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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : £60 million joint Irish government, UK government and Northern Ireland Executive funding announced for two new research centres on climate and sustainable food [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £60 million joint Irish government, UK government and Northern Ireland Executive funding announced for two new research centres on climate and sustainable food [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 28 November 2023.

    Investment will facilitate unprecedented collaboration between academia, industry and policy-makers across Ireland and the UK over the next six years.

    • Investment will facilitate unprecedented collaboration between academia, industry and policy-makers across the Irish government, UK government and Northern Ireland Executive over the next six years
    • comes as UK Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan visits Dublin, meeting Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, and Northern Irish officials

    £60 million in joint funding has been announced today (Tuesday 28 November) to bring academics, industry and policymakers across the Irish government, UK government and Northern Ireland Executive closer together than ever before, to work together on food sustainability and tackling climate change.

    The Co-Centres programme will see researchers from across Ireland and the UK work together, to bring the power of science and innovation to bear on work ranging from protecting precious supplies of clean water, to ensuring that we can feed a growing global population at the same time as reaching Net Zero goals.

    The announcement was jointly made in Dublin by the Irish government’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, UK government Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan, and Permanent Secretary at Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Katrina Godfrey.

    UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

    “As I know from my own family links, the UK and Ireland share deep ties – and in today’s fast-moving world, we share many of the same challenges, too. From our groundbreaking international work on AI, to our deal to join Horizon, the UK is determined to seize the opportunities for growth and prosperity that can be delivered, when we work together on science and tech with our neighbours.

    “By bringing together the genius that exists across our islands, we will unlock the new ideas and inventions that will help us secure our food chains and tackle climate change, delivering innovative solutions for global good.”

    Minister Harris said:

    “Addressing climate change and achieving sustainable and resilient food systems are intertwined challenges facing us all.

    “This investment in two new collaborative research centres is a major development in addressing these pressing issues in a coordinated and concerted way.

    “I’m delighted to see the very best minds and methods being brought together to create a dynamic research network across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”

    Katrina Godfrey said:

    “The Co-Centres programme is an excellent example of government funders working in partnership to support researchers and industry who will undertake cutting-edge research in areas of mutual economic, societal, health and environmental importance.

    “I am particularly pleased that researchers in Northern Ireland will be integral to the establishment of these Co-centres.”

    The Co-Centres programme is funded over six years, with up to €40 million from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), up to £17 million from Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and up to £12 million through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and is co-funded by industry.

    The two new Co-Centres will formally commence activities on 1st January 2024, and will be funded to 2030.

    Overview of Co-Centres

    Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity and Water

    • Vision: To be a home of research, innovation, and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation. This will be achieved through research to enable fair transformations to Net Zero, reverse biodiversity loss, restore water quality and ensure resilience for communities and a sustainable economy.
    • Number of research performing organisations: 14
    • Number of researchers: 64
    • Leadership Team: Prof. Yvonne Buckley, Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Mark Emmerson, Queens University Belfast; Prof. Edward Hawkins, University of Reading

    Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems

    • Vision: To develop innovative and transformative solutions to transition the food system for positive and sustainable change in the transition to climate-neutrality by 2050. In order to address specific challenges centred around food system integrity and resilience, food safety and healthy diets from sustainable sources, the Co-Centre proposes to undertake a research programme across 4 platforms – Sustainable Food, Food Safety and Integrity, Nutrition and Health, and Food Systems Data Modelling. End-to-end solutions from soil-to-society will be developed and showcased.
    • Number of research performing organisations: 15
    • Number of funded researchers: 68
    • Leadership team: Prof. Eileen Gibney, University College Dublin; Prof. Aedin Cassidy, Queen’s University Belfast; Prof. Louise Dye, University of Sheffield
  • PRESS RELEASE : Tech Secretary strips back red tape to unleash innovation in clean aviation, drones and autonomous marine tech [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Tech Secretary strips back red tape to unleash innovation in clean aviation, drones and autonomous marine tech [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 27 November 2023.

    Plans to revamp the regulatory environment around key technologies have been announced by Science and Tech Secretary, at the Global Investment Summit.

    • Plans to revamp the regulatory environment around key technologies have been announced by Science and Tech Secretary, at the Global Investment Summit
    • the UK will pioneer experimental, pro-innovation approaches to regulation for zero emission aviation, drones, and autonomous marine tech
    • 29 new investors also announced for partnership unlocking funding for UK science and tech SMEs

    New plans for the safe, proportionate regulation of high-potential technologies like clean aviation, and drones, as well as a boost to the government’s investor partnership programme for high potential UK science and tech businesses, have been announced at the Global Investment Summit today (Monday 27 November) by the Science and Technology Secretary.

    Following on from the announcement of new regulatory sandboxes at the Autumn Statement, three further sandboxes and testbeds will help UK firms and researchers developing hydrogen as a zero emission fuel for aviation, as well as exploring the use of drones in passenger transport and deliveries, plus putting self-piloting marine tech to work. The sandboxes and testbeds will see innovators and regulators work together to safely test new technologies. Taking this flexible, pragmatic approach to regulation can help to reduce barriers for innovators and help regulators to improve their decision-making processes.

    The government’s ambition to unlock greater investment in UK R&D is taking a further step forward, with the naming of 29 new partners to the Investor Partnerships programme. Previous investor partnership programmes unlocked more than £370 million in private partner backing. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), through Innovate UK, is investing over £110 million together with private investors to drive vital cash into scaling-up UK businesses that are putting game changing technologies into action to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to healthcare.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

    “From the steam engine and Jenner’s first vaccine, through to modern computers and the wonder-material graphene, brilliant British ideas have and continue to change the world. The untold story behind each of these breakthroughs is that of the investors, whose backing enabled genius ideas to spring to life out of the lab, and into the world.

    “We know that unlocking investment is critical, if we are to seize the potential for science and tech breakthroughs to create new jobs and industries, grow the economy, and tackle problems from health to energy. That is precisely why we are deepening our links with private investors to help UK businesses scale-up, deepening the UK’s skills base, and working with the sector to build proportionate regulations that encourage innovation, and keep people safe.”

