Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : UK to launch talks with Switzerland on new trade deal [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 May 2023.

UK Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, launches negotiations for a modern, updated free trade agreement with Switzerland.
- UK kickstarts negotiations on a modern free trade agreement with Switzerland
- Switzerland is the UK’s 10th largest trade partner, with trade worth almost £53 billion
- New deal will reinforce UK’s reputation as a services superpower, after a record high for services exports in 2022
Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch today [15 May] flies to Switzerland to launch negotiations on a new UK-Switzerland free trade agreement (FTA) to boost trade between the two services superpowers.

Switzerland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and the UK’s 10th largest trading partner. The two countries are among the world’s leading service economies, exporting almost £15 billion worth of services including financial, professional, legal, and architecture every year.

The current UK-Switzerland FTA is based on an EU-Swiss deal from more than 50 years ago – before the advent of the home computer or the internet – and does not cover services, investment, digital or data. With most of the UK’s services exports to Switzerland delivered electronically – almost 69% in 2020 – both sides are keen to rectify this in upcoming talks.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

As two of the world’s leading service economies, there’s a huge prize on offer to both the UK and Switzerland by updating our trading relationship to reflect the strength of our companies working in areas ranging from finance and legal, to accountancy and architecture.

The UK and Switzerland are natural trading partners and today’s launch will play to our strengths as services superpowers, while also boosting investment in emerging technologies, data innovation, and digital trade.

ONS figures published earlier this year showed UK services exports reaching record highs in 2022, totalling £397 billion – an increase of 20% compared to 2021 in current prices.

The Business and Trade Secretary will launch talks on the new, modernised deal with her counterpart Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin in Bern, the country’s capital city.

During her visit, Badenoch will also go to SIX, the operator of the Swiss Exchange, Europe’s 3rd biggest stock exchange and one of the industry’s most respected post-trade service providers.

Whilst at SIX she will visit the innovation accelerator Tenity where she will meet startups already operational in the UK including Enterprise Bot, Xworks, SmartPurse and Jrny.

A refresh of our trading relationship with Switzerland will add to the UK’s growing armoury of powerful service-focused deals by removing remaining market access barriers, improving regulatory cooperation and enabling UK firms to compete on an equal footing in Switzerland, now and in the future.

Switzerland’s demand for imports is expected to grow in real terms by 78% by 2050. The new deal could lower tariffs on UK exports to Switzerland, which could reduce annual duties for UK businesses by around £7.4 million.

It will also benefit the more than 14,000 UK businesses which already export goods to Switzerland, 86% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by creating simpler trade rules for products of origin, customs procedures and digitisation.

CEO of SIX, Jos Dijsselhof, said:

The new UK-Switzerland free trade agreement’s shared ambition hold also great importance for the financial sector, fostering cooperation, trade, and mobility.

SIX welcomes this move, supporting open and international capital markets, promoting healthy exchange and competition between the two major financial centres in Switzerland and the UK.

Switzerland is a key investment partner to the UK with the total stock of Swiss foreign direct investment in sectors such as textiles, chemicals, manufacturing and financial services worth £74 billion in 2021, while UK investment into Switzerland was worth £52 billion. A new FTA would look to boost this even further, helping facilitate more investment by Swiss companies into communities around the UK and seeking preferential terms for UK investors in Switzerland.

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

The UK and Switzerland are the two largest financial centres in Europe which means strengthening our services trade relationship is a top priority for the sector. An enhanced trade agreement would address key cross-cutting issues including mobility, data flows and digital trade to the benefit of both jurisdictions.

Negotiating a new free trade deal with Switzerland along with a ground-breaking mutual recognition agreement in financial services presents a unique opportunity to set a new paradigm for services trade, and would provide a template for the UK’s future trading relationships.

Alexander Dennis Fleet Sales Director, Matthew Lawrence, said:

We’re the world’s leading manufacturer of double-deck buses and bus companies in Switzerland and we supplied Swiss national operator PostAuto with a fleet of low-emissions Alexander Dennis double decker buses.

