Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : David Dinsmore to leave role as Permanent Secretary for Government Communications [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 26 August 2026.

David Dinsmore will stand down as the Permanent Secretary, Director of Communications, by mutual agreement on 30 September.

David was appointed to lead a major programme of reform across government communications. During his tenure a wide-ranging Government Communications strategy was developed and a Strategy Unit established alongside the Government Media Unit. The foundations have been laid for the next phase of implementation.

Following the change of Prime Minister and administration, David and the First Secretary of State have agreed that this is an appropriate point to hand over leadership of the programme.

David Dinsmore, Permanent Secretary, Director of Communications, said:

It has been an enormous privilege to serve at the heart of government at this crucial time for our country. Over the past months we have fundamentally reshaped the way government approaches communications, establishing a clear strategy and creating the Government Media Unit to make the impact of government highly visible to citizens and stakeholders.

Government communications is now moving from strategic design into implementation and I leave with great confidence in the outstanding civil servants who will take that work forward.

I have also been privileged to work with outstanding Permanent Secretaries across government and experience real change in action day after day.

I will always be grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the vital modernisation of how government communicates to its citizens, its stakeholders and the wider global audience.

Dame Antonia Romeo, Cabinet Secretary said:

In a short period, David has done a brilliant job establishing the strategy, structures and capabilities required for lasting change in government communications. I am grateful for his leadership, support and professionalism, as well as his collaboration on the permanent secretary group.

27/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK backs Somalia’s path to security and political progress [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 August 2026.

Minister for Development and Africa Kirsty McNeill MP visits Somalia, discussing political and security priorities and seeing how UK support is helping people affected by drought and food insecurity.

The UK has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Somalia during the first visit to the country by the minister for Development and Africa, Kirsty McNeill MP.

During her visit, the minister met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and discussed Somalia’s political and security priorities and the need for progress towards a credible and sustainable transition to Somali-led security.

The minister encouraged leaders from across Somalia to engage in constructive dialogue that strengthens national unity, advances political progress and helps build consensus on Somalia’s future, underlining that continued progress on political dialogue and a security transition will be critical to maintaining international confidence and support.

The minister reaffirmed that the UK remains a committed partner to Somalia, working alongside Somali leaders and communities in support of a more stable, secure and prosperous future for the Somali people.

They also discussed Somalia’s humanitarian challenges and the importance of building greater resilience to future shocks. Last year, the UK reached more than 950,000 people with humanitarian and climate resilience support.

Visiting a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Mogadishu, the minister saw first-hand how UK support is reaching people affected by drought and food insecurity. She heard how the UK is working with the Federal Government of Somalia, UN and civil society partners to strengthen systems, deliver lifesaving support and help communities build their resilience, with a particular focus on women and girls.

The minister also met leaders from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), recognising the efforts and sacrifices of Somali Security Forces and African Union troops in supporting Somalia’s security objectives.

The UK stands ready to provide further support for Somali forces through UNSOS, which plays a vital role in sustaining Somalia’s hard-won security gains against al-Shabaab. Progress on political dialogue between all Somali leaders and on plans for Somalia’s security transition will be important in confirming future support.

Our existing support to UNSOS provides essential non-lethal assistance, including food rations, tents, medical supplies and casualty evacuation.

The UK remains a committed partner to Somalia, working with the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union, United Nations, civil society and other partners.

27/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : World-first crackdown to restrict offenders’ freedom and give it back to victims [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 August 2026.

Serious sexual and violent offenders could be confined to areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison under a world-first crackdown, launching in October to give victims greater freedom.
- Dangerous offenders could be confined to small areas just a few miles wide
- Scheme to curb offenders’ freedom while giving victims greater peace of mind
- Victims will have a say in setting boundaries, helping them live without fear
- GPS tagging to track offenders’ movements, with the risk of recall to prison
New “restriction zones” will allow probation services in England and Wales to severely limit where some of the most dangerous offenders can go for as long as they see fit – restricting their freedom while giving it back to victims.

The first measure of its kind anywhere in the world, the new restrictions have been directly shaped by the experiences and campaigning of victims, who will have a say in how individual zones are drawn up.

