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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Poland partnership to provide homes and power to Ukraine [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Poland partnership to provide homes and power to Ukraine [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    The UK has announced up to £10 million in funding to support a new UK-Polish partnership which will provide shelter and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russian attacks.

    • New partnership backed by up to £10 million in UK funding announced to provide shelter and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russian attacks.
    • UK-Poland partnership will provide vital temporary housing in purpose-built villages for more than 700 of the most vulnerable displaced people in Ukraine.
    • Generators to meet urgent power needs will also be provided following Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over winter.

    The UK and Poland will build two major temporary villages in west and east Ukraine to provide vital housing to those forced from their homes by barbaric Russian attacks. The UK has announced up to £10 million in funding to support the new UK-Polish partnership, which will deliver temporary shelters, energy supplies and assistance to those who have lost their homes since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    The two accommodation villages in Lviv, in western Ukraine, and Poltava, in the east will offer accommodation for more than 700 of the most vulnerable Ukrainians who have fled heavy fighting on the frontlines or lost their homes due to Russian shelling.

    More than 17.6 million people are thought to be in humanitarian need in Ukraine, with more than eight million having registered as refugees in Europe – the largest movement in Europe since the Second World War. Nearly 50% of Ukraine’s pre-war population is in need of humanitarian assistance due to the catastrophic impact of President Putin’s invasion.

    Around 6 million people are currently displaced within Ukraine, having been forced to leave their homes and facing freezing winter condition due to the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a total violation of the UN Charter and international law.

    Ongoing Russian targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has also left nearly 10 million people without power. Widespread power cuts, some lasting eight to twelve hours a day, have forced families to resort to desperate measures for survival, like melting snow for water and heating bricks for warmth.

    The UK-Poland partnership will also provide £2.6 million worth of generators to support up to 450,000 people via schools, hospitals and community centres in re-taken and frontline areas, including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson. The UK and Poland are also working with the Ukrainian Red Cross, donating up to £2.5 million to support those living through extreme cold in harsh winter conditions.

    UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    For the past year, Putin has continued to target civilian homes and infrastructure, with the Ukrainian people paying a heavy price. This new UK-Poland partnership will help bring light, heat and homes to those most in need.

    The international community is resolute in our shared determination to support the Ukrainian people and see them prevail with a just peace on Ukrainian terms.

    Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said:

    Poland was first to help Ukraine already in the early morning hours of 24 February 2022. The United Kingdom followed shortly after. Today we stand together in our joint endeavours to help Ukraine and its people.

    From the pages of the Polish history we know that Ukraine is fighting not only for their freedom but also for our freedom. There is no free Europe without free Ukraine.

    Today, together with the United Kingdom, we stand side-by-side in providing shelter, warmth and above all, in providing hope for the Ukrainian IDPs, both in the west and in central-east of the country.

    The Russian aggression on Ukraine was the second act of the barbaric “Russkij mir” tragedy. The first act started nearly a decade ago with the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The third and final act will be the end of hostilities and peace written by Ukrainians.

    Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyy said:

    I would like to thank our international partners for their support and help.

    Together, we have managed to complete this project to a high standard and make the accommodation comfortable for displaced Ukrainians who needed a new and safe home in a short space of time.

    Thanks to your support, hundreds of people have got a chance for a new life, because Russia took away their old one.

    The British and Polish Ambassadors to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons and Bartosz Cichocki, attended the opening of the new accommodation village at the Lviv site yesterday [Monday], alongside key Ukrainian officials

    The UK-Poland shelter project is being delivered by Solidarity Fund Poland. It builds on Poland’s existing shelter programme in Ukraine, which has already provided housing for tens of thousands of people.

    Through our £220m humanitarian assistance, we are prioritising the most vulnerable, including women and children, the elderly and those with disabilities. To date, we have helped reach over 15.8 million people in need during this crisis.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme appointments [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme appointments [March 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 March 2023.

    The Prime Minister has today made two re-appointments and one new appointment to his Trade Envoy programme.

    The re-appointments are:

    • Rt Hon David Mundell MP as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to New Zealand,
    • Heather Wheeler MP as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Cambodia & Laos,

    The Prime Minister has also appointed Gareth Johnson MP as his Trade Envoy to the United Arab Emirates.

    Trade Envoys support the UK economy by supporting British businesses to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the UK’s global trade agenda. They champion Global Britain and promote the UK as a destination of choice for inward investment across all regions of the UK, helping to level up the country.