A free-trade agreement between the UK and Switzerland would benefit us and our Swiss customers in streamlining the supply of spare parts, while also opening up business opportunities for further British-built buses.

Executive Director of International Policy, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, Claire Machin, said:

Negotiation of an Enhanced Trade Agreement between the UK and Switzerland provides a pivotal opportunity for a world-leading agreement between two life science superpowers.

Prioritisation of life sciences in negotiations could help to boost the growth of our two innovation-intensive economies and set world-leading standards to encourage the creation and adoption of the next wave of scientific technologies.

During her visit to Switzerland, Badenoch will also meet with leading female business leaders at Advance, a network of close to 140 Swiss companies committed to increasing the share of women in management in Switzerland.
May 18, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak on diplomatic drive to push UK priorities on the world stage [May 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 May 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will undertake a packed tour of international engagements this week.
Prime Minister will travel to the Council of Europe followed by Tokyo and the G7 Summit in Hiroshima this week

The focus in Iceland will be on the threat posed by Russia and collective efforts to prevent illegal migration

In Japan, the PM will drive new investment wins and G7 action on economic security and support for Ukraine

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will undertake a packed tour of international engagements this week to drive economic growth and investment in the UK, shore up support for Ukraine and address critical global challenges like illegal migration.

On Tuesday [16th May], the Prime Minister will attend the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland. The Council of Europe is the continent’s oldest multilateral institution and has played a defining role promoting freedom and democracy for over 70 years.

He will use his engagements at the Summit to discuss the importance of strengthening Europe’s borders – tackling illegal migration and the threat posed by Russia to safeguard our security and prosperity.

The Prime Minister will then travel on to Tokyo for a bilateral visit ahead of the G7, where he is expected to announce new UK-Japan defence and technology collaboration and host a reception of business leaders to deliver major new investments into the UK.

After a day in Tokyo he will head to Hiroshima to attend the G7 Summit, in a historic first visit by a British Prime Minister to the city.

At the G7, the UK will galvanise international action on economic coercion by hostile states and shore up support for Ukraine, as they prepare for escalating military action against Russia’s war of aggression.

Speaking ahead of the visits, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“This week I will be travelling from Reykjavik to Hiroshima to drive global action on our most pressing priorities.

“Many of the challenges we are dealing with, from inflation to migration, must be solved by working closely with our international partners.

“I look forward to visiting Japan, a vital economic and defence partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific. This year’s G7 Summit in Hiroshima comes at a pivotal moment, as Ukraine doubles down in its fight for survival and we deal with complex threats to global peace and prosperity.”

In his first G7 Summit as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak will hold talks on Ukraine and Indo-Pacific security, economic policy and state threats, and global sustainable infrastructure investment. He is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings alongside the Summit sessions.

More detail on the Prime Minister’s visit to the Council of Europe and travel to Tokyo and Hiroshima will be set out in the week.
May 18, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ukrainian Culture Secretaries’ comment on Eurovision [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 May 2023.

Joint comment piece from Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and Ukraine Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko.

A year ago Ukraine’s rap-folk band, the Kalush Orchestra, put on a Eurovision performance that was as spirited as the fight that their compatriots are putting up on the battlefield. Ukraine deservedly won, and it was a victory that gave the whole country a lift. The sounds of cheering and celebration could be heard echoing round the cellars and shelters of Ukraine well after midnight.

In a peaceful world, this year’s contest would be taking place in Ukraine. Millions of people would be taking to the streets of Kyiv and lining the bars of cities like Dnipro, Kharkiv and Donetsk. But the barbaric war being waged by Vladimir Putin has made that impossible.