    Game-changing new technologies and scientific innovations are front and centre at the Global Investment Summit, which is showcasing the pioneering companies across the country that make the UK one of the world’s most attractive investment destinations. They range from established global giants with significant presences in the UK, like Alphabet and Arm, to exciting newer businesses like Oxford Quantum Circuits and Birmingham University spin-out, Delta-G.

    The expansion of the Innovate UK Investor Partnership Programme, working with investors such as Amadeus Capital and Anglo-American, is the government’s latest push to bring innovative small and medium-sized UK companies together with investors, to support them to take their businesses to the next level. The 15 investor partnership programmes that ran between 2017 and 2022 unlocked £42.8 million in grant funding for UK SMEs, £123 million in aligned equity investment, and a further £373 million in additional investment from private partners.

    The government is deploying regulatory sandboxes as part of its commitment to seize the potential for frontier technologies like AI to create entirely new industries and jobs. It is essential to strike the right balance: regulation that is pro-innovation, stimulates demand for science and technology and attracts investment, while representing UK values and safeguarding citizens.

    It follows the announcement of the Automated Vehicles Bill in the King’s Speech this month, to put safety at the heart of the roll-out of self-driving vehicle technology – ensuring smarter regulation and positioning the UK as world-leaders of a £42 billion industry.

    Notes to editors

    Details of the three regulatory sandboxes being funded through the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF), which supports UK regulators and local authorities to adopt new and experimental regulatory approaches that seek to remove barriers to innovation and help businesses get their innovative products and services to market. For more information contact regulators.pioneerfund@dsit.gov.uk

    Civil Aviation Authority – hydrogen (sandbox)

    The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched a challenge, including a sandbox, to understand the regulatory requirements for the introduction of hydrogen as a zero-carbon aviation fuel. This aligns with the government’s Jet Zero Strategy of delivering net zero UK aviation by 2050.

    The CAA will engage internationally to share outcomes of the challenge. Through direct engagement with other regulators, the World Economic Forum and the Commonwealth, we will be able to influence global approaches to hydrogen developments.

    The launch of the challenge was announced in November with the regulatory sandbox open as of today, to take part in this sandbox challenge and help improve understanding of hydrogen-related risks in aviation.

    Plymouth City Council – autonomous marine technology (testbed)

    Plymouth City Council’s project is developing an evidence base and a regulatory framework for testing autonomous and prototype vessels for R&D. This includes establishing economic benefits of new regulations, engaging with port authorities and regulators internationally to examine how their regulations work and road-testing proposed new regulations on real vessels.

    The project will be led by Plymouth City Council (PCC), in partnership with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), University of Plymouth (UoP), University of Exeter (UoE) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).

    The University of Exeter are interested in inviting businesses to take part in their user group in ventures of testing and demonstration taking place next year and the University of Plymouth are keen to invite businesses to visit and take part in the demonstration of autonomous marine technology.

    Milton Keynes City Council – drones (testbed)

    Milton Keynes City Council will work with Cranfield University’s Drone Innovation Hub and Satellite Applications Catapult Westcott DronePort to prove, trial, test and demonstrate new drone-based services that operate alongside our robotics delivery services and self-driving passenger shuttles. This includes a testbed that allows for ongoing experimentation.

    This project will help inform Milton Keynes on how to deploy services in the city and has led to the trialling of self-driving bus, announced this month, as part of a Europe-wide research project.

    The 29 new investors joining the Innovate UK Investor Partnership Programme are:

    • Oxford Technology Management Ltd
    • Maven Capital Partners UK LLP
    • Angels@Essex
    • Baltic Ventures Ltd
    • Green Angel Syndicate 2 Ltd
    • Ebico Ltd
    • Fearless Adventures (Investments) LLP
    • Hiro Capital LLP
    • The Conduit Connect Ltd
    • Archangel Investors Ltd
    • Deeptech Seed Fund
    • Twin Path Ventures Ltd
    • Anticus Partners Ltd
    • Cambridge Angels Group Ltd
    • London Venture Partners LLP
    • Astanor Ventures
    • Concept VC Ltd
    • Angel Academe Ltd
    • Cambridge Enterprise Ltd
    • Eos Advisory LLP
    • Two Magnolias G.P. LLP
    • Counteract Partners Ltd
    • Extantia Capital
    • Deepbridge Capital LLP
    • FOV Fund Management Oy
    • Creative UK Holdings Ltd
    • Earth Capital Ltd
    • Noba Cap Advisers Ltd
    • Carbon13 Group Ltd
  • PRESS RELEASE : Plans to keep pubs open longer if UK nations reach Euros semis [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Plans to keep pubs open longer if UK nations reach Euros semis [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 27 November 2023.

    Pub and bar licensing hours could be extended if England, Wales or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros next year, subject to consultation.

    The government has set out plans to extend licensing hours for the semi-finals and final of the men’s European Football Championships next year, should England, Wales or Scotland reach the final stages of the tournament.

    In a public consultation launched today, the government has proposed that pub licensing hours in England and Wales should be extended from 11pm to 1am if any of the UK nations remaining in the tournament reach the latter two rounds in Germany.

    The Home Secretary has the power to extend licensing hours for occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance”.

    Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

    There are few things that bring a country together more than the prospect of winning an international tournament.

    England and Scotland are on their way to Germany and Wales are still in with a shot of qualifying, so it is only right we put in place plans to support them and our hospitality industry.

    That is why we are looking at helping pubs and bars stay open longer if we reach the semi-finals or final, and ensure families, friends and communities can come together to cheer their nation on.

    The plans, which will be subject to public consultation, would provide a welcome boost for the hospitality industry and clarity for pubs and bars. This is part of a series of recent government measures to boost the hospitality industry and make sure pubs and bars have the support they need to thrive, including the continuation of relaxed licensing regulations that allow pubs, restaurants and bars to sell takeaway pints without red tape holding them back.

