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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Ukraine enter schools partnership to drive education standards [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Ukraine enter schools partnership to drive education standards [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 16 January 2025.

    UK-Ukraine school partnerships programme launched to boost education standards and break down barriers to opportunity.

    Sharing stories and the power of reading is at the heart of a partnership launched today (January 16) between schools in the UK and Ukraine, as part of a century-long commitment to collaboration between the countries.

    Backed by top authors including Michael Morpurgo and current Waterstones children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme will foster cross-cultural understanding and enhance English language skills while forging lasting links between school communities here and in Ukraine.

    Children in Ukraine have had their education interrupted by Russia’s war. Thousands of schools have been damaged, while children live in fear of attacks, displacement, or the loss of parents or loved ones. Half the children report air alarms disrupting their education and 43% of their teachers reported that the children are feeling nervous or anxious.

    The schools partnership is the first step in our long-term commitment to sharing best practice across both our education systems – aiding Ukraine’s recovery while driving high and rising standards on both sides. It was launched today by the Prime Minister at school № 219 in Kyiv, where he joined a class dialling into All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, attended the school in Anfield and was joined by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo and Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce who read their own work and talked to the children about their favourite stories.

    It comes as the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a 100 Year Partnership demonstrating the UK’s enduring commitment to Ukraine. It will help drive forward the government’s Plan for Change by increasing economic and trade cooperation to boost growth and benefit the health, wealth and security of working people in both countries.

    The treaty will also strengthen our socio-cultural ties, with closer collaboration across education a key driver in bringing our societies closer and boosting standards in both education systems.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Reading is so much more than education, it broadens horizons, nurtures creativity and provides hope and light in uncertain times.

    The resilience of the Ukrainian people is incredible. I’ve seen first-hand how learning and reading helps maintain a sense of normality for Ukraine’s children and young people, who have faced unimaginable adversity as they live, learn and play under bombardment.

    As part of our historic 100 Year Partnership with Ukraine, we’re enriching the cultural connections between our young people, fostering closer ties now and into the future.

    The project, delivered by the British Council in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, will initially see 50 schools in the UK matched with 50 schools in Ukraine on a year-long reading project, sharing their favourite stories from their own cultures and exploring the benefits of reading. Schools will be chosen from across the four nations of the UK between January and the scheme launching in late spring.

    Evidence shows that reading for pleasure helps children understand the views of others and feel more connected to the world. It also helps them feel more able to deal with difficult emotions and feel more confident. The National Literacy Trust found that children who read are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing. It is also associated with improved pupil attainment from reading and writing ability to general knowledge as well as a greater insight into other cultures and strengthened decision-making.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

    I was lucky to be gifted a love of reading as a child. That opened so many doors for me that would have otherwise been closed. Reading brings new perspectives and builds empathy, and it can help children facing adversity make sense of their own experiences. That’s why this partnership is so important.

    Getting more children reading for pleasure is a key part of our Plan for Change, and our work to drive high and rising standards across education by giving children the best start in life. Children in Ukraine have faced things most of us can’t comprehend, but through sharing our stories we can build a collective understanding of our two cultures, creating lasting ties between school communities that will benefit pupils on both sides for years to come.

    Michael Morpurgo, said:

    After a long life of reading and teaching and writing, of telling stories to children, I do know that the right book at the right time, can enrich young lives.

    I know of no greater gift we can pass on to our children, for with literature and stories comes knowledge and understanding of ourselves, of the past and present, of the lives of others, of the world about us. Books ask questions that open new horizons, new pathways. They bring us laughter and tears, companionship and hope.

    International school partnerships broaden horizons and promote understanding of global issues, but they also help children develop skills for life. More than 4 out of 5 teachers taking part in the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme reported that partnerships equip pupils with essential skills for a global economy.

    Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said:

    At the British Council, creating opportunities for young people has been at the heart of our mission for the last 90 years. We are delighted to be part of the 100 Year Unbreakable Partnership between the UK and Ukraine.