    The new appointments will extend the total number of Trade Envoys to 34 parliamentarians, covering 62 markets.

    The appointed Trade Envoys will work with the Department for Business and Trade’s global network, strengthen the UK’s trade and investment relationships with New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, and the United Arab Emirates, and break down barriers to doing business for UK firms.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Schools and colleges to receive £2.5 billion to upgrade buildings and boost school places [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Schools and colleges to receive £2.5 billion to upgrade buildings and boost school places [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 28 March 2023.

    Major government investment to improve school and college buildings and support more school places from 2026.

    Millions of young people across the country are set to benefit from a significant £2.5 billion boost so they can learn in high quality buildings and facilities that are fit for the future.

    Schools and colleges will receive investment to upgrade classrooms and refurbish buildings that will provide high quality learning environments – benefitting communities for years to come.

    Since 2010, one million school places have been created, the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations. Thanks to this new tranche of funding, thousands of additional primary and secondary school places will be created in good or outstanding schools for September 2026.

    This comes on top of the School Rebuilding Programme which will transform buildings at 500 schools across the country over the next decade – prioritising those in poor condition. The government has already invested over £13 billion in school capital funding to improve the condition of school buildings since 2015.

    Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

    This significant investment will transform school and college buildings across the country so that they are fit for the future and can provide the best education for students, no matter where they live.

    We want every young person to have access to high-quality facilities and learning environments, to gain the skills they need to climb the ladder of opportunity into further study and work, whilst supporting efforts to grow the economy.

    The funding announced today includes:

    • A £1.8 billion investment for the 2023-24 financial year to improve the condition of the school estate across England. This builds on over £13 billion to upgrade school buildings since 2015.
    • A further £487 million will be invested to support councils to provide additional school places needed for September 2026.
    • Alongside this, 146 colleges will benefit from the final phase of the £1.5 billion Further Education Capital Transformation Programme, to upgrade buildings and transform campuses.

    The FE Capital Transformation Programme is just one part of a wider programme of government investment to transform post-16 education and training, ensuring that every student can gain the skills they need to progress and secure a good job.

    This includes massive investment to support the roll out of new T Levels, boost capacity so there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old and a £300 million investment to establish a network of Institutes of Technology.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environmental permits issued for new nuclear power station at Sizewell C [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environmental permits issued for new nuclear power station at Sizewell C [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 28 March 2023.

    Environment Agency issues three new environmental permits to NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk

    The Environment Agency has issued three new environmental permits today to NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk. The permits are required for the station to operate and will allow it to:

    • dispose of and discharge radioactive waste (radioactive substances activity permit)
    • operate standby power supply systems using diesel generators (combustion activity permit)
    • discharge returned abstracted seawater (from the cooling water system and 2 fish recovery and returns systems) and other liquid trade effluents (including treated sewage effluent) to the Greater Sizewell Bay – North Sea (water discharge activity permit)

    NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited applied to the Environment Agency for three environmental permits in May 2020. The Environment Agency consulted on the application from July to October 2020 and on their proposed decision and draft permits from July to September 2022.

    Each of the three permits is an important regulatory permission that the company requires to operate Sizewell C nuclear power station. They include the limits and conditions that the company needs to put in place to ensure high standards of environmental protection during commissioning, operation and decommissioning.

    The company will need to continue to apply for a range of environmental permits relating to site investigation, construction works and for relevant “associated developments” such as workers’ accommodation.

    The Environment Agency’s Sizewell C Project Manager, Simon Barlow, said:

    Today’s decision to issue the three permits for these operational activities comes after 10 years of pre-application discussions, three years of technical assessments and two public consultations. In reaching this decision we carefully considered all the responses from a wide range of stakeholders in the local community, national organisations and statutory consultees.

    I would like to thank everyone for contributing their evidence and views and attending our consultation events. We will continue our engagement with the local community as the company moves forward with its plans for construction of the nuclear power station.

    The documents we are publishing today provide detailed explanations of our decisions, show how we have considered all the relevant factors and explain our reasoning. By granting these permits many years ahead of Sizewell C operating, we can positively influence the design, procurement, and commissioning of the power station, whilst also ensuring that people and the environment are protected.

    The decision documents, a public summary and permits are available on the Environment Agency’s website.