The new scheme is a more rigorous version of “exclusion zones”, which ban offenders from specific locations such as a victim’s home or place of work.

Offenders can instead be confined to a tightly defined area, giving victims greater freedom to travel without the fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with their offender.

Offenders subject to GPS monitoring can have their movements tracked around the clock, allowing probation to identify breaches and take swift action when the rules are broken – including recalling them to prison.

Probation officers will draw up zones which will put victims first, giving them the freedom to go about their daily lives without fear, but ensure offenders can still access vital appointments and services that help to reduce their chances of reoffending.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said:

No victim should fear the shadow of an abuser on their back.

That’s why we’re putting limits on dangerous offenders, confining them to tightly controlled areas and giving victims greater freedom to get on with their lives.

And with GPS technology helping probation keep track of offenders’ movements, those who step outside the boundaries can be quickly identified and face being sent back to prison.

It is simple: offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes, not their victims.

The zones can last for as long as they are needed to manage the risk posed by offenders on licence, with reviews taking place at least every three months.

Further details on eligibility will be announced in due course. The Government will work closely with victims’ groups and other stakeholders as this measure is rolled out to ensure it is operating as intended.

Hard-working probation staff play a vital role in keeping the public safe, that is why the government is investing £700 million in probation and community services by 2028/29.

This includes the biggest ever expansion of electronic monitoring and recruiting 1,300 new probation officers this year on top of the 2,300 recruited in the past two years, keeping serious offenders under closer watch and better protecting victims.

Public safety will always be the government’s priority. Last week, the Justice Secretary confirmed he was fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars, on top of murderers and those serving sentences for rape, serious child sexual abuse and grooming offences who are already blocked from any changes to their release dates.

This will include the faster deportation of foreign criminals, better use of the women’s estate and reviewing the unjust IPP sentences. He is expected to update Parliament in early September.
27/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : 10,000 work experience opportunities for young people as Sainsbury’s joins national drive to tackle youth unemployment [August 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 August 2026.

Thousands of young people across the UK will get the chance to gain work experience, build confidence and develop skills to help them get ready for work as Sainsbury’s launches a major new “Modern Work Experience Programme” designed to help more young people into employment.
- Sainsbury’s to offer around 10,000 work experience and skills opportunities to help young people gain experience, build confidence and prepare for work
- New programme launching from October will target schools with higher levels of free school meal uptake and communities where young people face some of the biggest barriers to work
- Latest major employer to deliver a major skills programme following Prime Minister’s education reforms to close the gap between the classroom and workplace
Thousands of young people across the UK will get the chance to gain work experience, build confidence and develop skills to help them get ready for work as Sainsbury’s launches a major new “Modern Work Experience Programme” designed to help more young people into employment.

Starting from October, Sainsbury’s will create around 10,000 work experience and skills opportunities over the next year through a new programme designed to reach young people who may otherwise struggle to access employer networks, work experience and career opportunities.

This follows the Prime Minister announcing a fundamental change to the education system last month, with the launch of new prestigious technical educational routes. The new pathways will provide 14-year-olds with valuable early access to technical skills, work experience and connections with local employers.

The Prime Minister is determined to put technical education on an equal footing with the traditional academic path and to ensure there are ‘no dead ends’ for young people coming out of the education system. Since the launch of his education reforms, the Government has been actively working with major employers to tackle youth unemployment by closing the gap between the classroom and the workplace, so every young person can see a clear route into work and a successful future.

Too often, access to work experience depends on who you know rather than what you can do. This has led to many young people leaving education without access to employers, workplace networks or a clear understanding of the opportunities available to them. At the same time, businesses are in desperate need for people with the skills and confidence to thrive in modern careers.

With over one million young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment, or training – around one in eight young people – the Prime Minister has made clear that tackling the NEETs crisis is a national priority. As one of the UK’s largest employers, with stores and more than 140,000 colleagues in communities across the country, Sainsbury’s is uniquely placed to open up routes into work for young people in every part of the UK.

The programme will be delivered across the UK, including England, Scotland and Wales. It will focus on areas where Sainsbury’s can deliver the greatest social impact, particularly within communities with a high proportion of schools offering free school meals, and young people not in employment, education or training, helping connect education with real-world opportunities.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

The youth unemployment crisis has been ignored for too long. This government is making it a top priority and bringing back hope.

