Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : UK and Florida Hold Inaugural Working Group Meeting [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 7 May 2024.

The first working group meeting under the UK-Florida MoU on trade and economic co-operation was held in Tallahassee, FL.

On Tuesday 30 April 2024, representatives of the UK and state of Florida Governments attended the inaugural government-to-government working group meeting created under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on trade and economic co-operation in Tallahassee.

Rufus Drabble, His Majesty’s Consul General in Miami, co-chaired the meeting with Alex Kelly, Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce.

Consul General Rufus Drabble said:

Our discussions were focused and constructive and demonstrate our strong shared commitment to the strategic UK-FL partnership.

We have an ambitious pipeline for the next 12 months and I look forward to collaborating with the State to leverage the MoU to open all doors to further expand our trade and investment.

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said:

While this meeting is the first official meeting of its kind, Florida has already hit the ground running with the UK since the MOU was signed in November 2023.

The actionable and impactful collaboration between Florida and the UK is one that will strengthen both of our economies for generations to come.

Attendees met to coordinate the implementation of the MoU and discussed opportunities for increasing bilateral trade and an exchange of best practices in life sciences, space and fintech. Attendees also explored opportunities to progress recognition of professional qualifications and encourage private sector participation in government procurement markets, with further activity planned for 2024. The UK is currently the top foreign investor in Florida and the state supplies the UK with a wide range of products including aviation and aerospace products.

The MoU is the first the UK has signed which focuses on the aerospace sector. Florida is home to the NASA Kennedy Space Center, as well as the new STARCOM headquarters in Patrick Space Force Base opening at the end of 2024, and has world-leading capabilities in launch infrastructure, manufacturing, and satellite development, presenting huge opportunities for the UK’s growing space industry. In 2023, income from the sector was worth over £17.5 billion and employing nearly 50,000 people.

The UK and Florida agreed next steps for MoU implementation, including the following:

Life Sciences: 2024 will see the launch of the UK-Florida Life Sciences Trade Corridor where 30 UK companies will participate in a four-city roadshow in Florida’s key Life Sciences and Innovation clusters.

Space: DBT will organise a delegation of UK Space companies to Florida for the end of 2024 and will be supporting Florida’s participation at the Farnborough Air Show in July.

Fintech: The UK will promote Florida as a key “market entry point” for Fintech companies seeking to enter US and Latin American markets, and will coordinate several trade delegations for 2024 aimed at exploring new business opportunities across the state, including opportunities around insurance.

Trade Policy: Policy leads will hold further discussions on mutual recognition of professional qualifications on architecture and engineering, in the context of wider mutual recognition agreements between UK and US bodies. They will also continue cooperation between the UK Government and the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) on access to government procurement markets, including participation by DMS in an explanatory webinar for interested UK vendors.

May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review 46 – UK Statement on Eritrea [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

Statement from the UK at Eritrea’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President,

We thank Eritrea for presenting its National Report, and we welcome some progress on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including action to tackle Female Genital Mutilation and to promote access to clean water and sanitation.

However, much more needs to be done to ensure the human rights of Eritrea’s people are fully promoted and protected. Meaningful change at pace is urgently needed, and we stand ready to assist.

We recommend that Eritrea:
1. Cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, including through enabling access to the country.
2. Investigate the social impact of national service, including developing schemes that promote access to employment following the completion of the mandated national service.
3. Implement the Constitution proposed by President Isaias over a decade ago, involving the participation of an elected legislature, independent media and a free and open civil society.
Thank you.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Boost to bilateral ties as UK Indo-Pacific Minister visits Bangladesh [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

The two-day visit will strengthen UK-Bangladesh modern economic, security and migration partnership.
- Minister for the Indo-Pacific visit will strengthen UK-Bangladesh modern economic, security and migration partnership
- UK will back economic development efforts with launch of new trade policy project in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh
- New UK funding of £12 million ($15 million) announced will provide vital humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar
UK-Bangladesh cooperation set to increase on priority areas including migration, economic reform and security, as UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will arrive in Bangladesh on a two-day visit, today morning (Tuesday 7 May). On her second visit to Bangladesh in her role as Indo-Pacific Minister, she will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During her visit to Dhaka, Minister Trevelyan will meet Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud. Discussions are expected to focus on UK-Bangladesh migration cooperation, trade and economic ties, and the UK’s support to the Rohingya refugee response.

