Digital visualisation of the ‘full design’ plan for the George Street and First New Town project.
A full design for the George Street and First New Town project, has been approved by the Transport and Environment Committee.
The report discusses the completion of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4 Technical Design. The progression of this stage has led to a revised overall cost estimate of £35.07m, representing a saving of over £4.3m on previous estimates.
The full design will contain the following features:
Plans for natural stone material throughout (including yorkstone slabs on the footway, re-laid traditional setts in the parking areas, whinstone kerbs and setts on the carriageway).
Dwell zones with incorporated raised planters and seating.
Eight trees (four at the Charlotte Square end, four at the St Andrew Square end) along with low-level planting within a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDs), linking to the existing drainage system.
Full suite of Hostile Vehicle Measures (HVM) at all junctions and associated utility diversions.
Under the current timeline, construction is due to begin in Autumn 2027 and take approximately two years with a further one-year defect period.
The appropriate road orders will now be implemented before moving on to final budget confirmation and ultimately to RIBA Stage 4B (Tender) and securing of statutory consents. Final approval will then be sought to proceed to RIBA Stage 5 (Construction).
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:
I’m really pleased that we’ve taken the decision today to move forward with the George Street and First New Town project. The project is rooted in making the area safer, more sustainable and accessible for all.
This is a unique opportunity to bring one of Edinburgh’s most important streets into the modern world whilst still maintaining its unique history and features.
The wider potential improvements are vast, from benefits to local residents and businesses to enhancing Edinburgh as a visitor destination, and beyond – we’re on our way to delivering a bold new vision for George Street and our city centre.
Whilst we’re committed to this important project, we’re also committed to making broader improvements across the city for the benefit of all our residents.
The University of Connecticut has named three outstanding faculty members as Board of Trustees Distinguished Professors for the 2024–2025 academic year. This distinction is the highest honor the university confers on faculty and recognizes exceptional achievement in research, teaching, and service.
This year’s honorees are:
Dr. Peter C. Albertsen, Division of Urology, School of Medicine
Professor Anne C. Dailey, School of Law
Dr. Luyi Sun, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
The Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor title is awarded annually following a university-wide nomination process and a rigorous review by a faculty and student committee. Final selections are approved by the UConn Board of Trustees, which confirmed this year’s awardees at its June 25, 2025 meeting.
“These faculty have each made a remarkable impact not only through their scholarship, but also through their commitment to their students and colleagues,” said Anne D’Alleva, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Their work strengthens our community, advances their fields, and reflects the excellence that defines UConn.”
Dr. Peter C. Albertsen
Dr. Peter C. Albertsen is a globally respected urologic oncologist whose research and leadership have transformed the understanding and management of prostate cancer. A faculty member at UConn Health since 1987, Dr. Albertsen’s work has shaped national and international treatment guidelines and spared tens of thousands of men from unnecessary surgery and radiation.
(UConn Photo)
He earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Princeton University and his medical degree from Columbia University. He completed his surgical residency at Harvard and his urology training at the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins. He also holds a master’s degree in medical administration and preventive medicine from the University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Albertsen was among the first to use population-based data to challenge prevailing assumptions about PSA screening and prostate cancer aggressiveness. His landmark publications, including a seminal article in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), demonstrated that many prostate cancers grow slowly and do not require immediate treatment. These findings helped launch a global shift toward active surveillance, now a widely accepted standard of care. He has played key leadership roles in major trials in both the U.S. and the U.K., including serving as Chair of the Cause of Death Committee for the PLCO and ProtecT trials.
He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and editorials, with over 17,000 citations and an h-index of 63, placing him in the top tier of urologic researchers. His research has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and other leading journals, and has been supported by more than $5 million in external funding.
As UConn’s Urology Residency Program Director for over 30 years, Dr. Albertsen has trained more than 60 residents, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles in academic medicine and beyond. He is widely praised for his dynamic and discussion-based teaching style and for his long-standing mentorship of medical students and residents.
Dr. Albertsen has served in numerous leadership roles at UConn Health and nationally, including as Associate Dean for Clinical Research and Planning, Division Chief of Urology, and Trustee of the American Board of Urology. He continues to provide exceptional patient care, including to underserved and correctional populations, and is often sought out by colleagues for their own care.
His many honors include the Eugene Fuller Triennial Prostate Award and the Distinguished Contribution Award from the American Urological Association, as well as honorary membership in both the AUA and the German Urological Association. Dr. Albertsen’s research, clinical care, and mentorship have had an enduring impact on the field of urology and the lives of countless patients, making him a most deserving recipient of the University of Connecticut’s highest faculty honor.
Professor Anne C. Dailey
Professor Anne Dailey, Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Intellectual Life and the Ellen Ash Peters Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, is a nationally recognized scholar whose work bridges constitutional law, family law, and psychoanalytic theory. A member of the UConn faculty since 1988, Professor Dailey has made transformative contributions to legal scholarship, education, and public service, with far-reaching influence across disciplines and institutions.
(UConn Photo)
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where she served as an Articles Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Following law school, she completed a judicial clerkship with Judge José Cabranes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. She has since become a pioneering figure in integrating psychoanalytic theory into legal analysis, most notably through her acclaimed book Law and the Unconscious: A Psychoanalytic Perspective, published by Yale University Press. This work received three prestigious honors: the Book Prize from the American Psychoanalytic Association, the Book Prize from the American Board and Academy of Psychoanalysis, and the Faculty Book Award from the UConn Humanities Institute.
Professor Dailey’s scholarship is widely cited and influential. Her co-authored articles The New Law of the Child and The New Parental Rights, and her sole authored In Loco Reipublicae, all published in top-tier law journals, have shaped the national discourse on children’s constitutional rights, state responsibility for families, and evolving family structures. She is a member of the American Law Institute and the Association for the Study of Law, Culture and Humanities.
She has held visiting faculty appointments at Yale, Harvard, and Penn Law Schools and has been named an Erikson Scholar at the Austen Riggs Center and a Fellow at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Professor Dailey is a dedicated and inspiring teacher of family law and constitutional law. She is also a deeply valued mentor to students and junior faculty, and her efforts have helped elevate the national profile of the UConn School of Law.
Professor Dailey’s scholarly distinction, interdisciplinary innovation, and enduring contributions to teaching and service make her a truly worthy recipient of the University of Connecticut’s highest faculty honor.
Dr. Luyi Sun
Dr. Luyi Sun is a globally recognized materials scientist and professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where he also holds a joint appointment in the Institute of Materials Science. Since joining UConn in 2013, he has led an internationally renowned research program focused on nanostructured hybrid materials for functional, environmental, and energy-related applications.
(UConn Photo)
Dr. Sun’s prolific contributions to science are evidenced by over 310 peer-reviewed journal articles in high-impact publications such as Nature Communications, Science Advances, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Advanced Materials. His work has earned more than 23,000 citations and an h-index of 83, and has been highlighted by MIT Technology Review, Smithsonian Magazine, and New Scientist, among many others. He is the inventor or co-inventor of 28 issued U.S. patents and more than 50 corresponding foreign patents, seven of which have been commercialized/licensed. The materials and devices invented in his lab have been featured in global exhibitions, including at the Material ConneXion Library in New York and the Penn Museum.
Dr. Sun is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Society of Plastics Engineers. He has also been recognized with the Morand Lambla Award from the Polymer Processing Society and was elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Sun has taught rigorous and interdisciplinary courses such as Thermodynamics and Polymer Processing, and has advised dozens of Ph.D. students, M.S. students and postdoctoral researchers, and more than 160 undergraduate research assistants. His students have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry, and many have received prestigious fellowships and national honors.
Dr. Sun has also demonstrated sustained leadership in academic and professional service. As Director of the UConn Polymer Program from 2018 to 2021, he expanded faculty engagement and strengthened the program’s profile. He has held leadership roles in national scientific organizations and organized more than 80 symposia around the world. His editorial work includes serving as Associate Editor of Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials.
Due to his outstanding record of research innovation, teaching, mentorship, and professional service, Dr. Luyi Sun strongly merits recognition as a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Appointment of the next Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Paula Sussex CBE has been confirmed as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), from 26 June 2025.
Paula Sussex CBE has been confirmed as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), from 26 June 2025.
Sussex is moving from her role as the Chief Executive of digital identity services provider, OneID and has previously held high-profile roles as Chief Executive at the Student Loans Company and the Charity Commission.
In accordance with Section 1 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 and Section 1 of the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993, the appointment will be for a fixed term of five years, with the possibility of a two-year extension.
Preliminary works are due to start on the second phase of the Our City, Our River flood defence scheme, one of the city’s biggest infrastructure projects.
Known as Derby Riverside, this package of works will provide significant flood resilience protection to many properties and highways along the left (east) bank of the Derwent from Causey Bridge to Derwent Bridge.
The initial works will mainly consist of land clearance, making way for a new flood wall, floodgates and a riverside green area that will provide a controlled corridor for flood waters to pass through the city safely.
This will include the demolition of selected buildings, as well as some tree removal. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable where trees would obstruct the flow of water in a flood event, or where roots would be damaged due to the location of the wall.
Derby City Council has worked extensively with its arboriculturalists to keep the number of trees removed to a minimum. While the plans approved by committee give permission for a total of around 205 trees to be removed, this is the worst-case scenario, and the aim is to keep as many as possible. Some will be pollarded where this is a better solution, meaning their top branches will be removed to the trunk, which will encourage regrowth.
Due to the bird nesting season, we will only be removing trees that are essential for this first stage of work, with further work to take place over the winter. Throughout the nesting season, an ecologist will be onsite to check each tree before it is removed.
OCOR includes a scheme to replant more trees in the city than have been lost. Already, 583 new trees have been planted around the city, exceeding the 574 that will have been removed throughout the whole scheme by the time Derby Riverside is completed. A further 971 new trees are proposed for other sites, taking the total for OCOR to well over 1,400.
Councillor Camel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:
As our climate continues to change, river flooding remains a risk to many homes and businesses in the city centre. In just five years we have seen the five highest recorded river levels in the city.
We saw the damage caused by Storm Babet on the left bank of the river, and the need for action is clear. With these works, we will continue to protect properties and future proof our city.