Last month we announced a shake-up of the education system, with the launch of new prestigious technical educational routes. Now we’re bringing employers, schools and colleges together to close the gap between the classroom and the workplace.

It’s great to see Sainsbury’s stepping up with 10,000 opportunities to help young people build confidence, gain experience and get a foot in the door. I encourage more businesses across the country to do the same. Access to opportunity and work experience shouldn’t depend on who you know, it should be within reach for every young person wherever they live – and that’s what I’m determined to deliver.

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive, said:

Like so many of us, I started my working life at 16 and know first-hand how much getting that first job really matters. Few things matter more to us at Sainsbury’s than helping young people get on that first rung on the career ladder. With a quarter of our colleagues under 25, we see every day how much a first job can change lives.

Far too many young people are growing up in the UK today without access to meaningful work experience, often because they cannot find the right connections or network. With nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training, the scale of the challenge facing us has never been clearer.

Our new work experience programme will create around 10,000 opportunities over the next year, reaching the young people who need them most in communities right across the UK and helping them build the confidence, skills and experience to take their first step into work.

Young people will take part in workplace visits, careers sessions, practical work experience and sessions on CVs, interviews and applications – all designed to build confidence, improve communication skills and provide insight into careers across retail, logistics, food, technology and business.

The programme brings together a range of opportunities for different age groups. Younger students will receive a mix of school-based learning and workplace experience designed to introduce them to the world of work, while older young people will receive targeted support with CV writing, interview skills, job applications and career planning. Schools across the country are being encouraged to get involved from September by contacting The School Outreach Company, ahead of the programme starting in October.

Alongside this, Sainsbury’s will work with The Careers & Enterprise Company as well as other industry partners to test new approaches to modern work experience, helping develop a model that can be expanded across more stores and communities in the years ahead.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

I know from personal experience, that work experience is often the first taste of the world of work for a young person, and everyone should be able to access placements, regardless of their background or circumstances. With around one in eight young people not in education, employment or training, I’ve made tackling youth unemployment a top priority, by investing in skills training and mentoring. As one of the country’s largest employers, with hundreds of branches across London, it’s great to see Sainsbury’s stepping up and launching 10,000 work experience opportunities for young people. My first experience of work was in retail. Programmes like this are vital for breaking down the barriers to work and building skills and confidence to thrive, as we continue to build a better, more prosperous capital for everyone.

Alan Milburn said:

For too long work experience has been treated as an afterthought. Yet 6 in 10 young people who are NEET have never had a job.

Employers say lack of experience is the single biggest barrier to hiring young people – and young people say exactly the same. It’s a vicious cycle and it’s holding Britain back.

Sainsbury’s is helping break that cycle, reaching the communities where young people face the biggest barriers. It’s exactly the kind of practical action employers can take now, while we build the fuller response this problem demands.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said:

As the largest private sector employer, retail is a first step on the career ladder for thousands of people every year, building confidence, skills and experience that shapes their futures. Helping more young people be work ready and those who need help breaking out of the no-experience, no-job doom loop is critical to addressing the NEETs crisis. This great initiative is just the start as more retailers scale up the opportunities the industry can provide.

Today’s announcement from Sainsbury’s is one of the first major employer commitments since the Prime Minister unveiled reforms to expand technical education, work experience and routes into skilled work, following National Grid’s £5 million programme announced earlier this month to help 5000 young people into work.

Rather than designing new technical pathways from Westminster, the government will shape them around the industries driving growth in local communities supporting its mission to reindustrialise Britain and create opportunity in every part of the country.

The government will continue working with employers, schools, mayors, and local leaders to expand work experience, skills support and routes into work for young people.

Additional information
- Sainsbury’s will create around 10,000 work experience and employability opportunities, with activity beginning in October 2026.
- The programme combines Sainsbury’s own workplace scheme, KickStarter with a pilot delivered in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) and Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD). Together, they will help more young people access meaningful work experience and better understand the opportunities available to them:
KickStarter Explore (14–18 years) – A blend of in-school learning and practical work experience, co-designed with The School Outreach Company. The programme will help young people build confidence, develop workplace skills and discover the wide range of careers available at Sainsbury’s and the wider retail sector.

