6. Amenities including refreshment and wellness areas.

    7. Meeting spaces – are these ready for use and offer ‘how to’ guides.

    After each visit JLL collates its findings and generates a ‘score’ which enables comparison across the portfolio, but also acts as a benchmark against which to measure future visits. A report will also be issued to our Workplace Services team and Supply Chain Partners indicating JLL’s observations and recommendations for action. These are followed up to ensure that agreed actions are completed and can be reviewed on the next visit.

    In the five months from November 2023, JLL visited 27 locations and made a total 131 recommendations. While many of these might be quick fixes, there are some that require potential capital investment to enhance the office environment. Some of these are already in the pipeline and others will feed into future planning cycles. This work is complementary to the action plans that are developed as a result of the customer satisfaction surveys, which together, and in collaboration with JLL, help to demonstrate our commitment to delivering better workplaces for the Civil Service.

    If you spot the team on their visit, do feel free to share your experience of your office space.

    If you have any questions or would like any more information, please contact:  customerinsights@gpa.gov.uk

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    Celebrating our team successes

    We’re extremely proud of our people’s success at this year’s Government Property Awards and the CIPD People Management Awards.

    At the Government Property Awards, Project Director Sarah Mackintosh won in the Leadership category, with an entry that focused on her achievements while managing the build and fit-out at Quay House in Peterborough, creating a strong and integrated team to work through the many challenges such a project brings.

    Sarah Mackintosh said: > Now I’m over the shock of hearing my name called out, I’m thrilled to receive this recognition. For me it was all about the team, they worked brilliantly together and were hugely supportive. I am so happy I had the chance to work with them on this project.

    Quay House was also Highly Commended in the Project of the Year award. The building is in Fletton Quays, previously a derelict brownfield site but now part of the city’s £120 million vibrant regeneration scheme. The Passport Office and Defra are two of several clients now based there.

    Our PropTech team was also Highly Commended in the Transforming Places category for installing networks for GovWifi throughout GOGGS, a historically significant site, delivering a fast resilient network despite the restrictions of a listed building. 

    At the CIPD People Management Awards, our Skills and Specialism programme was shortlisted in two categories and was awarded the Best Learning and Development Initiative.

    The judges said that they were particularly impressed by our Skills Builder tool because it “allows for a deeper set of quality conversations that support self-directed learning and the drive to the desired learning culture”. 

    Chief Executive Mark Bourgeois said:

    It’s so rewarding to see the excellent work of our own people recognised and celebrated in these awards, against stiff competition. Congratulations to everyone involved, it’s a proud moment for the GPA.

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    Find out more about the Government Property Agency here

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    Published 14 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield engineer announced as finalist for prestigious award

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Technical engineer Natalie Parker has been shortlisted for the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2024.

    Natalie Parker, a technical specialist and manager for Operational Technology Group at Sellafield Ltd.

    Natalie is a technical specialist and manager for Operational Technology Group at Sellafield Ltd.

    In her role, Natalie offers technical advice to frontline engineering teams, provides project support and enhances facility operations by establishing an off-site space for engineers to share problems, develop innovative ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.

    Natalie is also committed to advocating a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, and organises workshops at various primary schools, engaging students with entertaining and interactive activities by introducing them to electrical circuits and programming.

    The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) highlight some of the exceptional talent and role models in the engineering sector such as Natalie who is passionate about encouraging young people, especially girls, to consider careers in engineering.

    With only 16% of engineering professionals being female, addressing this gender imbalance is a high priority for the IET.

    Natalie said:

    I am honoured to even be considered as a finalist. The passion and enjoyment I get from promoting a career in STEM to the future generation and helping to break down barriers as a woman gives me constant motivation.

    The IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards are a great platform to help promote all the amazing work carried out by engineers and highlight female role models in the engineering and technology fields.

    I am often asked what success looks like for equality and diversity in the industry and my answer is always that we will no longer need ED&I groups.

    The IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2024 will be held on 9 December 2024.

    Are you looking for your next career challenge at Sellafield Ltd?

    Graduate and placement applications are open

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tech Secretary welcomes foreign investment in UK data centres which will spur economic growth and AI innovation in Britain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Four major tech firms based in the US have committed to the UK as the place to invest in data centres, fueling Britain’s economic growth and spurring on AI development.

    £6.3 billion global investment into UK data centres.