The Minister will also meet business leaders, humanitarian actors, climate experts and, in meetings with civil society organisations and political leaders, she will recognise the importance of democracy and human rights as foundations for long-term growth and prosperity. Minister Trevelyan will also announce new UK support to equip and empower youth and vulnerable groups in Bangladesh to engage in climate action.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said

“I’m pleased to be back in Bangladesh with our new trade policy project marking an important step forward towards closer UK-Bangladesh collaboration, boosting our economic ties.

“We remain steadfast in our support for the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and will provide £12 million of new humanitarian assistance, to increase access to clean water, healthcare, shelter, and protection services for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.”

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said

“Delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to Bangladesh. The UK’s long-standing friendship with Bangladesh is cemented by the deep cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries.

“The UK-Bangladesh partnership continues to go from strength to strength. From our joint work to tackle economic challenges, to our steadfast support for the Rohingya, and our partnership on climate change, we are determined to do more together.”

Reaffirming the UK’s sustained support for the Rohingya people, Minister Trevelyan will announce £12 million (over 163 Crore Taka) of new UK humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh. The new funding will provide clean water, healthcare, shelter and protection services. It will also support the development of the camp’s infrastructure to help protect it from natural disasters.

Minister Trevelyan will also announce a new trade policy project with the Government of Bangladesh. The UK will provide technical assistance to Bangladesh to strengthen trade policy capability and implement reforms. The project will support Bangladesh tackle economic challenges and graduate successfully from Least Developed Country status in 2026.

Note to editors

The new package of funding to support Rohingya refugees totals £12 million. This assistance will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

Since 2017, the UK has provided £391 million ($487 million) to support the Rohingya, and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Minister for Europe calls out Russian attempts to erase Ukrainian culture, during UK-German forum for cultural co-operation [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

London hosts to the UK-Germany Cultural Commission for the first time in over 30 years, and Minister for Europe emphasises culture’s role in Ukraine war.
- UK-German Cultural Commission held in London for the first time in over 30 years, hosted by the Minister for Europe, and German counterpart
- Minister Ghani will emphasise the importance of celebrating national culture in Europe as Russia attempts to erase Ukrainian identity
- event follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany where he hailed the opening of a ‘new chapter’ in the UK-Germany relationship
For the first time in 30 years, London will play host to the UK-Germany Cultural Commission today (7 May), where the Minister for Europe will open the forum by emphasising culture’s role in Russia’s war with Ukraine, through which Putin is working to erase Ukrainian cultural identity.

Minister Nusrat Ghani, herself sanctioned by Russia, will also highlight the importance of celebrating and preserving cultural heritage alongside European neighbours.

A forum established in 1958 – and revived in Germany last year – the UK-Germany Cultural Commission sets the agenda for joint cultural cooperation between the two nations.

Joining UK and German organisations and colleagues, Minister Ghani will co-chair the event at Lancaster House with German Foreign Office Minister of State Katja Keul.

They will champion the strong links between the 2 countries, from language and education exchange, to this year’s European Football Championship, which will see 500,000 UK fans visiting Germany.

Minister for Europe, Nusrat Ghani said:

From football to Bauhaus, the UK and Germany are inextricably linked through our culture, and these ties help form the foundation of our close alliance.

When national identities are threatened, our culture – the customs and institutions that define us – becomes even more important.

As Russia seeks to wipe Ukrainian culture off the face of our continent, we cannot stand idly by and must stand with our partners in solidarity with Ukraine, their identity and their people.

The Commission follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany earlier this month, during which he declared the opening of a ‘new chapter’ in the UK-Germany relationship, and announced a strengthening of the two nations’ position against Russian aggression, as well as discussing mobility and migration with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The forum will also see Ministers, officials, and cultural organisations – such as the Goethe Institute and British Council – discuss the promotion of German language learning in the UK, co-operation in higher education and research, the protection of cultural heritage, and the importance of mobility between the UK and Germany.

The UK and German governments will also celebrate the ongoing work to boost student exchanges between our schools, this year significantly increasing funding for UK German Connection – a bilateral organisation that facilitates youth and school exchange.