    Pub licensing hours were previously extended for the men’s Euro 2020 final and pubs also stayed open longer for the King’s Coronation bank holiday weekend earlier this year.

    The public consultation will run for 12 weeks with the government to take into account the views from the public, licensing authorities and hospitality industry.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK – Republic of Korea Joint Statement [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK – Republic of Korea Joint Statement [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2023.

    The UK and South Korea issue a joint statement to launch negotiations on an ungraded free trade agreement.

    The RT. Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), and Bang, Moon Kyu, Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) for the Republic of Korea, met in London on 22 November 2023 as part of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s State Visit to the United Kingdom. Following the meeting, they issued the below joint statement:

    As our nations celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations, and as His Majesty King Charles III welcomes President Yoon Suk Yeol to the United Kingdom for the first Korean State Visit in a decade, we are very pleased to announce the launch of negotiations to upgrade the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.

    Upgrading and future-proofing our FTA will further deepen our economic ties and support our innovative economies over the years to come. Negotiations will build on and improve the existing agreement, further promoting trade and investment between two like-minded nations and ensuring our growing trade and investment relationship continues to thrive.

    Following productive discussions to extend temporary arrangements regarding cumulation and direct transport for two years and reflecting the changing global economic and trade landscape, we will work to agree a new Rules of Origin chapter which reduces the costs businesses face when exporting and recognises our existing and future supply chains, enabling United Kingdom and Korean industries to take full advantage of the FTA.

    We will work towards a modern and comprehensive Digital chapter, which will future proof our trade relationship by including elements that facilitate more efficient and secure trade through the use of digital technologies, ensure free and trusted cross border data flows, avoid unjustified data localisation requirements and prohibit customs duties on electronic transmissions, including content transmitted electronically. Recognising the growing importance of services and investment as part of our bilateral trading relationship, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea will also work to agree modernisations to existing commitments in these areas.

    The United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea are also committed to deepening and broadening our cooperation across a range of emerging trade agendas. We will work towards content related to supply chains which will facilitate further integration between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea’s economies and ensure customs procedures are as predictable and streamlined as possible. Cooperation on Energy will seek to help deliver against our respective climate change ambitions. Support for small and medium-sized businesses will aim to maximise the utility of our new agreement. We also believe that strengthening cooperation and collaboration between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom in the bioeconomy sector will benefit both parties’ economies. The value of our bilateral trade has more than doubled in the past 15 years and mutual investment relations have deepened in a variety of fields, including finance, insurance, and energy. We believe a strong, modernised trade agreement can further reinforce our relationship.

    We have instructed our teams to hold the first round of negotiations in Seoul, commencing 22 January 2024, and further rounds of negotiations are to occur regularly thereafter. This will build on the series of positive and constructive conversations that have already been held between negotiation teams. It will also take place in the context of strong and collaborative relationship, including a shared understanding of the value of further trade integration in the region, and a commitment to share mutually beneficial experience – such as the United Kingdom’s experience of applying to join CPTPP. We look forward to significant and rapid progress, with a shared ambition to conclude this upgraded agreement in a timely fashion, building upon the strong baseline already agreed in the existing FTA.

    Signed in London on 22 November 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Major broadband upgrade for thousands of rural properties in Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major broadband upgrade for thousands of rural properties in Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 27 November 2023.

    Thousands of people across rural parts of Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire are set to benefit from new lightning-fast broadband thanks to £43 million of UK government funding.

    • Around 16,000 homes and businesses in hard-to-reach areas across Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire to be upgraded with lightning-fast broadband
    • £43 million in government funding will spur the rollout of next generation connectivity to thousands of businesses and local residents, with spades in the ground by Spring
    • Cash boost will help level-up rural and remote communities, boosting public services and spurring economic growth

    Thousands of people across rural parts of Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire are set to benefit from new lightning-fast broadband thanks to £43 million of UK government funding, in a move to tackle the long-term challenges facing hard-working people and businesses in the UK.

    Backed by £26.5 million, around 10,000 homes and businesses in rural Oxfordshire communities including Stoke Row, Somerton and North Aston will benefit from fast and reliable broadband connections. Meanwhile, £16.5 million will see around 6,000 rural properties in North East Staffordshire including Longnor, Marchington and Alstonefield receive internet speeds more than 30 times faster than superfast broadband.

    With gigabit-capable broadband, these households will no longer have to struggle with limited bandwidth, and businesses will be able to improve their productivity with none of the disruptions associated with ageing copper networks, helping to build a more dynamic economy that delivers prosperity across every corner of the country. Having the fastest connections also means the UK is fit-for-the-future, with broadband infrastructure designed to deliver for people’s needs for decades to come.

    The investment forms part of the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit, which aims to ensure people have the same access to high-speed broadband wherever they live, work and study. From the Midlands to the South East of England, work will now get underway to survey thousands of premises in rural villages and communities, with spades in the ground expected by spring next year.

    Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, said:

    We want to make sure that no matter where you live or work, everyone has access to reliable internet which is why we’re spending billions to upgrade local networks.

    In rural Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire, thousands will experience the positive impact fast and reliable broadband has as their connectivity improves, supporting households and businesses, fostering growth and boosting productivity.

    Work will now begin in these areas covering around 16,000 properties and by facilitating the fastest connections, we are not just reaping the benefits now but positioning the UK for a future where our broadband infrastructure remains resilient for decades to come.

    Rural full fibre provider Gigaclear will roll out high-speed connectivity to premises across North and South Oxfordshire including Nettlebed and Fritwell, in a bid to transform broadband speeds and reliability for local residents.

    In a boost for local schools and colleges as part of the investment, Gigaclear has committed to providing skills workshops and apprenticeship programmes to a diverse range of applicants in the local community to help them kick start a career in the telecoms industry.

    Today’s announcement builds on work Gigaclear has already delivered in the area, connecting 25 vital public service buildings including schools, health centres, libraries and fire stations to gigabit-capable networks as part of the government’s Project Gigabit GigaHubs programme. Working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, the high-speed connectivity will help improve the delivery of public services across the county. For example, GPs will be able to provide remote video consultations and whole classes of schoolchildren can be online at once with no interruptions.

