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  • PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s illegal war continues to be a military disaster – UK statement to the OSCE [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s illegal war continues to be a military disaster – UK statement to the OSCE [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2024.

    UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia’s illegal war suffers further setbacks as casualties mount, and it loses its first submarine in combat since the second world war.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. As we meet for the first regular session of this trimester, I want to reflect on the current military situation regarding Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. It is now 2 years and 212 days since Russia conducted its full-scale invasion, a military action which Russia envisaged would be over in a matter of days. In that context, the current predicament can be construed as nothing less than a military disaster for the Kremlin.

    Since we last convened in a regular FSC session, Ukraine now controls up to 900 square kilometres of Russian territory in the Kursk Oblast. Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and barbaric invasion, and its actions are demonstrative of the ability of Ukraine’s armed forces to achieve strategic surprise and expose Russian weaknesses.

    At the military level, Ukraine’s effective use of manoeuvre warfare stands in stark contrast to Russia’s ‘meat grinder’ tactics. Russian casualties averaged 1187 a day in August. Contrast this to the daily rate of 544 Russian casualties in August last year, and 236 for the same month in 2022 and it paints a bleak picture for Russia’s military. Even more starkly, Russia has now lost more than 610,000 casualties (killed and wounded) in the prosecution of its illegal campaign.

    In the maritime domain, the campaign is faring little better for Russia. Despite having a considerably smaller maritime component, Ukraine has pushed much of the Russian navy eastwards from Crimea. Ukraine has damaged or destroyed a quarter of the Russian black sea fleet. This includes the destruction of the ‘Rostov-on-Don’, a $300M Russian submarine which was lost to Ukrainian action on 3 August, marking the first combat loss of a Russian submarine since the second world war. As in the land domain, this loss is a stunning Russian military failure.

    Russia’s illegal campaign was instigated without justification. This forum met repeatedly, prior to the full-scale invasion, in an effort to avert this deliberate act of aggression. As expected, the consequences of these actions have been a tragedy, but perhaps less expected, for none more so than Russia itself.

    Russia’s response so far has been to double down. It has turned to Iran and North Korea for the provision of weaponry as its own economy adopts a war footing, increasingly twisting it out of shape. Russia’s continued negotiation of deals for significant quantities of weapons from DPRK violates many UN Security Council resolutions, including ones that Russia itself voted for. Russia has also now procured ballistic missiles from Iran for the first time, representing a significant escalation that will only increase the suffering of Ukrainian civilians. Russia continues to issue threats, constructing a false narrative against NATO and the EU to suggest they are in some way responsible for Russia’s own illegal choices. Nobody compelled Russia to start this war and most participating states in this forum went to extraordinary efforts to try and prevent such a catastrophic course of action.

    If Russia wants peace, there is a simple way to end this ongoing pattern of destruction. Russia must cease hostilities in Ukraine and remove its forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory. The United Kingdom, alongside its partners, will continue in its enduring support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor: “Everyone can do something for women’s equality” [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor: “Everyone can do something for women’s equality” [September 2024]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 18 September 2024.

    Rachel Reeves leads government backing of the Invest in Women Taskforce, which aims to create one of the world’s largest investment funding pools aimed solely at female founders.

    • Celebration of female business leaders’ contributions to the economy at a reception in No.11 Downing Street, where Chancellor Reeves will set out her agenda for women in the economy
    • New data shows that venture capital fund managers who have signed up to the government’s Investing in Women Code are more likely to invest in female founders

    Female business founders to get the Chancellor’s backing as Rachel Reeves puts her weight behind the Invest in Women Taskforce – which aims to create one of the world’s largest investment funding pools for female founders – as she pushes forwards the government’s mission to grow the economy.

    The Invest in Women Taskforce is the successor to the Rose Review, an independent review of female entrepreneurship which found that a £250 billion boost could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled their businesses at the same rate as men.