Several high-profile cultural figures with German and British connections will also be in attendance – including DCMS Minister Lord Parkinson, and illustrator of the iconic children’s book The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler. Delegates will enjoy a performance by young poets from Saxony and Manchester, who are part of the Cultural Bridge programme.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Lety Holocaust memorial opening ceremony in Czechia – Lord Pickles’ speech

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Chair Lord Pickles welcomed the transformation of the former concentration camp from an industrial pig farm to a memorial.

It is a real honour to be here today.

I can recall many a heated discussion at IHRA plenaries about the indignity of having a pig farm on a site near the mass graves of 300 people from the Roma community who had been murdered by the Nazis and collaborators.

We have to acknowledge that disregarding the site and unmarked mass graves in favour of the farm was an attempt by some to forget this dark chapter in Czechia’s history. For others, it symbolized the persistence of anti-Roma sentiment in Czech society and in many parts of Europe.

Being here today at the official opening of Lety clearly shows how far the Czechia has come government has come and its friends rejoice at the opening of the memorial.

Since 2014 IHRA has been involved in the transformation of Lety from the pig farm it once was to the memorial it is today. IHRA have regularly raised with both the Czech authorities and IHRA member countries the need for a respectful place of commemoration at Lety.

After decades of campaigning by local activists and increased efforts by the IHRA, the pig farm was redeemed by the Czech government and acquired by the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno.

In 2019, the Museum of Romani Culture was awarded an IHRA grant to develop a concept for the exhibition for the Lety memorial. This exhibition not only covers the history of the concentration camp, but also works to prevent false assumptions on the purpose of the camp and the conditions of the victims and to counter any new denial of the genocide of the Roma as well as antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination.

I am pleased that IHRA’s experts remained actively involved as the new memorial complex was designed. This includes IHRA’s Safeguarding Sites team which visited Lety last June.

IHRA is immensely proud that all member countries adopted the Safeguarding Sites Charter and that Lety stands today as a proud representation of our safeguarding efforts.

It is an honour to see how we have all worked together to ensure that the victims of the Roma genocide are remembered.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to praise the Czech government for recently adopting the IHRA working definition of antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination.

I encourage you now to look at further practical steps to address the long-term discrimination that the Roma community continue to face in this country. Examples include the difficulty Roma people face in accessing compensation for forced sterilisation, and segregation of Roma children in schools. These are legacies of the genocide which need to be eradicated, and learnt from.

This is an important day for acknowledging the dark moments of the past but looking towards a brighter future. I look forward to continued closer co-operation between the IHRA and Czechia. Thank you, all, for your continued leadership.

May 11, 2024

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to El Salvador – Ramin Navai [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

Mr Ramin Navai has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador in succession to Mr David Lelliott OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Navai will take up his appointment during December 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Ramin Navai

Date	Role
2020 to date	Asunción, His Majesty’s Ambassador
2018 to 2020	FCO, Deputy Head, Counter Daesh Communications Cell, Communications Directorate
2015 to 2018	FCO, Head of Programme Team, Syria Unit, Middle East & Near Africa Directorate
2010 to 2015	Chicago, Deputy Consul General
2006 to 2010	Bogotá, 2nd Sec Political
2004 to 2006	Home Office, Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre
2003 to 2004	FCO, Cuba, Haiti & Dominican Republic Desk Officer, Latin America and Caribbean Department
2002 to 2003	FCO, G8 Desk Officer, Economic Policy Department

May 11, 2024

PRESS RELEASE : UK offer £6 million to organisations to help creation of a new UK National Academy dedicated to maths [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 7 May 2024.

Organisations are now invited to apply to set up a new National Academy focused on Mathematical Sciences.
- Competition to set up and develop new Maths Academy over next three years now open until 4 June
- Will promote study and application of maths as a key skill for jobs of the future and unearthing key discoveries
- Will seek to emulate success of the existing UK National Academies
Organisations have been invited to apply for the chance to set up a new National Academy for Mathematical Sciences to champion the immense value of maths, create future jobs, and turbocharge the UK economy.

An open competition offering grant funding of up to £6 million over the next three years has been launched today and will run from today until 4 June 2024.