    International school partnerships are a motivating way for young people to develop the language, communication and intercultural skills that are so important for the future of our two countries. We look forward to supporting many more schools in partnerships and wider connections between our education systems.

    This is an ambitious, long-term commitment to work together across government, civil society and the private sector to strengthen the security and prosperity of both of our countries.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £3 billion worth of illegal drugs seized by Border Force last year [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £3 billion worth of illegal drugs seized by Border Force last year [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 16 January 2025.

    Border Force seized 119 tonnes of illegal drugs, a 52% increase from last year, in the highest number of seizures on record.

    Border Force has made the highest number of illegal drug seizures since records began, taking action at the border to help prevent harmful substances from reaching communities across the UK.

    In the year ending March 2024, over 119 tonnes of illegal drugs were seized by police and Border Force with a street value of around £3 billion. This is a 52% increase from last year and the highest volume since records began.

    Combined action from police and Border Force resulted in a total of 217,644 drug seizures in England and Wales last year, a 13% increase compared to 2023. Border Force made a total of 40,639 drug seizures, the highest since records began and a 57% increase from the previous year.

    Record amounts of cocaine were taken off the streets last year through relentless action and a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs at the border. The total quantity of cocaine seized by Border Force and police rose by 52% to over 28 tonnes.

    Border Force also saw a strong performance on herbal cannabis seizures, with over 74 tonnes seized. This was the largest quantity since records began in 1973, and a 58% increase from the previous year.

    Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra is today visiting Border Force officers at Stansted Airport to thank them for their relentless work in breaking drug supply chains and preventing harmful substances from entering the country.

    Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said:

    We are clear in our determination to protect the public from illegal drugs which pose a threat to people’s lives.

    I’d like to thank our dedicated Border Force officers who work tirelessly to seize illegal drugs, alongside our police forces and NCA, who keep them off our streets and the public safe.

    These statistics send a clear message to organised criminal gangs that they will be caught and face the full force of the law if they try to smuggle drugs into our country.

    Working in partnership, police forces, Border Force, the National Crime Agency and international partners use intelligence and technology to keep the UK’s borders safe, prevent drug trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.

    Border Force officers use a range of methods including hi-tech search equipment to detect and stop illegal and restricted goods that criminals attempt to bring into the country.

    Today’s statistics come as more than 20 dangerous substances have been banned, including xylazine, stepping up efforts to combat the increasing drug threat and make our streets safer.

    Through our Plan for Change, the government is working closely with policing and Border Force, expanding the access of the life saving drug naloxone and training Border Force dogs to detect a range of nitazenes and fentanyl.

    The collective response in dismantling drug smuggling operations from police and Border Force is helping the government in its safer streets mission by smashing organised crime and saving lives.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan military exercise starts today as Defence Ministers discuss closer cooperation [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan military exercise starts today as Defence Ministers discuss closer cooperation [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 January 2025.

    Defence Secretary meets Japanese counterpart, setting out UK commitment to Indo-Pacific security.

    • Exercise Vigilant Isles begins today with more than 100 UK troops deployed to Japan.
    • Defence Secretary meets Japanese counterpart, setting out UK commitment to Indo-Pacific security.
    • Ministers confirm that next-generation fighter jet programme headquarters will be in Reading, supporting jobs and growth mission.

    British and Japanese troops have kicked off military drills in Japan, as the Defence Secretary met his Japanese counterpart today (15 January) in London for talks on strengthening defence ties between the two countries.

    In the meeting, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the headquarters for the joint UK, Japan and Italian future fighter jet programme will be established in Reading, supporting UK jobs and the government’s growth mission.

    Exercise Vigilant Isles will see more than 100 UK soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s global response force, train with Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces on the island of Kyushu. The annual exercise, now in its third year, will increase interoperability between both countries’ forces. The UK is the only European nation to conduct bilateral military training on Japanese soil.

