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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : £60m to transform brownfield land and build 6,000 homes [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £60m to transform brownfield land and build 6,000 homes [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 9 October 2023.

    100 regeneration projects will support thousands of new jobs and boost communities.

    • 100 regeneration projects will support thousands of new jobs and boost communities.
    • Second phase of £180m Brownfield Land Release Fund will unlock sites as part of the long-term plan for housing.
    • Government on track to meet manifesto commitment of one million new homes this Parliament.

    More than 6,000 new homes will be built on brownfield sites, through money given to councils to transform unused land into beautiful and thriving neighbourhoods.

    Across the country, from Hull to Somerset, nearly 100 regeneration projects will receive £60 million from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

    The investment is part of the second phase of the £180 million Brownfield Land Release Fund, with cash going directly to councils so they can release the land and get building as soon as possible.

    Derelict car parks, industrial sites and town centre buildings that have fallen into disrepair will all benefit from the new funding, with the Government supporting communities to bring land back into use.

    The Government has been clear it has a brownfield-first approach to building the homes this country needs through its long-term plan for housing and today’s announcement will help deliver that.

    Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean MP said:

    We know we need to build more homes, but this cannot come at the expense of concreting over our precious countryside.

    That is why we are doing all we can to make sure we’re making use of wasteland and unused brownfield land, so we can turn these eyesores into beautiful and thriving communities.

    This is all part of our long-term plan for housing – making sure we deliver the homes we need across the country.

    Cabinet Office Minister, Alex Burghart MP:

    This funding will unleash the much-needed redevelopment of brownfield sites: stimulating growth and helping local areas reach their full potential.

    It’s fantastic news for business, and even better news for local people who will now see new investment, job opportunities, and family homes in their communities.”

    Projects that will benefit from the scheme include:

    • Newcastle: £1.82 million to boost wider regeneration by releasing a complex site to deliver 146 build-to-rent homes for communities in Benwell and Scotswood.
    • Hull: delivering 99 new homes for affordable rent on the site of a derelict school, backed by £980,000 Government funding to purchase the land as part of the city centre regeneration.
    • Sunderland: turning a former riverside industrial site that has been unused for over 20 years into 140 low-carbon build to rent homes at Farringdon Row, with £1.8 million for Sunderland Council to kick-start the project.

    Councillor Shaun Davies, Chair of the Local Government Association, said:

    We are delighted to continue our work with DLUHC, supporting councils to access the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

    Councils have continued to embrace opportunities to bring brownfield sites in their ownership forward for housing, and this fund plays a key role in helping councils to provide the types of homes their communities really need.

    This builds on the success of the first round of Brownfield Land Release Fund 2, where funding is enabling the release of land for almost 2,400 homes.

    To date, the fund is supporting at least 89 local authorities, over 160 projects, and providing almost £100 million to support councils to release land for almost 8,600 homes. At the same time, the £1 billion Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land Fund will unlock up to 65,000 new homes across England.

    The next round of funding through Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 will be announced later this year.

    The fund is part of the Government’s long-term plan for housing, setting out how it will deliver its manifesto commitment of 1 million homes over this Parliament. This is backed by £10 billion in housing supply interventions announced over this Parliament.

  • PRESS RELEASE : First ever hackathon in education to explore AI [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : First ever hackathon in education to explore AI [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 9 October 2023.

    Hackathon to test how artificial intelligence could reduce workloads and drive up standards.

    Teachers and school leaders from across England are set to participate in an artificial intelligence (AI) hackathon as part a two-day event to experiment with technology and identify how AI could supercharge education.

    Artificial intelligence is already having an impact on society, helping to grow the economy and deliver better public services. In education, the technology has huge potential ranging from supporting teachers with administrative tasks to providing personalised feedback for students on their work.

    In a bid to unlock these benefits, the Department for Education, in collaboration with Faculty AI, the National Institute of Teaching, and the AI in Schools Initiative, is set to host an AI hackathon in London on 30 and 31 of October which will bring together teachers and leaders from schools and trusts across England, including Harris Federation, Star Academies, Outwood Grange Academies Trust and Inspiration Trust.