    Support for women and their contribution to the economy is a personal priority for Reeves as Britain’s first female Chancellor. The core aim of the Taskforce is to establish a funding pool of more than £250 million for female-founded businesses through private capital, making it one of the world’s largest investment funding pools aimed solely at female founders. As well as backing the Invest in Women Taskforce, the Chancellor will take an active role in steering its priorities and objectives as well as attending Taskforce meetings and events.

    To mark this and celebrate the key role played by female business leaders in all parts of the economy, on International Equal Pay Day, the Chancellor – in partnership with women’s rights charity the Fawcett Society – is hosting a reception in No.11 Downing Street this evening.

    At the evening reception, Chancellor Reeves will convene a group of female business leaders from across Britain’s foremost growth industries, such as financial services and technology as well as the creative sector.

    She will set out their importance to the government’s number one priority mission for growth and champion their part in its delivery. She also will set out her agenda for women in the economy, vowing to improve the economic opportunities available to women and close the gender pay gap once and for all. That includes strengthening rights at work and investing in childcare.

    Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

    It is a huge responsibility to sit in the Treasury as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer and be able to use my position to improve life for women across the UK – one that I don’t take lightly.

    That includes ending the gender pay gap, strengthening rights at work and investing in childcare. And by backing the Invest in Women Taskforce we can establish one of the world’s largest dedicated investment funding pools for female-powered businesses, helping grow our economy.

    This event gathers together some very powerful women but the truth is, everyone can do something for women’s equality – whether that’s supporting the women and girls in their lives with their ambitions or making their workplace a fairer playing field.

    With 5.5 million businesses driving the UK economy, entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of the UK’s economic growth. While women make up over 50% of the population, they represent only 21% of business owners, with less than 6% of active equity backed companies founded by women. The Invest in Women Taskforce, alongside other government initiatives including the Women in Finance Charter which encourages female representation in financial services, aims to change this.

    The event comes ahead of the International Investment Summit next month, at which the Chancellor is working to ensure there is strong female representation both in terms of agenda and attendance.

    The Department for Business and Trade has also published its annual Investing in Women Code report today, which finds that venture capital fund managers who have signed up to the Code are more likely to invest in female founders.

    The report also shows that the 250 signatories of the Code are leading the way in addressing the finance gap between male and female entrepreneurs. 32% of all venture capital deals made by Investing in Women Code signatories were in female-founded companies last year, compared to the market average of 28%, revealed in the latest report published today. This is the fourth year in a row that Code signatories have outperformed the wider market.

    The Investing in Women Code was founded in 2019 as a landmark government-led initiative in response to the Rose Review’s findings that a lack of funding was one of the most significant barriers to women seeking to effectively scale a business. It is a commitment from finance providers to female founders, with signatories now including the British Business Bank, British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA), UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), UK Finance, and Responsible Finance. Investing in Women Code signatories account for 40% of UK Business Angels Association angel investment groups and 47% of venture capital deals.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Lockdown generation consigned to the ‘scrapheap’ will get life-changing support into work, vows Minister [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lockdown generation consigned to the ‘scrapheap’ will get life-changing support into work, vows Minister [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 18 September 2024.

    The ‘lockdown generation’ who’ve been consigned to the ‘scrapheap’ will get life-changing support through major reforms to get Britain working again, the Minister for Employment has vowed in her first speech since taking office.

    • Record number of young people out of work due to long-term sickness – up 29% since the pandemic – and nearly 900,000 not in education, work, or training.
    • We must move away from the obsession with welfare and boost employment with fundamental change, says Minister for Employment.
    • Get Britain Working White Paper will transform workplaces and help drive government’s national mission for growth.

    These changes will form a key part of the government’s mission to kickstart growth and spread prosperity and opportunity across the country, with the Prime Minister stating he wants the UK to have the highest sustained growth in the G7.

    Speaking at the launch of a report by the Institute for Employment Studies, Alison McGovern MP pledged to ‘turn the page’ on years of failure, saying there has been too much focus on welfare and social security and not enough on helping people into work – leaving a generation of young people abandoned in a broken labour market.