    If you would like to sign up for Environment Agency e-bulletins about the work and regulation of the Sizewell C project, contact nuclear@environment-agency.gov.uk

  • PRESS RELEASE : RSH publishes regulatory notice for Easy Housing Association following a breach of the economic standards [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : RSH publishes regulatory notice for Easy Housing Association following a breach of the economic standards [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Regulator of Social Housing on 28 March 2023.

    In a regulatory notice published today (28 March 2023), the Regulator of Social Housing concluded that Easy Housing Association has breached the governance and financial viability standard.

    Following an investigation the regulator found that Easy Housing Association, a provider of supported exempt accommodation, is inadequately governed and that the board has failed to oversee the organisation with an appropriate level of skill and foresight. Easy Housing Association did not provide assurance that its board has appropriate experience or technical competence, and did not show evidence that it was addressing these skills gaps.

    Because of these failures in governance, Easy Housing Association also failed to assure the regulator that it complies with the home standard and that tenants are not at risk of harm.

    The regulator found that Easy Housing Association’s approach to business planning was inadequate and it did not plan appropriately for the risks associated with its lease arrangements. Its financial forecasting was also weak and it did not carry out appropriate stress testing of its business plan. In addition, Birmingham City Council has stated that one of Easy Housing Association’s properties was established without the required planning permission.

    Easy Housing Association has not been able to demonstrate that its homes meet the definition of social housing, or that it complies with the rent standard.

    In agreement with the regulator, the provider has put a plan in place to address these issues.

    Harold Brown, Senior Assistant Director for Investigation and Enforcement, said:

    Easy Housing Association has failed to meet our standards in multiple areas, including significant weaknesses in managing financial risks and in business planning. It also failed to show that it complies with the standards on key issues, including those for health and safety and rents. Its Board needs to take immediate steps to address these failures of governance.

    Easy Housing Association and its new Chair have started to address these issues, and we will monitor it closely as it works to return to compliance with our standards.

  • PRESS RELEASE : William Hill Group businesses to pay record £19.2m for failures [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : William Hill Group businesses to pay record £19.2m for failures [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Gambling Commission on 28 March 2023.

    Three gambling businesses owned by William Hill Group will pay a total of £19.2 million for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.

    WHG (International) Limited, which runs williamhill.com, will pay £12.5 million, Mr Green Limited, which runs mrgreen.com, will pay £3.7 million and William Hill Organization Limited, which operates 1,344 gambling premises across Britain, will pay £3 million.

    Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “When we launched this investigation the failings we uncovered were so widespread and alarming serious consideration was given to licence suspension.

    “However, because the operator immediately recognised their failings and worked with us to swiftly implement improvements, we instead opted for the largest enforcement payment in our history.”

    Today’s action comes just a week after the Commission fined two operators owned by Kindred Group plc a combined £7.2 million and is the largest enforcement case taken on by the regulator. The previous largest was £17 million action taken against Entain in August last year.

    Since the start of 2022 the Commission has concluded 26 enforcement cases with operators paying over £76 million because of regulatory failures.

    Mr Rhodes said: “In the last 15 months we have taken unprecedented action against gambling operators, but we are now starting to see signs of improvement. There are indications that the industry is doing more to make gambling safer and reducing the possibility of criminal funds entering their businesses.

    “Operators are using algorithms to spot gambling harms or criminal risk more quickly, interacting with consumers sooner, and generally having more effective policies and procedures in place.”

    Social responsibility failures at William Hill businesses include:

      • Having insufficient controls in place to protect new customers, and to effectively consider high velocity spend and duration of play until the customer may have been exposed to the risk of substantial losses in a short period:
        • One customer was allowed to open a new account and spend £23,000 in 20 minutes without any checks.
        • Another customer was allowed to open an account and spend £18,000 in 24 hours without any checks.
        • And a third customer was allowed to open a new account and spend £32,500 over two days without any checks. (Mr Green)
      • Failing to identify certain customers at risk of experiencing gambling related harm and failing to carry out checks at an early stage in the customer’s journey – one customer lost £14,902 in 70 minutes. (Mr Green)
      • Failing to identify risk of harm or intervene with certain customers earlier enough – one customer lost £54,252 in four weeks without the operator seeking income evidence, carrying out adequate checks, or using any other effective method to identify risk of harm. (WHG (International) Limited)
      • Having insufficient controls which exposed new or returning customers to the risk of substantial losses in a short period of time – one customer opened his account and lost £11,400 over the first 30 days without being subject to sufficient checks and another customer did not have a telephone interaction until losses reached £45,800. (WHG (International) Limited)
      • Failing to apply a 24-hour delay between receiving a request for an increase in a credit limit and granting it – one customer was allowed to immediately place a £100,000 bet when his credit limit had been set at £70,000. (WHG (International) Limited)
      • Ineffective controls allowed 331 customers to gamble with WHG (International) Limited despite having self-excluded with Mr Green. (WHG (International) Limited)
      • Failing to identify changes in the customer behaviour which should have provoked consideration of whether the customer was experiencing harm – a safer gambling interaction was conducted only after he had placed and had accepted an £18,000 bet (William Hill Organisation Ltd (WH Retail))
      • Having insufficient controls in place to protect new customers, and to effectively consider high velocity spend and duration of play until the customer may have been exposed to the risk of substantial losses in a short period:
        • After its retail premise re-opened following the Covid pandemic lockdown, the operator allowed one customer to lose £10,600 in two days without a safer gambling interaction.
        • Despite being unknown and staking £42,253 in 130 bets over a three-day period, staff did not identify one customer as being at risk of experiencing harms associated with gambling or undertake any customer interactions. (William Hill Organisation Ltd (WH Retail))

    Anti-money laundering (AML) failures include:

    • Allowing customers to deposit large amounts without conducting appropriate checks – one customer was able to spend and lose £70,134 in a month, another to lose £38,000 in five weeks and another to lose £36,000 in four days. (WHG (International) Limited)
    • Allowing customers to deposit large amounts without conducting appropriate checks – one customer deposited £73,535 and lost £14,068 in four months (Mr Green)
    • Customers were able to stake large amounts of money without being monitored or scrutinised to a high enough standard – the operator failed to request Source of Funds (SoF) evidence when one customer staked £19,000 in a single bet, did not obtain documentation from a customer who staked £39,324 and lost £20,360 in 12 days, and did not obtain SoF evidence from a customer who staked £276,942 and lost £24,395 over two months. (William Hill Organisation Ltd (WH Retail))
    • Policies, procedures and controls lacked guidance on appropriate action to take following the results of customer profiling and how its findings should be used to establish the appropriate outcome. (WHG (International) Limited) and (Mr Green)
    • Procedures and controls lacked hard stops to prevent further spend and mitigate against money laundering risks before customer risk profiling is completed. (WHG (International) Limited) and (Mr Green)
    • AML staff training provided insufficient information on risks and how to manage them (WHG (International) Limited) and (Mr Green)

    All £19.2 million will be directed towards socially responsible purposes as part of a regulatory settlement.

    Additional licence conditions will also be added to ensure a business board member oversees an improvement plan, and that it undergoes a third-party audit to assess that it is effectively implementing its AML and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Package to level up opportunities for the most disadvantaged pupils [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Package to level up opportunities for the most disadvantaged pupils [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 28 March 2023.

    Local Needs Funding to be allocated to 24 education cold spots around the country to help disadvantaged pupils.

    Children in disadvantaged areas will benefit from stronger schools and increased local investment, as the Government steps up delivery of the commitments made in last year’s Schools White Paper.

    Up to £42m will be allocated to Priority Education Investment Areas (PEIAs) – 24 areas of the country with high levels of disadvantaged pupils and low educational attainment, including Nottingham, Liverpool and Portsmouth. The Local Needs Fund will be used to fund schools to access evidenced based programmes that will help boost pupils’ literacy, numeracy, and attendance.

    The Priority Education Investment Areas boosts education in cold spots round the country through a package of measures including retaining good teachers in the areas, tackling attendance and moving struggling schools into strong multi-academy trusts.

    Today’s announcement builds on the successes of the last decade with 88% of schools now good or outstanding compared to 68% in 2010. Academies are at the heart of these reforms and the best academy trusts transform outcomes for pupils, particularly in disadvantaged areas, where poor performance has become entrenched.

    The Government is also publishing the Academies Regulatory and Commissioning Review, which sets out a framework for growing the impact of the academies system, so parents and carers can be confident that their child will receive a high-quality education wherever they live.