The United Kingdom has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine throughout this conflict, and the great city of Liverpool is honoured to host this year’s contest on behalf of our friends and partners, and to celebrate all that Ukraine represents. Liverpool is a special city. The renowned thinker and psychologist Carl Jung – a man immortalised on Matthew Street – famously visited the city in a dream, and even without ever having been to Liverpool, he knew that this city was ‘a pool of life.’ The city of the Beatles, and one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution, Liverpool has it all. A hugely vibrant cultural, music and nightlife scene, incredible architecture and a huge passion for sport.

The Eurovision Song Contest represents one of the best examples of how music can unite us all – reminding us that while we may speak different languages and come from different places, we all share the same spirit and joy of this occasion. Across Ukraine, the United Kingdom and all the other participating nations, we know people across the world will be following the Eurovision Song Contest and joining in what will be an unforgettable experience.

It takes a village to organise an event on this scale, so we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved. The organisers have pulled out all the stops to make sure that Ukrainian culture is front-and-centre throughout the contest, while also showcasing the very best that Liverpool and the UK have to offer. We thank both the BBC and the Ukrainian broadcaster, UA:PBC, who have worked seamlessly together in what is an unprecedented situation; and we are very grateful to the team in Liverpool who have put on such an incredible programme.

Eurovision is just one part of our cultural collaboration. Ukraine has led the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture together with the British Council, and the British government has been proud to lead global support for Ukrainian culture, sports and arts since the invasion, protecting priceless works of art held in Ukrainian museums, and assisting the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to share their music as they tour the UK this year. This collaboration will continue for long after the Eurovision winners are declared and the glitter settles on Saturday night.

So, get on your dancing shoes, warm up your vocal chords and enjoy the incredible show!

Slava Ukraini!

May 18, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Top UK labs to receive new equipment and upgraded facilities from £103 million government fund [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 May 2023.

UK science and research facilities will receive £103 million for upgrading the UK’s world class research infrastructure and opening the doors for new breakthroughs.
- £103 million funding to ensure UK’s best researchers have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities
- Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith, appointed on maternity cover, visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge
- the lab was one of several world class science institutions in the UK receiving a share of the UKRI funding
UK science and research facilities will receive a share of £103 million in government funding, aimed at upgrading the UK’s already world class research infrastructure and opening the doors for new scientific breakthroughs – Science and Technology Secretary has announced.

The investments will ensure UK researchers have access to the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science, helping to support world-changing scientific breakthroughs that can benefit us all while also meeting the PM’s priority to grow the economy and create jobs across the UK.

Funding recipients will use the investment to provide new state-of-the-art equipment for their world-leading scientists or upgrades to existing facilities, and they are based across the country, including in Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Leicester, Bristol, Hull, Nottingham, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Belfast, Warwick and Southampton.

The funding demonstrates the government’s continued backing for the UK science community, taking forward vision of the UK’s Science and Technology Framework published earlier this year to ensuring we have the infrastructure needed to attract talent and investment, and support world-leading science and innovation.

The £103 million additional funding support is comprised of £79.3 million as part of the £150 million in funding announced to address the impacts of the ongoing delay in UK association to the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and £23.7 million as part of the £370 million announcement to forge a better Britain through investment in science and technology.

Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said:

Our world-class science and technology sectors are the engine for growth in the UK economy, and the basis for scientific and technological advancements that will improve everyone’s lives.

These sectors need continued, concentrated backing from the government and I am determined to provide it during my time as Science and Technology Secretary, through funding such as this, which will ensure our world class labs have the infrastructure and equipment to match their status.

This comes alongside the first official visit conducted by Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith, who took over on 28 April as maternity cover for Michelle Donelan, ensuring the department’s work could continue in earnest over the next few months.

She was visiting the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, benefiting from the funding, where the Nobel prize-winning scientists have been pioneering electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM), a technique that allows scientists to study the structures of biological molecules, such as proteins and viruses, at extremely high resolution. They do this by freezing molecules to very low temperatures, then using a special microscope that shoots beams of electrons through the sample, which produces an image of the molecule.

