Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : New research ship to be built in Britain, boosting British shipbuilding and transforming UK ocean science [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for the Environment on 28 September 2026.

Government to invest in a new sea monitoring ship to be built in UK shipyards – creating British jobs.

A new government funded research ship, built in UK shipyards, will create jobs and help protect the nation’s climate, energy and food security. The government has committed to build this new vessel as part of its drive to reindustrialise the UK and support our shipyards.

The new ship will lead a new national system for monitoring the UK’s seas. It will bring together marine surveys, data and technology in one place, helping the nation manage fisheries and the marine environment more effectively.

At 85 metres long and able to accommodate more than 40 people, the vessel will carry out a wide range of scientific work. This includes assessing fish stocks, mapping the seabed, monitoring pollution, and responding quickly to marine incidents. It will use the latest technology, including automation, robotics and artificial intelligence, and will run on clean fuels, helping position the UK as a global leader in marine science while reducing environmental impact.

The UK’s seas contributed more than £200 billion to the economy in 2021. This investment reflects how important the marine environment is to the UK’s economy, security and long-term resilience.

The vessel will replace the RV Cefas Endeavour, which has supported UK marine science since 2003 and is due to retire in the early 2030s.

Defra Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Anjali Goswami said:

Science leadership and innovation are critical to informing the complex decision making necessary to balance the needs of people and nature, within a challenging context of economic, societal and environmental pressures.

By investing in a next-generation Research Vessel, we can continue to harness marine scientific understanding to make better decisions to safeguard our essential human needs: water, food and energy security.

Cefas CEO, Tim Green, said:

This once-in-a-generation investment is a significant moment for Cefas and UK marine science. This new vessel will give our scientists the capability to monitor and understand our changing seas, support sustainable fisheries and inform management decisions, and respond to growing marine challenges. 

For 125 years, Cefas has worked alongside coastal communities and the fishing industry from our main sites in Lowestoft and Weymouth to deliver world-leading marine science.

This investment will build on that proud heritage, create opportunities for the next generation and ensure that they have the tools to shape the future of our seas.

The new vessel is expected to be operational in 2031 or 2032, continuing over 125-years of world-leading UK marine research. Delivery of the vessel will be led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), which has laboratories in Lowestoft and Weymouth.

The government expects to engage with the UK shipbuilding sector in the coming months to plan the next stage of the procurement process. The vessel’s design will reflect the specialist scientific needs of the mission.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : More overseas firms enticed to buy British [September 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 September 2026.

Overseas buyers will be offered a new UK Export Finance loan guarantee to incentivise buying goods and services from British companies.
- The UK Export Finance pilot initiative, worth up to £5 billion, will help British exports gain a foothold to high-growth economies like Brazil, Morocco and Mexico, creating jobs and stimulating growth back home.
- This follows the Chancellor identifying ‘Backing Britain’ through procurement and jobs as one of his main priorities, to drive growth in every postcode and bring hope back to communities.
British businesses will have more opportunities to ramp up their exports overseas and bring jobs and growth to communities back home under new plans announced by the Chancellor.

A new UK Export Finance (UKEF) pilot product – Flexible Finance – will see select buyers who operate in fast growing economies like Brazil, Morocco and Mexico where British exports could be greater, access loans on more flexible terms to incentivise buying British.

Unlike UKEF’s existing guarantees, this product will give borrowers greater flexibility in how they use funding, while encouraging finance-seeking buyers to work with the UK by accessing UKEF support and choosing British suppliers. Alongside this, UKEF will engage with UK suppliers through matchmaking and procurement support.

UKEF guarantees – up to £5 billion-worth in total under this pilot – will cover up to 80% of a commercial loan for select overseas buyers. This widens access to finance for the foreign borrower and establishes a relationship with UKEF. UKEF will partner with the borrower to grow their imports of goods or services from British companies.

This follows the Chancellor identifying ‘Backing Britain’ through procurement and jobs as one of his main priorities, to drive growth in every postcode and bring hope back to communities.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP, said:

We’re backing British businesses to strike more deals overseas. Especially in countries which are growing fast but we don’t have a big British footprint.