Sisk regional director Robin Metcalf said:
We’re proud to be delivering this important project for Derby and are committed to making a positive local impact. We’ll be employing people from the local area wherever possible and working closely with Derby City Council to ensure our social value commitments align with the Derby Promise. That includes creating opportunities for those who are often furthest from the job market, helping to ensure the benefits of this scheme are felt right across the community.
These works will be carried out by John Sisk & Son on behalf of Derby City Council, who were formally awarded the contract for the scheme in May 2025. The completion of Derby Riverside will then unlock the regeneration potential on the left bank of the river, with opportunities for developing new homes and businesses thanks to enhanced flood resilience.
The Our City, Our River programme is one of the Environment Agency’s largest local authority-led projects and has already delivered enhanced flood protection to over 2000 properties. Derby Riverside will extend this protection to the east bank of the Derwent and unlock the potential for regeneration in this part of the city.
Building trust in justice: Reflections from the UK Supreme Court
Lord Reed’s address at the Supreme Court’s of Montenegro 80th anniversary and AIRE Centre’s conference
Copyright: Mirko Kuzman for AIRE Centre
Justice, transparency, and public trust – why it matters
Strengthening the independence, efficiency, and transparency of the judiciary is central to Montenegro’s reform process as it advances on its European path. It’s also at the heart of the UK’s partnership with Montenegro and our commitment to the wider Western Balkans.
Judicial independence is not only a legal principle, but it is the foundation of public trust in democratic institutions. The UK continues to support Montenegro’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law as part of a shared vision for a more stable, resilient, and prosperous region.
A shared commitment to the rule of law
On 21 June 2025, the British Embassy was proud to support a major conference hosted by the Supreme Court of Montenegro and the AIRE Centre, with the support of the European Union Delegation, marking the 80th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Montenegro.
The event brought together the judiciary, ministers, officials, Montenegrin and international experts, and partners to reflect on how courts can strengthen public confidence through greater transparency, openness, and effective communication.
The UK was honoured to be represented by Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the UK Supreme Court, who shared the UK’s experience and reflections on judicial communication, media engagement, and public accessibility.
The UK’s ongoing support for judicial reform in Montenegro
The UK’s partnership with Montenegro’s judiciary builds on a long history of collaboration, supporting training, initiatives for judicial integrity and transparency, and practical cooperation between courts. These efforts complement Montenegro’s reform priorities.
We remain committed to supporting the development of strong, independent, and trusted institutions that are accountable to citizens and essential for democracy and stability.
Lord Reed’s Speech
I am honoured to have been invited to address you. I know that this year – indeed, this month – is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Supreme Court of Montenegro. This is a time to celebrate its success and its achievements, and also a time to reflect on how our society has changed over that period and is continuing to develop, and on how the Montenegrin Supreme Court, and other courts, should respond to those changes. I have very much in mind the efforts being made to strengthen judicial independence, efficiency and public trust which I understand are being undertaken.
I have been asked to speak about transparency and communication. I want to begin with two fundamental questions. First, what do we mean when we talk about transparency in relation to courts? I would suggest that it means that the court and its work are open and visible to the public. In today’s society, that requires more than just allowing public access into court buildings, although that is a part of it. It also means making the work of the court accessible to the public, and having effective means of communication between the court and the public.
My second question is even more fundamental: why does transparency matter? There are a number of reasons, but I would emphasise one in particular. If you ask why the public accept decisions made by the judiciary, the answer, I would suggest, depends on confidence or trust. And trust depends on openness and effective communication with all parts of the community we serve. In the UK, a recent study found that public trust in the Supreme Court is closely connected to knowledge about its work; and public knowledge depends on transparency and communication.
So, considering transparency first, in the UK we normally have oral hearings in all cases, and they normally take place in public. Members of the public are encouraged to step inside the Supreme Court to watch our hearings and tour our court rooms. We are to some extent a visitor attraction. We have around 100,000 visitors a year, and our court rooms are usually busy with visitors. We have an exhibition area, where visitors can learn more about the court and its case law, and a public café. We also hold open days when more of the building is open to the public. We bear in mind that accessibility includes accessibility to children, and to people with special needs. For example, we hold tours for people with hearing problems, using sign language.
In addition, in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, hearings are live streamed online, subject to a short delay in case anything confidential is accidentally mentioned. They are also made available afterwards on the court’s website and on YouTube. The Supreme Court also live streams the delivery of judgments, when the judge who has written the lead judgment gives a short explanation to camera of the court’s decision in accessible language. During the last financial year, around 750,000 viewers watched our cases and judgments on our website, and footage was also used on television and on media websites, under contractual terms set by the court in order to prevent misuse.
This has been a great help in our most controversial cases. For example, in a case concerned with a challenge to the way the government was proceeding with the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, highlights of the hearing were shown on the television news, and were analysed by experts in much the same way as football matches, with replays of the most important moments. When we gave our judgment recently in a controversial case concerned with issues of gender, footage of the delivery of the judgment was shown on the television news. This helped to improve public understanding of what the court was deciding, and to raise the level of confidence that the judges were focused on issues of law and not on controversial political questions.
Televising hearings requires some thought where jurisdictions have a primarily written procedure. For example, in 2023 the French Cour de Cassation decided there was a need to be more transparent, and started to broadcast its hearings. However, the judges of that court were not accustomed to participating in the hearing and sat in silence during the advocates’ oral arguments. I have been told that the court then came under some criticism as members of the public gained the impression that the judges were not engaged in the issues that were the subject of the hearings. Careful consideration should therefore be given to how oral proceedings might be conducted if they are to be broadcast. One possibility is to follow the approach adopted by the European Court of Human Rights, where Grand Chamber hearings are live streamed. In those proceedings, the advocates present their arguments without interruption from the judges. However, at the end of their oral argument the judges then pose questions, after which the advocates are given time to consult with their legal team before providing responses.
We have also adopted the practice, in some controversial cases, of making the most important case papers available through our website, unless publication should be withheld for reasons such as commercial confidentiality or national security, so that they can be viewed alongside the live stream of the hearing.
Considering communication next, most people draw their knowledge of the judiciary and their opinions about the courts from the media, but media coverage of the judiciary is not always accurate or well-informed. To address that problem, the UK Supreme Court employs an expert communications team and uses a number of means to inform the public about our work. We recognise that the court operates in a media environment in which journalists and bloggers are expected to provide an instant response to our decisions. So members of the communications team work with the journalists who cover our work to help them to report it accurately. Where a judgment is likely to attract media interest, they allow journalists to see the judgment and the press summary an hour before they are made public, on a confidential basis. We do not do this in the most sensitive cases, or where prior knowledge of the judgment could be abused. But the confidentiality of the briefing is enforced by our law of contempt of court, and has never been breached.
The communications team also work with the judges to help them to communicate with the public, especially in the summaries that are delivered in court and live streamed on the internet when decisions are announced, excerpts from which may appear on the television news. They help us to ensure, for example, that the language we use in our summaries is understandable by members of the public and, in cases which will be reported in the media, that there is a short sentence or two in our summary which can be played or quoted in the reports and which explains the essence of our decision. They also maintain our social media accounts, with X, Instagram and LinkedIn, which have about 400,000 followers.
We also try to connect with the general public through our education and outreach work. For example, we have established a scheme which gives pupils at schools across the UK, aged about 16 or 17, the opportunity to take part in a live question and answer session with a judge of the Supreme Court from their classroom, via the internet. This has proved to be very popular with schools, and it enables the court to make direct contact with ordinary young people in a positive way. I also give occasional media interviews, including interviews for social media podcasts, when I try to explain our work in ways that the public can understand. We also organise an online course on the Supreme Court in partnership with one of our universities. About 5000 members of the public have enrolled.
In the context of the UK, it has also been important for the Supreme Court to try to improve understanding in Parliament and in the government of the constitutional role of the courts. With the support of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Supreme Court has engaged directly with all new Members of Parliament since our general election last year, providing each of them with materials explaining the rule of law and the constitutional role of the courts, taking part in question and answer sessions with Members of Parliament in private meetings, and encouraging them to visit the court and to meet justices and staff. We regard it as important to help politicians to understand the role of the courts, so that they support judicial independence and understand when we decide cases against the government, as sometimes happens.
In the context of the UK, it is also possible for the court to engage with the government in ways that encourage respect for judicial independence. There is generally a good understanding on both sides of the separation of powers. It has proved to be possible, in a context of mutual respect, to find ways of cooperating on projects of law reform and to encourage a sense that protecting the rule of law is a shared responsibility.
We also have an active programme to demonstrate that we are inclusive to all parts of our population, including ethnic and religious minorities. So we host visits from organisations supporting talented members of minority groups, and we offer internships at the court to young lawyers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In conclusion, we all need to work to maintain public trust in the administration of justice. I am grateful that we can share ideas and learn from each other as we work to safeguard the rule of law, for the benefit of both our societies.
Dubai-based director who falsified VAT returns banned after his four companies owed HMRC more than £1 million
Director submitted falsified documentation to reclaim VAT
Hassan Waqar has been disqualified as a director for 11 years after his four companies reclaimed almost £400,000 in VAT they were not entitled to
The four companies – HN Restaurants Limited, Kiani Construction Limited, Moneemint Ventures Limited and Zoya Investments Limited – submitted falsified documents to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or failed to provide supporting evidence for VAT repayment claims
All four companies were struck-off the Companies House register between February and June 2023, with total debts to HMRC of more than £1.1 million in VAT assessments, penalties and interest
The boss of four companies which owed HMRC more than £1 million, including £400,000 in VAT they falsely reclaimed, has been banned as a director.
Hassan Waqar was the director of HN Restaurants Limited, Kiani Construction Limited and Moneemint Ventures Limited when they submitted falsified documents to HMRC.
A fourth company, Zoya Investments Limited, failed to supply evidence to HMRC to support the repayment returns it had submitted.
The four companies owed HMRC more than £1.1 million in VAT and penalties when they were all struck-off the Companies House register during the first half of 2023.
Waqar, 30, who is now based in Dubai, has been disqualified as a company director for 11 years.
Victoria Edgar, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Hassan Waqar submitted falsified documentation for VAT reclamations that his companies were not entitled to receive.
Our investigations found that he failed to provide supporting evidence for claims across multiple businesses, with over £1.1 million owed when these companies were struck off the Companies House register in 2023.