As technology evolves faster than ever mathematical sciences are critical to the jobs of the future – like AI, nuclear and compute – that will set the UK on a path to a brighter future that rewards hard work, celebrates ambition, and gives young people the skills they need to get on in life.

Today’s announcement builds on the Prime Minister’s ambition for all young people to study maths up to age 18 via the Advanced British Standard, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the modern economy.

The new Academy will mark mathematical sciences as a major priority in skills development and seek to emulate the success of the existing UK National Academies, in other scientific fields, such as the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering which encourage innovation.

Ambitious requirements for a successful applicant have been drawn up and agreed following weeks of engagement with over 100 key voices in business, academia and beyond. Over the next three years, the incipient National Academy focussed on Mathematical Sciences will be expected to:
- Provide credible, expert and timely advice on maths to government, policy makers and industry, helping to shape the agenda on the subject.
- Increase public support and engagement in mathematical sciences – communicating the importance of the subject in growing jobs and the economy, and in driving discovery in science and technology and how that can make us all healthier and better off.
- Publish a strategy setting out a clear vision for the mathematical sciences sector in the UK – engaging voices from across the maths community and establishing skills gaps in maths.
In the longer term, it is expected to:
- Work to improve and develop mathematical skills across the UK, with particular focus on supporting the UK’s competitiveness in advanced maths skills that support industries that will underpin future growth, such as artificial intelligence and data science and the government’s critical technologies.
- Leverage private and third sector funding – although the successful applicant will be funded by the government to up to £6 million initially, it will not be a government body or agency and should seek complementary sources of private and third-sector funding.
- Collaborate internationally, recognising that the mathematical sciences community stretches oversees and plays an essential role in addressing global challenges.
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

This new National Academy for Maths is a big step in transforming our national approach to maths.

It will lead the way in arming our society with the skills and knowledge to lead the globe in jobs of the future – like AI and compute – to discover the Alan Turing of tomorrow.

Part of the plan to prize numeracy for what it is – a key skill every bit as essential as reading.

Science, Innovation and Research Minister, Andrew Griffith, said:

Maths is at the root of so much in our lives, from groundbreaking discoveries that keep us healthy to the engineering we rely on to do our jobs and get us from A to B.

As technology becomes even more central to our modern world, it is a skill that will only become more crucial in jobs of the future, from artificial intelligence to data science and beyond.

The new National Academy focused on Mathematical Sciences will help raise the profile of Maths in the UK and help the sector in making the impassioned case for such an important subject.

The sector has demonstrated strong and broad support for a leading organisation that can support those in maths to speak with a unified voice on key interests and make the case to the public that maths is fundamental to scientific discovery and at the heart of our economy and prosperity.

Notes to editors

The incipient National Academy for Mathematical Science will become the fifth UK national academy. The others are the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society.
May 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE : New £64 million plan to help people stay in work [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 May 2024.

‘WorkWell’ pilots to provide tailored support for people in their local area so people can stay and progress in work.

15 areas including Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, and Cornwall to become part of new £64 million pilot to deliver joined-up work and health support
Builds on welfare reform package to tackle inactivity as fit note process to be integrated with WorkWell

A new work and health support service will be rolled out across 15 areas of England as part of the Government’s plan to help people with health conditions back to work, the Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed today (Tuesday 7 May).

The WorkWell pilots – launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – will connect 59,000 people from October to local support services including physiotherapy and counselling so they can get the tailored help they need to stay in or return to work.

It comes after the Prime Minister announced a sweeping package of welfare reforms to modernise the benefit system and help thousands more people into work, including a review of fit notes to consider how to relieve pressure on GPs and deliver personalised work and health plans that prevent people from falling out of work and onto long-term sickness benefits.

The WorkWell service provides a single, joined-up assessment and gateway into both employment support and health services locally to help people manage their conditions and to identify workplace adjustments or support that would enable them to stay in work or return sooner.

Participants do not need to be claiming any Government benefits and will receive personalised support from a Work and Health Coach to understand their current health and social barriers to work and draw up a plan to help them overcome them. Evidence shows that work is an effective way to improve wellbeing – reducing the risk of depression, improving physical health, and building self-confidence and financial independence.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride MP, said:

We are rolling out the next generation of welfare reforms so that thousands more people can gain all the benefits work brings.