    Participants will be asked to experiment with AI to test its potential in several scenarios, for example whether it could write a lesson plan or accurately mark exam papers.

    Secondary school pupils will also be invited to share their experiences and knowledge. The best of the solutions will be shared with the department’s workload reduction taskforce and a demo of the tools created will be made available for schools across the country to test and to use, supporting the government’s ambition to reduce working hours for teachers and leaders by five hours per week.

    Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, said:

    During my career in the tech business, I have seen innovation in action.

    Artificial intelligence has huge potential to transform the way we do things, from providing personalised support for pupils to helping tackle teacher workload.

    But to reap the benefits in education, we need to improve our understanding of how AI works and safely. Participants of the hackathons will be supported by Faculty AI and the National Institute of Teaching to experiment and put forward solutions, paving the way for the future.

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

    This hackathon will help explore how AI can be harnessed to revolutionise education.

    We want to see teachers using AI to speed up administrative tasks and planning so that they are free to focus on the things which make the biggest difference to students.

    We are also equipping the next generation with the AI skills they need for the future, with our AI conversion courses helping students gain technical knowledge in this transformative technology so they can compete and thrive in the workplace.

    Tom Nixon, Director of Government at Faculty AI, said:

    Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of our generation – and now is the time to safely bring its vast benefits to schools.

    From creating timetables and lesson resources, to supporting students with personalised feedback, AI has the power to cut workloads and improve young people’s education.

    The hackathon will be an important step in moving from rhetoric to reality, and we’re excited to help get these tools into classrooms.

    Dr Calum Davey, Executive Director of Research at the National Institute of Teaching said:

    We want to see a school system that nurtures the teachers and school leaders who are making a difference for children every day. Emerging AI technology may help with their work, but if it’s going to be useful and have an impact then schools need to led identification of problems and development of solutions.

    We are proud to work with Faculty to connect the experts in AI technology with the experts in the classroom. Our researchers will be listening to those involved and sharing what we learn.

    The UK is already a world leader in AI, spearheading the safe and responsible development of the technology. Ahead of the UK AI Safety Summit on 1 and 2 November, this work will mark an important step in ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of AI globally.

    As part of its work in this space, the Department for Education launched a call for evidence in June to gather views from educational professionals on risks, ethical considerations, and possibilities of AI in education. The results of the call for evidence will be published in November 2023 and alongside the results from this month’s hackathons, will support the government’s work to identify AI’s potential and ensure it advances in a safe, reasonable, and fair way.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Game-changing exascale computer planned for Edinburgh [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Game-changing exascale computer planned for Edinburgh [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 9 October 2023.

    Edinburgh has been selected to host a next-gen supercomputer fuelling economic growth, building on the success of a Bristol-based AI supercomputer, creating high-skilled jobs.

    • Edinburgh nominated to host next-generation compute system, 50 times more powerful than our current top-end system
    • national facility – one of the world’s most powerful – will help unlock major advances in AI, medical research, climate science and clean energy innovation, boosting economic growth
    • new exascale system follows AI supercomputer in Bristol in transforming the future of UK science and tech and providing high-skilled jobs

    Edinburgh is poised to host a next-generation compute system amongst the fastest in the world, with the potential to revolutionise breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, medicine, and clean low-carbon energy.

    The city has been named as the preferred choice to host the new national exascale facility, as the UK government continues to invest in the country’s world-leading computing capacity – crucial to the running of modern economies and cutting-edge scientific research.

    Exascale is the next frontier in computing power, where systems are built to carry out extremely complex functions with increased speed and precision. This in turn enables researchers to accelerate their work into some of the most pressing challenges we face, including the development of new drugs, and advances in nuclear fusion to produce potentially limitless clean low-carbon energy.

    The exascale system hosted at the University of Edinburgh will be able to carry out these complicated workloads while also supporting critical research into AI safety and development, as the UK seeks to safely harness its potential to improve lives across the country.

    Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    If we want the UK to remain a global leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation, we need to power up the systems that make those breakthroughs possible.

    This new UK government funded exascale computer in Edinburgh will provide British researchers with an ultra-fast, versatile resource to support pioneering work into AI safety, life-saving drugs, and clean low-carbon energy. It is part of our £900 million investment in uplifting the UK’s computing capacity, helping us forge a stronger Union, drive economic growth, create the high-skilled jobs of the future and unlock bold new discoveries that improve people’s lives.

    Computing power is measured in ‘flops’ – floating point operations – which means the number of arithmetic calculations that a computer can perform every second.  An exascale system will be 50 times more powerful than our current top-end system, ARCHER2, which is also housed in Edinburgh.

    The investment will mean new high-skilled jobs for Edinburgh, while the new national facility would vastly upgrade the UK’s research, technology and innovation capabilities, helping to boost economic growth, productivity and prosperity across the country in support of the Prime Minister’s priorities.

    UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said:

    State-of-the-art compute infrastructure is critical to unlock advances in research and innovation, with diverse applications from drug design through to energy security and extreme weather modelling, benefiting communities across the UK.

    This next phase of investment, located at Edinburgh, will help to keep the UK at the forefront of emerging technologies and facilitate the collaborations needed to explore and develop game-changing insights across disciplines.

    Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, said:

    We have already seen the vital work being carried out by ARCHER2 in Edinburgh and this new exascale system, backed by the UK government, will keep Scotland at the forefront of science and innovation. As well as supporting researchers in their critical work on AI safety this will bring highly skilled jobs to Edinburgh and support economic growth for the region.

    The announcement follows the news earlier this month that Bristol will play host to a new AI supercomputer, named Isambard-AI, which will be one of the most powerful for AI in Europe. The cluster will act as part of the national AI Research Resource (AIRR) to maximise the potential of AI and support critical work around the safe development and use of the technology.

    Plans for both the exascale compute and the AIRR were first announced in March, as part of a £900 million investment to upgrade the UK’s next-generation compute capacity, and will deliver on two of the recommendations set out in the independent review into the Future of Compute.

    Both announcements come as the UK prepares to host the world’s first AI Safety Summit on 1 and 2 November. The summit will bring together leading countries, technology organisations, academics and civil society to ensure we have global consensus on the risks emerging from the most immediate and rapid advances in AI and how they are managed, while also maximising the benefits of the safe use of the technology to improve lives.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £89 million of funding to develop cutting edge new electric vehicle technology [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £89 million of funding to develop cutting edge new electric vehicle technology [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 October 2023.

    £89 million of funding has been awarded to 20 cutting edge net zero tech projects, reinforcing the UK as a world leader in zero emissions vehicle technology.

    • £89 million in joint government and industry funding to help the UK lead the way on cutting edge net zero tech, creating jobs and helping to grow the economy.
    • 20 projects across four competitions include developers of revolutionary new offroad vehicles, net zero tractors and groundbreaking new EV battery systems.
    • Funding from one competition alone could create or safeguard over 4,700 UK jobs and save nearly 65 million tonnes of CO2 being emitted over next decade.

    £89 million of funding has been awarded to 20 cutting edge net zero tech projects including hydrogen-powered offroad vehicles, a new lithium scale-up plant and revolutionary new EV battery systems, reinforcing the UK as a world leader in zero emissions vehicle technology.

    The landmark funding package includes four collaborative R&D projects, five scale-up projects to assess if businesses in the automotive sector are ready for growth, and seven feasibility studies to prepare projects to develop large-scale manufacturing facilities in the UK.

    The funding has been awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), in support of ambitions to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the UK. £45.2 million of this investment comes from Government, backed by a further £42.7 million from the automotive industry.

    Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

    Together with industry, we’re providing a huge £89 million of funding to drive 20 groundbreaking net zero tech projects which will help grow the economy and create UK jobs in the industries of the future.