The Insolvency Service is committed to taking action against directors who fail to meet their legal and financial obligations, protecting the integrity of the business environment and the tax system.
HN Restaurants Limited was set up in May 2020 as a fast-food business. Kiani Construction Limited was a construction company incorporated in August 2021 which was involved in real estate sales.
Moneemint Ventures Limited, like HN Restaurants Limited, was established in May 2020, and was described by Waqar as a banking service platform. Zoya Investments Limited, incorporated in March 2021, traded in carrying out fitouts.
The four companies received a total of £396,982 in VAT repayments.
HN Restaurants Limited, Kiani Construction Limited and Moneemint Ventures Limited provided invoices to HMRC in support of their claims. HMRC contacted several of the suppliers who confirmed they had not issued the invoices to the companies.
Bank statements were provided by HN Restaurants Limited and Moneemint Ventures Limited to HMRC to support the repayment return, but they differed to the ones supplied by the banks.
Zoya Investments Limited did not provide any evidence to support its VAT repayment claims.
HMRC issued penalties to the four companies totalling £706,692.
The four companies were struck-off the Companies House register between February and June 2023.
Combined, the four companies owed £1,136,832 in VAT assessments, penalties and interest.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Waqar, and his ban started on Thursday 26 June.
It prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
HMRC issued a joint and several liability notice to Waqar for HN Restaurants, making him personally responsible for paying the tax debts of the company.
Further information
Hassan Waqar is of 21A Street, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His date of birth is 1 August 1994
As the world watches the US–Iran situation with concern, the ripple effect from these events are reaching global oil supply chains – and exposing their fragility.
If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz as it is considering, it would restrict the global oil trade and trigger energy chaos.
Petrol in some Australian cities could hit A$2.50 a litre according to some economists. As global instability worsens, other experts warn price spikes are increasingly likely.
What would happen next? There is a precedent: the oil shocks of the 1970s, when oil prices quadrupled. The shock drove rapid change, from more efficient cars to sudden interest in alternative energy sources. This time, motorists would likely switch to electric vehicles.
If this crisis continues or if another one flares up, it could mark a turning point in Australia’s long dependence on foreign oil.
What would an oil shock mean?
Australia currently imports 80% of its liquid fuels, the highest level on record. If the flow of oil stopped, we would have about 50 days worth in storage before we ran out.
Our cars, buses, trucks and planes run overwhelmingly on petrol and diesel. Almost three-quarters (74%) of these liquid fuels are used in transport, with road transport accounting for more than half (54%) of all liquid fuels. Australia is highly exposed to global supply shocks.
The best available option to reduce dependence on oil imports is to electrify transport.
How does Australia compare on EVs?
EV uptake in Australia continues to lag behind global leaders. In 2024, EVs accounted for 9.65% of new car sales in Australia, up from 8.45% in 2023.
In the first quarter of 2025, EVs were 6.3% of new car sales, a decline from 7.4% in the final quarter of 2024.
Norway remains the global leader, with battery-electric passenger cars making up 88.9% of sales in 2024. The United Kingdom also saw significant growth – EVs hit almost 20% of new car registrations in 2024.
In China, EVs made up 40.9% of new car sales in 2024. The 12.87 million cars sold represent three-quarters of total EV sales worldwide.
One reason for Australia’s sluggishness is a lack of reliable public chargers. While charging infrastructure is expanding, large parts of regional Australia still lack reliable access to EV charging.
Until recently, Australia’s fuel efficiency standards were among the weakest in the OECD. Earlier this year, the government’s new standards came into force. These are expected to boost EV uptake.
Could global tensions trigger faster action?
If history is any guide, oil shocks lead to long-term change.
When global oil prices quadrupled in 1973–74, many nations were forced to reconsider where they got their energy. A few years later, the 1979 Iranian Revolution caused another major supply disruption, sending oil prices soaring and pushing much of the world into recession.
Huge increases in oil prices drove people to look for alternatives during the 1970s oil shocks. Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Much more recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed the European Union to face up to its reliance on Russian gas and find alternatives by importing gas from different countries and accelerating the clean energy shift.
Clearly, energy shocks can be catalysts for long-term structural change in how we produce and consume energy.
The new crisis could do the same, but only if policy catches up.
If fuel prices shot up and stayed there, consumer behaviour would begin to shift. People would drive less and seek alternate forms of transport. Over time, more would look for better ways to get around.
Cutting oil dependency through electrification isn’t just good for the climate. It’s also a hedge against future price shocks and supply disruptions.
Transport is now Australia’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Now that emissions are falling in the electricity sector, transport will be the highest emitting sector emissions source as soon as 2030.
Building a cleaner transport system also means building a more resilient one. Charging EVs on locally produced renewable power cuts our exposure to global oil markets. So do biofuels, better public transport and smarter urban planning.
Improving domestic energy resilience isn’t just about climate targets. It’s about economic stability and national security. Clean local energy sources reduce vulnerability to events beyond our control.
What can we learn from China?
China offers a compelling case study. The nation of 1.4 billion faces real oil security challenges. In response, Beijing has spent the past decade building a domestic clean energy ecosystem to reduce oil dependency and cut emissions.
This is now bearing fruit. Last year, China’s oil imports had the first sustained fall in nearly two decades. Crude oil imports fell 1.5%, while oil refinery activity also fell due to lower demand.
China’s rapid uptake of EVs has clear energy security benefits. pim pic/Shutterstock
China’s rapid shift to EVs and clean energy shows how long-term planning and targeted investment can pay off on climate and energy security.
What we do next matters
The rolling crises of 2025 present Australian policymakers a rare alignment of interests. What’s good for the climate, for consumers and for national security may now be the same thing.
Real change will require more than sustained high petrol prices. It demands political will, targeted investment and a long-term vision for clean, resilient transport.
Doing nothing has a real cost – not just in what we pay at the service station, but in how vulnerable we remain to events a long way away.
Hussein Dia receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre, Transport for New South Wales, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
Scottish Greens call on Labour MPs to vote against Starmer’s Welfare Bill
More in Equality
An upcoming vote on social security cuts at Westminster will be a test of Scottish Labour’s moral backbone, says Scottish Green’s social justice spokesperson Maggie Chapman.
Next Tuesday, Westminster is due to vote on the controversial changes to social security, which would see financial support for disabled people slashed in an effort to save £5 billion from the UK Government’s welfare bill.
A number of Labour MPs have now supported an amendment to reject the Bill outright, warning that the proposals lack consultation, ignore any real impact assessment, and will deepen inequality. However, the vast majority of Scottish MPs have not signed up.
The Government’s own impact assessment stated that these proposals could push up to 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty. Recent research from the Trussell Trust states that 300,000 Scots could lose £500 a year in crucial disability support payments if the cuts are voted through.
The Scottish Greens are urging all Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs to clearly oppose the dangerous cuts to social security, and oppose this new wave of austerity inflicted on Scotland.
Commenting, Maggie said:
“It’s clear to anyone who’s looking that the brutal welfare cuts put forward by Labour at Westminster will push disabled folk across the UK into poverty. The Government’s own assessment of the proposals tells us that.
“Supporting these turbo-charged austerity measures – while the evidence of the harms they will cause is so painfully obvious – is completely inexcusable. This is not leadership, it is cowardice and cruelty dressed up as pragmatism.
“Next week’s vote will be a crucial moral test for all Scottish Labour politicians. Will they choose to back a Prime Minister who is once again ploughing ahead with deeply unpopular and harmful cuts to our communities, or will they do the right thing and stand up for their constituents in Scotland?
“There is no excuse for silence here in Holyrood or Westminster. Now is the time to show solidarity and moral leadership – not to hide behind party lines.
“The public deserves better than a Labour Party that promises change but delivers cuts.”
Prestwick Airport has seen a 32% annual increase in private jet flights
More in Climate
A 32% year-on-year increase in private jet flights to just one Scottish airport is a sign that we urgently need to tax the super-rich, says Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer.
The statistic comes from an investigation from Oxfam Scotland, which revealed that Scottish Government-owned Prestwick Airport saw a huge 32% increase in private jet flights from 2023 to 2024.
Oxfam Scotland’s investigation also highlighted that some private jets can emit 20 or even 30 times more carbon emissions than flying economy class.
The Scottish Greens have long campaigned for a Private Jet Tax in Scotland by increasing the rate of Air Departure Tax (ADT) on non-commercial jets. However, an ongoing stalemate between the Scottish Government and the UK Government over the introduction of ADT has delayed progress.
The party is now calling for the Scottish Government to show clear leadership and to tax the super-rich by introducing a departure and arrival levy on private jet flights at Government-owned airports, namely Prestwick and the eleven airports owned via Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL).
While Prestwick Airport sees substantial private jet traffic, often associated with golf events, HIAL airports are also regularly used by international elites who own large estates in Scotland.
Ross said:
“An obscene amount of wealth is being hoarded by a tiny number of elites who fly across the globe in their climate-wrecking private jets.
“These jets have a huge impact on our environment, and while their super-rich occupants fly between their golf courses and superyachts, it’s Scottish taxpayers left paying to clean up their mess.
“We all know that we urgently need to reduce pollution from planes to combat the climate emergency. One of the easiest ways to do that is to reduce private jet use, which is twenty times more polluting than regular commercial flights.
“That’s why the Scottish Greens are proposing a private jet tax, which would raise money for our public services and keep the super-rich and their destructive toys on the ground.
“We’ve waited for years for the Scottish and UK Governments to deliver the devolution of Air Departure Tax in Scotland, as they agreed to do over a decade ago.
“Delays to the devolution of ADT aren’t a get out of jail free card for the Scottish Government. They can introduce a charge on private jets at the dozen airports they own right now, raising cash for public services and taking action to tackle the climate emergency.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Urgent warning to pet owners as toxic chemicals found in fake flea treatments
Pet owners urged to be wary of dangerous fake treatments discovered on e-commerce sites.
Main developments are:
urgent government warning issued after toxic insecticide discovered in counterfeit flea treatments – one cat required emergency surgery after severe poisoning
fake pet medicines lack essential ingredients while containing dangerous chemicals that trigger vomiting, seizures and potential death
warning signs include poor packaging, spelling mistakes, unusual smells and suspiciously low prices
new figures show three quarters of consumers wrongly believe fake goods are of similar quality to genuine products
pet owners should only buy from trusted sources and immediately report suspicious products
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) are urging pet owners to take caution when purchasing common medicines, including common flea treatments and wormers.