    The Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has today (Monday 14 October) welcomed the ‘vote of confidence’ in Britain made by US firms CyrusOne, ServiceNow, Cloud HQ and CoreWeave, who have announced the UK will be the home for their data infrastructure worth a total of £6.3 billion.  

    The investments, announced as part of today’s International Investment Summit, will take the total investment in UK data centres to over £25 billion since this government took office, demonstrating the government’s continuous effort in driving growth by partnering with business.

    These new data centres will provide the UK with more computing power and data storage, so that Britain has the necessary infrastructure to train and deploy the next generation of AI technologies, such as complex machine learning models and algorithms. This in turn will help us roll out AI faster in areas like healthcare, which will help everyone live better and healthier lives.

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    Tech leaders from all over the world are seeing Britain as the best place to invest with a thriving and stable market for data centres and AI development. 

    Data centres power our day-to-day lives and boost innovation in growing sectors like AI. This is why only last month, I took steps to class UK data centres as Critical National Infrastructure giving the industry the ultimate reassurance the UK will always be a safe home for their investment. Today’s drumbeat of investment is a vote of confidence in Britain and our approach to work with business to deliver sustained growth for all. 

    It comes as Washington DC-headquartered firm CloudHQ is set to develop a new £1.9 billion data centre campus in Didcot, Oxfordshire. 

    The hyper-scale data centre is currently in development and will help meet the UK’s growing demand for AI and machine learning. It will create 1,500 jobs during construction, and 100 permanent jobs once fully operational.

    Hossein Fateh, CloudHQ’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said:

    We are very excited to deliver a hyper-scale campus in the UK that is truly an extension of Slough due to our private diverse fibre optic route.

    Our site enables us to build out our campus environment to provide scale and density to meet our customers’ requirements.

    Global AI platform and software leader ServiceNow also confirmed its commitment to the UK market, with plans to invest £1.15 billion into its UK business over the next 5 years. The investment will not only support the future development of AI in the UK, expanding its data centres with Nvidia GPUs for local processing data, but also support new office space as the company significantly grows into employee base beyond its current headcount of 1,000 employees. 

    ServiceNow Chairman and CEO Bill McDermott said:

    Working together, ServiceNow and HM government are on the brink of a great unlock, putting AI to work for people across the country.

    AI-powered transformation is a generational opportunity to champion citizens, empower employees, and delight customers. ServiceNow’s investment will accelerate the UK’s innovation blueprint, redefining how people live and work.

    CyrusOne, a leading global data centre developer headquartered in the United States, announced plans to expand their investment into the UK to £2.5 billion over the coming years. 

    Subject to planning permission, the projects should be operational by Q4 2028 and are expected to create over 1,000 jobs both directly and within its immediate design and construction value chain.

    Eric Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer at CyrusOne, said:

    The UK government’s recent ‘critical national infrastructure’ (CNI) designation was a strong signal that data centres are of strategic importance to the UK economy. 

    It has provided CyrusOne with the confidence to continue its expansion in the UK and support the government’s policy ambition to become a centre of excellence for digital services, technology innovation and AI.

    Announcing its second investment in the UK this year, AI hyperscaler CoreWeave also confirmed £750 million to support the next generation of AI cloud infrastructure.  

    Building on its £1 billion investment announced in May and the opening of its European headquarters in London, CoreWeave will be investing a further £750 million in the UK to support the demand for critical AI infrastructure. The investment in the UK is CoreWeave’s second largest investment in a country following the USA. 

    Mike Intrator, CEO and co-founder of CoreWeave:

    CoreWeave’s multiple investments in 2024 are a mark of our confidence in the government’s commitment to attracting global private investment through the creation of a stable, business-friendly environment.

    We are encouraged by the UK’s strong talent pool, which is reflected in our decision earlier this year to open our European headquarters in London, and priority focus on investing in critical infrastructure, to drive the continued development of the UK’s thriving AI sector.

    Today’s investments follow major deals with investment giant Blackstone, who committed to £10 billion investment in the North East of England last month, and Amazon Web Services, who announced they plan to invest £8 billion in building, maintaining and operating data centres in the UK over the next 5 years. 

    Only last month, the Tech Secretary also classed UK data centres as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’ (CNI), giving the sector can greater government support in recovering from and anticipating critical incidents, ensuring the industry remains secure and stable. 