    From net zero tractors to cutting-edge battery projects, we’re taking decisive action to back the UK’s innovators and ensure we remain at the forefront of zero emission vehicle technology.

    From luxury cars to workhorse excavators, the latest in collaborative R&D support via the APC – worth over £67 million – will accelerate the development of zero emission technology in the UK, safeguarding and creating jobs and supporting investment in cutting edge R&D.

    Winners of the latest collaborative R&D competition funding include Aston Martin, who are accelerating the development of a luxury battery electric vehicle platform and Perkins, who will develop a net-zero, hydrogen-hybrid integrated power system for offroad vehicles.

    The projects are estimated to create or safeguard more than 4,700 jobs in total and save nearly 65 million tonnes of CO2 being emitted over the next decade as a result of the work undertaken by these four R&D projects alone.

    APC Chief Executive Ian Constance said:

    This latest round of funding coincides with the APC’s 10th anniversary. We have seen over £1.4 billion of investment into automotive projects since the APC was set up, and I am proud of the impact that we have made here in the UK.

    This latest announcement includes a diverse set of OEMs and suppliers that demonstrate the strength of UK automotive. They will further add to our portfolio of innovative projects and continue to drive the UK to deliver on its net zero ambition.

    £11.3 million has also been awarded to 12 UK-based projects funded through the second instalment of the SuRV (Scale-up Readiness Validation) competition and the fourth round of the APC’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) feasibility studies competition.

    The ATF’s Scale-up Readiness Validation (SuRV) projects will support scale-up projects to assess if businesses in the UK automotive supply chain are ready for growth and expansion.

    Projects include Green Lithium who plan to build a lithium scale-up plant in Teesside, and Ilika Technologies who are working to accelerate the scale-up of Ilika’s solid state battery technology.

    The ATF Feasibility Studies will produce decision-ready business cases, in preparation for projects which will develop large-scale manufacturing facilities in the UK.

    The seven projects include Cornish Lithium, who are establishing a lithium processing plant in the UK to produce anode material for EV batteries, and Aberdeen Minerals Limited for the study of innovative mineral processing routes.

    The support delivered through the APC is unlocking further private investment and supports the government’s ambitions to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emissions vehicles in the UK.

    Today’s announcement comes on top of funding also being invested by the Government through the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to develop a high-value end-to-end electrified automotive supply chain in the UK.

    This includes unlocking private investment in gigafactories, battery material supply chains, motors, power electronics, and fuel cell systems. The ATF is being delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the APC.

    Also announced today are the winners of the Niche Vehicle Network (NVN) Production Readiness Competition, sponsored by the APC and supported by Innovate UK, provides grant funding to UK SMEs leading the way in sustainable, cutting-edge technology design.

    A total of £1.1 million in grant funding has been awarded to four projects, including a zero emission Ariel Nomad – a low volume performance offroad vehicle – featuring a highly optimised EV powertrain, and also a UK-made electric scooter from Swifty Scooters, which is optimised for superior rider safety and ensures a long product lifespan.

    After engagement with industry, DBT is building on programmes like the Advanced Propulsion Centre and taking decisive action to ensure future investment in zero emission vehicle manufacturing.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors:

    A full breakdown of the winning projects is included below.

    APC Collaborative R&D (APC23) projects led by:

    Aston Martin: Accelerate the development of a luxury battery electric vehicle platform, enabling a route to net zero, including vehicle lightweighting, a digital toolchain and electrification training.

    Yasa: Makers of the world’s lightest in-wheel electric motor and acquired by Mercedes in 2021, is focused on creating an innovative combined electric propulsion & handling system, which aims to revolutionise existing EV (Electric Vehicle) systems.

    Gestamp’s Autotech Engineering R&D UK: Leads a consortium on a project to create new design methodologies, processes, and materials for reduced embodied carbon footprint in product designs.

    Perkins: The historic British engine maker, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, will develop a net-zero, hydrogen-hybrid, integrated power system for off-highway vehicles.