    The Review proposes cutting down on administrative bureaucracy, enabling trusts to focus on quality, greater public transparency around the process by which schools are placed with academy trusts, and support for the sector to spread expertise and increase overall capacity to keep improving schools.

    A year ago, the Government set out its ambitions in the White Paper to drive up educational standards by ensuring all schools can benefit from the support of a high-quality multi academy trust (MAT).

    Schools Systems Minister Baroness Barran is due to be in Nottingham today (28 March), one of the PEIAs which is set to benefit from additional funding and support.

    Minister Baroness Barran said:

    We know the best multi academy trusts deliver a great education and results for pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with Special Education Needs or Disabilities.

    They help teachers manage workload and create career opportunities by working as a family of schools. They spread their impact beyond their schools to the wider education system through initiatives like teaching school hubs, sharing a curriculum, and optimising the use of resources so that they can reinvest in their pupils.

    We are delighted with this package which will scale up the impact of high-quality multi academy trusts and support the most disadvantaged pupils in the country, levelling up opportunities for all.

    We are grateful for the vital engagement of our External Advisory Group (EAG) and wider stakeholder network for helping to shape this report. We hope to work with them closely on implementation.

    To all the pupils I have met in the past 18 months, who have shared with me their hopes and aspirations for the future – we have written this, and will deliver it, with you in mind.

    Leora Cruddas CBE, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts and member of the regulatory and commissioning review external advisory group said:

    We welcome the focus in the Regulatory and Commissioning Review report on simple, proportionate risk-based regulation, making better and more transparent commissioning decisions, and support which spreads sector expertise and increases overall capacity to keep improving schools. It is right that the report focuses on near-. term and medium-term actions to improve regulation and commissioning activity.

    It is important that the government recognises there is no one size fits all model, and that there is a stated commitment to foster a diversity of models and scales of trust, including those with faith schools, special schools and alternative provision. We believe it is essential that the government protects the freedoms that have enabled the success of our trust system, avoiding changes that would prescribe specific, rigid behaviour and inhibit effective leadership. System diversity and freedoms must be protected through these reforms.

    The Review rightly recognises that implementing these changes well is not straightforward, particularly as many trusts and their communities face ongoing challenges from cost-of-living pressures and the lasting impacts of the Covid pandemic.

    We are particularly pleased to see the report welcome the Confederation of School Trust’s inquiry into effective improvement practice.

    In relation to inspection, it is important that we work together to consider the impacts of the accountability system and move towards a system that if focused on building relational trust – one which can respond to context and navigate uncertainty. We will continue to work with Ofsted and government to build intelligent systems of accountability.

    Sir Martyn Oliver, Chief Executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust and EAG member, said:

    This is a timely and welcome Review of the maturing trust-led system. The DfE has listened and responded to challenges every step of the way providing much-needed clarity to trust regulation and commissioning.

    Steve Bell, Chief Executive of The Painsley Catholic Academy and EAG member, said:

    As a multi academy leader, I feel confident that the Review will result in a simpler, more proportionate regulatory system; a more transparent commissioning process and clarity over trust strength whilst retaining and celebrating the freedoms that academies enjoy.

    Mark Vickers MBE, Chief Executive of Olive Academies and EAG member, said:

    I fully support the Review’s commitment to maximising the difference that academy trusts are able to make and agree that a focus on even better support for all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), is necessary for individuals to achieve their potential.

    A series of Trust Development Statements (TDS) have also been published for the first time. These statements set out the priorities in each Education Investment Area for developing a trust landscape led by high-quality trusts to transform standards locally and turn around underperforming schools.

    This is backed by Trust Capacity Funding, a multi-year fund worth £86 million in 2022-2025 announced in the Schools White Paper that supports trusts to increase their capacity. The next round of funding will be open to new applications from 3 April. It is also supported by Trust Establishment and Growth Fund (TEG), which provides start-up funding for projects in their initial stages.

    To develop the pipeline of outstanding leaders and increase the capacity of MAT leaders capable of leading sustainable growth at scale, the Government has also published the content that will underpin a MAT CEO development programme.

    The content framework sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to lead a large trust effectively, to ensure that every pupil is receiving an excellent education.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Life sciences companies supercharged with £277 million in government and private investment [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Life sciences companies supercharged with £277 million in government and private investment [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 March 2023.

    Four life sciences companies from across the UK will benefit from the first tranche of Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) grants.