    The Defence Secretary welcomed the exercise and stressed the indivisibility between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security in talks with Defence Minister Gen Nakatani. The two ministers also discussed progress on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop a next-generation combat aircraft – as well as the UK Carrier Strike Group’s visit to Japan later this year.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan.

    Today, Minister Nakatani and I have highlighted the positive progress being made on our important next-generation fighter jet programme, to strengthen our security cooperation.

    There are many miles between our two nations, but the UK and Japan stand closer together than ever in support of peace and security across the globe.

    With the recently ratified GCAP Treaty entering into force, Reading will host the new GCAP headquarters, supporting the delivery of the cutting-edge stealth fighter jet. The headquarters, known as the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and led by its first Chief Executive Mr Oka Masami from Japan, will strengthen each country’s combat air industrial capability while achieving value for money.

    There are currently more than 3,500 people, including engineers and programmers, working on GCAP across the UK. In December, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC) signed a Joint Venture Agreement to create a new company to lead GCAP delivery. The Joint Venture will also be headquartered in the UK, alongside the GIGO, and together they will support hundreds of UK jobs. This supports delivery of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security while raising living standards across the UK with skilled jobs which foster economic growth.

    Later this year, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit Japan as part of the flagship 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment. The group, comprised of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, her escorts and her aircraft, will work alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and other partners to help defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They will conduct a series of operations and exercises, including a port visit in Japan.

    This follows the successful deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region in 2021, and the Royal Navy boasts persistently-deployed Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Tamar and HMS Spey operating closely with Japan and regional partners to promote maritime security.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Massive boost for UK motor industry as £50 million investment deal secured [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Massive boost for UK motor industry as £50 million investment deal secured [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 16 January 2025.

    £50 million investment deal between JATCO, Nissan and the UK government secured to build a new manufacturing site in Sunderland.

    • £50m investment deal secured between JATCO, Nissan and UK government to build new manufacturing site in Sunderland.
    • Site will be JATCO’s first UK and European plant and is set to create and support hundreds of jobs in the North East.
    • Announcement is the latest in a series of job-boosting investments to deliver growth as part of the Plan for Change, including £14 billion in AI investment and £4 billion from Malaysian company YTL creating 30,000 jobs.

    Car manufacturing giant Nissan, and the Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO) have secured a £50 million investment deal in partnership with the government to create a new manufacturing plant in Sunderland.

    The new site will help create 183 new high-value jobs in the region and support over 400 in the wider supply chain. It will also establish JATCO’s first and only European plant and will produce 3-in-1 electric vehicle powertrains for Nissan’s neighbouring Sunderland plant.

    Nissan is one of the largest UK-based vehicle manufacturers, employing around 6000 people across its Sunderland facilities, and today’s announcement builds on their £2 billion investment in the region in 2023 to build electric vehicles.

    From 2026, JATCO aim to produce 340,000 electric powertrains (the equivalent of an engine for electric vehicles) per year to supply new generations of Nissan electric vehicles. With the UK already being the largest EV market in Europe, this investment further bolsters the UK’s domestic EV manufacturing capabilities and secures the UK’s position as a world leader in the industry.

    This is the latest in a tidal wave of investments announced this week, including a £4 billion investment by Malaysian company YTL in the UK over the next five years, transforming the greater Bristol area and delivering over 30,000 jobs across the UK. More than £14 billion pounds of investment into the UK’s AI sector and thousands of new jobs have also been secured in just 48 hours since the AI Opportunities Action Plan was published earlier this week.

    Since entering office, the government has been focused on restoring economic stability, the foundation of growth, to give businesses the confidence to invest and expand in the UK – and today’s announcement is a major vote of confidence in the UK’s investment environment.

    Securing investment is also central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.

    Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson will visit the North East today [Thursday 16 January] to open the new facility and hear from senior officials from JATCO and Nissan about how the government funding will help bolster the UK’s automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles and support economic growth, an integral part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Sunderland is the beating heart of the UK’s automotive industry. Today’s announcement is a massive vote of confidence in the UK economy and this government’s plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investment.