    Gigaclear CEO Gareth Williams said:

    I welcome the award of these contracts as they reinforce the important role Gigaclear is playing in helping the Government achieve its wider broadband roll-out ambitions.

    We’ve already invested more than £70 million to extend our network across many of the county’s rural communities and once these contracts have been delivered, Gigaclear will have provided a new Gigabit fibre connection to more than 85,000 rural Oxfordshire residents and businesses.

    Oxfordshire County Council Leader, Councillor Liz Leffman said:

    We are delighted that local firm Gigaclear has been awarded the Project Gigabit contract for delivery of full fibre broadband to thousands of Oxfordshire homes and businesses.

    This public sector investment in digital infrastructure is critical to levelling up areas where commercial funding alone is insufficient to secure the money necessary to make this build happen.

    The project aligns very well with all the work the council’s digital infrastructure programme is doing such as the GigaHubs project which has secured a full fibre connection to Wychwood library where we are today”.

    In North East Staffordshire, Connect Fibre will be charged with rolling out full fibre broadband to those currently struggling with slow speeds, in places such as Longnor, Marchington and Alstonefield.

    Local people will further benefit from Connect Fibre’s commitment to develop community initiatives aimed to foster well-being in the region, by delivering free gigabit connections to Staffordshire Community Learning and Staffordshire Libraries sites.

    Connect Fibre CEO, Stefan Stanislawski, said:

    Connect Fibre is incredibly proud and honoured to be awarded the Project Gigabit contract to deliver full fibre broadband to the Staffordshire Moorlands and beyond. Delivering real, reliable broadband will change the lives of people living in rural areas and the region as a whole.

    With our smart farming programme and free gigabit connections for community learning and library sites, our commitment to supporting the community goes beyond just broadband. We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will have on residents in the region.

    Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for environment, infrastructure and climate change Simon Tagg said:

    Access to gigabit capable broadband speeds is essential to our communities and businesses and so it’s excellent to see this reach extended by Connect Fibre through Project Gigabit.

    Faster broadband improves everyone’s day-to-day living, enabling people to access health, education, banking and leisure services and more. It is also critical for business operations, growth and increased productivity. Our Superfast Staffordshire programme was a huge success and made a real difference over the last decade – now gigabit capable connection is the next step.

    Across the UK, gigabit coverage has increased rapidly in recent years – from one in ten households in 2019 to nearly eight in ten today. These latest Project Gigabit contracts come as Building Digital UK (BDUK), reports that 929,700 premises in mostly hard-to-reach areas of the UK now have access to gigabit connectivity thanks to government investment.

    -ENDS-

    Notes to editors

    • Project Gigabit is the government’s flagship £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband
    • Premises set to be reached by these contracts are subject to change following detailed planning by the suppliers or due to technical reasons during the lifetime of the contract *BDUK awarded supplier Gigaclear a £26.5 million contract to provide around 10,000 premises in North and South Oxfordshire with access to gigabit-capable broadband
    • BDUK awarded supplier Connect Fibre a £16.5 million contract to provide around 6,000 premises in North East Staffordshire with access to gigabit-capable broadband
    • The Oxfordshire Gigahubs project has been jointly funded by BDUK and Oxfordshire County Council, as well as other funding partners
  • PRESS RELEASE : New forest for the nation to improve access to green space [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New forest for the nation to improve access to green space [November 2023]

    The press release issued by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 November 2023.

    Government launches competition for a new national forest to improve access to nature.

    A competition for a new national forest will be launched by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay this week, alongside the unveiling of two new Community Forests – in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley – as part of an ambitious package to help people across the country access nature.

    Communities will be able to put their local areas forward to become a new national forest, with the winning location receiving up to £10 million to help fund the project.

    This will build on the success of the National Forest in the Midlands, which spans 200 square miles across parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.

    Applicants will be assessed based on how the new forest would transform the local area, create habitats for wildlife open up access to the countryside, and help the country meet net zero targets.

    The competition will launch this year with successful bids to be announced by autumn 2024.

    The Environment Secretary will set out further plans on improving access to green space later this week, including new Community Forests in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley, which will see around 370 hectares of woodland planted by 2025.

    This is the latest step in the Government’s plans to help people access nature, plant more trees and support nature recovery. Since joining the department earlier this month the Environment Secretary has set out his ambition to help more people get into the outdoors, enjoy the British countryside and preserve our vital natural heritage.

    The Environment Secretary will be attending COP28 next month, where he will set out further action to achieve our ambitious targets to restore the natural world.

    Setting out the plans, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Public access to nature is so vital, which is why we pledged in our Environmental Improvement Plan that everyone should have access to green space or water within a 15-minute walk from their home – such as woodlands, wetlands, parks or rivers. This new forest for the nation will help make that happen.

    As a former Health Secretary, I have seen the benefits that nature has for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Bringing these spaces closer to where people live and work is a key priority for me personally.

    On the importance of trees, he said:

    The value of trees to people and nature has never been clearer. They are vital for our health and security. We can’t do without them. We know that spending time in green spaces and getting hands on with nature has a positive impact on our health and wellbeing, which is why £5.77 million has been invested through our green social prescribing programme to tackle and prevent mental ill health. I will continue to make the case for investment in this area.

    I know how much nature matters, as the response to the terrible felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland showed. Improving access, planting more trees, protecting nature and creating new green spaces is our pathway to achieving this.

    In my new role as Environment Secretary I am determined to ensure we continue to push forward with this important work and leave the environment in a better state than we found it for future generations.

    Healthy and resilient woodlands will also get further support today through £16 million government funding for the UK’s world-leading forest scientists to address the challenges facing woodlands today – from the impacts of climate change to tree disease and pests such as ips beetles, Dutch elm disease and ash dieback.

    The England Trees Action Plan and Environmental Improvement Plan set out ambitious targets to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament and to achieve at least 16.5% of tree and woodland cover by 2050.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Forests fit for the future – government funding announced for new forest research [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Forests fit for the future – government funding announced for new forest research [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 November 2023.