    • Four life sciences companies from across the UK will benefit from the first tranche of Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) grants
    • £277 million will help fund and advance life sciences manufacturing projects in both medical diagnostics and human medicines
    • £17 million government funding unlocks a further £260 million in private sector investment, creating 320 jobs and safeguarding 199 jobs
    • this builds on the pilot Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund (MDMTF) £75 million joint public and private investment in the sector, securing 224 new jobs and safeguarding a further 345

    Four life sciences companies, ranging from medical diagnostics to medicines manufacturing, will see £277 million in joint government and industry backing to help grow and innovate.

    The funding, announced by Science Minister George Freeman today (28 March 2023), forms the first tranche of winning grants from the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF).

    £17 million in government funding is supported by additional private investment of £260 million, to back companies investing in life science manufacturing projects that help grow our economy, boost health resilience, deploy innovation, minimise environmental impacts and support levelling up.

    The funding will help grow an innovative economy across the UK, supporting more than 500 jobs at companies across the UK, from North Wales to Northern Ireland.

    Minister of State for Science, Research & Innovation, George Freeman, said:

    The UK’s £94 billion Life Science sector provides over 250,000 high skill jobs across the UK from drug discovery to diagnostics, medtech devices and digital health.

    The industry is being transformed by the pace of change: from AI to genomics, bio manufacturing to smart stents and personalised immunotherapies, technologies are converging to create a new era of advanced digital products.

    That requires new types of advances manufacturing plant which is why we set up the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, which today’s news shows is working: converting £17 million grants to four companies into £260 million industrial investment.

    LSIMF follows on from the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund (MDMTF) pilot programme which launched in April 2021. Over its lifespan, MDMTF delivered £75 million in joint government and industry investment, while also creating 224 new jobs and protecting 345 existing roles. Today’s funding rollout means, combined, the two Funds have delivered £352 million in government and private sector investment into the life sciences sector, while also supporting more than 1000 jobs.

    The government’s Life Sciences Vision, published in 2021, set the ambition to create a globally competitive environment for Life Science manufacturing investments, building on the strengths of our manufacturing R&D, our network of innovation centres, the manufacturing response to COVID-19 and delivery of the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund. Life sciences are also central to the UK Science and Technology Framework, published earlier this month, which identifies the critical technologies set to make the biggest difference to health and life science progress, as well as plans to improve the regulatory landscape for life sciences.

    The successful companies being supported through the first tranche of LSIMF grants to build on those aims are:

    • Ipsen – £75 million investment to grow the manufacture of innovative medicines for neurological conditions, creating 39 new jobs and safeguarding a further 37 at their Wrexham facility
    • Pharmaron – £151 million investment in capital and people will substantially grow operations in Liverpool, increasing production capacity four-fold for critical gene therapy and vaccine components and creating 174 jobs, while also safeguarding a further 156
    • Touchlight – £14 million investment will create 17 jobs and protect a further 6, boosting UK health resilience by establishing the commercial scale manufacture of DNA at their Hampton, London base
    • Randox – £36 million investment to modernise the manufacture of antibodies used across diagnostic tests. A new facility in Crumlin, Northern Ireland, will create 90 new jobs

    This will build on an additional £10 million for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced at Spring Budget which will accelerate NHS patient access to the most impactful and innovative new treatments. It will allow the MHRA to introduce new, swift approvals systems from 2024, speeding up access to treatments already approved by trusted international partners and ground-breaking technologies such as cancer vaccines and AI therapeutics for mental health.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said:

    The UK is home to Europe’s largest life science sector – it’s a real British success story which includes the first COVID vaccine that saved millions of lives.

    We want to cement Britain’s competitive advantage by backing more innovative projects to develop, manufacture and export those treatments of the future.

    Minister of State for Health Will Quince said:

    We’re harnessing the same spirit of innovation that delivered the COVID vaccine, and working hand in hand with industry and healthcare experts to get cutting-edge medicines to patients faster.

    This is an important step towards strengthening the UK’s long term manufacturing capability, while supporting the development of innovative technologies and ground breaking medicines.

    The life sciences sector is crucial to the UK’s health resilience. Through government and industry investment, we will continue to drive it forward – creating jobs and cementing our position as a global life sciences superpower.

    This announcement comes ahead of tomorrow’s (29 March 2023) ‘Treasury Connect’ conference where the Chancellor will bring together experts in the Life Sciences sector to discuss ways to harness this thriving sector and help grow the UK economy.