The funding provided to the lab is being used on new state-of-the art equipment, enabling the scientists to see proteins in even greater detail, potentially giving them a much greater understanding of human diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

This could in turn revolutionise our approach to these preventable diseases, providing the basis for scientists to design more powerful drugs to prevent them, potentially improving and saving thousands of lives.

Some examples of funding recipients include:
- the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) for new equipment to enable a much greater understanding of human diseases and the design of powerful drugs against them
- the National Oceanography Centre’s state-of-the-art deep-sea research facility for a new sediment core scanner
- UK Digital Heritage Centre at the University of Liverpool to fund cutting edge facilities that will pioneer a new approach to preserving, promoting and progressing cultural heritage through technologies such as AI, Blockchain and the Metaverse
UKRI International Champion, Professor Christopher Smith, said:

This crucial support for UK research infrastructure is part of the package of support provided by government so that our research and innovation communities can carry on with their essential work notwithstanding the delay to association with Horizon Europe.

The investments, made across the UK, will provide UK researchers with advanced equipment, facilities and technology, and help maintain the UK’s position as a leader in research and innovation.

This support will ensure the UK is an attractive place for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live, work and innovate.
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government and British Overseas Territories leaders meet [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2023.

The Foreign Secretary joined elected leaders and representatives of the Overseas Territories for the tenth Joint Ministerial Council.

The Foreign Secretary joined elected leaders and representatives of the Overseas Territories in London for the Joint Ministerial Council (11-12 May), to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Territories.

Lord Goldsmith, Minister for the Overseas Territories, chaired the Plenary, with UK Ministers and representatives from Home Office, HM Treasury, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department of Health and Social Care, and Maritime & Coastguard Agency leading discussion sessions on a range of topics, including law enforcement and irregular migration, healthcare, climate change and economic resilience.

The Foreign Secretary announced the UK Government’s new Overseas Territories strategy, which was welcomed by attendees.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

This Joint Ministerial Council demonstrates the importance of the partnership between us – we are family and united by shared values.

I look forward to working together on the UK’s Overseas Territories strategy, solidifying our relationship on the principles of collaboration and mutual interest.

At the conclusion of the Joint Ministerial Council, UK Ministers and elected leaders of the Overseas Territories leaders agreed a joint communiqué.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK contributes to new OPCW’s Centre for Chemistry and Technology [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 May 2023.

The facility contains a new laboratory, Technology and Training Hub, indoor training area, and fit for purpose instruction space.
The UK is proud to have contributed over €1,000,000 to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ new Centre for Chemistry and Technology, opened in The Hague, Netherlands today. 64 nations contributed to the funding of the new centre.

UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie attended the facility’s inauguration – it houses a new Laboratory, Technology and Training Hub, indoor training area, and fit for purpose instruction space which will support knowledge sharing, scientific and technical collaboration, and capacity building activities.

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said:

Over 25 years ago, the Chemical Weapons Convention came into force, with the vow to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction, and much has been achieved in that time.

There is still work to be done, and that is why the UK remains committed to giving the OPCW our full support, including funding for this wonderful new centre which has opened today, which will help to deliver on the goal of a world free of chemical weapons.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty that aims to eliminate chemical weapons – a category of weapons of mass destruction.

The OPCW was created to ensure that the convention’s obligations are met and to support all 193 member states to implement the CWC. The Convention took effect in 1997, and since then over 70,000 tonnes of chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed.

Nations that are part of the convention work together to:

Destroy all existing chemical weapons verified by the OPCW

Monitor facilities to prevent weapons re-emerging

Provide assistance to member states against chemical threats

Foster international cooperation to strengthen the implementation of the convention and promote the peaceful use of chemistry.

The opening of the new centre comes ahead of the OPCW’s 5th Review Conference taking place next week (15 – 19 May) in The Hague. The conference is an opportunity for member states to review the last five years and set the strategic direction for the next five years.

The OPCW constantly upgrades its capabilities to ensure the Convention can have as great an impact as possible, and the UK continues to contribute and invest to eliminate chemical weapons.
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 43rd Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Serbia [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2023.