    In July, he also appointed entrepreneur Matt Clifford to kickstart an AI Opportunities Action Plan, which will set out how to boost take up of AI across all parts of the economy, and consider the necessary AI infrastructure, talent, and data access required to drive adoption by the public and private sectors. 

    This week’s International Investment Summit will see ministers and business leaders discuss how the UK can capitalise on emerging growth sectors including health tech and AI, clean energy and creative industries with confirmed speakers including Ruth Porat President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google, David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, Alex Kendall CEO of Wayve and Pushmeet Kohli Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind.

    The Prime Minister will take part in an “in conversation” event with former CEO and chairman of Google Eric Schmidt and CEO of GSK Dame Emma Walmsley to discuss how the UK can seize the opportunities of AI to drive growth and productivity, and it’s potential to improve public services such as health and education’

    Tech Secretary Peter Kyle will take part in a conversation about accelerating innovation as well as sign a memorandum of understanding with Elderberry, the world’s largest pharmaceutical firm, which sets the stage for a world-first trial of obesity medications on the NHS, in Greater Manchester, while the company plans to set up a new biotech hub in the UK.

    Notes to editors

    CloudHQ has already secured planning permission to build a state-of-the-art data centre campus in Didcot.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Smarter Working Live Awards 2024 shortlist

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Winners will be announced on Thursday 21 November for the awards celebrating outstanding examples of smarter working in the UK public sector.

    This November the Smarter Working Live Awards will recognise outstanding innovation through community, collaboration and creativity in the public sector. Now in it’s fourth year, the event is hosted by the Government Property Agency (GPA) in partnership with GovNews.

    This year’s award categories include:

    • Improving Spaces – creating a great place to work
    • Future Focused and Sustainable Property
    • Innovation as a Service
    • Digital Innovation as a Service
    • Harnessing the Value of Data
    • Customer Experience
    • User Experience
    • Smarter Workflows
    • Digital Inclusion
    • Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
    • Building Collaborative Communities
    • Small-scale, Big Impact
    • Putting People First
    • Championing Continuous Improvement
    • Outstanding Smarter Working Leadership
    • Judges Choice – Special Recognition
    • Judges Choice – Beyond Smarter Working

    View the Smarter Working Live Awards 2024 shortlist.

    The GPA continues to lead the sector in championing smarter working practices and innovation as a key part of our vision for a transformed, shared, sustainable and value for money government estate supporting civil servants to work productively in every nation and region of the UK.

    Smarter Working Live continues the legacy of our Smarter Working Programme, which enabled 31 government bodies to achieve Smarter Working Mature status, empowering their workforce with choices about how, where and when to work.

    The awards ceremony will take place at The Vox Conference Venue in Birmingham on Thursday 21 November. Tickets are available from the Smarter Working Live website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strengthening Marine Pollution Incident Resilience workshop concludes in Honiara

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The 4-day workshop on strengthening marine pollution incident resilience in the Pacific concluded on a high note in Honiara over the weekend.

    A group photo with the tabletop exercise map.

    The workshop was funded by the UK government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) as part of the Blue Planet Fund.

    It was delivered by the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

    The workshop brought together key stakeholders, enhancing local and regional collaboration, communication and strengthening Solomon Islands’ environmental response capabilities for marine pollution emergency incidents.

    The workshop strengthened preparedness from any future threats from marine pollution, including oil spills and potentially polluting shipwrecks.

    Participants identified the gaps in existing contingency planning to respond to marine incidents and increased their ability to engage, assess and monitor potentially polluting wrecks in the region.

    With participants from across Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Regional Agencies, the workshop provided a platform for better communication, collaboration and learning about responding to Maritime Pollution in the Pacific.

    According to UK Cefas facilitator, Freya Goodsir, the workshop was a fantastic success build capacity, communication and collaboration to respond to any future events. She added:

    We found it extremely valuable to understand how passionate colleagues were about protecting our oceans. Together we have improved Solomon Islands ability to respond to any future threats to our marine environment.

    Delegates from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati, Australia, Samoa and the United States took part in the four-day workshop in Honiara.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark collaboration with largest pharmaceutical company

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Collaboration announced at International Investment Summit, meeting the PM’s ambitions to catalyse investment in the UK, proving the UK is open for business. 

    The UK’s world leading life sciences sector will receive a £279 million boost to tackle significant health challenges, with an intent expressed by Lilly, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, to invest in the UK, as part of a collaborative partnership with UK Government, announced at the International Investment Summit today (Monday 14 October).