    This is the third in a series of 5 Treasury Connect events focused on the Chancellor’s key growth industries: technology; creative industries; life sciences; advanced manufacturing; and the green economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Passengers set to benefit from new digital transport strategy [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Passengers set to benefit from new digital transport strategy [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 28 March 2023.

    Setting out plans to improve how people find, use and get value from transport data to support greater innovation in the sector and deliver better services.

    • passengers set to benefit from more streamlined journey planning apps and timetables through measures to improve transport data
    • the Transport Data Strategy aims to support greater innovation by improving the accessibility and quality of transport data
    • enhancing transport data aims to give people better travel planning at their fingertips by improving the accuracy of travel planning apps and making journeys easier to plan

    Passengers are set to benefit from improved access to digital apps and sites to help plan, pay and access the transport system thanks to the government’s new Transport Data Strategy.

    The Transport Data Strategy sets out plans for the greater use of data in transport and aims to improve how people find, use and get value from transport data to support greater innovation in the sector and deliver better services.

    Better use of transport data use can improve interconnectivity between different types of transport, support the development of journey-planning apps and improve their accuracy, ultimately helping to make it easier for people to use and plan journeys.

    Data can also help unlock additional benefits, such as new products and services for customers, while supporting employment opportunities in the transport sector.

    Transport Technology Minister Jesse Norman said:

    Better use of transport data will help to improve journeys for travellers, tackle climate change and grow the economy.

    The Transport Data Strategy sets out the government’s vision in this area, creating the right framework for the market to innovate and transport users to benefit.

    The Transport Data Strategy focuses on 5 key ambitions, including:

    • improving data sharing to benefit transport users
    • promoting data standards
    • improving data skills in the workforce
    • ensuring appropriate governance and communication with the sector
    • providing leadership and support for the sector

    As part of the strategy, the government is launching the ‘Find Transport Data’ pilot, a data catalogue to make it easier for innovators, researchers and others to find transport data, and ultimately deliver efficiencies and help improve services for customers.

    The strategy builds on the good progress the government has already made in facilitating the opening up of third-party data through initiatives, such as:

    • Bus Open Data Service (BODS)
    • Street Manager
    • the development of the Rail Data Marketplace
    • the modernisation of National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN)

    In addition, the strategy also considers data ethics to help guide the sector to ensure data is used appropriately and responsibly.

    Head of Transport Innovation at Transport for West Midlands Chris Lane said:

    TfWM welcomes the Transport Data Strategies goal of greater quality and use of transport data. We want to see Journeys for Everyone becoming so convenient, seamless, and trusted, that users will often give up driving their personal vehicles, not because they have to, but because the alternative is better for them and the environment.

    A critical factor in achieving this is the customer receiving appropriate, accurate and timely information and having trust in the provider as they make their travel decisions.

    Chief Executive of Traveline UK Julie Williams said:

    We’re delighted to see the publication of the Transport Data Strategy, which will encourage the sharing of high-quality open transport data towards giving passengers a more informed choice about how they travel, and which will provide a framework within which innovative apps and services are free to develop and grow.

    Along with the strategy we will publish a number of data sets and tools to help kickstart better data use in the sector. This includes:

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK space sector income reaches £17.5 billion as jobs and services grow [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK space sector income reaches £17.5 billion as jobs and services grow [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the UK Space Agency on 28 March 2023.

    The amount the UK space sector brings to the economy has grown by £1 billion, helping launch new business and create jobs across the country, according to new figures.

    • New figures show UK space sector income grew by almost £1 billion into 2021
    • Employment up with almost 1,800 more jobs across the UK space sector
    • Number of space organisations up by almost 300
    • Regions such as West Midlands, North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber, saw significant growth, as well as Northern Ireland and Wales

    Despite the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, space organisations presented a robust picture, generating £17.5 billion in 2021, compared to £16.5 billion the previous year.

    Figures in the latest Size & Health of the UK Space Industry report show the number of space organisations identified across the UK rose from 1,293 to 1,590, creating 1,772 jobs. The sector now employs just under 48,800 people and supports an estimated 126,800 UK jobs across the wider supply chain.

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

    With the global space economy expanding rapidly, investing in UK our space capabilities can unlock new opportunities, bringing more jobs, skills and businesses to the UK.