The alert comes after toxic pesticide traces were found in a fake flea treatment that caused a pet cat to become seriously ill, prompting the owner to have the product tested. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Pirimiphos-methyl, a dangerous insecticide toxic to cats.
Officials are urging pet owners to recognise signs of counterfeit products, avoid using suspicious items, and know how to report concerns.
Counterfeit animal medicines deliberately copy the appearance, packaging and branding of genuine veterinary products to deceive pet owners. Like all counterfeits, they are illegal to sell in the UK.
These fakes typically lack proper active ingredients, making them ineffective. Worse still, they may also contain harmful substances, causing severe reactions including vomiting, muscle tremors, breathing difficulties, seizures and potentially death.
Pet owners seeking bargains, or a quick purchase online may unknowingly purchase these dangerous counterfeits.
The VMD and IPO are urging owners to check for warning signs including poor packaging, spelling errors, missing information, and unusual smells.
Last year alone, the VMD issued 122 seizure notices for the selling of unauthorised animal medicines and supplements, preventing around 18,000 illegal items from reaching consumers.
After purchasing what appeared to be genuine FRONTLINE ® flea treatment online for his cat, Smokey, Alan Wall from Preston was devastated when Smokey became very unwell. The condition was so severe that Smokey required emergency intestinal surgery to survive. This was followed by a week-long stay at the veterinary surgery and significant bills to support his recovery.
Alan Wall said:
Smokey is more than just a pet, he’s a member of our family. When he became ill after using what we believed was a genuine flea treatment, we were terrified. Watching him suffer, not knowing whether he would pull through, was heartbreaking. It’s taken a huge emotional toll on all of us. Without the support of our vets and the extensive surgery they performed we know Smokey wouldn’t be with us today. We want to warn other pet owners about these fake products so that no one else has to endure what we’ve been through.
Images of Smokey the cat – receiving treatment, and when healthier
A Veterinary Medicines Directorate Veterinary Surgeon and Efficacy Assessor, Dr Heilin-Anne Leonard-Pugh, explains:
Pirimiphos-methyl is toxic to cats. Exposure to this insecticide can prevent the cat’s body from breaking down a substance called acetylcholine, leading to an overstimulation of the cat’s nervous system. This can cause symptoms such as vomiting, uncoordinated gait, muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis, increased sensitivity to touch, difficulty breathing, restlessness, urinary incontinence, low heart rate and seizures. In some cases, even death can sadly occur. If you suspect your pet has been exposed to a counterfeit medicine, seek veterinary advice immediately.
Sue Horseman from Bristol also purchased what appeared to be FRONTLINE® flea treatment online for her cat, but quickly became suspicious that the product wasn’t genuine.
Sue explained that the product was difficult to open and had a distinct smell of white spirit and paraffin, whereas the genuine flea treatment has no smell. When she reported this to Trading Standards, experts confirmed that the treatment was a counterfeit.
While the online platform has removed the seller, they had already managed to sell 211 batches of suspected counterfeit pet medicines and supplements, including fake FRONTLINE Flea and Tick Treatment and PRO PLAN FortiFlora Probiotic Sachets for dogs and cats.
New counterfeit goods research (Wave 4) shows that counterfeit goods of all types are frequently purchased via global e-commerce websites. The figures also show that in 2024, nearly-one-in-five (17%) consumers unknowingly purchased goods later found to be fake, with 60% of purchasers also saying that ‘ease of purchasing’ influenced their decision. Saving money is a strong motivator for buying fakes, with around three quarters (72%) of purchasers saying price was an important factor in their decision. Worryingly, around three-quarters (72%) wrongly believed the products would be of a similar quality to the genuine item.
The IPO’s Deputy Director of Enforcement Helen Barnham, said:
We are a nation of animal lovers, and criminals dealing in counterfeits are targeting pet owners with complete disregard for the animal’s wellbeing. This can have some distressing consequences, as they may contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to our pets. We are urging pet owners to be vigilant when purchasing any type of animal treatment, and beware of any offers that ‘look too good to be true’.
Counterfeiting is anything but a victimless crime and this latest discovery confirms this. If you suspect that any goods offered for sale may be counterfeit, you should always report this to your local Trading Standards or Crimestoppers Online.
We are very concerned about counterfeit vet treatments on sale which can be highly toxic to pets and we would always urge pet owners to seek professional veterinary advice if they have any health concerns.
We appreciate financial pressures can lead to some owners to look for cheaper treatments online but they could be unwittingly putting their beloved pets in serious danger by inadvertently buying these counterfeit goods and would urge them to take on board this government advice.
Nina Downing, Vet Nurse from PDSA, a vet charity and a leading authority on pet health in the UK, said:
Counterfeit veterinary medicines can pose a serious threat to our pets ‘ health and wellbeing. While legitimate medications play a vital role in keeping our pets healthy, counterfeit products can cause severe harm or even be fatal. These fake medicines may contain incorrect ingredients or dangerous substances that can make pets extremely ill – leading to symptoms like twitching, swelling, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse, coma and even death.
We always recommend that you only give your pet medication which has been prescribed by your vet. When fulfilling a prescription online, source them from reputable companies that are on the Register of online retailers, brought to you by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. If you suspect your pet is reacting badly to any medication, contact your vet immediately.
When examining the counterfeit FRONTLINE® flea treatment, experts from the University of Bath also identified telling packaging flaws. Most notably, the label used ‘GATTI’ (Italian for cats) instead of the English ‘CAT’, alongside multiple spelling errors – common indicators of counterfeit products.
Image: Packaging featuring spelling mistakes and mixed languages
Pet owners should check the packaging and always be cautious of third-party sellers when shopping on e-commerce sites for any type of pet medication.
The IPO and VMD are offering advice for consumers to help spot fake animal medicines, and what to do if they believe they may have purchased them or seen them offered for sale.
How to identify fake animal medicines online:
1. Warning signs of fake medicines. Look out for:
poor quality or damaged packaging
spelling or grammar errors
missing leaflets or expiry dates
instructions not provided in English
suspicious smell, colour or texture
poor quality tablets, capsules, vials or pipettes – homemade appearance
Be wary of any retailer selling prescription only products without asking for your prescription. This is illegal.
All online sellers of prescription only animal medicines must be registered with the VMD. If in any doubt, you can check retailers on the VMD’s Register of Online Retailers.
2. Always shop safely online. Be cautious of:
heavily discounted goods and flash sales. Question the price if much cheaper than elsewhere. Whether buying online or in person, always think about the price
a seller asking for sensitive information or requesting payment by bank transfer
fake websites and social media profiles. These can contain original brand names – confirm the website is authentic and check seller details and reviews before purchasing
any deal or offer that looks ‘too good to be true’
If you see these goods being offered for sale, whether on a website, social media post or on the high street, contact your local Trading Standards or Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.
If you encounter suspicious veterinary medicines or retailers, please also report them to the VMD Enforcement Team. (You can do so anonymously if preferred):
All veterinary medicines sold in the UK must be authorised. If the brand looks unfamiliar, ensure its authorised before purchasing. To know if the medicine is UK- approved, you should look for English labelling and a valid Marketing Authorisation number (e.g. Vm 12345/4001). You can check if the medicine you are buying is authorised in the UK by searching the VMD’s Product Information Database.
Using ant unauthorised medicine poses a serious risk to the welfare of your pet. These medicines have not been assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and their safety, quality and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.
Online retailers of low-risk, general sale veterinary medicines that can be sold by anyone without a prescription (known as AVM-GSL medications) don’t need to register. When buying these medicines always shop from a trusted source.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the UK Competent Authority for veterinary medicines regulation. The VMD protects public health, animal health, and the environment and promotes animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of veterinary medicines.
The IPO regularly conducts research to understand consumer behaviour in relation to the purchasing of and attitudes toward counterfeit goods. The most recent Counterfeit Goods Research report (published Tuesday 17 May 2025) show the main motivations for those who purchase counterfeits:
similar/ the same quality – 72.3%
wanting to reduce spending/outgoings - 72%
the real product was out of your budget/ price range - 70.9%
the fake product was cheaper – 72%
hearing from family or friends that the ‘fake’ products were good - 64.8%
similar/the same design – 64.6%
being able to purchase ‘fake’ or counterfeit products easily – 60.5%
Growth and local jobs top of the agenda as Cardiff Capital Region Investment Zone advances
Investment Zone to drive innovation and growth in advanced manufacturing, digital and technology sectors
Zone will develop semiconductor hub in Newport and science and tech park in Cardiff as part of the government’s transformative Industrial Strategy announced today
Expected to attract £500m private sector investment and create 4000 new jobs as part of the government’s Plan for Change
The Cardiff Capital Region Investment Zone has taken a major step forward with the announcement of its industrial and key sites, giving a huge boost to regional investment and job creation.
The Investment Zone – a joint initiative between the UK and Welsh Governments – will drive innovation and growth across the advanced manufacturing and digital and technology sectors, with a focus on the region’s world-class compound semiconductor cluster.
Backed by £160m of UK Government funding, the Zone will develop the semiconductor hub in Newport, where key businesses including KLA, IQE and Vishay are located, and develop a science and technology park to become the focus point for R&D activity and investment in Cardiff.
The Investment Zone – one of two planned for Wales – is expected to attract £500m of private sector investment, create 4000 new jobs and unlock 3m square feet of manufacturing, R&D and innovation capacity.
UK Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth Alex Norris said:
Unleashing the potential of our cities and regions is at the heart of the Industrial Strategy and the Plan for Change.
The Cardiff Capital Region Investment Zone Investment Zone, which we’re backing with £160m of funding, will build on the region’s industrial strengths to shape an exciting future for local people – creating new skilled jobs and driving economic growth locally and across Wales.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:
This step forward for the Cardiff Capital Region Investment Zone is a huge boost for the world-class business and industry within the area.
It will drive growth, create 4,000 jobs and build on the talent and expertise that already exists in this part of Wales.
Working alongside Welsh Government we are building the economy of the future and delivering for working people across the country.
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said:
The Cardiff and Newport Investment Zone marks a transformative step forward for South East Wales and demonstrates our firm commitment to establishing the region as a global powerhouse in compound semiconductors.