This is a new approach and part of the argument I will make in my speech in Liverpool on Monday that we are backing British industry and British innovation; helping create more markets abroad and more> jobs at home.

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds said:

We believe in Britain’s ability to sell to the world, and that includes taking strides into new markets with all the opportunities they bring for the UK.

Through Flexible Finance we are not just sending out a message to other nations that they should buy British, we are laying the foundation for good growth and jobs in the UK, as British companies bring home the benefits of a thriving export market.

This is the latest of various additions made to UKEF’s offering as it responds to the Industrial Strategy and follows the launch of a new defence export facility in June, increasing UKEF’s capacity for supporting defence exports by £50 billion.
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Healey pledges “new age of industrialisation” as Government backs British shipbuilding [September 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 September 2026.

Two major maritime projects to be part of “new age of industrialisation” for Britain.
- Government backs British shipyards with multi-billion pound investment in three major maritime projects to strengthen national security, support skilled jobs and drive growth in every part of the UK.
- Chancellor confirms three new floating docks for the Royal Navy’s submarine service at HM Naval Base Clyde will be built in Britain supporting Britain’s defence industrial base and securing key sovereign capabilities.
- New marine research vessel to be built in a British shipyard, backing coastal communities, sustainable fishing and long-term economic growth.
British shipyards will be at the heart of two major maritime projects worth billions of pounds, helping to create high-skilled jobs, drive growth and strengthen the UK’s long-term industrial and national security capabilities.

Chancellor John Healey will pledge a “new age of industrialisation” for Britain today as he confirms the multi-billion pound projects will be built by British workers, supporting jobs and a pipeline of small British businesses.

Healey will confirm that the Royal Navy’s submarine service at HM Naval Base Clyde will receive three new floating docks – known as Programme Euston – through a UK-only competition, in light of their importance to national security and sovereign British industry.

The new facilities will provide crucial maintenance for the UK’s current and future fleet of nuclear submarines, allowing essential inspections, upgrades and repairs to be carried out.

In addition to this, the Chancellor has also committed to funding for a new marine research vessel to help protect our seas. Set to be operational in the early 2030s, it will continue the delivery of core research on our seas and oceans, replacing the current vessel which is nearing the end of its life.

The evidence it collects will help ensure the security of our seas, support sustainable fishing and give coastal communities confidence that fish stocks are being managed for the future.

Both projects will be delivered by UK companies, as part of a greater focus on how government spends taxpayers’ money to boost national security whilst also supporting British jobs and growth in local communities.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said:

“Britain has a proud shipbuilding heritage, and every pound of this strategic investment in a critical sector is backing British jobs on the Clyde and businesses across the UK, supporting growth in every postcode.

“By backing British shipyards, we are not only boosting national security but also securing resilience in the industries that will drive growth today while building the capabilities the country needs for the future.”

Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting said:

“Defence spending should make Britain stronger in every sense. That means backing British by buying British wherever our industry can deliver.

“HM Naval Base Clyde is at the heart of our submarine service. Programme Euston will modernise it for decades to come, while backing British shipyards, workers and engineering.

“That is defence driving the reindustrialisation of Britain and strengthening our sovereign capability.”
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with Prime Minister Støre of Norway [September 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 September 2026.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Støre to Liverpool today.

The Prime Minister began by thanking Prime Minister Støre for visiting the United Kingdom, and reflected on the strength of the relationship between the two countries.

Both leaders raised the Lunna House strategic defence agreement between the UK and Norway, and how the long term partnership would benefit both countries through good jobs and unparalleled defence cooperation in the North Atlantic.

Norway and the UK were key partners when it came to tackling Russian hybrid aggression, particularly in the maritime domain, both through NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force, they agreed.

The leaders also reflected on their visits to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and the ongoing international cooperation needed to address the challenges posed by rapidly developing technology.

The Prime Minister said the UK would use its G20 presidency to bring countries together to ensure greater collaboration and continue to drive forward the discussion on how to harness artificial intelligence for good.

They also welcomed the agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and the United States, signed at UNGA, and the security it brought to the High North.

Both looked forward to speaking again soon.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : New lithium mine in Cornwall to unlock Britain’s industrial potential and support skilled jobs [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business on 27 September 2026.