Too many today are falling out of work in a spiral of sickness that harms their finances, their prospects and ultimately their health, where with the right workplace adjustments and help, this needn’t be the case.

And so we have designed WorkWell, a groundbreaking new service, that will for the first time integrate health and work advice at the local level, as part of our plan to stem the flow into economic inactivity, grow the economy, and change lives for the better.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins MP, said:

Too often, people with disabilities or poor health fall out of work with no support.

We have a plan to change that and improve lives so everyone has the opportunity to find fulfilling work. This service will help tens of thousands of people, who will receive joined-up work and health support, tailored to their individual needs.

This service, alongside a faster, simpler and fairer health service, will build a healthier workforce, and a stronger economy.

WorkWell is for anyone with a health condition or disability, including mental health conditions, who wants to work. It is a voluntary service, so people will be able to self-refer, or may be referred to WorkWell through their GP, employer or the community sector.

These professionals will also provide advice on workplace adjustments, such as flexible working or adaptive technology, facilitate conversations with employers on health needs, and provide access to local services such as physiotherapy, employment advice and counselling.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

It is fantastic that 15 ICSs can now start to get their WorkWell plans off the ground to provide more intensive, early-intervention support to their populations.

ICS leaders know that with the right support, people living with poor health and long-term conditions can find that good quality work helps prevent them from becoming more unwell. This helps people to live a fuller life, which in turn reduces pressure on health services.

It comes as latest figures show there are currently 2.8 million people who are ‘economically inactive’ due to long-term sickness, a near-record high. The fit note process is often the first step to someone falling out of work and into inactivity and data recently published by the NHS shows almost 11 million fit notes were issued last year, with an overwhelming 94% of those signed “not fit for work”.

A large proportion of these are repeat fit notes which are issued without any advice, resulting in a missed opportunity to help people get the appropriate support they may need to remain in work.

To address this, the Prime Minister announced a review of the fit note system to stop people being written off as “not fit for work” by default and instead design a new system where each fit note conversation focuses on what people can do with the right support in place, rather than what they can’t do.

As part of the call for evidence, we are also testing reforms of the fit note process to integrate it more closely with WorkWell, enabling the people who need it to have a work and health conversation, with a single, joined-up assessment and gateway into local employment support services.

Some WorkWell pilots are in areas of the country with some of the highest number of fit notes issued, like Greater Manchester and the Black Country where a combined total of over one million fit notes were issued last year.

We are also rolling out “fit note trailblazers” in some of the WorkWell pilot areas to ensure people who request a fit note have a work and health conversation and are signposted to local employment support services so they can remain in work. The trailblazers will trial better ways of triaging, signposting, and supporting people looking to receive a fit note and will be used to test a transformed process to help prevent people with long term health conditions falling out of work, including referral to support through their local WorkWell service.

This builds on the record £16 billion worth of mental health support we offered last year, as well an extra 384,000 people accessing NHS Talking Therapies as part of the Government’s £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan. We are delivering the largest expansion in mental health services in a generation with almost £5 billion of extra funding over the past 5 years, and a near doubling of mental health training places to help cut waiting lists.

Covering a third of Integrated Care Boards across England, the success of the pilot will inform the possible future rollout of a national WorkWell service dedicated to stemming the flow of people falling out of work due to ill health where the right adjustments and support could prevent this.

This is a key part of the Government’s £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan, to help up to 1.1 million people with long-term health conditions, disabilities and long-term unemployment to look for and stay in work. In addition to reforming the fit note process and expanding NHS Talking Therapies, the Back to Work Plan includes the launch of Universal Support to match 100,000 people to job vacancies, and expanding the Restart scheme to give people the skills they need to progress.

The Government’s wide-ranging welfare reforms also include changes to the Work Capability Assessment which are expected to reduce the number of people put onto the highest tier of incapacity benefits by 424,000 by 2028/29 – people who will now receive personalised support to prepare for work, while our Chance to Work Guarantee will mean people can try work without fear of losing their benefits.

There is a near record level of people on company payrolls, up by over 200,000 since last year, wages have risen for nine months in a row, and economic inactivity is still lower than in the US, France and Italy.