We will continue working closely with the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee and the UK Government to build on the region’s strengths, attract significant private investment, strengthen regional partnerships and deliver real benefits that people across Wales will feel in their everyday lives.
Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader, Monmouthshire Council, and Chair, Cardiff Capital Region said:
This is a tremendous step forward for the Investment Zone. We look forward to building upon our strong industrial base and world-class research in semiconductors to drive innovation in emerging technologies, and fast-growing markets, whilst working together with UK and Welsh Government.
By aligning our efforts with the region’s unique assets and fostering collaboration across sectors, we aim to create a dynamic environment where new ideas thrive, investment is attracted, and meaningful impact is delivered to people and places across the region.
The news comes as part of the Industrial Strategy announcement today (Monday).
As set out in the strategy, advanced manufacturing and digital and technology are two key growth-driving sectors.
The news follows the confirmation of the industrial and geographic focuses of two Investment Zones in Scotland earlier this month, and the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone earlier this year.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Ofsted to strengthen inspections through new team structures
Following feedback from last year’s Big Listen and the recent consultation on inspection reform, Ofsted has today announced a new structure for inspection teams in schools and further education, focused on improving consistency.
The new team structure will make the best use of the complementary skills and expertise of Ofsted’s employed His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) and its contracted Ofsted inspectors (OIs) – who are often serving practitioners in schools and colleges.
The changes mean that following the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025:
all schools and further education inspections will be led by current His Majesty’s Inspectors, or OIs with recent HMI experience, drawing on their more in-depth inspection expertise and training
Ofsted will make the best use of OI’s current sector knowledge and experience by deploying them as team inspectors, placing greater emphasis on matching their expertise to specific types of provision to complement the inspection expertise brought by His Majesty’s Inspectors
This change recognises the value Ofsted places on the unique strengths and expertise of His Majesty’s Inspectors and OIs. By more deliberately and strategically combining the different expertise of His Majesty’s Inspectors and OIs on inspection teams, Ofsted will be able to deliver its renewed approach to education inspection with more insightful, context-aware inspections that will better serve children, learners and education providers.
During the Big Listen, Ofsted heard that inspectors do not always have the necessary expertise or experience in the specific types of provision they inspect (for example, primary or special schools, or apprenticeship providers), which makes it harder for them to understand the context the provider is working in. Therefore, from November, most school and further education and skills inspections will have at least one inspector on the team with previous experience of working in a similar type of provision.
These changes build on the many improvements Ofsted has already made to make sure inspections are consistent; for example, Fridays are now used to gather teams of His Majesty’s Inspectors for reflection and training, and senior staff hold regular meetings to review inspection outcomes and provide oversight of the most complex cases.
Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said:
We want to make sure our inspections are as consistent as possible, from Cornwall to Northumberland. We have already put stronger quality assurance measures in place, and utilising the expertise of our workforce as effectively as we can is another significant step forward.
All inspection teams will have the right blend of inspection expertise and current sector insight. This will help us better understand the context of the schools and colleges we inspect, to provide a fair and accurate report for parents.
Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), said:
It is welcome that Ofsted are taking the issue of consistency seriously. Having the most experienced inspectors lead inspections should support consistency, which would be a positive step.
We know Ofsted has also committed to making improvements to its proposed toolkits and methodology, and we hope these changes will provide further reassurance on consistency.
Notes to editors
Because of its unique contexts and requirements, our early years inspection model works differently. In early years, inspections are typically conducted by individual inspectors rather than teams.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Operating in the Future Electromagnetic Environment symposium 2025
Representatives from industry, academia and government are invited to join the OFEME symposium to work alongside Dstl’s scientists and shape future thinking.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) hosts its sixth Operating in the Future Electromagnetic Environment (OFEME) symposium from 18 to 20 November 2025 in Newport, Wales.
The event, supported by the Electromagnetic Environment (EME) Hub, is designed as an in-person event, but there will be options to join virtually if you are unable to join us in Wales.
Importance of the electromagnetic environment
The EME is crucial for many sectors including healthcare and mobility (moving people, goods and services), and for a connected society. In defence, spectrum dependent systems are present across land, maritime, air and space. Their uses include communications, sensing, weapons systems and more.
As demand grows, reliable access to the electromagnetic spectrum becomes more difficult, creating a challenge for UK information advantage and maintaining situational awareness.
From a defence perspective, adversaries will actively contest access, such as through electromagnetic warfare, to deliberately deny or degrade access. Maintaining freedom of action and delivering effects in and through the congested and contested electromagnetic environment is therefore an essential and growing challenge.
Symposium details
The symposium this year will continue to expand its scope included in the previous events.
The event will cover:
shared challenges for operating within the future electromagnetic environment, emerging sensing and PNT technologies, both inside and outside of defence
how research and development investment can be harnessed in future approaches
The event will feature:
a range of keynote speakers
technical presentations
panel discussions
poster sessions
interactive workshops
networking sessions
These activities will cover advances and implications of a variety of technical topics including:
space
metamaterials
semiconductors
electro-optics (to include photonics)
quantum advantage (position, navigation and timing (PNT))
filamentation
filters
artificial intelligence
semantic communications
Who can attend
Academics, industry partners (including small and medium-sized enterprises and non-traditional defence suppliers), PhD students and colleagues from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across government are all invited to attend the symposium.
The event will provide space to network and discuss collaboration opportunities with Dstl scientists to shape future thinking on how to address sensing challenges.
You will then receive a link to complete the symposium delegate registration process.
Submit your poster
If you would like to create a poster abstract highlighting the themes of the symposium, please complete our online form with a PDF of your poster by 5pm on Friday 12 September 2025.
We will let you know the outcome of your submission by Friday 19 September 2025.
Posters will be presented across both of the 2 conference days. Some authors will also be invited to give lightning talks based on their poster abstracts.
Sponsor the symposium
We are also looking for sponsors to support this year’s symposium. Specifically funding towards a 90-minute reception at the end of day 2, which will help promote networking and knowledge sharing. Sponsorship would cover the costs of holding this reception.
Please let us know if you’re interested in sponsoring by emailing: OFEME_Symposium@dstl.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday 12 September 2025.
Any information that is to be presented by any party at this symposium and further that is detailed within this event will be deemed to be in the public domain and therefore will not require further approval for its use by the receiving parties not withstanding any rights of ownership of information set in law. We will ask for a PDF copy of your presentation to be sent to us.
SFO cracks down on corruption through international alliance
UK Serious Fraud Office joins global anti-corruption alliance to combat cross-border corruption.
Serious Fraud Office joins International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre to strengthen the fight against cross-border corruption
Move follows creation of pioneering tri-national taskforce with France and Switzerland
Enhanced intelligence gathering will target companies and individuals involved in overseas corruption involving politically exposed persons
The Serious Fraud Office has today expanded its global reach by joining the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), strengthening the UK’s ability to tackle grand corruption and illicit finance across borders.
This strategic alliance builds on the SFO’s recent establishment of a taskforce with French and Swiss authorities to tackle international bribery and corruption.
Based within the National Crime Agency, the IACCC brings together specialist law enforcement officers from agencies around the world to tackle allegations of grand corruption that span multiple jurisdictions.
Organisations with a proven intention to fight domestic and international corruption can be considered for membership, with the SFO gaining enhanced access to key partners in the fight against grand corruption involving politically exposed persons.
The partnership will boost the SFO’s capacity to gather intelligence and evidence on companies and individuals suspected of corruption overseas while maintaining full control over its investigations.
Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), said:
This is another step forward for the SFO and further demonstration of our determination to use every power and partnership we can to confront the threat of bribery and corruption.
This membership will bring us closer to global law enforcement and strengthen our intelligence gathering capabilities on those companies and individuals engaged in international bribery and corruption.
The SFO recently issued new guidance to companies on their responsibilities to report suspected criminality.
Rob Jones, Director General of Operations at the NCA, said:
We welcome the SFO’s membership of the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre. Their membership will assist the collective effort of supporting overseas partners with hugely important investigations into grand corruption.
Since its launch in 2017 the IACCC has helped identify over £1.8 billion of suspected stolen assets, supported the freezing of nearly half of those assets in various global jurisdictions, and helped with the arrest and charging of a significant number of suspects involved in high profile investigations in over 40 separate countries.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
E-seminar: Verification of frozen poultry via HADH
An e-seminar produced as part of the Joint Knowledge Transfer Framework for Food Standards and Food Safety Analysis
This e-seminar provides a guide for the implementation of a method for the verification of the labelling of previously frozen poultry by measurement of hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HADH) activity.
When meat is frozen and then thawed, the muscle mitochondria (a type of intramuscular organelle) are damaged during the process and the enzyme HADH is released into the intracellular fluid. The relative increase in the amount of HADH found in the intracellular fluid before and after analytical method freezing procedure may be indicative as to whether the meat has previously undergone freezing. The measurement of HADH activity in the intracellular fluid, taken by pressing the meat and analysing the fluid using a spectrophotometer, is a simple, rapid and reliable procedure for a laboratory to undertake when evaluating the reported cryological history of raw chicken or turkey samples.
This e-seminar provides information and guidance relevant to understanding how to apply an HADH-based spectrophotometric method to differentiate between chilled and previously frozen poultry samples.
This e-seminar was produced by the Joint Knowledge Transfer Framework for Food Standards and Food Safety Analysis, funded by the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Food Standards Scotland and the Department for Science Innovation and Technology via the Government Chemist.
The report details performance against our mission to deliver timely, high-quality, and cost-effective planning decisions, recommendations and advice.
In his foreword Chief Executive Paul Morrison highlights work to improve the ‘flow’ of cases through the system and the importance of engaging with partners as he reflects on the last year and future ambitions.
He writes:
Our progress reflects the professionalism and determination of colleagues across the Planning Inspectorate, and the strength of engagement from partners throughout the system.
We’ve done all of this with an eye on the horizon. The government’s ambitions in this Parliament set a clear and stretching direction. Supporting that agenda will take more than throughput. It will take a planning system that flows, connects, and delivers with confidence.
This year has shown what’s possible when we align purpose with partnership. We’re not at the finish line, but we are moving, together, in the right direction.
Highlights from the last year include:
We provided 17 national infrastructure applications recommendations to Secretaries of State and gave advice to 80 pre-application Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, which provide our communities with roads, railways, reservoirs, and electricity.