Geothermal Engineering Limited will invest around £43 million in a new lithium mine in Cornwall, backed by nearly £10 million through government’s DRIVE35 fund.
- New lithium mine in Cornwall will ramp up UK’s industrial resilience, support over 100 jobs and help make Britain better off.
- Government is taking action to ensure UK has strong supply of critical mineral to back key supply chains for AI, advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors.
- Investments follows £1bn secured for UK automotive this month alone, supporting hundreds of jobs as part of the Prime Minister’s mission to reindustrialise Britain.
A new mine in Cornwall is set to open as the government ramps up efforts to boost industrial resilience and help secure vital supply chains backing the automotive, clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) will invest around £43 million in a new cutting-edge lithium extraction facility in Cornwall. The investment will create nearly 50 direct jobs and support around 80 more across the supply chain, after receiving an Offer in Principle worth nearly £10 million through the Government’s DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund.

The move comes as demand for lithium is expected to increase by 1,100% by 2035 and will support hundreds of jobs and shore up Britain’s supplies of lithium. This critical mineral is essential for powering electric vehicle batteries, which is why the government has now taken action to unlock nearly £230 million of private investment into two lithium projects in Cornwall and Teesside.

With the UK boasting amazing natural resources, and Cornwall at the centre of one of the most important historic mining regions in both the country and Europe – this investment will help unlock the South West’s industrial potential as part of the Prime Minister’s mission to reindustrialise this country.

This builds on Tees Valley Lithium’s £185 million investment to establish one of Europe’s largest lithium refineries in Teesside. This investment will support hundreds of jobs and strengthen the UK’s battery supply chain, following a government Offer in Principle for £18.3 million through DRIVE35.

The investments are made possible by the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and represent a major step forward in the UK’s transition to electric vehicles and another strong vote of confidence in Britain’s automotive sector. This is in addition to £1 billion of investment announced already this month from Bentley, McLaren and Nissan.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Cornwall has a proud mining heritage, and companies like Geothermal Engineering are helping to write its next chapter in unlocking the South West’s industrial potential.

Britain isn’t just a country for innovation and ideas. It’s a country that produces, and we’re building a modern economy rooted in the industries where we’re already strong and that local communities are proud of.

Hot on the heels of over £1 billion of automotive investment secured already this month, this latest win is a big step towards building our industrial resilience.

Dr Ryan Law, CEO of GEL said:

Lithium is fundamental to the technologies underpinning the automotive sector’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. At GEL, we are proud to be at the forefront of establishing a new UK lithium industry, demonstrating how Cornwall’s geothermal brine can provide a reliable and sustainable source of this critical mineral.

We believe the UK has an important opportunity to develop the resources, technology and expertise needed to establish a domestic lithium supply, giving the country greater control over an increasingly important raw material and we are proud to be building that capability here in Cornwall, bringing jobs and new investment to the local area.

With commercial production set to begin on GEL’s Cornwall project in 2029, the facility is expected to produce around 1,500 tonnes of technical-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal brine underground each year – enough to power more than 180,000 typical EV car batteries.

The facility has the potential to scale to producing tens of thousands of tonnes in the future, and the lithium produced will give a huge boost to the UK’s EV battery manufacturing, shoring up crucial supply chains and moving Britain forward in the transition towards net zero.

Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation & Engagement Director, APC and Zenzic, said:

The project aligns with the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2035 by expanding domestic production of critical minerals, reducing reliance on imports. Extracting lithium in the UK is vital for several reasons: it diminishes dependence on supply chains dominated by China and supports the production of electric vehicle batteries, essential for the UK’s transition to renewable energy use in zero emission vehicles.

In addition, the lithium extraction is expected to spark significant economic growth, especially in Cornwall where a vibrant materials cluster is developing at pace, while enhancing resilience by diversifying the supply chain and mitigating risks tied to concentrated global lithium production and processing.