    She said the employment challenges the country faces now are similar to the mass unemployment of the past – with 2.8 million people out of work sick and over nine million people economically inactive – neither in work nor looking for work.

    Nearly 900,000 young people are not in education, employment, or training – up 74,000 on the year – while latest figures from the ONS show around 600,000 16-24-year-olds are unemployed, 63,000 more than pre pandemic.

    The sickness crisis amongst 16-24-year-olds has also worsened with a 29% increase in the number who are inactive and long-term sick – up from 184,000 before the pandemic to 237,000 in the most recent data, a record high.

    Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern said:

    The lockdown generation has been failed – consigned to the scrapheap because they have been denied the support and opportunities to find work, get into work, and get on at work.

    It’s truly shocking that we have businesses crying out for staff at the same time there are queues round the block for foodbanks – a dire situation that we’re determined to put right.

    The obsession with benefits management must end if we’re to bring about the change the country is crying out for, and that’s why we have a plan to get Britain working again.

    We’re going to set-up a Youth Guarantee to transform the lives of young people by providing work, apprenticeships and skills training to everyone who needs it.

    That is how we will deliver on our mission for growth across the country and ensure future generations are never abandoned by their government again.

    The IES report describes the UK’s employment service as ‘the least well-used in Europe’, arguing it often acts more as an extension of the benefit system. The organisation has called for a ‘clearer separation between employment support and social security delivery’.

    This comes as Minister McGovern set out plans to make a fundamental shift to active labour market policies that break down barriers to opportunity, tackle the root causes of inactivity and help deliver the Government’s ambition to reach an 80% employment rate.

    The government has taken immediate action to transform Britain’s workforce through Skills England, while plans to cut NHS waiting times will get Britain back to health and back to work.

    A Get Britain Working Again White Paper, to be set out in the Autumn, will outline plans to overhaul jobcentres, deliver a youth guarantee, and devolve powers to Mayors and local areas to deliver work, health, and skills plans.

    Additional Information

  • PRESS RELEASE : State-of-the-art armoured vehicle fleet supported under new contract [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : State-of-the-art armoured vehicle fleet supported under new contract [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 18 September 2024.

    Thousands of UK military land vehicles will be maintained under a new £71 million contract, supporting the government’s growth mission by creating hundreds of jobs.

    The contract award to NP Aerospace was announced during the British Army’s Defence Vehicle Dynamic (DVD) event taking place at the vehicle testing grounds at Millbrook.

    Called the Conventional Vehicle Systems Spares and Post Design Services (CVSSP), the contract will be for spares and post design services for a range of legacy utility and combat vehicles and ancillary equipment, helping to create and sustain around 100 skilled jobs in Coventry.

    The contract will help to extend the life of the entire Land Rover fleet; Pinzgauer fleet; protected Land Rover; RWMIK and the Lightweight Trailer fleet. This will deliver greater value for money and fill the gaps of new vehicle programmes being delivered, maintaining capability in the interim.

    The contract will help to maintain a fleet of more than 15,000 land vehicles for the next 4 years by consolidating former individual contracts, providing a new single point of contact. The CVSSP contract will ensure that vehicle fleet availability is maintained at the required levels to meet operational and training needs.

    Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, said:

    We will deliver a state-of-the-art combat vehicle fleet, ensuring our soldiers are equipped with cutting-edge firepower, protection, and mobility.

    This new contract will help to secure the future of these crucial capabilities, streamlining the processes involved in repairs and upgrades, while boosting UK economic growth at the same time.

    Also at DVD, the British Army’s future fleet of modern armoured vehicles – Ajax, Boxer and Challenger 3 – have been pictured together side-by-side for the first time. With more than 1,300 of the vehicles due for delivery before the end of the decade, they will provide world-leading reconnaissance, secured armoured transport, and the UK’s most lethal ever tank.

    The three types of armoured vehicles on display today will make up the Brigade Combat Teams of the future, providing the British Army with enhanced fighting power.