    Plans to form a new collaboration through a memorandum of understanding will see the pharmaceutical giant backing the UK’s brightest and best life sciences talent with the planned launch of the first ‘Lilly Gateway Labs’ innovation accelerator in Europe. This facility will support early-stage life sciences businesses to develop transformative medicines by providing lab space, mentorship, and potential financial backing to rocket future growth in the sector.   

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 

    For all the challenges facing the health of our nation, we have two huge advantages: some of the world’s leading scientific minds, and a National Health Service with enormous potential. If we can combine the two, patients in this country can reap the rewards of the revolution in medical science unfolding before our eyes.

    This announcement helps the UK take its place as a world leader in life sciences and brings life-changing treatments closer to being a reality for NHS patients. Partnerships like this are key to building a healthier society, healthier economy, and making the NHS fit for the future.  

    Lilly’s Gateway Lab plans build on the 300,000 jobs the life sciences sector already supports nationwide. The facility will be the first announced anywhere in Europe, cementing the UK as a world leader in healthcare.  

    Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    The UK’s life sciences sector is at the forefront of pioneering and life-saving research. 

    This ground-breaking collaboration is proof that this sector is held in high esteem internationally and is driving investment into the UK. 

    Investments like this drive forward work that will boost our health and ultimately save lives.

    But they also fire up our economy, creating the jobs, opportunity and growth we need to invest further in health and to push up living standards.

    David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly & Company said:

    We welcome this opportunity to partner with the UK Government on tackling and preventing disease, and accelerating innovation to advance care delivery models. Today’s announcement is an important milestone, and we are pleased to reinforce Lilly’s commitment to improving health for people living with obesity and its serious consequences.

    Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer and a major contributor to ill-health that prevents people from participating fully in work. This collaboration will bring together treatments and technologies developed by the life sciences sector and the health system seeking to demonstrate improved long-term health outcomes for those living with obesity. 

    The collaboration with Lilly aims to set the stage for Government to work with industry to trial innovative approaches to treating obesity as part of a rounded package of care. 

    With obesity costing the UK health service more than £11 billion each year, action to tackle the condition is urgently needed. Backing the UK life sciences sector to understand obesity further, alongside introducing measures to prevent obesity in the first place such as restrictions on junk food advertising, will help ease pressure on the NHS.

    NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: 

    Obesity is one of the biggest public health issues we face, and we know weight loss drugs will be a game-changer, alongside earlier prevention strategies, in supporting many more people to lose weight and reduce their risk of killer conditions like diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

    Today’s momentous agreement shows the NHS is uniquely well-placed globally, not just to bring effective new treatments to those who would benefit most, but also to support science, research, jobs and economic growth across the country. We now have an important chance to gain a better understanding of the benefits of weight management interventions for patients, and how best to deliver them over the next few years.

    Today’s collaboration is a demonstration of the £108 billion life sciences sector’s value to the UK economy, in both improving public health and keeping the UK at the forefront of scientific progress.  

    Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

    Greater Manchester is world-renowned as a hub for innovation in health and life sciences. The results of the trial announced today could have a far-reaching impact on how we treat obesity globally, and our city-region is ready to make a significant contribution through our outstanding health data assets, R&D expertise, and the strong partnerships between industry, universities and public sector organisations.

    The International Investment Summit will provide an opportunity to showcase our local strengths in health innovation to an audience of global business leaders and investors. This partnership could be the first of many and give Greater Manchester residents access to other innovative treatments.

    Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said:

    I welcome this long term strategic partnership with the world’s largest pharmaceutical company.

    Scotland has a vibrant life science sector, world class universities and an NHS with a long track record of working with both.

    This initiative supports our use of innovation to transform health and social care by building new partnerships between government, our NHS, academic institutions, and industry.

    Mike Nesbitt, Health Minister for Northern Ireland, said:

    It is only by focusing more on prevention and population health, tackling health inequalities and harnessing the power of innovation through the UK’s world-leading life sciences sector that we will be able to deliver better outcomes for patients.

    Driving economic growth to improve the lives of hardworking British people is this Government’s number one mission. The life sciences sector – which drove £800 million in foreign direct investment into the UK in 2023 – sits at the heart of these plans.