KickStarter Insights (16–24 years) – Regional employability workshops delivered by Sainsbury’s Early Careers team and specialist partner Aim a Little Higher. These sessions will help young people strengthen communication skills, prepare for interviews and applications and take their next step into work.

New work experience pilot – Alongside its own programme, Sainsbury’s is working with The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) and other employers to test new approaches to work experience for young people aged 14 to 18. The pilot will help develop a model that could be expanded across more Sainsbury’s stores from 2027, making it easier for young people to access meaningful work experience opportunities in their local communities.
26/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Hunger is not inevitable, but often results from choices that deny civilians food, aid, and essential services – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 August 2026.

Statement by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Food Security.

Eight years after the adoption of Resolution 2417, conflict remains a leading driver of acute food insecurity.

As we have heard, last year, for the first time this century, famine was declared simultaneously in two conflicts: Sudan and Gaza.

Extreme food insecurity persists in both.

These famines were man-made.

A reminder that hunger is not inevitable, but often results from choices that deny civilians food, aid, and essential services.

Children pay the highest price.

What is needed is clear: rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access; an end to attacks on food infrastructure; and, ultimately, an end to the conflicts that drive hunger.

President, the impact of conflict on food security is no longer confined to the battlefield in the traditional sense.

Conflict is also disrupting the global networks that move food, fuel, and fertiliser, with consequences felt far beyond.

Russia’s attacks on shipping, civilian vessels, and Black Sea ports have undermined one of the world’s most important grain export routes.

Ukraine was once the breadbasket of the world.

Today, Russia’s aggression continues to damage infrastructure that feeds millions beyond its borders.

Infrastructure essential to food production, transport, and distribution must be protected.

And we call on Russia to cease these attacks and comply with international humanitarian law.

Iran’s attacks and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have also disrupted supply chains and fertiliser markets.

As the Secretary-General warned yesterday, this means deeper hunger, weaker harvests, and greater suffering, especially for the most vulnerable.

We welcome progress under the Secretary-General’s Taskforce to address the implications for food security stemming from this crisis.

But we call on Iran to reopen the Strait, uphold freedom of navigation, and respect the primacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Both Iran and Russia have reduced grain exports, driving up global food prices.

Vulnerable and import-dependent countries will be hit hardest.

Conflict and disregard for international humanitarian law compound climate stress, debt, and other structural vulnerabilities.

And the strengthening El Niño makes coordinated action to build resilience and protect the most vulnerable even more urgent.

We call for full implementation of Resolution 2417.

It requires the Council to address both local crises and conflicts that threaten global food security.

We already have the tools to identify emerging famine risks, although we must protect and continue to use technology to strengthen them.

Early warnings must lead to early action.

Warnings must be acted on and violations must lead to accountability.

The UK remains committed to working with partners to strengthen early warning and accelerate emergency support, including pre-arranged disaster risk finance.

President, resolution 2417 provides the framework.

The Council has the tools.

We must turn early warning into early action, uphold international humanitarian law, and ensure accountability before hunger becomes famine.

25/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : The Ukrainian people should be in no doubt – the United Kingdom is behind you today, and for as long as it takes – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 August 2026.

Statement by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Today is Ukraine’s Independence Day.

A day to reaffirm the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the rights of her people to determine their own future, to celebrate the history, culture, and spirit of the Ukrainian people, and to reconfirm friendships and support.

First, on Ukraine’s sovereignty and freedom.

For over a decade, Russia has sought to deny Ukraine the rights to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and to determine her own future.

Through the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, then the full-scale invasion in 2022, and now through intensive attacks on civilians and essential services across Ukraine.

Over 17,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and 52,000 injured since February 2022, 437 killed and 2,610 injured in July alone.

The deadliest month in four years, as Russia has intensified her attacks, including hundreds of missiles and drones fired against Ukrainian cities.

One civilian every 15 minutes.

International humanitarian law must be respected.

Ukraine’s children in particular feel the impact. Since 2022, there have been over 3,900 Ukrainian child casualties.