    With more than £11 billion investment, the pipeline of new armoured fighting vehicles is creating jobs, with Boxer alone protecting 400 jobs in the West Midlands, North East Wales and sustaining up to 1,000 nationally.

    Brigadier Matt Wilkinson from the Vehicle Support Team at Defence, Equipment and Support, said:

    We have a long-standing relationship with NP Aerospace, and I’m delighted that we are able to continue this partnership. Not only does it provide the best possible service to the Armed Forces, but it also aligns with the MOD’s future Land Industrial Strategy initiatives, including an evolution to Land Integrated Operating Services.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Protection zones around abortion clinics in place by October [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Protection zones around abortion clinics in place by October [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 18 September 2024.

    Safe access buffer zones will be in force around abortion clinics from 31 October to bring in stronger safeguards for women accessing services.

    Protection zones around abortion clinics will be in force from 31 October, as the government moves to bring in stronger safeguards for women accessing this vital health service.

    Safe access buffer zones will make it illegal for anyone to do anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision to use abortion services, obstructs them, or causes harassment or distress to someone using or working at these premises. The law will apply within a 150 metre radius of the abortion service provider.

    Anyone found guilty of breaking the law will face an unlimited fine. The College of Policing and Crown Prosecution Service will publish guidance for police and prosecutors ahead of 31 October, to ensure there is clarity and consistency with the enforcement of the new offence.

    Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said:

    The right to access abortion services is a fundamental right for women in this country, and no one should feel unsafe when they seek to access this.

    We will not sit back and tolerate harassment, abuse and intimidation as people exercise their legal right to healthcare, which is why we have fast-tracked this measure to get it up and running without further delay.

    For too long abortion clinics have been without these vital protections, and this government is determined to do all we can do to make this country a safer place for women.

    Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health said:

    The safety and wellbeing of women accessing abortion services remains our priority. No women should feel scared or threatened when accessing these services, and it is only right they are protected from any abuse or harassment.

    This government will continue to work closely with NHS England, abortion providers and the wider sector to ensure that women have access to safe, high quality abortion services.

    The relevant zones also need to be on or next to a public highway or road, in an open space to which the public has access, or within the area of land attached to an abortion clinic, or in a location that is visible from any of those areas.

    The measure applies to any clinics and private hospitals that are approved under the Abortion Act 1967, and for any NHS hospital that has given notification in the current or previous calendar year that it has carried out abortions.

    Safe access zones were introduced through the Public Order Act 2023, following a free vote in Parliament that received cross-party support.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK celebrates 70 years of science breakthroughs at CERN [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK celebrates 70 years of science breakthroughs at CERN [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 18 September 2024.

    • UK science community unites to mark 70 years of breakthroughs and international teamwork at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)
    • CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, is an unrivalled international science hub and home to the Large Hadron Collider
    • CERN member states set to choose a new Director-General this autumn, with renowned Cambridge physicist Professor Mark Thomson in the running

    The new UK government and leading figures from the physics community are today (Wednesday 18 September) giving their backing to Professor Mark Thomson’s vision for the future of CERN, as the global science community marks the institution’s 70th anniversary over the coming weeks.

    CERN is the world’s foremost centre for particle physics research, and has made an unrivalled contribution to our understanding of the universe.

    The UK is one of the 12 founding members of CERN and is its second-largest financial backer. We are proud to have been a critical contributor to all major experiments and discoveries at CERN, including the landmark discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, with many UK researchers holding influential senior scientific positions in the organisation.

    Breakthroughs made at CERN have quite literally changed the world. It was the birthplace of the World Wide Web – the brainchild of British scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee – and advances in particle accelerator technology developed there have opened up new ways of treating cancer. CERN is proof that backing curiosity-driven science leads to innovations that deliver new jobs, new businesses, and ultimately economic growth and a better quality of life for everyone.