    Healthy and resilient woodlands supported through new £16 million government funding.

    UK research into climate and pest resilient woodlands is set to boosted today with the announcement of £16 million government funding for our world-leading forest scientists.

    Our trees are facing unprecedented challenges from the impacts of climate change to an increased risk of tree disease and pests – including ips beetles, Dutch elm disease and ash dieback. These kinds of diseases threaten valuable habitats for thousands of species of wildlife.

    This funding will support vital research into ways to mitigate and prevent these impacts, helping to protect woodlands and plant more trees in the long term.

    It comes ahead of Environment Secretary Steve Barclay setting out plans this week to improve access to green space, including a competition for a new National Forest and the unveiling of two new Community Forests – in Derbyshire and the Tees.

    The Forest Research programme will back 30 projects, working with 27 partner organisations. It will also support efforts to increase England’s tree canopy – one of the government’s key environment targets.

    Projects benefiting from the funding include:

    • Studying the complex networks of soil nutrients and plant roots to see how they help boost woodlands.
    • Work to better understand how tree seeds can fall naturally and plant themselves
    • Developing our understanding of how drought is impacting tree growth
    • Examining the barriers to agroforestry, where trees and agricultural crops grow on the same piece of land

    Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    Not only do we need to plant trees, for tomorrow, we also need to support their long-term protection from the host of threats they face due a changing climate.

    Today we are investing a further £16 million in vital research to help support the resilience of our trees and woodland as part of our ambitious plans to increase tree planting across the country.

    Professor James Pendlebury, Chief Executive, Forest Research said:

    This is a significant and welcome investment in the forest science and evidence needed to underpin the creation of resilient woodlands and their future management and protection. It is also a huge investment in the next generation of forest scientists who will support the development of forests and woodlands fit for the future.

    Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley, said:

    Trees can only help mitigate the impact of a changing climate if they are resilient to those challenges themselves.

    Forest Research will be vital to supporting tree planting activity through building the evidence base to inform and improve our management of trees and selection of resilient species for the future to increase woodland cover for future generations.

    The Forest Research Trees and Forestry evidence programme will leave a lasting legacy, by providing strong scientific evidence to underpin our future forestry policy and support long term action for expanding and managing our treescapes.

    Our England Trees Action Plan and Environmental Improvement Plan set out ambitious targets to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament and to achieve at least 16.5% of tree and woodland cover by 2050. Today’s announcement supports the delivery of this ambitious programme and make sure we are using cutting edge science to make decisions.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Permanent Independent Public Advocate to better support disaster victims [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Permanent Independent Public Advocate to better support disaster victims [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 November 2023.

    Victims of major disasters will be better supported as they rebuild their lives with a new and permanent Independent Public Advocate, the Lord Chancellor has announced today.

    • Permanent role to offer speedier support following a disaster
    • Greater independence to better represent victims and bereaved families
    • Amendments made ahead of Victims and Prisoners Bill return to Commons

    This will ensure that survivors of major incidents like Hillsborough, the Manchester Arena bombing and the Grenfell Tower fire will be able to quickly receive the help and advice they need, when they need it.

    Putting this vital role on a permanent footing will also mean the advocate is readily available around the clock and can be deployed quickly in the face of an emergency – advising victims on how to access vital financial, physical and mental health services and ensuring they understand their rights.

    They will also be able to advise the Government on whether a review or inquiry should take place following a major incident. This will help relay victims’ views directly into the heart of Government when deciding whether answers need to be sought, lessons need to be learned, and authorities held to account.

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

    A permanent Independent Public Advocate available for rapid deployment will mean victims can receive vital emotional and practical support from day one.

    These reforms will give victims a voice when decisions are made about the type of review or inquiry to be held into a disaster, and will help ensure lessons are learnt.

    Alongside the new appointment, the Government can also appoint specialist advocates with relevant experience to each individual disaster to offer expert advice and insight. These could include community leaders, for example, who hold the confidence of victims.

    To further strengthen the role, the amendments will also give the advocate the power to produce reports without a direct request from the Justice Secretary – providing an independent and invaluable assessment of lessons learned and recommendations to the Government and other public authorities.

    The amendments are being made to the Victims and Prisoners Bill as it returns to Parliament.

    The creation of this role delivers on a previous manifesto commitment to create an Independent Public Advocate by the then Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP.

    This was welcomed by Bishop James in his report into the experiences of the Hillsborough families and championed by both the Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP and the Rt Hon Lord Wills in Parliament.

    Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

    Our amendments today will make the Independent Public Advocate stronger, more independent, and better able to ensure victims voices are not just heard but listened to.

    It will ensure that the bereaved and survivors of major disasters get the practical support and advice they need right through to the conclusion of any inquest or inquiry.

    The establishment of a permanent Public Advocate alongside the ability to have additional experts builds on the Government’s original commitment by making sure victims receive the best support possible from a range of different professions, backgrounds, and geographical areas.

    When the Public Advocate is not deployed, the person in the role will be expected to build relationships with public bodies involved in major incident response. This will help ensure they have a good understanding of the different roles, responsibilities and processes that follow a disaster.

    Further information

    • The definition of a major incident for the Independent Public Advocate is an event that occurs in England or Wales and is declared in writing by the Secretary of State to have caused the death of or serious harm to a significant number of individuals. This would cover major incidents such as the Grenfell Tower fire, the Hillsborough disaster, and the Manchester Arena bombing.
    • Coronial jurisdiction is reserved for England and Wales and is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Therefore, it is within the competence of the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Executive to establish their own IPA.
    • The Independent Public Advocate will not act as a legal representative to victims.
    • Bishop Jones’ report entitled ‘The Patronising Disposition of Unaccountable Power’ included numerous first-hand accounts of the Hillsborough families’ encounters with private and public authorities. The report found failings in the way in which the bereaved families were treated by those in authority.
    • The creation of the Independent Public Advocate forms part of a wider set of recommendations made by Bishop James which the Government will respond to fully on 6 December.
    • Investigations relating to the IPA include statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 and inquests under the Coroner Justice Act 2009.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Consultation on tougher sentences for knife and domestic killers [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Consultation on tougher sentences for knife and domestic killers [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 November 2023.