28,000 homes (approximately) approved during 2024/25 due to appeal, which would not have been built originally.
We found 22 local plans sound, ensuring that the proposals meet citizens’ and businesses’ future needs and giving security to local areas planning their development.
We worked with 144 local planning authorities through the householder appeal service pilot, unlocking new functionality for the entire appeals process.
The Annual Report and Accounts covers the period of April 2024 to March 2025.
With the Isle of Wight Festival now behind us and a summer full of events still ahead, a timely road safety campaign is reminding revellers that the party’s consequences can linger long after the music stops.
In a joint effort with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safer Roads Partnership, thousands of ferry passengers travelling by car were recently met with a clear message: Don’t risk driving under the influence the morning after drinking.
The campaign, which featured eye-catching adverts and face-to-face engagement at key ferry terminals in Lymington, Portsmouth, and Southampton over the Isle of Wight Festival weekend, aimed to raise awareness about how alcohol can remain in your system well into the next day — potentially putting drivers unknowingly over the legal limit.
At the heart of the initiative is the Morning After calculator, a free online tool that helps people estimate how long it takes for alcohol to leave their body. It’s not a green light to drink more, but a guide to help people make safer choices.
Even with the festival period ending, summer has only just begun and the tool can be used at any time.
Lewis Campbell, road safety officer for the Isle of Wight Council, praised the campaign’s reach: “A big thank you to all of our partners within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safer Roads Partnership for supporting this important campaign.
“This has been another successful event at the mainland ports with more than 10,000 people engaged. We are very grateful for the support received by local ferry operators.”
He added: “The campaign highlights the importance of planning your journeys and your alcohol consumption if you know you must drive the following day. The Morning After calculator can help you do that.
“However, to be clear, there is no safe level of alcohol when it comes to driving.”
The consequences of drink driving are serious. Offenders can face hefty fines, driving bans, and even prison. And it’s not just about being caught behind the wheel — simply being found in a stationary vehicle while intoxicated, with the keys in the ignition, could lead to a £2,500 fine, a three-month prison sentence, and a driving ban.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Farmers backed to tackle endemic diseases with more funded vet visits
Government funded vet visits to now include health assessments for multiple herds on the same farm helping to support better health and profitability within the sector.
Credit: Peter O’Connor
Livestock farmers can now access funded vet visits for multiple herds or flocks belonging to the same farming business from today (26th June), helping to support better health and profitability within the sector.
The expansion to the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway provides farmers a more comprehensive understanding of livestock health on farms with many groups of animals, whether mixed holdings or larger farms with many groups of a single species.
Since funded vet visits began in 2023 there have been more than 8,000 visits benefiting hundreds of thousands of animals, with over 95% of farmers saying that they have or will take action based on the advice of their vet. The strong uptake and implementation of the advice supports increased disease resilience meaning healthier animals and greater food security which in turn will boost farmers profits. In simple terms healthier, happier cows produce more milk.
The application is quick taking less than 90 seconds to apply and less than 3 minutes to claim for the funding.
Daniel Zeichner, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, said:
Increased disease resilience means healthier animals and greater food security, boosting farmers profits.
The vet visit roll-out gives eligible farmers access to tailored support to each herd or flock. It is one step in the Government’s plan to protect rural livelihoods, tackle disease and safeguard high welfare standards across our food chain.
Bryan and Liz Griffiths, Livestock farmers in North Devon, said:
We have received government supported vet visits since the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway began. These have allowed us to focus on issues specific to our farm as well as the set program.
Going forward the new multi-flock and herd option along with the multi-species option will allow funding for a review and follow up for each flock and species on the farm, all through one agreement, which is great.
Keepers of beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep or pigs, can all apply for a vet of their choice to assess all their herds and flocks along with an optional, funded, follow-up assessment.
Visits will be able to support monitoring and treatment of diseases including conditions Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in pigs, and worming resistance in sheep.
A new consultation has been launched seeking the public’s views on the licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues in Aberdeen.
The Council’s Licensing Committee resolved on 3 December 2019 to licence Sexual Entertainment Venues. The existing Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy was approved on 14th December 2021 and became effective from 1st March 2022.
Members of the committee are looking to undertake a formal review of the policy to establish whether it remains fit for purpose and to ensure details such as the numerical limit of premises remain at the appropriate level.
Committee convener Councillor Gill Al-Samarai: “It is almost three years since our existing policy was introduced and we are encouraging interested parties to make their views known as to whether or not it requires amending.
“In developing the current licensing policy, we took care to balance the freedom of individuals to engage in legal employment and activities with the right to exercise appropriate control and regulation to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of the staff and patrons. The same approach will underpin our consultation and any changes that need to be made to further ensure public safety.”
There are currently six licensed Sexual Entertainment Venues in Aberdeen city centre, although it is thought that one of the premises is not currently operating as a Sexual Entertainment Venue and another of the premises is currently up for sale.
It was previously decided that there should be zero licenced Sexual Entertainment Venues outwith Aberdeen city centre, as locations outside the city centre were deemed not suitable for the licensable activity.
The committee is seeking views on: • the appropriate number of Sexual Entertainment Venues in Aberdeen city centre; • whether the number of Sexual Entertainment Venue premises outwith Aberdeen city centre should remain at zero; and • what matters should be taken into consideration in any amendments of the existing policy. Premises are classed as a Sexual Entertainment Venue if: • sexual entertainment is provided before a live audience for the direct or indirect financial benefit of the organiser; • sexual entertainment is any live performance or live display of nudity provided for the sole or principal purpose of sexual stimulation of members of the audience. Premises where sexual entertainment is provided on no more than four occasions in a 12-month period are not to be treated as Sexual Entertainment Venues.
Norwich City Council is inviting residents to take part in a series of local engagement events this summer, as councils seek views on the future of local government in Norfolk.
The Government is reducing the number of councils and bring services together to be provided by new ‘unitary councils’ (also known as unitary authorities), instead of by existing borough, city, district and county councils.
All Norfolk councils have been asked to send in their proposals for what the future of service delivery could look like. If areas can’t agree a proposal for the future, the Government has said it will pass a law to proceed with its own proposal.
Engagement events in Norwich
The Norwich events, running from 1 to 19 July in all wards of the city, are part of a collaborative effort between six local authorities to explore how local services can be delivered more effectively, efficiently, and closer to the communities they serve.
Residents are encouraged to attend their local ward event to learn more, ask questions, and share their views. Each event will be hosted by council representatives and will offer an opportunity to discuss what matters most to local people—from housing and transport to community services and the environment.
Event details:
Events will take place in locations across Norwich.
Tuesday 1 July – Crome Ward Witard Road shops, Heartsease, NR7 9XD 2 to 5pm
Wednesday 2 July – Town Close Ward Outside Bread and Roses Café, Vauxhall Street, NR2 2AA 10am to midday
Thursday 3 July – University Ward Enfield Road playground, NR5 8LE 2:30 to 4:30pm
Friday 4 July – Mancroft Ward
Outside the Forum, Millennium Plain, NR2 1TF 11:30am to 4pm
Monday 7 July – Lakenham Ward Jubilee Park, Long John Hill, NR1 2EX 3 to 6pm
Tuesday 8 July – Nelson Ward Heigham Park, The Avenues, NR2 3JF 1:30 to 4:30pm
Wednesday 9 July – Bowthorpe Ward Outside Roys of Bowthorpe, Wendene, NR5 9HA 11am to 1:30pm
Thursday 10 July – Thorpe Hamlet Ward St. Matthew’s Church, Telegraph Lane West, NR1 4JA 3:30 to 6pm
Monday 14 July – Wensum Ward West End Street Gardens, NR2 4NA 3pm to 5:30pm
Tuesday 15 July – Sewell Ward Sewell Park, St. Clement’s Hill, NR3 4BX 3 to 6pm
Wednesday 16 July – Eaton Ward Waitrose, Church Lane, NR4 6NU 2 to 4pm
Thursday 17 July – Catton Grove Ward Catton Grove Community Centre, Jewson Road, NR3 3RQ 11am to 2pm
Saturday 19 July – Mile Cross Ward The Phoenix Centre, Mile Cross Road, NR3 2LD 11:am to 4pm
Have your say:
Residents can also read more about the proposals and take part in the consultation online at: https://futurenorfolk.com
A new messaging service aimed at collecting debt more efficiently and ethically has been launched by Derby City Council.
A key feature of the messaging service is its integration with an advanced AI-powered dashboard, which gathers and analyses information from across Council systems.
The dashboard gives staff a detailed view of outstanding debt, allowing the Council to examine individual cases and identify where it needs to offer support to minimise debt, and maximise income collection.
From 26 June, businesses in the city who don’t pay their business rates by Direct Debit can expect timely emails to remind them of upcoming payments and when instalments are overdue.
This proactive approach aims to help businesses avoid arrears and potential costly recovery actions.
Similar messaging services for Council Tax payers and sundry debtors are also set to launch shortly and are the latest applications in the Council’s pioneering AI programme.
Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, Cabinet Member for Digital and Organisational Transformation at Derby City Council said:
At a time when every penny counts, it’s more important than ever that the Council manages its limited finances responsibly.
This new service, supported by advanced technology, gives us a much more detailed view of individual cases. It means we can take a more tailored and compassionate approach to debt collection — ensuring support is targeted where it’s needed most, while still being fair and effective.
It’s a great example of how smart use of technology can benefit the Council, city businesses and our residents.
The Council has a legal duty and responsibility to Derby’s citizens to ensure that outstanding debt is paid promptly and in line with relevant legislation, best practice, and ethical collection methods.
In February 2024, Cabinet approved a revised debt management policy. This provides a framework for the Council to manage its debt while ensuring that customers receive appropriate assistance, guidance and support, and that mutually agreed repayment arrangements are affordable and sustainable.
Details on all payment methods, how to set up Direct Debits and paperless billing, can be found on the Council’s website.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Public consultation opens into Port Clarence Landfill
The Environment Agency has opened a public consultation relating to Augean North Ltd’s revised environmental safety case.
A public consultation has opened into a new environmental safety case (ESC) submitted by Augean North Ltd related to its environmental permit application in Teesside.
Augean has applied for permission to dispose of low-level radioactive waste at its Port Clarence Landfill site in Teesside.