    CERN’s anniversary comes at a critical time for its future, as a new Director-General for CERN will be selected this Autumn, following a vote amongst the organisation’s member states. Renowned Cambridge University particle physicist Professor Mark Thomson is the UK’s candidate for the role, running on a platform to develop a strategic plan for CERN’s upcoming major investment decisions, strengthen links with all of CERN’s member states, and building an inclusive culture for CERN staff.

    UK Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

    We can aim higher and go further when we work together, and nowhere is that truer than at CERN. I am proud of the role the UK has played in CERN, going all the way back to its foundation 70 years ago, bringing some of Europe and the world’s greatest minds together at the absolute cutting edge of scientific endeavour.

    CERN’s value to the whole world cannot be overstated. It needs a leader with the scientific credentials, experience, and vision to ensure it keeps pushing forward the frontiers of human knowledge. Professor Mark Thomson has all three: he is the outstanding candidate to ensure a bright future for CERN, for everyone.

    Professor Mark Thomson said:

    It is inspiring to reflect on the seventy years of progress CERN has delivered, advancing our understanding of the Universe at its most fundamental level. This anniversary is an important reminder of how precious a resource CERN is for science and indeed all of humankind.

    I wish to ensure that CERN’s profound contributions to our understanding of the Universe continue apace. To succeed we must bring the whole CERN family together behind a clear vision for an even brighter future. I have the scientific credentials, the experience, and the vision to lead CERN, and to deliver for its scientific community, its brilliant staff and each one of its member states.

    UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

    Science is fundamentally international, and so much of what CERN has achieved over the last 70 years is thanks to how it reaches across borders, to bring some of physics’ brightest and best together in shared endeavour.

    While we celebrate CERN’s remarkable past, we owe it to future generations everywhere to plan carefully for what’s to come. Professor Mark Thomson has the vision and the credentials to deliver a bright future for CERN itself, its members, and all the researchers who deliver its work.

    UK Minister for Europe, Stephen Doughty, said:

    The UK has always been at the forefront of scientific research. As one of the founding members of CERN, we have long recognised that global cooperation is vital to tackle the biggest scientific challenges of our times – because as we have seen over the past 70 years, when CERN breaks new boundaries in research, we can all share in those remarkable discoveries.

    Professor Mark Thomson has the expertise and experience to continue this work, by bringing global partners together to shape our shared future.

    CERN faces decisions in the coming years that will shape its future profoundly – including the delivery of a major upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider.

    If elected, Professor Thomson would develop an ambitious strategic plan for how CERN develops and makes major investment decisions over the next five years, would strengthen links with all of CERN’s member states, and would build an inclusive and supportive culture for CERN staff.

    He has the exceptional scientific credentials and the experience required, to make a success of the role. Professor Thomson currently leads a scientific organisation of similar size and budget to CERN, the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and is one of the most accomplished particle physicists of his generation, including more than two decades of experience in working on CERN projects.

    Support for Professor Mark Thomson as the next Director-General of CERN

    Tom Grinyer, CEO of the Institute of Physics, said:

    As a beacon for international scientific partnership, CERN is a shining example of the power of physics to change our lives for the better, from the breakthrough discovery of the Higgs boson to sowing the seeds of the World Wide Web. The next 70 years of innovation and discovery will be just as vital for humanity, and, if appointed, Professor Thomson has the credentials, experience and vision CERN will need as it continues to expand the horizons of our world.

    Tara Shears, Vice-President for Science and Innovation at the Institute of Physics, Professor of Physics at the University of Liverpool, and Liverpool (Large Hadron Collider) [beauty experiment] lead said:

    CERN is the epicentre of particle physics and the next few years are pivotal in defining its future. The Large Hadron Collider is upgrading to deliver ambitious scientific goals and the nature and site of a next generation facility, and the future direction of the subject, is under discussion. Professor Mark Thomson can hit the ground running at a critical time. He’s got the experience and insight to make CERN’s future vibrant.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of Governor of Bermuda – Andrew Murdoch [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of Governor of Bermuda – Andrew Murdoch [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2024.