    Not only will this boost our thriving auto industry, but it will help secure hundreds of jobs across the North East.

    The government is working hand in hand with investors to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK and our modern Industrial Strategy will build on this legacy, bringing growth, jobs and opportunities to every part of the UK.

    The announcement comes ahead of government ministers, including the Minister for Investment, attending Davos later this month where they will tell some of the world’s biggest international investors that UK PLC is open and ready for business.

    The investment has been enabled by the ATF, which is accessed through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), and aims to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology.

    Sunderland has an expanding manufacturing presence, with sites from Nissan and key battery manufacturer AESC. The value of inward FDI stock for the North East at the end of 2021 was £27.9 billion. Unleashing the full potential of the UK’s cities and regions is a core objective of the government’s Industrial Strategy. Facilitating investments like this is central to achieving this goal.

    Tomoyoshi Sato, CEO of JATCO, said:

    I am so proud to officially open JATCO UK in the North East of England.

    And I am very grateful for the support of the UK Government, Sunderland City Council, and all others involved in the establishment of JATCO UK, and look forward to supporting Nissan’s EV36Zero project with our electric powertrains.

    Alan Johnson, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Purchasing for Nissan AMIEO, said:

    This is a fantastic step forward for our world-first EV36Zero plan.

    Welcoming a key supplier to the North East of England provides a big boost to the efficiency of our supply chain. We look forward to continuing our long and successful partnership as we push towards our electric future.

    Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at the APC said:

    I am delighted that the Automotive Transformation Fund has been able to contribute to and unlock significant private investment from JATCO who bring high quality and advanced technology to an already successful automotive region. Our support is a reinforcement of the UK’s continued commitment to the extended localised supply chain for low-carbon industries.

    North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

    The car industry is synonymous with the North East, and today’s announcement underlines our huge potential in advanced manufacturing and electric vehicles.

    JATCO choosing the North East as the place to do business and locate in our Investment Zone shows the confidence global industry has in our region, and the leading role we are playing in creating jobs and opportunity for local people and UK plc.

    The UK is home to a world-class and comprehensive automotive and innovation ecosystem, including the APC, Faraday Battery Challenge, High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the ATF.

    Through the ATF, the government continues to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology. To date, ATF and APC funding programmes have leveraged over £6bn of investment from the private sector.

    The Autumn Budget confirmed over £2 billion for capital and R&D funding over five years for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains. Building on the achievements of the ATF and APC programmes, this long-term commitment is a vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, supporting investment and productivity growth across UK automotive.

    At the end of last year, the government launched a consultation on support for the zero emission transition, restoring clarity for vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry so that they have the confidence to invest in the UK in the long-term and drive growth in the UK automotive industry.

    The government’s new modern Industrial Strategy will deliver long-term, sustainable, inclusive growth right across the UK by driving investment into the economy and hardwire stability for investors, giving them the confidence to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond.

    Notes to Editors:

    • JATCO’s total investment has been enabled by over £12 million of government funding through the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF).
    • JATCO is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Japan and is world-leading in the production of transmissions.
  • PRESS RELEASE : £30 million to clean up sea travel and turbocharge coastal economies  [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £30 million to clean up sea travel and turbocharge coastal economies  [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 16 January 2025.

    Funding will boost growth and create jobs throughout the UK, as well as move towards an era of zero-emission shipping.

    • new government funding will decarbonise sea travel and cement the UK’s status as a clean energy superpower
    • part of the government’s Plan for Change, extra funding will boost regional economies and drive investment and employment opportunities
    • previous funding has already supported over 300 organisations across every nation and region in the UK and secured over £100 million of private investment

    Coastal communities and businesses across the country will benefit from £30 million of new decarbonisation funding, helping to drive economic growth and create jobs – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

    The funding comes from the latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), launched today (16 January 2025). CMDC is designed to support clean maritime technologies including electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind power and more.