    Automotive Transformation Fund Scale-up Readiness Validation (SuRV2) projects:

    Helix: Hx-SuRV2: Validating Helix’s readiness for the scale-up of high power-density and scalable electric motor platforms focusing on ‘high-premium’ automotive applications.

    Green Lithium Refining: Green Lithium plans to build a lithium scale-up plant in Teesside. The plant will support the commissioning and training of a skilled workforce for its full-scale plant in Teesside, which will produce enough refined lithium to enable the downstream production of over 1 million electric vehicles.

    Advanced Electric Machines: Project SIMPLE aims to establish an efficient, scalable UK-based manufacturing process for sustainably produced traction motor systems in electric passenger vehicles.

    Geothermal Engineering: Geothermal Engineering Limited will use this award to install Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) at the UK’s first deep geothermal power plant at the United Downs Industrial Park in Cornwall.

    Ilika Technologies: Ilika Technologies, UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and MPAC are partnering in project SiSTEM to accelerate the scale-up of Ilika’s solid state battery technology.

    Automotive Transformation Fund Feasibility Study projects (FS4) projects:

    Gaussion: Magneto-enhancement technology for solid-state batteries.

    Talga Anode UK: Assessing the feasibility of production of anode materials from recycled graphite and a graphite-silicon composite anode material using in-situ silicates from Talga’s Swedish graphite ore.

    Altilium: Partnering with Lunaz to develop an innovative and sustainable solution for the safe transportation and discharging of end-of-life EV batteries.

    Strip Tinning: This project will study the feasibility of investing in very high-volume manufacturing of their Cell Contacting and Management System. The CCMS is a safety-critical component of the power electronics system of Battery Electric Vehicles.

    Greenroc Mining: Establishing a graphite processing plant in the UK to produce anode material for EV batteries from graphite concentrate from the Amitsoq Graphite Project in southern Greenland.

    Cornish Lithium: Focusing on commercial extraction of lithium and other battery metals in Cornwall, notably the Trelavour hard-rock lithium mica deposit near St Austell. Funding to understand the available lithium in the ground and how much can be produced & a life cycle assessment will quantify environmental impacts.

    Aberdeen Minerals:Study of innovative mineral processing routes to accelerate the low-carbon production of cathode raw materials from Northeast Scotland.

    Niche Vehicle Network (NVN) Production Readiness Competition winners:

    Ariel Electric with partners Rockfort Engineering and BAMD: Developing a zero emission Nomad, ZELV3, featuring a highly optimised EV powertrain and a lightweight aerodynamic body that improves vehicle efficiency.

    Maeving with project partners Alexander Technologies and Muon Tech: Developing a new, higher energy density, removable battery system, with improved thermal performance, for lightweight electric motorcycle. The project will move their battery production from a Far Eastern to a UK based supplier, supporting their ambition to make Britain a leading manufacturer of electric motorcycles.

    CALLUM with partners Nyobolt and Codem: Developing a lightweight, rapid-charge, electric all-terrain vehicle (ATV), which will better the performance attributes of ICE ATVs that currently dominate the market.

    Swifty Scooters with partners Chasestead and PMBL: Developing a UK made electric scooter optimised for superior rider safety and ensures a long product lifespan by way of premium build quality and enabling fix and repair within both the scooter design and battery design.

    About the Advanced Propulsion Centre

    The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) collaborates with UK government, the automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialisation of technologies, supporting the transition to deliver net-zero emission vehicles.

    Since its foundation in 2013, APC, through government, has funded 261 low-carbon projects involving 480 partners, working with companies of all sizes, and will have helped to create or safeguard over 58,000 jobs in the UK. The technologies developed in these projects are projected to save over 400 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of removing the lifetime emissions from 16.1 million cars.

    With its deep sector expertise and cutting-edge knowledge of new propulsion technologies, APC’s role in building and advising project consortia helps projects start more quickly and deliver increased value. In the longer term, its work to drive innovation and encourage collaboration is building the foundations for a successful and sustainable UK automotive industry.