Children have lost families and homes and have spent months sheltering underground.

Thousands of children have been forcibly deported.

On this day, we remember lives lost and lives upended.

And we remember the extraordinary strength Ukrainians have shown in defending their country, their freedom, and their right of self-determination.

Second on Ukraine’s rich culture

Mr President, as we join Ukraine in celebrating her history, culture, and spirit, Russia damages Ukraine’s cultural sites.

Including Kyiv’s historic Petrivka book market and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And in the temporarily occupied territories, Russia has eradicated Ukrainian-language education and forced residents to take Russian passports.

But Ukraine’s history and culture will not be destroyed, and her spirit will not be broken.

As His Majesty King Charles said in his message to President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, today is a day to “reflect upon Ukraine’s proud history, rich culture and indomitable national spirit”, and to honour the “extraordinary fortitude” that Ukrainians have shown in preserving the identity and values which define their nation.

Third on friendship and support

United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham is in Kyiv today.

His message to the people of Ukraine is that “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt, the United Kingdom is behind you today, and for as long as it takes.”

The United Kingdom will continue to stand with Ukraine as she exercises her lawful right to self-defence, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

We support Ukraine’s call for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire and a just and lasting peace. And we urge Russia to commit to the same.

Mr President, Ukraine’s future is for Ukrainians to decide.

Her language, culture, and history will not be erased by attacks or occupation or coercion.

Today, we celebrate Ukraine.

And we renew our support for her sovereignty and her freedoms.

Today and every day, for as long as it takes.

25/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : An end to the suffering in Sudan will only come through an humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive civilian-led political process [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 August 2026.

Statement by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

The war in Sudan has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Fighting has spread throughout Sudan, fuelled by arms supplies from within and beyond the region, funded, at least in part, by abduction for ransom and abuse of Sudan’s natural resources including gold, and exacerbated by massive use of drones

With 33 million people needing humanitarian assistance; gross violations of human rights; civilians targeted with attacks, torture and arbitrary detention; horrifying sexual violence; and deprivation of essential services.

An end to this suffering will only come through an humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive civilian-led political process to secure a sustainable peace.

Three issues need our support.

First, the choices of peace.

The United Kingdom welcomes and supports work to broker a humanitarian truce led by the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and UAE; work towards confidence-building measures by Envoy Haavisto; and work to build an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue as a foundation for a peaceful political transition led by the Quintet of international organisations.

But the choices needed to make peace in Sudan lie with the leaders, fighters, funders and fuellers of the war.

So we also urge Sudan’s warring parties to choose to engage with peace processes; those supplying, funding and fuelling the war to choose to stop; leaders and fighting forces to choose to meet their obligations to act in accordance with the laws of war, to enable humanitarian access, and to protect civilians – not attack, torture, maim and deprive them; and all those with influence, to choose to use it to press for peace.

Second, until the parties choose peace, we can help to protect civilians, to limit the flows of arms that fuel conflict, and to raise the cost to perpetrators of their actions.

By extending the sanctions regime to respond to the war as it is being fought, covering the areas where fighting is; drones; sexual violence; mercenaries.

And by reminding leaders of fighting forces and militias that new technology and new tactics do not change their fundamental obligations to comply with international humanitarian law.

Sudan has become a battlefield where restrictions are too often ignored and protections too often fail.

Our action to change that could mitigate the human suffering of the people trapped in these wars.

And these measures should form part of a broader strategy to use the tools we have to protect civilians, constrain conflict, and support mediation efforts towards peace.

Third, by supporting the humanitarian agencies working with people trapped in this war, and led by OCHA, thank you.

Humanitarian access continues to be obstructed by all parties to the conflict. With costs measured in lives: families starving, communities cut off from the support they need to survive, and humanitarian workers under fire.

We call on the parties to facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need.

The United Kingdom is supporting the people of Sudan with humanitarian assistance: $200m this year, to reach over 1.8 million people with food, nutrition, healthcare, clean water, and protection services.

And increasing support to Sudanese-led responders, who can reach communities that others cannot.

Pushing for protection, using our diplomacy to press for humanitarian access, an immediate truce, and a permanent ceasefire.