This site has two existing permitted landfills: one for hazardous waste and one for non-hazardous waste. The application seeks to allow low-level radioactive waste disposal in both.
Augean submitted its application on 14 August 2019. Following a public consultation, which ended in January 2020, the Environment Agency reviewed the environmental safety case that supported its application.
An ESC is a comprehensive document that demonstrates how an operator plans to ensure environmental safety.
In September 2020, the Environment Agency requested more information from the operator, and in response to this request, Augean has now submitted a revised ESC and a document that addresses each of the Environment Agency requests in detail.
Agency ‘welcomes people’s comments’
The Environment Agency has opened a public consultation, which will close on 4 August 2025.
Gary Wallace, area environment manager at the Environment Agency, said:
It’s important the community has the opportunity to review the revised environmental safety case, which has changed significantly since the original public consultation.
We welcome people’s comments on the new information received and relevant environmental factors people feel are important.
Our technical assessment is ongoing and once we have reviewed the documents and information from the consultation we will make a draft decision on the application.
The revised ESC is a large document, with the most significant changes below:
a more detailed assessment of the potential evolution of the coastline and Tees Estuary and the impacts this may have on the landfill
a more detailed assessment of the potential for flooding of the site due to extreme weather conditions/storm surge, or as a result of future climate change
new and revised scenarios for assessing impacts to humans and the environment from the waste following closure of the landfill
demonstration that the Port Clarence Landfill provides an optimised approach for the disposal of all low-level streams covered by the permit application
additional information on the proposed environmental monitoring programme
Environmental permits set out strict legal conditions with which an operator must comply in order to protect people and the environment. Should an environmental permit be issued, the Environment Agency has responsibility for enforcing its conditions.
The Environment Agency’s powers include enforcement notices, suspension and revocation of permits, fines and ultimately criminal sanctions, including prosecution.
The Environment Agency may only refuse a permit if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have a significant impact on the environment or harm human health. If all the requirements are met, we are legally required to issue a permit.
Consultation responses
Responses to the consultation can be made electronically.
Those unable to view the documents or make representation via the consultation website or by e-mail should contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506.
Police and emergency services are currently at the scene of serious crash where a pedestrian has been struck by a car on Thirteenth Street at Gawler South.
Major Crash investigators and Barossa detectives are making their way to the scene.
Thirteenth Street is closed to all traffic between Fourteenth Street and Sixteenth Street. Please avoid the area.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Cases of Salmonella and Campylobacter highest in a decade
Both Campylobacter and Salmonella cases show a 17.1% increase from 2023 to 2024.
The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) annual data shows a significant rise in Campylobacter and Salmonella infections in England compared to the previous year. UKHSA is reminding people to take precautionary measures against catching these bacteria, which are common causes of food poisoning. Young children, elderly adults and those with weakened immune systems should take extra care as they are at higher risk of developing severe illness.
Campylobacter cases have increased by 17.1% from 60,055 in 2023 to 70,352 in 2024, reaching 121.9 reports per 100,000 population. This represents the highest number of cases recorded in the past decade. Adults aged 50 to 79 years account for 44% of all reports. Similarly, Salmonella infections reached a decade high, with a 17.1% increase from 2023, rising from 8,872 cases in 2023 to 10,388 cases in 2024. Children under 10 years old were particularly affected, accounting for 21.5% of cases.
Campylobacter and Salmonella infections are usually caught by eating contaminated food, including poultry, meat, eggs, raw fruit or vegetables, and unpasteurised milk products. Infection may also occur through close contact with people with the infection – particularly in household settings – and by cross-contamination in the kitchen, for example when utensils are used for both cooked and uncooked foods.
UKHSA and Food Standard Agency (FSA) experts are investigating further with partner agencies to understand the reasons behind this increase in Salmonella and Campylobacter cases.
Cases of the parasite Cryptosporidium decreased by 16.4% compared to 2023, with 5,708 cases reported in 2024, although this was the second highest number of cases reported in the past decade. The number of infections in April 2024 were unusually high, associated with large outbreaks linked to lambing events and petting farm venues, and an outbreak in South Devon associated with mains water.
The 2023 data for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) shows a slight decrease of 2.2% compared to 2022 overall. The higher rate in 2022 was likely explained by a large STEC O157 outbreak. In 2023, even if the overall number of STEC cases decreased slightly, the number of STEC non-O157 cases increased by 14% (from 1,988 cases in 2022 to 2,260 cases in 2023). This was likely attributable to an increase in the number of diagnostic laboratories using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in recent years, which lead to a significant increase in the detection of non-O157 STEC in England.
Both Cryptosporidium and STEC can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with animals or their environments, contact with faeces (such as, during nappy changing), consumption or handling of contaminated food or water, and person-to-person contact.
All these gastrointestinal infections can cause similar symptoms, including diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), stomach pains and cramps, vomiting and mild fever. Whilst most people recover within one to two weeks of infection, young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems face higher risks of developing serious illness or complications. In severe cases, STEC can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a serious and potentially life-threatening condition primarily affecting the kidneys.
Dr Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director, Gastrointestinal infections at UKHSA said:
Our extensive surveillance is showing high levels of gastrointestinal infections in England. We continue to work closely with partners to detect, investigate and halt the spread of infections.
These infections spread in many ways, including through contaminated food or water, contact with an infected person as well as contact with an infected animal or their environment. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet or handling raw meat, before meals and after contact with animals or farms can prevent infections. Additionally, anyone experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting should avoid handling or preparing food for others. Do not return to work, and children should not attend school or nursery, until at least 48 hours after symptoms have subsided.
Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the FSA, said:
Public safety is our highest priority. The FSA works closely with UKHSA and other partners to monitor and assess the latest foodborne disease data. We are working together to understand the reasons behind the rise in Campylobacter and Salmonella cases, as well as trends in other pathogens. This analysis will help us take the necessary action to protect public health.
We’ve launched a new campaign to help people stay safe – find out more on food.gov.uk. We’re also working with industry and local authorities to support businesses to meet their legal responsibility to make sure food is safe. Consumers can further protect themselves by checking Food Hygiene Ratings on food.gov.uk.
When preparing food at home, people can reduce their risk of food poisoning by following good hygiene practices and by following advice on the 4Cs of food hygiene: chilling, cleaning, cooking, and avoiding cross-contamination.
Following good food hygiene and the 4Cs when preparing food can help protect you and others from food poisoning:
cook food correctly by following the guidance on time and temperature on product labels
clean food equipment and surfaces thoroughly, this helps to stop harmful bacteria and viruses from spreading onto food
avoid cross-contamination which might lead to bacteria passing from raw foods to ready-to-eat foods via things like re-usable shopping bags, knives and chopping boards, cloths and work surfaces
use food and drink by the ‘use by’ date on the label, even if it looks and smells fine – eating food after this date could put your health at risk as you can not smell or taste bacteria which make you ill
good personal hygiene is essential when you’re preparing food, this will help ensure that bacteria you may have come into contact with isn’t passed to your friends, family and neighbours in their food
Funding of over £4 million to establish new secure care houses has been announced by the Scottish Government.
The funding will allow for restored capacity and enable a different approach to be developed to ensure children with the greatest need are able to access intensive support. Additionally, this investment will support the creation of three four-bed secure houses, as well as a further four-bed contingency resource.
There are currently 82 contracted secure places provided by four independent charitable organisations in Scotland – Rossie, Good Shepherd Centre, Kibble and St. Mary’s Kenmure.
Children’s Minister Natalie Don-Innes said:
“It is imperative that we continuously improve how we care for those children who have the greatest need of support. We also need to address the challenges currently facing the secure care system, and this funding will ensure that both these aims can be met.
“Scotland is rightly proud of our unique, welfare based and focused approach to care and justice for children and young people. We want to build on that tradition and the current strengths of the system, while embracing a future vision for change as set out in the ‘Reimagining Secure Care’ report. And with that change, it is important that we maintain a resolute focus in ensuring that children and young people’s needs and rights remain at the heart of this process.”
Background
This follows the publication of the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice’s (CYCJ) report on ‘Reimagining Secure Care’ which outlines a transformative vision for the future of secure care, and broader children’s care, in Scotland. The Scottish Government has responded to this report.
More than 18% of the contracted beds are not available from the independent charities offering them. This is due to various factors, including reduced capacity at St Mary’s Kenmure, the complexity of individual children’s needs which requires additional staffing and an increase in the average length of stay for those children sentence and remanded to secure care.
The Scottish Government has increased the number of available beds in secure care by four since April 2025 to support restoring capacity. This funding will further strengthen capacity for the future.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has approved a new plan to help more adults gain the skills they need to find and stay in work.
The new Adult Skills and Employment Framework was considered by the council’s cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday 24 June.
The plan aims to raise skill levels across the city and support more residents into better jobs by working closely with partners in education, training and employment.
It will help make sure more people can take advantage of local job opportunities and contribute to a growing city economy. It also supports the council’s wider aim to improve residents’ health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Alongside consulting a broad range of organisations, the council has worked with partners including the Chamber of Commerce, Staffordshire Providers Group and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to shape the framework. This joint approach ensures the plan reflects local needs and builds on what is already in place.
A new Local Skills and Employment Partnership will also be set up to lead the work, helping partners to stay joined-up and focused on long-term improvements.
Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “There is so much untapped potential in our city and by creating more opportunities for residents to enhance and improve their skills, we will help more people thrive in the workplace and social life.
“Supporting people to gain the knowledge and experience they need to secure good jobs will not only improve their quality of life, but also help them build a more secure future. Working with partners across different sectors and types of institutions is crucial to this, as it will mean everyone can make the most of the opportunities available to them in Stoke-on-Trent.
“Together, we will ensure the building of a bigger and better economy, as well as improving the overall wellbeing of the population.”
Over the course of seven weeks, Kyle put himself in the shoes of a trainee in order to understand the diverse range of information they might need.
Hundreds of Aberdeen sail trainees embarking on the adventure of a lifetime as part in the Tall Ships Races 2025 don’t know it but they are successfully navigating the event thanks to a helping hand from University student Kyle Buchan.
The third year Business Management and Geography student was tasked with collating the official Sail Trainee Handbook when he took on the job of Tall Ships Project Intern with Aberdeen City Council earlier this year.