    In 2019 the UK government committed the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to accelerate the development of a net-zero vehicle supply chain, enabling UK-based manufacturers to serve global markets. ATF investments are awarded through the APC to support strategically important UK capital and R&D investments that will enable companies involved in batteries, motors and drives, power electronics, fuel cells, and associated supply chains to anchor their future.

    For more information go to apcuk.co.uk or follow us @theapcuk on X and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK on LinkedIn.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel [October 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 October 2023.

    The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel.

    He reaffirmed that the UK will stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. The Prime Minister offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs.

    The Prime Minister outlined the diplomatic work the UK is doing to ensure the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these appalling attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s support.

    The Prime Minister also stressed his commitment to ensuring the Jewish community in the UK feels safe and secure at this time.

    The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as the situation develops.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada [October 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 October 2023.

    The Prime Minister spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this evening.

    Prime Minister Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India.

    The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

    He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK reinforcements arrive in Kosovo for NATO peacekeeping mission [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK reinforcements arrive in Kosovo for NATO peacekeeping mission [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 October 2023.

    The first British soldiers of a two hundred-strong deployment arrived in Pristina today to reinforce NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission.

    The deployment is based on a request by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and comes after the violent attack on Kosovo Police on 24 September and increased tensions in the region.

    The soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment are joining a more than 400-strong British contingent already in Kosovo as part of an annual exercise. That contingent has remained in Kosovo to support stability. The peacekeeping force will include not only troops, but also hundreds of vehicles arriving by sea freight.

    Under NATO command, the forces will be available to conduct operations in accordance with KFOR’s mandate to maintain a safe and secure environment and ensure freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The UK is a leading NATO Ally. Within a few days, the UK has responded to NATO’s call for reinforcements and deployed 200 additional soldiers from the First Battalion Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment for the Kosovo Force (KFOR). This shows the agility of the UK’s Armed Forces.

    As the best of the best, I know our soldiers will do the UK proud.

    NATO has been leading a peacekeeping operation in Kosovo since 1999 in accordance with its mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. KFOR currently consists of more than 4,500 troops contributed by 27 NATO Allies and partners.

    The UK contributes to the full spectrum of KFOR’s work, with two intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) units deployed, UK staff officers assigned to the mission headquarters as well as a Strategic Reserve Force commitment, which currently rests with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. The UK commitment to KFOR was extended in May 2023 when the Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey announced the UK would continue to contribute to the NATO mission until at least 2026.

    The UK is also working closely with international partners to urge Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate tensions and return to dialogue. The Prime Minister spoke to both President Vucic of Serbia and President Osmani of Kosovo, at the European Political Community meeting in Granada yesterday, encouraging de-escalation. Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, is also due to meet Serbian and Kosovan Foreign Ministers in the Albanian capital today during a meeting of the Berlin Process, a forum focused on fostering increased regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. This builds on the work of Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Lord Peach, who regularly engages with both Serbian and Kosovan stakeholders to promote regional stability.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement on the UK – U.S. SME Dialogues – California [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement on the UK – U.S. SME Dialogues – California [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 6 October 2023.

    Statement follows the seventh meeting of the UK – U.S. SME Dialogues in Indio, California.

    On 5 October 2023, the 7th UK – U.S. SME Dialogue was held in Indio, California with over 70 UK and U.S. small and medium sized businesses and business organisations participating.

    The Dialogue was hosted by the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians, and is convened by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration with the Department for Business and Trade.

    Since its inception in 2018, the UK – U.S. SME Dialogue has continued to bring together small and medium sized businesses on both sides of the Atlantic with UK and U.S. government representatives to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs looking to export across the Atlantic. SMEs are the backbone of the UK-U.S. trading relationship, and the Dialogue reflects the ongoing commitment from both countries to supporting and enhancing UK – U.S. SME trade.