The rollout of Universal Credit will also be accelerated to move all those left on outdated legacy systems onto a simpler, more dynamic benefit system which eliminates a binary choice between work and welfare. And we will change the rules so that over 180,000 Universal Credit claimants will be given more frequent access to the expertise and guidance of work coaches, as a result of laying regulations to increase the Administrative Earnings Threshold.

Further Information

WorkWell pilots will take place within the following areas:

Birmingham and Solihull
Black Country
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Coventry and Warwickshire
Frimley
Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Greater Manchester
Lancashire and South Cumbria
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
North Central London
North West London
South Yorkshire
Surrey Heartlands

Each of the 15 WorkWell pilots will decide the exact support to be made available that’s best suited to the needs of their local area.

The total number of Fit Notes issued in each area last year:

Integrated Care Board	Total FN issued
(Jan – Dec 2023)
Birmingham and Solihull	334,072
Black Country	310,812
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire	191,192
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough	137,566
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly	95,934
Coventry and Warwickshire	243,508
Frimley	112,259
Herefordshire and Worcestershire	150,606
Greater Manchester	744,442
Lancashire and South Cumbria	455,436
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland	192,650
North Central London	262,733
North West London	348,112
South Yorkshire	322,958
Surrey Heartlands	130,341

An example WorkWell user journey:

The user is employed but their chronic back pain and depression means that they have been signed off work and are considering stopping altogether, leaving them financially vulnerable.
They are referred to WorkWell by their GP, employer, or local service.
They meet with a Work and Health Coach for a work and health assessment to understand their health and social barriers to work and develop a plan to overcome them.
They are signposted to in-house WorkWell services – four sessions with a physiotherapist, a meeting with a counsellor, and a meeting with a Human Resource Advisor for employment advice.
Their plan also includes referrals to other relevant local services that will enable them to overcome their barriers to work. This includes training opportunities to help them explore new career opportunities; social prescription to a support group tackling loneliness; and speaking to Citizens Advice Bureau for financial advice.
Thanks to their plan, they can remain in work and continue to meet with their WorkWell Work and Health Coach, who checks in on their progress and offers further work and health advice as needed.

May 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE : Vote of confidence in UK economy as British AI company Wayve secures over $1 billion to develop AI for self-driving vehicles [May 2024]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 May 2024.

British AI company Wayve announces $1.05 billion investment to develop the next generation of AI-powered self-driving vehicles.
- UK AI company Wayve secures over $1 billion investment to develop next generation of AI-powered self-driving vehicles
- Wayve co-founder hails “UK’s AI ecosystem” which has supported them in securing the largest ever investment in a UK AI company
- Investment cements UK’s position as a world leader in AI and self-driving vehicle technology
- Comes as industry-backed Automated Vehicles Bill set to become law in coming weeks
UK AI company Wayve has announced a $1.05 billion investment to develop the next generation of AI-powered self-driving vehicles today (Tuesday 7 May) marking the biggest investment in a UK AI company in history.

Backed by SoftBank Group, NVIDIA and Microsoft, Wayve will use this investment to develop and launch the first “embodied AI” technology for self-driving vehicles in the UK.

Embodied AI will enable self-driving (otherwise known as automated) vehicles to learn from and interact with a real-world environment, including the ability to navigate and learn from situations that do not follow strict patterns or rules, such as unexpected actions by drivers or pedestrians – going far beyond the capabilities of existing AV technology.

Today’s investment cements the UK’s position as a world leader in these emerging industries, with both the self-driving vehicle and AI sectors bringing huge potential for economic growth as they develop. Between 2018 and 2022, the UK self-driving vehicle sector alone generated £475 million of direct investment and created 1,500 new jobs.

As the self-driving vehicle industry grows in the UK, it is expected to be worth £42 billion and create 38,000 more skilled jobs by 2035. The AI sector also already employs more than 50,000 people in the UK and contributes more than £3.7 billion to our economy every year. By 2035, our AI market is forecast to grow to over $1 trillion.

Founded in the UK in 2017, Wayve is a home-grown British success story and a testament to the UK’s global leadership in creating the economic and regulatory conditions for start-ups in the AI and self-driving vehicle industries to grow and thrive.