    ENDS 

    Notes for editors 

    About the Obesity Healthcare Goals Programme: 

    • The Obesity Healthcare Goals Programme, formerly known as the Obesity Mission, was announced in November 2022, and is being delivered by the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) alongside the Dementia, Mental Health, Cancer and Addiction Healthcare Goals.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Eligible Leeds residents urged to protect themselves against viruses with free winter jabs

    Source: City of Leeds

    Leeds’s public health boss has issued a plea for all those eligible to take up the offer of a free flu vaccine this winter after worrying uptake levels last year.

    Leeds City Council’s director of public health has urged people to take the chance to protect themselves against both the flu and Covid 19, with both viruses spreading more easily in winter as people spend increasing amounts of time indoors together.  

    The winter vaccine programme focuses on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill – including people with long-term health conditions, people aged over 65 and pregnant women – yet last year Leeds saw lower uptakes of the free annual jabs among some of these cohorts.

    While uptake in older people remained high (79.5 per cent of over 65s), less than four in 10 (39 per cent) of people deemed ‘at risk’ received the flu vaccine, with similarly low levels seen among pregnant women (38 per cent) and two- to three-year-olds (37 per cent).

    It comes as national figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that over the past two winters at least 18,000 deaths across the UK were associated with flu, despite last winter being a relatively mild flu season.

    For the first time this year, pregnant women and older people aged 75 to 79 are also eligible for the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccination, with the maternal vaccine providing strong protection for newborns in their first few months, when they are most at risk of severe illness from RSV. Pregnant women should speak to their GP or maternity team for more information.

    Leeds City Council’s director of public health Victoria Eaton said: “After clean water, immunisation is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health.

    “Over the winter period, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu, Covid 19 or RSV before, it’s vital that you top up your protection as immunity fades over time and these viruses can change each year.

    “It is therefore extremely important that anyone eligible to receive their winter vaccinations takes up the potentially life-saving opportunity. The national mortality figures are a stark reminder of how deadly these viruses can be to those at risk.

    “Receiving the vaccinations means that if you do catch any of these viruses, you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, cutting your risk of being hospitalised.

    “I’m urging all those eligible to join the millions of others across the UK in taking up their free vaccine offer to ensure they stay winter strong.”

    Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, health and wellbeing, said: “We want to protect our city’s most vulnerable from these respiratory viruses which spread more easily in winter and usually reach their peak over the festive and new year period.

    “Nobody wants to miss out on festive celebrations with their families and friends and these vaccines provide the best possible protection.

    “Our city’s GPs and community pharmacies stand ready to provide these free jabs to all those eligible – please book your appointment today and arm yourself against the risk of severe illness.”

    Over 65s, those under 65 in clinical risk groups and pregnant women should contact their GP surgery or community pharmacy (for those aged 18 or over) to book their vaccinations.

    Parents of children who are aged two or three (on or before August 31, 2024) should contact their GP surgery to book their child’s flu vaccination.

    School-aged children (from reception to year 11) will mainly be offered their flu vaccines at school and for most this is a nasal spray, not an injection. A flu vaccine injection is available that does not contain gelatine. Parents who do not want their child to have the nasal spray vaccine should speak to the person vaccinating the child or ask for the injection on the school consent form.  

    For full details, to check eligibility and to book online, visit at http://www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations.

    ENDS

    For media enquiries please contact:

    Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

    Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

    Tel: 0113 378 6007

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Launch of online forms system

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A new online system for forms submitted to the OISC has been launched.

    We have today (Monday 14 October) launched a new online system for forms submitted to the OISC. 

    The new system will make it easier to apply for registration. It will also assist registered organisations in applying for continued registration, adding new advisers, changing levels and paying registration fees. 

    Our new forms are interactive, user-friendly, and structured in the same style as other government forms. 

    Immigration Services Commissioner, John Tuckett, said: 

    “The introduction of our new online forms system will make the registration process more straightforward and user-friendly. 

    “It will save our registered advisers valuable time, allowing them to focus on their essential work of supporting advice seekers, providing them with high-quality, reliable advice.” 

    The introduction of the new system allows:   

    • card payments to be made 

    • applicants to register on a mobile phone 

    • applicants to save and return to their application at a later date or time 

    • advisers to edit their details, giving them more control over the information that is displayed 

    Anyone using the forms will need to register for a One Login account, as with other government platforms.  

    The new online forms can be accessed via the OISC portal.   

    Additional guidance is available once you log into the OISC portal. If you need further support, please contact the OISC Customer Service Unit.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

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