The UK delivered a statement during Serbia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The UK welcomes the adoption of a new law on Gender Equality, as well as amendments to the Anti-Discrimination law.

We have significant concerns over the protection of freedom of expression. We urge Serbia address political pressure and harassment of journalists and activists, including through the use of SLAPP lawsuits.

We note too the lack of transparency over revenue sources, and increasingly limited pluralism in the media.

We also note slow progress in securing accountability for the murders of journalists.

We recommend:

Ensure that all threats, intimidation and attacks against journalists and human rights defenders are investigated and brought to a timely conclusion.

Co-operate fully with the IRMCT and commit to prosecute suspected criminals, act to stem denial and relativisation of genocide and war crimes and end complacency towards graffiti celebrating convicted war criminals.

Strengthen the existing normative framework on gender equality, by securing reliable and disaggregated data on violence against women and girls in Serbia, including femicides.

Thank you.
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC52 Tunisia UPR Outcome Adoptions [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2023.

UK statement about Tunisia’s Universal Periodic Review Outcome Adoptions in March 2023. Due to time constraints, this was not delivered in the Council.

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom welcomes Tunisia’s engagement with the Universal Periodic Review, and its support for recommendations made on amending the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code in line with international standards, and establishing an independent national human rights institution, in line with the Paris Principles, and hope these steps will be taken promptly.

We reiterate our strong recommendation for Tunisia to end the trial of civilians in military courts, now more than ever. We note with concern the large numbers of arrests that have taken place since 11 February, the scope and breadth of which – many under wide-ranging anti-terrorism laws – raise concerns that the primary purpose of the arrests is to remove, or deter, political opposition.

The UK underlines the importance of a transparent, independent and efficient judiciary. We are concerned by recent comments by public figures that presume the guilt of people currently facing charges, and which speculate that judges who acquit suspects would themselves be guilty of a crime. The separation of powers is an essential pillar of a functioning democracy that serves its people.

We reiterate our commitment to work constructively with Tunisia in a partnership based on shared values, foremost among which is the protection of human rights.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK-France Cyber Dialogue [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2023.

The fourth UK-France Cyber Dialogue was held in Paris on 11 May 2023, in line with the commitment made at the 36th Franco-British Summit on 10 March 2023.

On this occasion, France and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to continue cooperation in the field of cyberspace to promote security and stability in a free, open, inclusive, non-fragmented and secure cyberspace. Both countries reaffirmed their engagement to uphold the normative framework based on international law that applies to the conduct of States in cyberspace.

During this dialogue, France and the United Kingdom shared their analysis of the threat and presented the latest developments in their respective cybersecurity policies. They exchanged on their priorities for the ongoing discussions in the various multilateral fora, in particular at the UN where they continue to coordinate their efforts to set up an ambitious Programme of Action on cybersecurity, as well as in the “multi-stakeholder” framework of the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace.

Following UK-France Joint Leaders’ Declaration of 10 March 2023, the two countries discussed the implementation of a joint initiative to take forward international action and our shared ambition to address the threat from commercial cyber proliferation, including commercial spyware.

The two countries also continued discussions on the prospects for strengthening bilateral coordination in response to cyber threats, including via cooperation for ensuring cybersecurity of major events and in the fight against cybercrime.

Finally, the British delegation was invited on Friday 12 May 2023 to visit the new Cyber Campus inaugurated in 2022 in the heart of La Défense. The two countries exchanged on their approaches to fostering the development of a cyber ecosystem

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : More cash to rescue Scottish community assets through UK fund [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 12 May 2023.

Even more community projects will be able to apply for UK Government’s expanded £150 million Community Ownership Fund.

More community projects are set to benefit from funding to rescue prized local assets, such as sports clubs, music venues and historic buildings, as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launches the third round of its £150 million Community Ownership Fund today (Friday 12 May).