    Previous rounds of the competition have seen funding delivered to over 300 organisations, bringing in more than £100 million of private investment across the UK.

    Successful projects have included the installation of Britain’s first electric chargepoint network across ports in the South West, the largest ever retrofit of a hydrogen research vessel in Wales and the installation of a state-of-the-art carbon capture system on a vessel.

    Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, said:

    This new £30 million investment is part of our Plan for Change – growing the economy and making Britain a clean energy superpower.

    I’m proud to see this funding boost growth and create jobs throughout the UK, as well as ushering in an era of zero-emission shipping.

    Yesterday the Maritime Minister visited Hull to see how the city has benefited from £3.7 million of CMDC funding through one of the programme’s flagship projects, GT Wings’ AirWing™. The innovative wind propulsion system has been built and delivered locally at Alexandra Dock and will reduce emissions on vessels by up to 30%.

    The first AirWing is being assembled at the MMS Docks in Hull and will be installed on a Carisbrooke Shipping vessel, with sea trials scheduled for March 2025.

    This groundbreaking project is creating opportunities for skilled workers and bringing economic activity to the region, positioning Hull as a hub for maritime innovation.

    Innovate UK will open the sixth round of the CMDC on 24 January. The application window will close on 16 April 2025.

    Mike Biddle, executive director, Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

    Innovate UK is delighted to partner once again with the Department for Transport to deliver the latest instalment of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

    CMDC round 6 is a great opportunity for UK innovators to take part in a world-renowned maritime transport R&D grant funding programme. The competition focuses on the ever-more prevalent issue of decarbonisation within the industry and we’re looking forward to seeing participation from across the maritime transport sector and beyond, focusing on physical, digital, system and skills-based innovation.

    George Thompson, CEO of GT Wings, said:

    We’re extremely excited about the imminent launch of AirWing, our next-generation, compact wind propulsion technology designed to help even the most challenging ocean-going vessels decarbonise by harnessing wind power.

    This progressive step has been made possible thanks to the support of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which recognised the transformative potential of this innovation and GT Wings’ ability to scale it for market impact.

    With the UK leading the way in modern wind propulsion, it’s an exciting time to be driving fresh innovation in this space.

    Captain Simon Merritt, senior fleet manager at Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, said:

    We look forward to the first AirWing being installed on our cargo ship this month, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

    This project has been accelerated with funding from Department for Transport and Innovate UK under CMDC Round 4. It demonstrates the power of collaboration between leading British companies, turning innovative ideas into real solutions to decarbonise the maritime industry while creating job opportunities in the UK.

    The sixth round of funding brings the total invested through the CMDC to £159 million, accelerating the vast economic benefits that green maritime funding has on local jobs, industries and economies.

    CMDC funding comes from the £236 million UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, which is focused on decarbonising the UK maritime sector through research and development. Innovate UK is the delivery partner for CMDC and will manage the distribution of funds to successful applicants.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ukraine sign landmark 100 Year Partnership to deepen security ties and strengthen partnership for future generations [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ukraine sign landmark 100 Year Partnership to deepen security ties and strengthen partnership for future generations [January 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 January 2025.

    The UK and Ukraine will sign a historic partnership, as the Prime Minister travels to the country to meet President Zelenskyy.

    • Treaty will bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression
    • Will bring together experts to advance scientific and technology partnerships, in areas such as healthcare and disease, agri-tech, space and drones, and build lifelong friendships through classroom projects
    • New UK-built Grain Verification Scheme will also be launched to track stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories

    The UK and Ukraine will sign a historic partnership, as the Prime Minister travels to the country to meet President Zelenskyy.

    The unbreakable bonds between the UK and Ukraine will be formalised through the landmark new 100 Year Partnership between the two countries, broadening and deepening the relationship across defence and non-military areas and enabling closer community links.

    From working together on the world stage to breaking down barriers to trade and growth and nurturing cultural links, the mutually beneficial partnership will see the UK and Ukraine advocate for each other to renew, rebuild and reform for generations to come.