Background
- DRIVE35 Offers in Principle to Tees Valley Lithium and Geothermal Engineering remain subject to completion of due diligence and final approvals.
- The offers come via the Automotive Transformation Fund, which is part of the UK Government’s DRIVE35 programme, delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK.
- The latest investment builds on a wider pipeline of government-backed lithium projects and feasibility studies across the UK.
- Recent support through DRIVE35 has included R&D projects led by Cornish Lithium, Watercycle Technologies, Weardale Lithium and Northern Lithium, helping to develop new extraction technologies, scale up domestic production and accelerate commercial deployment.
- DRIVE35 is the Government’s flagship automotive programme, providing £4 billion to 2035 in capital and R&D grant funding to unlock transformational private investment and support the sector’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of young disabled people to be offered guaranteed jobs [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 27 September 2026.

Thousands of young disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are set to be offered a fast-tracked job under the government’s Jobs Guarantee.
- Young people set to benefit from fully funded jobs as government continues to tackle UK’s persistently high disability employment gap.
- Number of NEET young people who report having a disability has doubled in the past decade.
- New fast track for those on health benefits part of £2.5 billion investment to support almost a million young people towards employment.
Under the scheme, eligible young people on health benefits will be offered a guaranteed job on a voluntary basis from week 13 after their Work Capability Assessment.

They will receive mentoring and tailored support with their mental health, finances and housing to prepare them for work, while employers will be supported with onboarding costs.

The government will also cover 100% of wage costs up to 25 hours a week for six months.

The move marks a significant expansion of the Jobs Guarantee, a government scheme launched earlier this year for long-term unemployed young people aged 18 to 24 who have been claiming Universal Credit for 18 months.

The expansion to young people on health benefits will start from April 2027 and comes as part of the government’s £3.5 billion investment to deliver the most significant employment reforms in a generation to tackle the UK’s persistently high disability employment gap.

These reforms include the ‘right to try’ guarantee announced earlier this year, which will enable those on sickness benefits to try to work without the immediate fear of losing their benefits.

Earlier this year, Alan Milburn’s interim report found that nearly half of young people who are NEET in the UK (45%) report having a disability – more than doubling from 21.1% in 2013/14.

Widening eligibility for the scheme to young disabled people means thousands will have the chance to join the scheme which is intended to help up to 90,000 young people into work by the end of the Parliament.

This comes as part of the government’s efforts to tackle the UK’s persistently high disability employment gap, including the ‘right to try’ announced earlier this year, which will enable those on sickness benefits to try work without the immediate fear of losing their benefits.

The government believes every young person should have the opportunity to earn or learn, with £2.5 billion committed over the next three years to Youth Guarantee schemes including £3,000 payments for businesses who hire a young person out of work for six months, and an expansion of youth apprenticeships.

Emma Taylor, Chief People Officer at Tesco, said:

We welcome the Government’s expansion of the Jobs Guarantee, which will help more young people with disabilities and long-term health conditions access the opportunities, experience and support they need to get started in the world of work.

At Tesco, we’ve always been committed to helping young people develop the skills and confidence required for a long-term career, and we recognise that creating more ways into employment for those facing additional barriers is vital if every young person is to have the chance to fulfil their potential.

As a Disability Confident Leader, inclusion is a long-standing priority for Tesco and we’re proud to support initiatives that help widen access to work while creating meaningful opportunities for more young people to succeed.

Harriet Edwards, Director of Influencing at the national disability charity Sense, said:

We welcome investment that gives more young disabled people the opportunity to get into work. Too many who want to work are still locked out by barriers, including a lack of appropriate support, inaccessible workplaces and negative attitudes.

These jobs must be accessible, work for the individual and lead to lasting opportunities. Young disabled people need tailored support and inclusive workplaces, and success should be measured not just by how many start a job, but whether they have the support and opportunities to build the future they choose.

Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, said:

Many young people with mental health problems tell us that they’d love to work but can’t find the right support or opportunities in order to do so. If delivered in a genuinely supportive way, this offer could be life changing for a young person struggling with their mental health.

For far too long young people have been let down, with less opportunities and support than previous generations. Focussing on providing genuine opportunity to harness their motivations and ambitions is a really positive step forward, and we look forward to seeing the full detail.

Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive of Mencap, said:

This is very welcome news. Young people with a learning disability are disproportionately likely to be out of work and not in education, employment or training. Earlier access to paid work, tailored support and mentoring could help prevent them from becoming trapped in long-term unemployment.

The voluntary nature of the scheme will give young people with a learning disability the confidence to explore work opportunities and show what they can do, without losing the support they need. If delivered well, with backing from employers and vital support like Access to Work, this could help tackle the NEETs crisis and get more young people with a learning disability into work.

Brian Dow, Chief Executive, Mental Health UK:

Expanding access to the Jobs Guarantee for young disabled people is welcome news. Fast-tracking access to these opportunities has the potential to make a hugely positive difference to young people’s morale, allowing them to gain paid work experience and develop new skills that can make a real difference to their confidence, wellbeing and future employment prospects. Making this support easier to access could help more young people to take those important first steps into work.

James Taylor, Executive Director at disability equality charity Scope:

This scheme could give many young disabled people a much-needed foot in the door. For too long, disabled young people have been locked out of work by barriers beyond their control. They have been overlooked when they apply for jobs, denied the support they need at work, and too often left without the opportunities they deserve.

Young disabled people have a wealth of talent and skills, and it’s positive to see the government putting money behind them to unlock their potential. That means the right adjustments, tailored support and opportunities to move into accessible, secure, and lasting jobs.

Laura Davis, Chief Executive of British Association for Supported Employment/Inclusive Trading

It is hugely encouraging to see the government recognising the significant barriers that many young disabled, neurodivergent people and those with long-term health conditions face in accessing good careers, by extending the Jobs Guarantee to include young people on health benefits. We hope to see strong alignment with evidence-based programmes, with the right join-up, young people with the most complex support needs will not have to choose between receiving the support they need and accessing opportunities to build a meaningful career.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

Retail has a proud history of providing accessible first routes into the workforce. The expansion of the Jobs Guarantee gives more young disabled people a fair shot at building a career without the risk of losing vital safeguards. Retailers welcome this investment and look forward to playing a central role in delivering these opportunities from 2027.

Retail is already stepping up to support anybody not in employment, education or training through the Opening Shift programme, a new, national retail work experience initiative in partnership with DWP, which is already offering more than 11,000 work experience placements to young people furthest from the labour market.

Sarah Yong, Deputy CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, the What Works Centre for Youth Employment, said:

We welcome the news that the Jobs Guarantee will be widened to include young people with disabilities and health barriers who feel they would be able to enter employment with support. We know that these young people are disproportionately represented in the NEET statistics and are finding their pathway into suitable work increasingly challenging; they need to be given a chance and the right support to take this chance.

The Jobs Guarantee to date has been informed by the evidence of what works and it will be important for this to continue as it expands and evolves. Evidence in our Youth Employment Toolkit tells us that targeted wage subsidy interventions with wrap around support, which enable young people to gain real employment experience, can be most effective when targeted well for young people facing the greatest barriers to work.
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Education Secretary unveils plan for schools to tackle misogyny [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 26 September 2026.

New whole-school approach to give schools new package of support to tackle misogyny and combat influence of figures like Andrew Tate.

Children will be better protected against misogyny as the Education Secretary sets out a new plan to challenge toxic influences and tackle harmful attitudes in schools.

Schools will be supported with a practical framework to tackle misogyny with resources including practical guides, teacher training and parent support.

The new approach will help to create a culture of respect and belonging, and embed positive attitudes from classroom teaching and enrichment activities to pastoral support and interactions beyond the school gates.

It will help young people build healthy relationships, challenge harmful attitudes and develop the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex online and offline world.

The challenges children face today extend far beyond the classroom. New data shows that half (50%) of girls reported hearing misogynistic comments from other pupils during a week at school in May, while nearly a third (30%) of year 10 and 11 pupils said they had recently heard comments that made them worry about the safety of girls.

This new strategy builds on the government’s strengthened Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum now being taught in schools, improving teaching about healthy relationships, recognising harmful behaviour and navigating online risks, including deepfakes, and other harmful content.

The announcement is part of the government’s wider efforts to tackle misogyny, including the new partnership with major employers announced earlier today by the Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson.