    A consultation looking at whether cowardly domestic killers should receive tougher sentences if they subject their victims to a campaign of coercive and controlling abuse, has been launched by the Lord Chancellor today.

    • Public conversation launched on reforming murder sentencing
    • Consultation to consider raising starting points for killings with a history of coercive and controlling abuse or with a weapon
    • Move latest step in Government’s plan to tackle domestic abuse and violence against women and girls

    Ministers will also consider whether murderers who use a knife or another weapon already at the crime scene to kill should also face steeper starting points – a change that could result in higher minimum terms in these cases.

    Every year, around 90 people – overwhelmingly women – are killed by their current or ex-partner, with most of these murders taking place in the home. And when a weapon is used – often a kitchen knife – it is normally already at the scene.

    This means that although weapons are used, these offences generally do not qualify for a higher starting point – with a discrepancy of up to ten years compared with murders where a weapon is taken to the scene.

    Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said:

    “It is shocking that around 1 in 4 murders are committed by a current or former partner, or relative.

    This Government has already gone further than ever to protect women and girls, with tough new protection orders plus laws to ensure abusers and killers spend longer behind bars.

    To make sure sentencing policy is meeting the threat, it is right to review this complex landscape so that the scourge of violence against women is tackled as coherently and effectively as possible.

    Currently, when a knife or other weapon is taken to the murder scene with intent, the starting point is 25 years. This reflects the increased risk to the public when knives are carried on the streets. Where a knife is used, but not taken to the scene, a 15-year starting point normally applies.

    Campaigners on this issue include Carole Gould and Julie Devey, whose daughters Ellie Gould and Poppy Devey Waterhouse were killed by their former partners using knives found in the home.

    Justice Minister, Gareth Bacon, said:

    For some evil people, murder is the brutal final act of a controlling and coercive relationship with their partner. It is only right we look at whether the sentences for these types of killings reflect this sustained and unacceptable abuse.

    This consultation builds on the action we are taking to clamp down on domestic homicide, by introducing new laws to punish abusers with longer jail terms, and better protect victims.

    The consultation reflects the Government’s determination to ensure the sentencing framework for murder properly punishes perpetrators of this horrific crime, while giving victims’ families the justice they deserve.

    In response to Clare Wade’s landmark independent review of sentencing in cases of domestic homicide, the Government has introduced a raft of measures to ensure sentences reflect the seriousness of the crime.

    This includes the introduction of new legislation which will make:

    • “Overkill” and previous controlling or coercive behaviour by the murderer a statutory aggravating factor resulting in longer sentences
    • A history of controlling or coercive behaviour a mitigating factor where the perpetrator was subject to this behaviour
    • Killing connected with the end of a relationship a statutory aggravating factor, through the Criminal Justice Bill

    The Domestic Homicide Sentence Review was commissioned in 2021 to examine whether the sentencing framework should be reformed to better reflect the seriousness of domestic homicide and to identify options for improvements.

    It followed a series of high-profile domestic murders and concerns from the then Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner about how these offences are handled by the justice system.

    This is the latest step in the Government’s commitment to be tough to keep the worst offenders locked up.

    The Government has already ended the automatic release of sex and terrorist offenders, brought in a minimum 14-year jail term for anyone convicted of serious terror offences and under the new Sentencing Bill, the most horrific murderers will spend the rest of their lives locked up, including for any murder involving sexual or sadistic conduct, while criminals who commit rape and other serious sexual offences will spend every day of their sentence behind bars.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister unveils £29.5bn of investment at historic Global Investment Summit [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister unveils £29.5bn of investment at historic Global Investment Summit [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 November 2023.

    Thousands of jobs will be created across the UK in our most innovative sectors, including tech, life sciences, renewables, housing and infrastructure.

    • PM announces world’s leading investors have committed £29.5bn in new UK projects and capital, triple the sum raised at the last Global Investment Summit in 2021.
    • Thousands of jobs will be created across the UK in our most innovative sectors, including tech, life sciences, renewables, housing and infrastructure.
    • More than 200 top CEOs and investors join leading lights in UK science, tech and creative industries at Hampton Court Palace.
    • Multi-billion-pound investments seal UK reputation as one of the best places in the world to do business after £20bn business tax cut and new Investment Zone for North-East.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has today (Monday 27 November) unveiled £29.5 billion of new investment for thriving UK sectors, as the world’s A-list CEOs and investors arrive at the Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace.

    Backing some of the fastest growing and most innovative sectors in the UK, the transformative investments have been secured for projects in tech, life sciences, infrastructure, housing and renewable energy – creating thousands of new jobs and driving growth across the country.

    The summit marks a huge step forward for levelling up, with more than 12,000 jobs being created from just some of today’s investments. This follows the government’s new £4.5 billion Advanced Manufacturing Plan, a £2 billion investment from Nissan which will secure thousands of jobs in Sunderland, and a new Investment Zone in the North East which will create 4,000 jobs.

    Nearly 9,000 jobs were created last year alone in the North West and North East from inward investment projects, with over 7,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber and 11,000 in the Midlands.

    The summit will be opened by the Prime Minister and Business & Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, with notable CEOs in attendance including Stephen Schwarzman from Blackstone, Amanda Blanc at Aviva, David Soloman from Goldman Sachs and Jamie Dimon at JP Morgan Chase.

    Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds Bank will also attend as Principal Partners of the Summit, which will celebrate “British Ideas – Past, Present and Future”, from the steam train to quantum computing. It will be followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by His Majesty the King.

    The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    Today’s investments, worth more than £29 billion, will create thousands of new jobs and are a huge vote of confidence in the future of the UK economy. Global CEOs are right to back Britain – we are making this the best place in the world to invest and do business.