    Mr Andrew Murdoch has been appointed Governor of Bermuda in succession to Ms Rena Lalgie. Mr Murdoch will take up his appointment during January 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Andrew Murdoch

    2016 to Present FCDO, Legal Director and Director of Ocean Policy
    2015 to 2016 FCO, Legal Director, International Institutions and Security Policy, Legal Directorate
    2011 to 2014 FCO, Senior Assistant Legal Adviser, International Institutions and Security Policy, Legal Directorate
    2009 to 2011 Royal Navy, Commander, Head of Operations, Directorate of Naval Legal Services
    2008 to 2009 Royal Navy, Commander, Coalition Maritime Force Legal Adviser, Bahrain
    2006 to 2008 Royal Navy, Lieutenant Commander/Commander, Deputy and then Fleet Legal Adviser
    2004 to 2005 Royal Navy, Lieutenant Commander, Higher Authority Legal Adviser
    2003 to 2004 Royal Navy, Lieutenant Commander, Logistics Officer HMS YORK
    2001 to 2002 Royal Navy, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief Naval Judge Advocate
    1998 to 2001 Royal Navy, Lieutenant, Legal Training as Barrister
    1990 to 1998 Royal Navy, Midshipman to Lieutenant, Deputy Logistics Officer HMS CAMPBELTOWN and naval career prior to legal training
  • Louise Haigh – 2024 Speech on Maritime Policy

    Louise Haigh – 2024 Speech on Maritime Policy

    The speech made by Louise Haigh, the Secretary of State for Transport, in London on 17 September 2024.

    Thank you very much, it’s fantastic to be here at the launch of London International Shipping Week. Where better to deliver my first maritime address as Secretary of State than at the IMO.

    Not only the global seat of maritime governance where shipping has been made safer, our seas cleaner, this industry more secure. But an enduring symbol, 75 years on from its creation, of this city’s role in maritime’s past, present and future.

    It’s why London hosts the premier event in the shipping calendar, with 30,000 visitors attending over 300 events for London International Shipping Week last year. Although being a girl from Yorkshire, I should say this is about the whole UK maritime sector as well. Last year we celebrated progress made, confronted challenges ahead and continued the vital work of future-proofing this historic sector.

    With like-minded states and dynamic businesses, we turned partnership into progress – accelerating work on green corridors, signing memorandums of understanding to explore the opportunities of AI, and showcasing new fully electric vehicles on the Thames.

    All positive steps, which, next year, we absolutely must work together to turn into giant leaps. Because this sector faces more change in the next 30 years than it’s seen in the past 3,000 and all of us, government and industry, must be ready.

    Take new technology, which will transform how maritime is powered. It will end the sector’s reliance on dirty energy. A reliance that has seen domestic shipping emissions outpace those of buses, coaches and rail combined.

    Already, in this very building, the global community has agreed decarbonisation targets by around 2050. And over the coming years, Britain will continue to take the lead. Not only delivering our mission to make this country a clean energy superpower, but rallying the world to ensure those targets don’t slip from view. And we’ll explore the possibilities of autonomous shipping, never to replace human passion and experience, but to achieve levels of productivity and safety currently beyond our capabilities.

    So, whether it’s hydrogen or battery power, green corridors or smart shipping, I will build on what’s come before and go further, much further, move faster – and match the ambition that’s already being displayed in our world leading sector – setting this industry on course towards a future of cleaner growth.

    Steering us towards that future will be maritime’s workforce – over 200,000 strong, touching every part of the country. They are the lifeblood of this sector.

    I know that working at sea isn’t just a job. My uncle left home at 16 – he ran away from home – to join the Merchant Navy. My grandma didn’t even know where he’d gone – but it changed his life forever. It gave him ambitions and opportunities that he couldn’t have otherwise achieved.

    Because a maritime career represents the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself. We have all seen that on display, when maritime workers were tasked with getting this island nation through a pandemic, while much of the economy ground to a halt. They facilitated our global trade, almost all of which flows through our ports, before lining supermarket shelves, filling hospital stock rooms and landing on our doorsteps.