    The government is committed to supporting this high-growth sector, boosting the UK’s reputation as a growing space power, and inspiring the next generation of professionals.

    The West Midlands, East of England and Wales saw the highest proportional growth in space sector income, while Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East of England experienced the biggest proportional increase in number of space organisations. Employment rose by the largest proportion in the North West and East of England.

    Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive at the UK Space Agency, said:

    The £1 billion increase in sector income and £635 million investment generated by UK companies shows the confidence of investors and businesses in the UK space sector. The UK Space Agency will continue to catalyse investment to maintain this positive growth and bring further benefits across the UK economy, the science community and to the planet as a whole.

    World-class satellite manufacturing, science and technology expertise have ensured the UK plays a key role in major international missions, and we are increasing our national capabilities in fast-growing areas.

    We have seen a significant rise of space organisations in Northern Ireland and northern parts of England, of sector income in the East of England, West Midlands and Wales, and of employment in the North West. To ensure we continue this journey, it’s crucial that we nurture skills and expertise, both established and emerging, all over the UK.

    Space applications generally, which incorporate services such as broadcasting and mobile satellite communications, space manufacturing, including satellites and scientific instruments for space missions, and space operations and ancillary services were the biggest growth drivers.

    John Hanley, Chair of the UKspace trade body, said:

    Further growth in the UK space sector, particularly during what was an incredibly challenging time for most UK industries, demonstrates the sector’s resilience and ingenuity. It is gratifying to see the sector growing in areas of the country that have previously been under represented – we look forward to supporting these new entrants to the space sector through our new cluster membership of UKspace.

    These positive figures underline the opportunities that space offers to drive inspiration, aspiration and productive jobs across the UK. In order to capitalise on this, we must further strengthen our partnerships to maintain growth across the whole of the sector, allowing us to extend our reach and support the UK space industry in cementing its position as a leading player in the global space arena.

    Confidence withstands more challenges

    The 5.1% growth in income shows a higher growth rate than recent years and outpaced both the growth of the global space industry in the same period (1.6%) and the general UK economy, which contracted by 7.6%.

    Despite the challenges of the cost of living, survey respondents were optimistic about the future, with 3 in 5 expecting to grow their income over the next few years, over half (58%) expecting to employ more staff, and half anticipating higher investments.

    Nearly three quarters of survey respondents cited support from the UK Space Agency as a key enabler for commercial success.

    Who is investing?

    Space continues to attract a diverse range of investors, mostly (89%) from the private sector. Figures for 2022 (using Crunchbase) show that an estimated £635 million was invested in UK-headquartered space companies through 34 identified deals, with acquisitions accounting for three quarters of the total investment value. There has been a steady upward trend in both the number of investments (from one in 2012 to 34 last year) and population of investors (from one in 2012 to 66 last year).

    Par Equity, Innovate UK and the Scottish Investment Bank have been the source of most deals during this time.

    Case study: Goonhilly Earth Station

    Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall is growing its deep space communications and last year supported NASA’s Artemis 1 lunar mission, providing telecommand for six of the cubesats on board.

    As well as its ongoing work with the European Space Agency, Goonhilly has been supporting iSpace Kahuto-R – the first privately launched lunar lander – the Indian Space Agency’s Chandrayaan 3 and Aditya L1 missions, and it recently acquired COMSAT teleports in the US.

    The team is also developing tracking antenna technology for space launches, which was successfully used for Virgin Orbit’s launch from Spaceport Cornwall in January, a giant super-cooled antenna to analyse space-based objects, and a range of simulator equipment.

    Ian Jones, Chief Executive at Goonhilly Earth Station, said:

    The space sector forms a vital part of modern infrastructure, which we take for granted without giving it a second thought. In a similar way that we expect clean water and electricity to be seamlessly delivered, data from satellites form a key element in enabling and monitoring complex services and systems. It provides scientific knowledge as well as helping us to communicate, navigate, travel, maintain security, monitor the weather and climate, and so much more.

    However, none of the advantages enabled by satellites and spacecraft can be achieved without specialist ground communication services which monitor, command and interact with them. This is the role that Goonhilly provides.

    Data source

    Data have been compared between last year’s report and this publication. While efforts have been made to maintain the methodology to support comparability, there were some methodological improvements, which are detailed in this year’s report. As with any piece of research there are limitations and caveats to the data. These are clearly explained in this year’s report.