Wayve has said that their advancements in self-driving vehicle technology have been supported by the UK’s Code of Practice: Automated Vehicle Trialling, which sets out a clear framework to support and promote the safe trailing of self-driving vehicle technology. The code of practice is world-leading in its pro-innovation and flexible approach towards the development and testing of self-driving in the UK.

It relies on the company taking accountability for safety, without the requirement for onerous regulatory processes and red tape. Wayve has said the UK’s approach has been integral to their ability to build AI for assisted and automated driving so quickly.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

From the first electric light bulb or the World Wide Web, to AI and self-driving cars – the UK has a proud record of being at the forefront of some of the biggest technological advancements in history.

I’m incredibly proud that the UK is the home for pioneers like Wayve who are breaking ground as they develop the next generation of AI models for self-driving cars. The fact that a homegrown, British company has secured the biggest investment yet in a UK AI start-up is a testament to our leadership in this industry, and that our plan for the economy is working.

We are leaving no stone unturned to create the economic conditions for start-ups to grow and thrive in the UK. We already have the third highest number of AI companies and private investment in AI in the world, and this announcement anchors the UK’s position as an AI superpower.

Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve said:

The UK has a rich and inspiring AI heritage, which lives on today with top talent, world-class universities, and innovation-friendly regulation, bolstered by events like the AI Summit. Today, we are proud to contribute to this legacy with our announcement of a $1.05bn Series C investment round, the largest-ever AI fundraise in UK history.

The UK’s progressive testing framework has supported our rapid development of cutting-edge AI, and we’ve been pleased to work with the government on the Automated Vehicles Bill which gives investors confidence that the UK is truly a leader in AI and AVs.

This investment will help us launch our Embodied AI products and expand our operations globally. It sends a crucial signal to the market of the strength of the UK’s AI ecosystem, and we look forward to watching more AI companies here thrive and scale.

Wayve’s investment comes as the UK’s Automated Vehicle Bill is set to conclude its passage through parliament in the coming weeks and will lay the foundation for innovative British companies like Wayve to scale up and deploy their self-driving technology to increase safety and unlock a market worth up to £42 billion.

The Automated Vehicles Bill will unlock a transport revolution by enabling the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles – reinforcing the UK’s position as a global leader in this high growth industry and deliver one of the world’s most comprehensive legal frameworks for self-driving vehicles, with safety at its core.

Under the Bill’s provisions all self-driving vehicles will be required to undergo robust safety testing before they are permitted to drive on UK roads. The Bill will also ensure clear legal liability when a vehicle is driving itself by creating new legal entities responsible for self-driving vehicles.

Self-driving vehicles also have the potential to make transport safer, more convenient and more accessible, improving the lives of millions of people. With 88% of accidents currently involving human error, there is also huge potential for automated vehicles to reduce costs, injuries, and fatalities.

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

This investment is not only a vote of confidence both in our status as an AI and innovation powerhouse, but in the broader steps we have taken to make the UK a magnet for investment and growth.

Wayve are a true homegrown success story, and today’s investment represents one of the largest ever backings for a UK start up. This injection of money will put the UK at the heart of driving forward new, cutting-edge AI solutions for self-driving vehicles, made possible by our pro-innovation approach to managing this generation-defining technology.

We are already a world leader in AI, and this is further evidence that the UK is now firmly the global destination for tech innovation and growth.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

This is the latest in a long line of fantastic investments in the UK automotive sector, coming hot on the heels of major commitments by BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan.

The government’s plan for advanced manufacturing is working, and this $1 billion investment in Wayve will ensure that cutting-edge technologies of the future are made in Britain.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

Self-driving cars will revolutionise road travel – making it safer and more convenient for everyone.

Our Automated Vehicles Bill paves the way for their safe use in the UK, and opens the door for investment into innovative British companies like Wayve – putting the UK at the forefront of a growing global industry. This is an important part of our plan to grow the economy and create high quality jobs into the future.

The UK already has a world-leading technology sector, with the UK becoming only the 3rd country (behind the US and China) in the world to have a tech sector valued at over $1 trillion in total.