    Maritime’s future depends on that workforce and on growing the pool of talent that it draws from. It means we can create a more resilient and innovative sector, proudly diverse in gender, background and skills.

    It’s a future where coders and data analysts rub shoulders with engineers and seafarers – all choosing maritime as the place to launch and sustain a career. But that requires progress, real progress, on making the sector a more attractive place to work and stay.

    It has now been over 2 years since the P&O Ferries scandal shook this country and the maritime sector. Clearly, not enough has been done since. I know many of you in this room will have been equally as shocked by those events. And this government is determined to start to put injustices like these right with our plan to ‘Make Work Pay’.

    We’ll end the worst fire and rehire practices that undercut the rights and protections of workers, and undermine confidence in our economy. Because we know that the way to grow our economy, and to make maritime a more attractive home for a new generation of seafarers, is through a partnership between business and working people, which can be a rising tide that lifts all of us, in every corner of the country.

    Today you have my assurance that I will place this sector at the heart of this government’s plan for a decade of national renewal. Economic growth. A clean energy superpower. Breaking barriers to opportunity. Whatever this government’s mission – maritime is at the heart of it.

    We’ll harness London’s world leading strengths in maritime law and insurance. We’ll support exciting green projects up and down the country. And we’ll breathe new economic life into our vital coastal communities and ports.

    Friends, I believe maritime’s best days aren’t confined to history but lie ahead. So, tonight, let’s fire the starting gun – or break the champagne – for London International Shipping Week 2025, making it the biggest and most impactful to date.

    I know that many of you feel that maritime’s outsized contribution to our economy sails under the radar and that many of you don’t always get the recognition you deserve. But as Transport Secretary, I will champion you and this sector at every opportunity. And work with you, day in day out, not simply to secure maritime’s future, but the future of our economy and our country too.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British Chamber of Commerce opens office in Uganda to promote trade & investment [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : British Chamber of Commerce opens office in Uganda to promote trade & investment [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 18 September 2024.

    The organisation will use the business community’s influence to engage on trade policy, and reducing barriers to entry to increase Trade and Investment.

    The British Chamber of Commerce, which is currently operational in a number of other African countries, will be a catalyst for business success by providing a range of business support and trade promotion services. From networking opportunities, business advocacy, educational seminars and exclusive members benefits, the Chamber is dedicated to helping UK businesses in Uganda of all sizes to prosper.

    The Chamber of Commerce’s main objective is to promote better trade links between the UK and Uganda and increase trade and investment. The UK private sector is a major investor in Uganda’s development and has the knowledge, experience to help drive Uganda’s economic growth. The UK always strives to be at the forefront of delivering quality products and services, shaping policy, and providing technology advancement, especially in the climate, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare sectors.

    The British Chamber of Commerce will be a powerful tool that will drive our relationship forward and build a better future for both countries.

    The launch event was held at the British High Commissioner’s residence and brought together business leaders, government officials and community members to witness the start of an exciting journey. Attendees had the opportunity to network, learn more about the benefits of becoming a member and heard from distinguished speakers including Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for General Duties who was the Guest of Honour.

    H.E. Kate Airey OBE, the British High Commissioner to Uganda said:

    As the economy and investment environment became more difficult, we need to strengthen our community in order to succeed. That is why I am delighted to be launching the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda, which will help all of us. Individually our voice is small, but collectively, we can partner to support Uganda’s growth. The UK private sector has invested billions into Uganda’s economy, but our collective brand should be stronger. Having a chamber will give us the platform to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Uganda.

    Sanjay Rughani, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank and Founding Member of the BCCU said:

    I am very pleased to be launching the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda as one if its founding members… We want to be the trusted voice of British business in Uganda, advocating for our members’ interests, facilitating networking and collaboration, and contributing to economic prosperity of both nations.

    Henry Musasizi, the Minister of State for General Duties said:

    The British Chamber of Commerce provides an excellent business eco-system that provides a unique opportunity for connecting several businesses and brands in both Uganda and the UK.