    During the Dialogue, a series of panel discussions covered opportunities for SMEs looking to grow through UK – U.S. trade. Attendees discussed the opportunities for SMEs in services trade and opportunities in the green technology sector that can contribute to energy and climate solutions. SMEs also raised their concerns about the barriers they face in exporting and importing, including access to SME finance.

    A key focus of the Dialogue was how the UK and U.S. governments can support small businesses, including those owned by under-represented groups and women entrepreneurs, and those in disadvantaged communities, to take advantage of export resources. During the Dialogue, and following a commitment made at the 6th SME Dialogue 2022 held in Edinburgh, the UK announced the launch of updated resources that provide advice and support for SMEs wanting to export to the U.S.

    • Doing Business Toolkit: This toolkit contains advice, Top Tips and resources for SMEs looking to grow their business in the UK and export to exciting markets such as the U.S.
    • E-Commerce Toolkit: Advice for UK SMEs selling online to the U.S.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Appalling attacks on Hroza and Kharkiv: UK statement to the OSCE [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appalling attacks on Hroza and Kharkiv: UK statement to the OSCE [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2023.

    Ambassador Neil Holland says Russia’s latest attacks against Ukraine demonstrate the depths of depravity Russian forces are willing to sink to.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. When we met yesterday many of us spoke of Russia’s appalling attacks on civilians in Ukraine. We spoke of our concerns for the approaching winter and our determination to support Ukraine to succeed and prevail in the face of Russia’s aggression. It turned out that, even as we gathered in this room, Russia was instigating further unspeakable attacks in which civilians would bear the brunt of this horror.

    The village of Hroza has been added to the growing list of places which many of us have come to know for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday afternoon, in this small community, a café and grocery store were destroyed, killing at least 51 people including a child.

    We understand that there is no family from Hroza left untouched by this horrific attack. As my Prime Minister said this attack has “demonstrated the depths of depravity Russian forces are willing to sink to.” Those responsible for such an abhorrent attack will face justice. To this end, we welcome the deployment of a field team by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the attack.

    In the early hours of this morning, the city of Kharkiv was dealt another brutal attack, this time on the city itself. It is reported that a 10-year-old boy was killed when a residential building was hit and more than 20 people were injured.

    The UK is appalled by the barbaric killing of civilians including children. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and loved ones at this harrowing time.

    The UK and our international partners have met too many times in this room, to condemn Russia’s latest atrocities. We cannot allow such actions to become acceptable or normal. Each time we meet reinforces our strong commitment that those responsible will be held accountable. The UK remains unwavering in its support for the people of Ukraine, as they resist Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion. We are fully committed to working with our partners to support Ukraine to achieve a long lasting and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Court orders drug dealer, Joshua Poulton, spend longer in prison [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Court orders drug dealer, Joshua Poulton, spend longer in prison [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General on 6 October 2023.

    A drug dealer who sold cocaine worth nearly half-a-million pounds before fleeing to evade arrest has his sentence increased after Court of Appeal intervened.

    Joshua Poulton (28), from Solihull, has had his 12-and-a-half year sentenced increased to 15 years and three months after the Solicitor General referred his conviction as being unduly lenient.

    The court heard that following the imprisonment of a relative, Poulton took a leading role in a drugs operation.

    Poulton employed two men to act as couriers and over seven weeks between October and November 2021, he sold at least 35kg of cocaine worth £470,000 to a number of organised crime groups.

    When Poulton realised the police wanted to arrest him, he fled the country travelling to several locations, including the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Portugal, and the United States.

    Poulton was later detained in Spain and extradited to the UK in December 2022 to appear in court.

    The Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said:

    Illegal drugs harm our communities and are often a catalyst for other crimes. The offender was selling vast quantities of class A drugs, and I did not believe his sentence reflected the severity of his crimes.

    Thankfully the court agreed and in increasing his sentence, I hope this sends a warning to drug dealers that we will use all our powers to put a stop to your criminal enterprises.

    Poulton was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court on 18 July 2023.

    On Friday 6 October 2023, the Court of Appeal increased Poulton’s sentence to 15 years and three months imprisonment after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.