Backing peace: supporting mediation efforts and an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process.

Raising the cost of failing to protect civilians with UK sanctions on those committing atrocities, recruiting mercenaries, and conflict financing networks.

And pursuing accountability: targeting those responsible for atrocities and those who sustain this war; through work to document, verify and preserve evidence of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure; through the Coalition on Atrocity Prevention and Justice; and by supporting the UN Fact-Finding Mission, the Panel of Experts, and the International Criminal Court.

Mr President, the things that Sudanese civilians want: an end to war; safety for their families; access to food, healthcare and education; the chance to live free from violence; to see their children grow up into safety and prosperity.

These are the things that almost every human being wants.

They, and the people of Sudan, need to remain in international attention, and with international support to achieve them.

And the leaders, fighters, funders, and fuellers of this war need to choose peace.

25/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Barnsley residents to get practical AI training to help them find work and build future careers [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 25 August 2026.

Two new schemes will launch in Barnsley to help residents use AI in simple, practical ways – from applying for jobs to preparing for interviews.
- Two new schemes will launch in Barnsley to help residents use AI in simple, practical ways – from applying for jobs and preparing for interviews, to training for roles where digital and AI tools are becoming part of day-to-day work.
- AI Career Launchpad will offer flexible training and paid work placements with employers, while the Getting Job Ready with AI pilot will support jobseekers.
- Comes six months after Barnsley became the UK’s first Tech Town, showing how AI can create new opportunities, strengthen local services and support economic growth in every postcode.
Residents and jobseekers in Barnsley will be able to get practical support to use AI to find work, build confidence and train for future careers, under two new schemes announced today (Tuesday 25 August).

The schemes are designed to help people benefit from AI in two clear ways. One will support people who want to train for jobs linked to AI, while the other will help jobseekers use AI tools when applying for work – such as finding suitable roles, improving CVs and cover letters, practising interview questions and understanding how digital tools are already being used in many workplaces.

The AI Career Launchpad, a partnership with Barnsley College worth more than £400,000, will offer local people of all ages a faster, more flexible route into AI jobs. Learners will get six months of training linked to a Level 4 apprenticeship, plus paid placements so they can gain experience while they learn.

The roles could include jobs helping businesses use AI tools, supporting teams with data and digital systems, improving customer services, or finding better ways to use technology in day-to-day work.

Local businesses that sign up will benefit by getting early access to people training in AI, with government-funded placements helping them bring fresh skills into their teams. The programme will also help firms test how AI could save time, reduce admin, improve services and help them grow.

Once the programme has been completed, its curriculum will be made freely available so colleges and training providers elsewhere can adopt it, spreading the Barnsley model to communities across the country.

From September, jobseekers in Barnsley will also get hands-on support through the new Getting Job Ready with AI pilot. This will help people who are already comfortable using technology in everyday life but want more confidence using AI and digital tools when looking for work or preparing for the workplace.

Tailored support could include using AI to search for suitable roles, tailor CVs and cover letters, prepare for interviews and understand how employers are already using digital tools in day-to-day jobs. People will be referred onto the course through Jobcentre Plus.

The pilot forms part of a wider drive by the DWP to get more people into work and help them progress once there, including reforming jobcentres into a genuine, universal jobs and careers service and expanding work coach support.

Minister for Employment, Andrew Western, said:

Getting more people into good jobs is at the heart of this government’s plan to spread opportunity to every postcode.

In Barnsley, we’re testing how AI can support that ambition, helping jobseekers build the confidence and skills they need to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

This sits alongside the wider changes we’re making through jobcentres up and down the country, as well as investing £3.5 billion in tailored employment support to help people with health conditions and disabilities move into work. We’re also supporting young people into work through our £2.5 billion youth employment support package.

AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said:

AI is going to transform the world of work and our job is to make sure working people benefit from that change.

That starts with helping people understand how AI can be useful day to day – whether that means finding a job, learning new skills or building a career in a growing industry.

Barnsley is showing what this can look like in practice. As our first Tech Town, it is helping us find ways that can create opportunities for local people and support communities across the country.