    Our government, under the steadfast stewardship of H.E. President Museveni has consistently, both in terms policy direction and action, emphasized the importance of attracting both trade and investment as key drivers for advancing socio-economic transformation in Uganda. The UK as a Development partner will play a critical role in terms of trade, investment and technical expertise.

    Members of the British Chamber of Commerce will have access to exclusive benefits including:

    • connections to government and private sector organisations in the UK and Uganda
    • invitations to networking events
    • briefings and forums on topical issues
    • access to trade delegations supported by the Chamber
    • access to information released by the other British Chambers of Commerce around the world,
    • invitations to events in London hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce Headquarters

    Membership fees start at $650 per annum. There are 3 tiers of membership, plus an additional higher tier only available in the first year.

    The criteria for membership includes:

    • British companies
    • a company with British directors or shareholders
    • any Ugandan company doing business with or in partnership with a UK company
  • PRESS RELEASE : Boost for Indo-Pacific security cooperation as Defence Minister visits region [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boost for Indo-Pacific security cooperation as Defence Minister visits region [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 18 September 2024.

    Defence Minister Lord Coaker pushed forward the UK’s relationships with partners in the Indo-Pacific last week with visits to the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

    In the Republic of Korea, the Minister attended the Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military (REAIM) Summit, co-hosted by the UK in Seoul, where international discussions about the use of AI in the military took place.

    The Summit focused on the adoption of AI in the military, which has the potential to transform all aspects of defence and change the nature of warfare – presenting opportunities including better quality and quicker decision-making and automating dangerous tasks. The summit also addressed the risks of AI and the need to adopt technologies safely and responsibly.

    Following the REAIM Summit, Lord Coaker attended the Republic of Korea – UN Command Defence Minster Meeting. The UN Command is a multinational group, established to support the Republic of Korea’s security during and after the Korean War.

    Attending the Seoul Defence Dialogue, Lord Coaker met Vice Defense Minister Seon ho Kim to discuss the UK’s close partnership and cooperation with the Republic of Korea. Lord Coaker addressed the dialogue on the challenges and future of defence innovation.

    Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker said:

    Our security at home in the UK is inextricably linked to stability in the Indo-Pacific. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we continue to work with regional partners and allies to support global security and stand up for international laws and norms.

    That’s exactly what I’ve been doing in Seoul and Hanoi, and it’s been an honour to visit so early in my post to discuss our cooperation on the opportunities and challenges we face.

    During his time in the Republic of Korea, Lord Vernon Coaker also visited the demilitarized zone, and met with UK Royal Marines who are in the Republic of Korea following recent exercises with ROK Armed Forces. The UK remains committed to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the collective security mechanisms on the Peninsula.

    The UK and Republic of Korea have long worked together in support of peace and security in the region. In July, the Minister joined Korean representatives at the Korean War Memorial in London to recognise the sacrifices of all those who gave their lives during the Korean War, including over one thousand British military personnel.

    The visit last week was an important moment to build on the meeting held by Prime Minister Kier Starmer and President Yoon in July, and the Downing Street Accord, signed during President Yoon’s visit to the UK in November 2023.

    Visiting Vietnam to co-chair the fifth annual UK-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue, Lord Coaker held discussions with Vice Minister Chien on defence and security cooperation. Last year marked 50 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam, and the relationship has developed over this time.

    The UK recognises that security in the Indo-Pacific region is indivisible from that in Europe and is committed to strengthening relationships in the region further to support stability.

    While in Vietnam, the UK Minister visited the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations. The UK is supporting Vietnam in developing as a UN Troop Contributing Nation, and has supported Vietnam’s deployments since 2018, including to South Sudan and Abyei, by training medical and engineering personnel.

    The Minister met with soldiers from the British Army’s 8 Engineer Brigade who have been supporting Vietnam with training and set out how the UK is eager to assist with future initiatives.

    The Government will make allies our strategic strength and is determined to build on our Indo-Pacific commitments and partnership.