    From giving businesses the biggest tax cut in recent history last week, to our culture of innovation and thriving universities producing some of the finest minds in the world, ours is truly a nation of opportunity.

    Attracting global investment is at the heart of my plan for growing the economy. With new funding pouring into key industries like clean energy, life sciences and advanced technology, inward investment is creating high-quality new jobs and driving growth right across the country.

    The new wave of investments come after the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled the biggest business tax cut in modern history at last week’s Autumn Statement with a permanent extension of capital allowances, £4.3 billion of business rates support and a £7 billion Growth Fund.

    It was also confirmed that Freeport tax reliefs would be extended from five to 10 years, with new government data confirming that UK freeports have attracted nearly £2.9 billion of investment in just two years, creating 6,000 jobs.

    In a huge boost for Net Zero and the UK’s world-leading renewables sector, Iberdrola have confirmed £7 billion of investment as part of a total £12 billion programme for 2024-28, with North Star, owned by Partners Group in Switzerland, also committing £500 million and 400 new jobs to offshore wind infrastructure.

    Fellow portfolio company Gren has also recently acquired a network of waste and biomass assets, which play a key role in baseload energy production and reducing waste to landfill. The company plans to invest up to £1 billion in district heating and local energy systems that will deliver affordable green energy to over 200,000 homes and thousands of businesses in the UK, with sites among others in Wick, Sheffield and Nottingham.

    The lucrative projects come on the back of a huge spike in inward investment for renewables in the UK, rising from £19 billion in 2021 to £55 billion in 2022, with 11,500 jobs being created in the industry last year alone.

    Business & Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

    The £29.5 billion pledged today is yet another huge vote of confidence in our dynamic, pro-business and highly innovative economy and proves that our plan for growth is working.

    The numbers speak for themselves: we have the third highest levels of inward investment in the world at $2.7 trillion, we’re number one in Europe for new investment projects, and last year alone we created 107,000 jobs through inward investment.

    People want to invest in a country with vision, ideas and growth, and our Summit showcases all these qualities and proves why the UK is the most exciting and innovative place in the world to invest.

    Australia’s IFM Investors also intend to invest £10 billion over the next four years for large-scale infrastructure and energy transition projects.

    IFM will sign an MoU with the Department for Business & Trade at the summit to identify commercially viable opportunities, with potential projects including Nala Renewables, a UK-based portfolio company within IFM, which is actively seeking investment opportunities in the UK as it looks to achieve a renewable capacity target of 4GW by 2025.

    David Neal, CEO of IFM Investors said:

    Australia’s ‘super funds’ system can be a trusted long-term partner with the United Kingdom. We’re proud to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government, which is a signal of the confidence IFM and Australian super funds have in the UK as a place to invest.

    Our presence in the UK continues to grow and we look forward to working closely with the Government to drive investment into large-scale infrastructure and energy transition projects across equity and debt funding.

    Partnerships between governments and long-term investors are necessary to unlock the potential of pension funds to invest in system-level risks such as climate change.

    And in a further boost from Australia, Aware Super have committed more than £5 billion for projects in energy transition, affordable housing, life sciences, innovation, technology and digital infrastructure, just days after opening their new UK office.

    Aware Super Chief Executive Officer Deanne Stewart said:

    We are thrilled to announce our commitment to the UK, one of the world’s most important and vibrant capital markets, with the opening of our first international office.

    The benefits arising from the Australia – UK Free Trade Agreement, the ease of doing business in the UK, closely aligned culture, proximity to Europe and Northern America, and warm support from both the Department for Business & Trade and the City of London were also compelling factors in our decision to invest here.

    The summit will also see billions for the UK’s burgeoning tech sector, which already attracts the highest levels of investment in Europe and last year became the third in the world to be worth $1 trillion.

    Following the success of the UK Government’s first-ever AI safety summit, Microsoft has pledged £2.5 billion to build critical AI infrastructure, bringing more next-generation AI datacentres and thousands of graphic processing units to the UK. This will boost the UK’s AI Superpower status, which generated over £10 billion of revenue from AI companies last year.

    The UK’s R&D scene will also see a £1 billion investment from the Ellison Institute of Technology into their recently announced Oxford Campus, bringing together global innovative thinkers through a new interdisciplinary research and development facility to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.

    Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), which is showcasing at the GIS, has also announced it is raising $106 million (£85 million) for R&D projects. Quantum computing is a rapidly growing sector that has the most start-ups in Europe, and is destined for £2.5 billion of public and private investment under the Government’s National Quantum Strategy.

    Ilana Wisby, CEO of Oxford Quantum Circuits, said:

    To solve the world’s most pressing challenges – from climate change to accelerated drug discovery – we need to put quantum computers in the hands of humanity and at the fingertips of our most brilliant minds.

    We’re proud to be pioneering enterprise ready quantum with our customers, partners and investors.

    And BioNTech, an international leader in the biotechnology industry and developer of the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, has announced it intends to expand its global R&D activities with a new laboratory in Cambridge as well as a centre of expertise for Artificial Intelligence in London.

    This will be implemented through a rolling 10-year investment of approximately £1 billion, creating an additional 400 highly skilled jobs. It follows a major agreement between the Government and BioNTech SE this summer to provide up to 10,000 patients with precision cancer immunotherapies by 2030.

    Sean Marett, Chief Business Officer & Chief Commercial Officer at BioNTech SE, said:

    BioNTech and the UK Government share a common goal – to improve the life of people by advancing healthcare.

    Today’s news underlines that both BioNTech and the UK Government care about improving the outcomes for patients in the upcoming years as well as for generations to come.

    A £1 billion investment from Dutch company Yondr will also turbocharge the UK’s tech and data capabilities, with a new 30MW datacentre in Slough that will create over 3,500 jobs, and clean energy-tech company Aira will also spur levelling up across the country by investing £300 million into heat pump rollouts, new jobs and upskilling.

    The investment will support their goal of helping one million UK customers switch from gas boilers to heat pumps, create 8,000 green jobs and expand their Aira Academies to train and upskill plumbers and electricians for product installation.