Matt O’Neill, Barnsley Council’s Executive Director for Place, said:

Barnsley is proud to be the UK’s first Tech Town, and these new schemes are another important step in making sure local people can benefit from the opportunities that AI and digital technology can bring.

Our focus is on practical support that makes a real difference to residents’ lives – whether that’s helping someone build confidence to apply for work, supporting people to develop new skills, or giving local businesses access to the talent and ideas they need to grow and thrive as we’ve outlined in our Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy.

Tech Town is about using technology in ways that are inclusive, trusted and rooted in everyday life. By working with the government, Barnsley College, Jobcentre Plus and our local partners, we want to make sure residents, employers and communities across the borough are ready for the jobs and services of the future.

The learning from Barnsley will also help shape how other places across the country approach AI skills and adoption, showing how towns like ours can be a trailblazer and lead the way in creating opportunity and supporting inclusive economic growth.

David Akeroyd, Principal and CEO, Barnsley College, said:

The AI Career Launchpad opens up careers that have, until now, been concentrated elsewhere in the country. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of AI whilst undertaking paid placements, so they gain real experience that immediately translates into the workplace.

Barnsley’s Tech Town status has given us the opportunity to look closely at how AI can support our staff, students and wider community, and colleagues across the College have responded with curiosity, invention and a willingness to try things, alongside a clear sense of responsibility.

Our focus is on using AI well, not simply because it is there. That means helping people recognise where it adds value, without losing sight of the fact that human judgement and critical thinking remain essential. This investment lets us take that approach out of the College and into the wider Barnsley economy, so local people and employers benefit together.

The pilot will help jobseekers build confidence in the kinds of digital skills employers are increasingly looking for.

The news comes six months after Barnsley was named the UK’s first Tech Town, acting as the national trailblazer for how AI can improve everyday life. Since then a range of schemes empowering local people and businesses to take advantage of AI have been rolling out.

Amy Wilkinson, who works as a Marketing Manager for local firm Anderson Power Generation, went on the Build Your App In 10 Weeks course as part of Barnsley’s IgniteAI programme. She built a new HR system for the business which has completely streamlined their HR process, reducing the administrative burden and allowing more time to focus on productivity.

She said: “I’m living proof of the benefits of Barnsley being a Tech Town. I’ve been through the Build Your App In 10 Weeks programme with Enterprising Barnsley and IgniteAI, using the skills I learnt to build a new HR system for the business.

“It’s helped completely streamline our HR process, saving people time and effort on administrative processes to focus on being more productive. It’s worked so well we’re now looking to market this for other businesses to use. AI is enabling people to do things they didn’t think possible and to unlock economic potential.”

Meanwhile Barnsley College is supporting staff to build the skills, confidence and critical understanding needed to champion AI responsibly across education. For Matthew Sowerby, Tutorial Team Leader in the Digital and Creative Industries department, completing the Level 2 Introduction to AI course developed for Barnsley College staff has helped turn AI from something experimental into a practical tool for teaching, planning and student support.

Matthew said: “Before doing the course, I had dabbled with AI and used it a little bit in my work, but I didn’t properly know how to use it to the best of its ability.

“The main barrier I was facing was not getting the result I wanted. I would ask an AI system to do something, it would not give me what I needed, and I would end up doing it myself anyway. What the course helped me do was identify which tools were better for which tasks, and how to get the best out of them.”

“AI has helped me create individual lesson plans and differentiate them across Level 2, Level 3, Extended Diploma and T Level students. It’s sped things up, made things simpler and made things more interesting.”

Alongside the two new schemes announced today, an assessment launching in Autumn will look at how local charities, community groups and social enterprises currently are already using AI, and where further support could make the biggest difference.

Led by Adobe and Barnsley CVS, the findings will shape Adobe’s work in the area, including targeted training and a showcase event where organisations can see what support is available.

The schemes build on Barnsley’s Tech Town partnership between government, industry and local organisations, supported by companies including Cisco, Microsoft, Google and Adobe.

Lessons from Barnsley will inform how similar approaches could be used elsewhere as the government works to equip 10 million UK workers with AI skills by 2030, and deliver on the Prime Minister’s reforms to ensure every young person has a clear route into skilled work.