Over the course of seven weeks, Kyle put himself in the shoes of a trainee in order to understand the diverse range of information they might need.
“It has been a great project to work on,” said the 20-year-old. “The opportunity to be a sail trainee was open to people of all backgrounds aged between 15 and 25 living in the AB postcode.
“That meant across the 230-strong group of trainees there was a really wide range of experience, confidence and, for some, the need to also provide information and reassurance for parents too.”
The resulting 3,500-word handbook being issued to the trainees contains a list of frequently asked questions, travel arrangements for those arriving from France or taking part in the Norwegian leg, information on the ships they will be sailing on, the itinerary for the days at sea, what to expect when they dock in each port, events in each host city – and much, much more.
This is such a big event for the city and I wanted to play a part in it. I’m really proud to have been involved in producing the handbook and hope the trainees find it as useful as we designed it to be.” Kyle Buchan, third year Business Management and Geography student
“We wanted to make sure we’d answered all the questions people might have so they could focus on enjoying the experience,” said Kyle.
“That meant not just working with people across the Council, I had to liaise with teams in Kristiansand and Dunkirk to find out what would be happening when the Ships arrived in their ports, the arrangements in place for the trainees and activities they can take part in while there.
“This is such a big event for the city and I wanted to play a part in it. I’m really proud to have been involved in producing the handbook and hope the trainees find it as useful as we designed it to be.”
Since completing his internship Kyle also volunteered his time at several of the supporting events taking place in the run up to the Tall Ships arrival.
“There’s a real buzz around the city and I’m looking forward to seeing the ships arrive and enjoying all the activities at the quayside knowing I’ve played a small part in making it happen.”
On top of her day job with NHS Grampian and undertaking a PhD at the University looking at stress and recovery in doctors, Leia (right) works with Enhanced Care Services, a leading provider of event medical services at events across the UK
Locum Emergency Medicine consultant Dr Leia Kane will be part of a crack team of medics on stand-by to deal with any mishaps involving the 400,000 plus visitors attending this summer’s Tall Ships Races Aberdeen.
On top of her day job with NHS Grampian and undertaking a PhD at the University looking at stress and recovery in doctors, Leia works with Enhanced Care Services, a leading provider of event medical services which provides medical and first aid staff at a wide range of events across the UK.
She will be part of the team manning a quayside field hospital during the Tall Ships, offering on-site medical assistance for everything from cuts and blisters through to resuscitation and critical care.
“We’ve provided support at all sorts of events, from Wimbledon to the Hackney Half Marathon,” explained Leia. “The team includes senior doctors, emergency medicine nurses, paramedics and many other health care professionals from all over the country – people who offer the skills they have in their day jobs to help at big public events.
“We only work together like this for maybe half a dozen days across the year but everyone is a specialist in what they do and, once we’re on an event site together, the professional bonds kick in and we’re absolutely ready for anything.”
We only work together like this for maybe half a dozen days across the year but everyone is a specialist in what they do and, once we’re on an event site together, the professional bonds kick in and we’re absolutely ready for anything.” Locum emergency medicine consultant Dr Leia Kane
With more than 400,000 visitors expected to attend the events across its duration, organisers are expecting an additional requirement for medical care across the local population and are prepped to deal with all eventualities.
“Different events come with different requirements but we are equipped to deal with almost anything,” added Leia. “The Half Marathon saw us dealing with a lot of people who were struggling with the warm weather, they were over-heating and collapsing.
“Ironman Wales in comparison was totally different, with lots of people in the water or experiencing bike crashes. From a professional perspective, it’s an opportunity to test out different skills while remaining on alert to deal with the unexpected.
“Should we need to, we also have dedicated pathways to get people to the right place within the NHS Grampian system without delay.”
While technically on duty, Leia and her teammates still hope to be able to enjoy being part of the once in a generation event for the city: “The Tall Ships is an incredible event and I can’t wait to be part of it. The buzz of all these people coming to Aberdeen just to have a really good time is fantastic. There’ll be so much going on and we’ll be there for the full four days so I’m looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere.”
It is believed that the project might mark the first ever carbon footprint report for a Tall Ships event, and the output by the team could even set the benchmark for future events.
A student intern is making waves in the maritime sustainability sector by helping calculate the carbon footprint of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen.
MSc Sustainability Transitions student Rodney Ekow Keelson is part of a team tasked with figuring out the impact of the Tall Ships Races when the event sails into Aberdeen in July.
Working with the Tall Ships team, the 23-year-old is currently assessing different methods of gathering data to determine which will deliver the greatest depth of results.
“The challenge lies in determining the most effective way to gather a large volume of data during the event setup, throughout the four days of the Tall Ships event, and during the post-event breakdown.
“We need to take a range of factors into account, including energy consumption, ship emissions, and the impact of quayside concerts. The most complex and potentially most significant area is understanding how people will travel to the event. We will also need to carefully assess which data we can feasibly collect within the limited time available.
“Visitors will be making their way to Aberdeen from neighbouring towns, cities and further afield in cars, buses, trains, planes – and ships.
“A lot of work will go into evaluating the best channels for us to get the information we need.”
I’ve never been involved in anything like the Tall Ships or an event of this scale but carbon accounting is a really interesting field and this is great experience.” MSc Sustainability Transitions student Rodney Ekow Keelson
Rodney is currently on the MSc Sustainability Transitions programme, designed to train the future generation of innovators and thinkers who have the passion and ambition to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and become true sustainability leaders which the world needs.
It is believed that the project might mark the first ever carbon footprint report for a Tall Ships event, and the output by the team could even set the benchmark for future events.
“Aberdeen has lots of pioneering green projects and the city’s port wants to become the UK’s first net zero port by 2040. This project really demonstrates the city’s commitment to sustainability and I’m excited to be part of it,” added Rodney, who studied Economics as an undergraduate.
“I’ve never been involved in anything like the Tall Ships or an event of this scale but carbon accounting is a really interesting field and this is great experience.”
Dr Piotr Niewiadomski, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and MSc Sustainability Transitions Programme Director, said: “I’m truly delighted that one of our MSc Sustainability Transitions students has a chance to work with the Tall Ships team and make an important contribution to such a challenging task. Not only does it reflect Rodney’s individual ambitions and capabilities, but it also demonstrates the value of our MSc degree which trains future sustainability experts who will be in a position to lead the sustainability and net zero agenda in many different sectors.”
The project will run until September 2025.
Six years ago Morven journeyed from Aalborg, Denmark to Fredrikstad in Norway on the Lord Nelson
Postgraduate psychological studies student Morven Reddy is no stranger to the Tall Ships Races. This summer she’ll be setting sail as a sail trainee, racing from Dunkirk in France to her home city of Aberdeen.
But it’s not the first time at sea for Morven, who first took part in the Tall Ships Races in 2019 at just 17 years old.
Six years ago she journeyed from Aalborg, Denmark to Fredrikstad in Norway on the Lord Nelson.
Morven explains: “I loved doing Tall Ships in 2019. It was an experience like no other with people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds coming together to race a variety of unique vessels.
“I originally found out about the Tall Ships Races when I was seeking sailing experience as it was a childhood dream of mine to join the Royal Navy. I knew from the moment I disembarked the Lord Nelson that it was something I would love to do again if I ever had the chance.
“In 2021, when I was finishing my sixth year exams I was diagnosed with a blood cancer, which prevents me from joining the Royal Navy, but I promised myself that when I finished chemotherapy I would find other ways to get out onto the ocean and hopefully do the Tall Ships Race again.
“When I first saw the Aberdeenshire Council adverts for applying to become a sail trainee this year, I applied without a second thought and I am so grateful I was one of the 200 odd that were chosen to participate.”
This summer Morven will be onboard the 54 metre A Class Gulden Leeuw in a race expected to take six days, a prospect about which she says she is “beyond excited”.
She continues: “I am looking forward to sailing on the Gulden Leeuw as she is one of the world’s largest three-mast-topsail schooners and was used as training ship for a Danish nautical college which means she will be a great vessel for racing on.
“I am very excited and proud to be sailing into my hometown of Aberdeen. I am looking forward to being able to wave at my family and friends in the crowd as we sail in.
The opportunity to participate in the Tall Ships Race 2025 is so unique that I know will help develop skills that I can use in every aspect of my life.” Postgraduate psychological studies student Morven Reddy
“The training has gone well so far. I am lucky, having previously experienced a Tall Ships Race and have previous sailing experience, that I know what to expect which has been good to reassure some of my crewmates as many have never sailed before.
“When we dock in Aberdeen I am looking forward to participating in the crew parade and competitions as they are always really fun and a great way to end such a special adventure. There will also be the prize giving ceremony as this event is a race to see who can go from Dunkirk to Aberdeen the fastest within each size category.”
Having competed in the races before, Morven has a bit of a head start and knows what to expect. And while there was time to take in the unique setting on her last journey, Morven says it certainly wasn’t a pleasure cruise.
“We do four-hour watches, so you’re on for four hours and then off for four hours which takes some getting used to. The worst one was midnight to 4am. You are assigned to a group and you have a Watch Master who oversees you.
“Some watches you could be prepping food and setting tables for mealtimes, or you could be up on deck tidying ropes and putting stuff away. There might be things happening with the sails – it really depended what watches you’re on.
“You might be on deck with whoever is at the helm, steering the boat and you’re basically watching all angles to make sure there aren’t any hazards around about you – such as other vessels or fishing lines. The weirdest story I heard was when someone came across a sofa floating in the middle of the ocean that they had to avoid!
“At one point we were alongside submarines. They weren’t on the radar and we didn’t even know what country they belonged to!”
With the countdown on, Morven is raring to go and make her second Tall Ships race another unforgettable experience.
“The opportunity to participate in the Tall Ships Race 2025 is so unique that I know will help develop skills that I can use in every aspect of my life. Sailing in a race on any vessel, but even more so on a big ship like the Gulden Leeuw, requires discipline, teamwork, open and effective communication, constant problem-solving skills, comradery and organisation.
“As I discovered in 2019, this is truly a life changing experience which will allow people to see their true potential whilst building some amazing friendships. I met some amazing people in 2019 from all sorts of different backgrounds and I am still in touch with some of them today. It’s so unique it’s hard to put into words, but I am incredibly excited and grateful that I get the opportunity to do it again.”