The UK is also an Artificial Intelligence superpower – being home to 3rd highest number of AI companies and private capital investment in AI in the world. The UK also accounts for around half of all AI private capital investment in Europe and hundreds more AI companies are starting up in the UK every year, growing our economy and creating highly-skilled, well-paid jobs.

Some of the world’s biggest AI companies including Open AI and Anthropic have chosen London as the base for their first international offices in a huge vote of confidence in our approach to AI. Microsoft recently announced a new AI hub in London, and one of the leaders in the field, Google DeepMind was also founded here over a decade ago and remains in the UK to this day.

The government is committed to delivering a regulatory approach that drives both safety and innovation when it comes to AI, which we’ve set out in our response to the AI Regulation White Paper. The UK has not rushed to legislate due to the rapid evolution of this technology. Instead, we are focused on strengthening our understanding of the risks and empowering the UK’s expert regulators to act using their existing powers and remits.

As part of this, we’ve also invested £100 million in the world’s first AI Safety Institute to evaluate the risks of new AI models and demonstrated global leadership shown by hosting the world’s first major summit on AI safety at Bletchley Park in November. This means that, unlike in the EU, founders are not facing sweeping legislation which attempts to regulate the development of AI across all sectors.
May 10, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK and allies sanction prolific cyber hacker [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

The UK, US and Australia have sanctioned the Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit.
- UK, US and Australia sanction Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit
- LockBit were one of the most prolific ransomware groups in recent years, responsible for attacks on over 200 UK businesses and major public service providers
- UK and Allies crack down on malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia that seeks to undermine global integrity, prosperity and security
The UK, US and Australia have today (Tuesday 7 May) sanctioned a senior Russia-based leader of LockBit, once one of the world’s most pernicious cybercrime gangs.

Today’s sanctions target Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev who has been identified, as part of an ongoing international law enforcement investigation, as one of the leaders of LockBit, the ransomware group responsible for extorting over $1 billion from thousands of victims globally.

In February the NCA announced that it had infiltrated the group’s network and taken control of its services, compromising the entire criminal enterprise. The group has attempted to rebuild over the last 2 months, however the NCA assesses that as a result of this investigation, they are currently running at limited capacity and the global threat from LockBit has significantly reduced.

The gang was responsible for 25% of ransomware attacks globally last year, targeting thousands of victims over the years including over 200 UK businesses. LockBit orchestrated a malicious online campaign, illegally stealing and using sensitive data to extract billions of dollars from business and individuals.

Today’s measures will directly target a senior leader of the gang responsible for these atrocious attacks. Khoroshev will now be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans.

Sanctions Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Together with our allies we will continue to crack down on hostile cyber activity which is destroying livelihoods and businesses across the world.

In sanctioning one of the leaders of LockBit we are taking direct action against those who continue to threaten global security, while simultaneously exposing the malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia.

National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar said:

These sanctions are an important moment in our fight against cyber criminals behind the LockBit ransomware group, which is now on its knees following our disruption earlier this year.

They have caused untold damage to schools, hospitals and major companies across the world, who’ve had to pick up the pieces following devastating cyber attacks.

Dmitry Khoroshev thought he was beyond reproach, even offering $10 million to anyone who could reveal his identity, but these actions dispel that myth. Our investigation into LockBit and its affiliates continues and, working with our international partners, we’ll do everything we can to undermine their operations and protect the public.

Eleanor Fairford, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Deputy Director for Incident Management, said:

Ransomware attacks pose a massive threat to UK businesses and their impacts can be severe and long-lasting, disrupting operations and putting potentially sensitive data at risk.

It is crucial organisations ensure they have strong online defences to reduce their risk of falling victim and to protect the information they are responsible for.

Prevention is the most effective mitigation, and we urge all organisations to follow the NCSC’s ⁠ransomware guidance to help protect their networks and improve their resilience to attacks.

The UK has sanctioned Khoroshev as part of our wider commitment to cracking down on malicious cyber activity and working with our international partners to promote international security and stability in cyberspace.

These sanctions have been delivered jointly with Australia and the US and are the latest in our efforts to counter malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia that seek to undermine the integrity, prosperity and security of the UK and our allies.
May 10, 2024

Tag: 2024

Consul General Rufus Drabble said:

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said:

Note to editors

Curriculum vitae

Notes to editors

Further Information