To support teachers with the new curriculum, the government is investing £150,000 in a new RSHE expert advisory group. Bringing together expert organisations and practitioners, the group will develop new resources to support teachers delivering sensitive and complex topics confidently.

Two new programmes have also begun work this week, through the government’s £16 million Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention Programme. One programme will work with secondary pupils to improve attitudes towards healthy relationships, while the other will working with boys to challenge harmful attitudes and negative online influences. These pilots will test the most effective ways to promote healthy relationships and challenge harmful attitudes before being rolled out to further schools.

The government is also working with the Youth Endowment Fund who are running a series of programmes with children aged 12 to 16 to promote respect, build resilience and provide positive role models.

Young people will also benefit from strengthened teaching on media literacy through future curriculum reforms, helping them better understand online content, challenge manipulation and think critically about what they see online.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : 1000 new youth workers to help reduce the risk of unemployment [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 26 September 2026.
- Young people will be able to access specialised support in their community, as the government makes largest investment into youth services in a generation.
- In addition, a £450 million programme will also help build and improve youth facilities and fund enriching activities in England’s most underserved areas.
Young people across England are set to benefit from specialised support outside of home and school, as the government launches a major drive to support the training and employment of 1000 new youth workers.

It comes as the government makes the largest investment into youth services in a generation following a drop of local authority spending of 73% between 2010 and 2023, which led to the loss of vital youth worker roles and youth services across England.

The 1000 new youth workers announced today is the first step in rebuilding the youth workforce. The first workers are set to be in position by spring 2027, as part of the government’s plan to support young people ahead of the social media ban for under 16s coming into force.

The youth workers will work with young people aged 11 plus, within community spaces and through outreach to ensure the most vulnerable young people have access to support, including those at highest risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training). The specialist youth workers will collaborate with multi-agency teams across education and training, health and crime prevention to support young people to engage in a range of activities including sport, arts, mentoring and wider youth services.

This initiative will provide a significant step towards meeting the Government’s ambition for 500,000 more young people to have access to a trusted adult by 2035.

The number of youth facilities is also set to increase thanks to a £450 million programme. The new ‘Youth Matters’ Fund will open for applications soon and will help build, improve and expand spaces for young people to connect, while funding more youth work and enriching in-person activities, such as sports, music and volunteering, ahead of the upcoming social media ban.

Today’s announcement is the latest part of the government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, launched by Lisa Nandy in December 2025 and co-produced with 14,000 young people through a landmark ‘State of the Nation’ survey. The survey highlighted that many young people have been left without access to safe, supportive environments or a community to belong to, while reliance on online interaction has grown in the absence of face-to-face opportunities.

In response the National Youth Strategy set out how young people will benefit from over £500 million of government investment, with an ambitious delivery plan to rebuild youth services over the next decade. The move is designed to hand power back to local communities, and allow young people to design services around the skills and opportunities they need to shape their futures.
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Boarded-up high streets brought back to life with £210m boost [September 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 September 2026.

Delivers on the Prime Minister’s promise to put power back in local hands and bring good growth to every postcode.

Derelict high street buildings will be transformed into shared workspaces, cafes and community hubs, to bring people back into town centres as part of a £210m package announced today (25 September).

People are proud of where they live, but too many have watched their high streets be hollowed out, with shops shuttered, buildings boarded up and once-busy hubs left empty.

Now the government is putting that right, by revamping vacant shopping centres, disused cinemas and abandoned local eyesores.

Through the new £125m Derelict Buildings Fund, government will support local authorities to transform these buildings into what their communities need, from health centres to civic spaces.

An additional £65m will be invested in helping communities right across England rescue and revamp beloved buildings and businesses at risk of closure, like pubs and sports clubs. This builds on existing schemes like the Pride in Place programme, which has helped locals take over the youth centre in Ramsgate and redevelop the former Brunswick Shopping Centre in Scarborough.

And a further £20 million will be split equally between High Street Rental Auctions, letting out properties vacant for 12 months or more, and a new Co-operative Development Programme so local people share in their high street’s success.