Changes to the fund will make it easier than ever for community groups to secure local assets that are at risk of being lost forever – helping to strengthen and level up communities.

The amount of funding all projects can bid for will be increasing from £250,000 to £1 million, meaning that groups can bid for more funding to help save bigger projects from being lost.

The requirement for match-funding is also being reduced to as low as 10%, making it easier for communities to acquire assets without raising additional private funding.

For the first time, Scotland’s 1,200 Community Councils will also be able to apply to the Fund, which has previously only been available to charities and community groups.

The fund is already supporting 15 projects across Scotland with £3.1 million, including the UK’s most remote pub in Knoydart, the Lochranza Hotel Country Inn on Arran, Falkirk Rugby Football Club, and Inveraray Pier.

Minister for Levelling Up Dehenna Davison said:

From far-flung pubs to prized community centres, the Community Ownership Fund is putting vital assets back into the hands of communities, to be enjoyed for generations to come.

We want even more communities to benefit from the fund and that’s why we are making these changes so community groups can apply for even more money to save much loved local assets.

We will continue to grow this fund to empower local people, restoring their pride in the places where they live and levelling up communities across the United Kingdom.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

I wholeheartedly welcome the launch of the UK Government’s latest round of levelling up funding which so far has seen us invest £2.3 billion right across Scotland.

We’ve listened to feedback and made changes to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) so it is easier than ever for even more communities the length and breadth of the Scottish mainland and our islands to bid for funding to save local assets and grow the economy.

Scotland has already been awarded £3.1 million from COF across 15 projects and I want to see these figures surge upwards by community groups working with us to breathe new life into the places where they live, work and play.

The Fund is already helping communities across Scotland seize ownership of prized local assets that are at risk, including:
- Dornie Community Hub. £280,000
- The Old Forge, community owned pub. £219,096.
- Inveraray Pier. £44,332
- Langside Sports Club: Clubhouse and Pavilion Renovation. £100,000
- Lochranza Country Inn: A community buyout of the last remaining inn in the village. £300,000.
- Redevelopment of the New Farm Loch Community Centre. £200,000
- New Galloway Town Hall. £175,000
- Whithorn Town Hall. £300,000
- Forres Town Hall. £300,000
- Rannoch Hub: Establishing a pub and community centre in the Old School. £250,000
- The Aberfeldy Sports Club. £300,000
- Callander Visitor Information Centre. £124,843
- Falkirk Rugby Football and Sports Club, Sunnyside Pavilion. £115,000
- Heart of Newhaven Community: Develop the old primary school building into a community space. £300,000.
- Vogrie Hall Refurbishment. £127,251
Further information on these projects can be found on the UK Government’s map of levelling up projects in Scotland.

Director of Rugby Falkirk Rugby Kenny Grieve said:

Our project protects community access to a facility which was at risk of closure and enables us to transform it so that we can offer state-of-the-art changing rooms and a teaching space suitable for both male and female participation. It also provides new medical/physio facilities where we can assess any injuries and a new gym for strength, conditioning, and rehabilitation work.

All of this will be available for other sports groups beyond rugby to use, as well as wider community groups such as our local mental health charity, FDAMH, who can use the facilities to deliver their health, wellbeing and recovery programmes. Access to significant capital funding from the UK Government has been pivotal in turning our vision into reality.

The Old Forge Community Benefit Society said:

We are grateful to the Community Ownership Fund whose support helped The Old Forge Community Benefit Society to achieve its goal of a community-owned pub on the Knoydart Peninsula.

Inspire Inveraray Director Linda Divers said:

Inspire Inveraray are highly delighted to receive this funding. For a long time, the pier has been closed off and an eyesore, to see it open and restored for all to enjoy again will be a great asset to the local community and visitors.

We have all worked extremely hard to make this happen and being awarded this funding makes it worthwhile. Thank you, your funding is greatly appreciated.

Today’s announcement is part of the UK Government’s drive to level up local communities and boost local businesses. This will also contribute to the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.
May 17, 2023