These efforts are continuing nationwide, and earlier this month the government announced the pilot of new AI skills summer bootcamps in North West England, ahead of a national rollout next year.

Background information
- Applications for the AI Career Launchpad will open this autumn, with the first group of learners due to begin in early 2027.
25/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Every care leaver to have someone in their corner after review [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 25 August 2026.

£25 million investment to help thousands more care leavers access homes with support and connection.

Thousands more young people leaving care will have people around them when they move into adulthood, as the government begins the national rollout of a strengthened housing programme backed by £25 million this year alone. The programme will grow high quality and innovative housing models that build connection around those leaving care.

It comes as a government-commissioned independent review into the early deaths of young people who left care is published today, led by author and broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste and social work leader Clare Chamberlain.

The review tells the stories of six young people who died between the ages of 18 and 24. Those who knew them describe them as devoted, bubbly, kind, and deeply loved. They were also, in the words of one young person quoted in the report, ‘on their own’.

Its central finding is that young people leaving care are profoundly isolated. Services often respond to a young person’s understandable wish for their own place, but independence can arrive with an unexpected loneliness and no one close enough to notice when things go wrong.

The report sets out three things that must change: how young people are prepared for adulthood, the sharp drop in help at age 18, and the skills of the workforce supporting them.

In response, government is driving forward the national rollout of connected housing options for those leaving care, starting with £25 million this year alone. This marks a major change that will make the Staying Close programme focused on expanding housing models akin to Shared Lives Plus, The House Project and Supported Lodgings to every part of the country. For young people, this will significantly increase their chances of being offered a home that provides them with community and connection rather than leaving them isolated in inappropriate accommodation.

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said:

Every one of these young lives mattered, and behind each of them lies a story of enormous loss – for their families, for their friends, and for the people who cared for them.

We owe it to these young people, and to every care experienced person, to change care so that we make enduring relationships the central obsession of the care system. Care must build and not break the relationships that young people need, and this must be the new north star.

I am incredibly grateful to Ashley and Clare for their work on this review. The tragic stories they have captured must galvanise us to make sure that no one leaving care is left isolated and alone. This will be a whole society effort, so I urge everyone to play their part.

Author and broadcaster Ashley John-Baptise said:

As a care experienced broadcaster, I’ve been privileged to cover many aspects of the care system. That said, nothing could have prepared me for the devastating stories we’ve come across whilst doing this work.

The lives of these care leavers mattered. I really hope our review shines a light on who they were, how they were failed and serves as a useful report to stir us all.

Social work leader, Clare Chamberlain said:

This review has reinforced what care leavers have told us for years: the state is no substitute for family. We need to do more to prevent the acute loneliness that the most vulnerable experience after leaving care

In 2025, 112 deaths of care leavers aged 18 to 24 were notified to the Department for Education. That is an estimated 130 per 100,000, around three to four times the rate for others the same age. Ashley and Clare were commissioned to undertake this review by the Children’s Minister after he identified repeated patterns in the reports of these early deaths.

Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, more public bodies will become corporate parents, meaning the NHS, jobcentres, prisons, and probation must weigh what care leavers need when they design services. New duties from 30 September require councils to publish how they will support care leavers into independent living, and from that date a care leaver can no longer be found intentionally homeless.

25/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : PM meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [August 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 August 2026.

The Prime Minister met the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Kyiv today following a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

The Prime Minister started by thanking President Zelenskyy for the warm welcome he had been given by the Ukrainian people on his first visit.

It had been an honest and productive conversation during the Coalition of the Willing, the leaders agreed, and it was clear the international community needed to step up and ensure Ukraine got the support it needed to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric attacks going into the winter.

The Prime Minister emphasised the strength of unity among coalition members and reiterated that there would be no change in the UK’s steadfast support.

That was further symbolised by the announcement that the UK had agreed that defence firm MBDA could release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, the Prime Minister said.

Turning to the economic situation, the leaders discussed the need to work with the insurance industry to support the resilience of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and businesses.

The leaders also welcomed the new AI partnership between the UK and Ukraine, which would bring opportunity and potential to revolutionise aspects of public life in both countries.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

25/08/2026