This drives forward the Prime Minister’s mission to shift power back to communities, from letting mayors keep a share of income tax to reinvest in local priorities, to supporting the establishment of strategic authorities in every part of England.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

People don’t measure growth by looking at a spreadsheet. They measure it by looking at their local high street. Are shops opening or are the shutters down? Does the place feel like it’s moving forward or being left behind?

The truth is that too many high streets have been left to hollow out, leaving town centres a shell of what they once were. That must change, and today’s funding will help put power back into the hands of locals who know their area best.

That’s how we restore pride and bring hope back. Not by telling people things are getting better, but by giving them the power to see and feel the difference where they live.

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

Nobody knows a high street better than the community that it belongs to. That’s why this money puts power directly into their hands.

We’ll see boarded-up buildings that have been left to rack and ruin turned into places people are proud to visit again, the pubs and clubs that mean so much to them thriving once more, and local businesses growing and creating jobs that put money back into their own community.

That’s what this government is about. Backing the people who know their communities best, and giving them the tools to shape their own future and breathe new life into their high streets.

First Secretary of State, Louise Haigh said:

For too long, places in every part of the country have been overlooked by Westminster. High streets neglected, town centres left in decline and local assets left to decay.

This investment will help to regenerate and breathe new life into our communities – giving local people the resources and powers they need to make a real change.

This is what devolution means in practice – empowering local leaders to fix things that are broken and protect the things that matter most to people.

This is what a rewired state looks like: a Government focused on delivering for the people of the country and empowering communities in the hands of the people who live in them.

The £10 million regional Co-operative Development Programme will help mayors and strategic authorities set up more co-operative businesses, owned and run by the staff, customers and communities who use them, so local people share directly in their high street’s success.

Work forms part of a broader programme coordinated through the Place Regeneration taskforce, spearheaded by the First Secretary of State along with departments, ministers and local government to deliver a roadmap to rebuild Britain. This work will regenerate communities, breathe new life into our high streets and deliver maximum benefit to the people who live there.

Later this year, the government will go further still, publishing a full high streets strategy to transform town centres across England and bring lasting pride back to Britain’s communities.

The £210m package confirmed today is from MHCLG funding already earmarked for high street support and regeneration.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Our focus must be on helping people move beyond prolonged displacement – UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2026]

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

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

As we heard today, over 100 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide.

For more than two thirds of refugees, displacement is not a passing crisis.

It lasts five years or more, with no durable solution in sight.

A childhood spent entirely in a camp.

A home never returned to.

A family still waiting to rebuild.

Seventy-five years after the adoption of the Refugee Convention, this is the clearest possible case for change.

The United Kingdom supports UNHCR’s 50 by 35 vision.

Our focus must be on helping people move beyond prolonged displacement, rather than leaving them trapped in exile, unable to rebuild their lives.

But delivering that shift requires change.

It starts with protection.

We need asylum systems that work for refugees, host communities, and the Member States that sustain them.

That means strengthening our collective ability to distinguish fairly between refugees and migrants.

It also means confronting organised criminal networks that profit from dangerous journeys.

To “protect protection”, asylum systems must be credible, effective, and trusted by the people and governments that sustain them.

Change also means backing nationally led solutions and development interventions.

The United Kingdom is putting that into practice.

We are working with international financial institutions to direct development finance towards refugee-hosting countries.

That helps ensure host communities are not left to carry the burden alone and supports the inclusion of refugees into national systems.

We are also working in more than 50 countries, including efforts to bring nearly 200,000 refugee children into national education systems.

But fundamentally, we must confront why people are fleeing in the first place.

War. Instability. Repression.

This Council exists to address precisely those threats.

Yet too often we respond to displacement rather than helping to prevent it.

In Sudan, that means uniting behind a ceasefire to end the conflict driving displacement.

In Syria, it means supporting stability that enables safe and sustainable return.

In Yemen, it means de-escalating a conflict that is once again driving displacement and humanitarian suffering, and recommitting to a UN-led political process.

This Council has the tools to address the root causes of displacement.

What it needs is the political will to use them.

The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Refugee Convention is the moment to show that this system can adapt.

The UK will use this anniversary year, and the road to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, to work with UNHCR, international financial institutions, and Member States, to keep the system credible, sustainable, and fit for today’s world.

28/09/2026