    Martin Lewerth, Aira Group CEO, said:

    The UK is a crucial market to decarbonise, being one of Europe’s most populated countries and with the lowest heat pump penetration rate of just 1%.

    We are excited to introduce Aira’s innovative home energy solution in the UK, and we are confident that our offering and value proposition, which includes substantial consumer cost savings, no need for lifestyle changes, and a zero upfront payment model, will be well-received.

    Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

    The UK is a world-leader in renewable energy and green industries. We have attracted £200bn in low carbon investment since 2010, with another £100bn expected by 2030, as we lead the second industrial revolution.

    Aira’s £300m investment in the UK heat pump industry and creation of 8,000 jobs is a helpful contribution to our green ambitions, offering a cleaner heat source for our homes and growing the economy.

    Families will benefit from lower heat pump prices with more trained installers and £7,500 grants through one of the most generous schemes in Europe.

    And in a further boost for communities, PATRIZIA have announced £100 million for the development of highly sustainable affordable and social housing in England to increase supply of quality housing at affordable prices around London and the south east of England.

    The programme has commenced with an investment to fund the development of 70 affordable homes in Milton Keynes.

    Wolfgang Egger, Founder of PATRIZIA, said:

    As a global real assets investor, PATRIZIA is thrilled to announce plans to invest £100 million into the development of highly sustainable, affordable housing in England.

    The programme will help address the acute shortage of good quality, affordable, EPC A rated family housing for renters, and provide additional investment in social infrastructure. The investment strategy is a joint venture between PATRIZIA’s dedicated impact fund, PATRIZIA Sustainable Communities, and Man Group’s UK Community Housing business.

    In a move to spur even more innovation and investment, the Government is also announcing the creation of three new regulatory sandboxes for hydrogen-powered aviation, autonomous marine vessels and drones, with Innovate UK launching a £110 million Investor Partnership for UK science and tech SMEs.

    The Department for Business & Trade have also convened an expert panel chaired by Professor Vanessa Knapp to explore options for a UK corporate re-domiciliation regime to make it easier for foreign companies to relocate to the UK.

    Further information

    The full list of investments secured for today’s summit are as follows:

    • £10bn – IFM Investors (Australia) – owned by Australian pension funds, the IFM MoU intends to invest in large-scale infrastructure and energy transition projects over the next four years.
    • £7bn – Iberdrola (Spain) – With more than £2bn already invested in the UK as part of its previously announced £6.7bn programme for the years 2023-25, the company has announced today plans for over £7bn more in the years 2026-28. This amounts to a £12bn investment programme for 2024-28. Around two-thirds of the 2024-28 investments will be dedicated to transmission and distribution electricity networks, driven by regulatory arrangements in place (RIIO T2 and RIIO ED2), as well as projects like the innovative £2.7bn Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) subsea transmission cable, which received regulatory approval this month.
    • £5bn – Aware Super (Australia) – for projects in energy transition, affordable housing, life sciences, innovation, technology and digital infrastructure, with a new UK office being opened last week.
    • £2.5bn – Microsoft (USA) – critical AI infrastructure, including next generation AI datacentres and thousands of graphic processing units in the UK. More details will be announced later this week.
    • £1.5bn – Companies owned by Partners Group (Switzerland) on behalf of its clients – Portfolio company North Star have committed £500m for offshore wind infrastructure over the next five years, creating 400 jobs in the UK, following a £200m investment for critical maritime infrastructure to Dogger Bank – the UK’s largest offshore wind farm. Additionally, portfolio company Gren have committed £1bn to support their ambition to invest in district heating and local energy systems that will deliver affordable green energy to over 200,000 homes and thousands of businesses. This is building on their network of 11 newly acquired waste and biomass fuelled assets, which play a key role in delivering baseload energy to customers, reducing waste and waste wood volumes to landfill.
    • £1bn – BioNTech SE (Germany) – intends to expand its global R&D activities with a new laboratory in Cambridge as well as a centre of expertise for AI in London. This would be implemented through a rolling 10-year investment of approximately £1 billion, creating an additional 400 highly skilled jobs. It follows a major agreement between the Government and BioNTech SE this summer to provide up to 10,000 patients with precision cancer immunotherapies by 2030. BioNTech currently employs more than 5,700 employees globally and conducts clinical trials in over 30 countries worldwide. Today’s news reflects BioNTech’s ambition to expand in the UK, subject to finalising terms, and follows BioNTech’s acquisition of UK-based InstaDeep Ltd. BioNTech could employ more than 500 people in the UK by 2033.
    • £1bn – Ellison Institute of Technology – investment at their recently announced Oxford Campus that will bring together global innovative thinkers to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. This includes the creation of a new scientific campus with AI GPU Supercluster lab, as well as the creation of the Ellison Scholars program to support up to 20 students per year at the University of Oxford including tuition, fees, and living expenses.
    • £1bn – Yondr (Netherlands) – a new datacentre in Slough, which will progress from being a 30MW site to 100MW. Over 1,000 direct jobs created during construction phase, 2,500 indirect jobs for the whole project.  Around 50 full time roles will be created during the operational period.
    • £300m – Aira Heat Pumps (Sweden) – investment over the next three years to progress work on helping one million UK customers switch to heat pumps. Over the next decade, Aira will create 8,000 new green jobs and invest in Aira Academies to upskill plumbers and electricians to install products.
    • £100m – PATRIZIA (Germany) – for the development of highly sustainable affordable and social housing in England to increase supply of quality housing at affordable prices around London and the south east of England. The programme has commenced with an investment to fund the development of 70 affordable homes in Milton Keynes.
    • £85m ($106m) – Oxford Quantum Circuits (UK, Reading) – will be the UK’s largest Series B in quantum computing, enabling industry-leading R&D that will further OQC’s ability to bring next generation platforms of hundreds of qubits to businesses globally.
    • £10m – MediaTek (Taiwan) – combined investment between MediaTek Research and MediaTek Capital in innovative UK tech companies over the next 5 years.