    The partnership underpins the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership on Ukraine as his government continues to provide support. Spanning nine key pillars, it will harness the innovation, strength and resilience that Ukraine has shown in its defence against Russia’s illegal and barbaric invasion; and foster it to support long-term security and growth for both our countries. The Treaty and political declaration, which form the 100 Year Partnership, will be laid in Parliament in the coming weeks.

    It is expected to bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression, bring together experts to advance scientific and technology partnerships, in areas such as healthcare and disease, agri-tech, space and drones, and build lifelong friendships through classroom projects.

    It also cements the UK as a preferred partner for Ukraine’s energy sector, critical minerals strategy and green steel production.

    The 100 Year Partnership is a major step in supporting Ukraine’s long-term security – ensuring they are never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia – and committing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a sovereign Ukraine for the next century.

    Ukraine has a highly trained military, and a thriving technology sector that is rapidly designing and deploying state of the art battle-ready equipment: a security partnership with Ukraine will make Britain stronger.

    To mark the signing of the partnership today, the Prime Minister is expected to announce new UK support for Ukraine from lethal aid to economic resilience.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.

    This is not just about the here and now, it is also about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come.

    The power of our long-term friendships cannot be underestimated. Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future, is vital to this government’s foundation of security and our Plan for Change.

    Through this partnership, we are creating a strong economy that works for the British people, a safe country that protects our interests at home and abroad, and a prosperous society.

    The Prime Minister will join a Ukrainian class dialling into a primary school in Liverpool today, who will be joined by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson. He will hear from the next generation about how the partnership will deliver brighter futures for children in both countries, fostering cultural exchanges and learning for youngsters.

    100 schools in the UK and Ukraine will be partnered over the coming months as part of a two-way programme built around reading for pleasure. Through sharing stories from their own cultures, they will explore the power of reading to overcome adversity – building links between the countries for generations to come.

    The Prime Minister is also expected to see firsthand how UK aid is supporting Ukrainians living under bombardment through a visit to a Ukrainian hospital. He will meet patients and doctors and hear how £100m of UK humanitarian funding is supporting needs across Ukraine and specialist medical care for burn victims, including those maimed by Russian missiles raining down on neighbourhoods.

    The hospital is being supported by specialist NHS doctors, who are upskilling Ukrainian medical teams and providing lifesaving opinions on treatment for severely injured patients, both virtually and through short deployments to the country. Many admitted to the hospital have burns to between 30% and 40% of their body surface.

    The Prime Minister will also announce £40m for a new economic recovery programme to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds worth of private lending to bolster the growth and economic resilience of small and medium businesses in Ukraine, which form the backbone of the country’s economy.

    The programme will create opportunities for UK companies by supporting key growth sectors in Ukraine, opening up enhanced trade and investment opportunities with one of our closest allies. The funding will be targeted at businesses supporting the green economy, women, veterans and marginalised groups.

    It is hoped over the long term, the programme, called TIGER (Triggering Investment Growth and Economic Resilience), will reduce reliance in Ukrainian communities on humanitarian support and help build economic resilience.

    And as part of the partnership, a new Grain Verification Scheme will also be launched to track stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories. The UK developed the new scheme following an ask from Ukraine to the G7 to help trace snatched grain from Ukraine fields under Russian control, which is then relabelled and sold on.

    Using cutting edge science to help determine where grain has been grown and harvested, the UK has developed a database to support Ukraine’s efforts to trace and stop theft of grain from occupied regions.

    Ukraine, a country which remains a major supplier of agricultural produce, is crucial for global food security. The database will be handed over to Ukraine from the Environment Secretary in the coming weeks.

    Today’s announcement builds on the £12.8 billion package of support the UK has given Ukraine, including £7.8bn of military assistance, a commitment for £3bn in military aid until as long as it takes, and ongoing energy infrastructure support to help hospitals and community facilities provide light and warmth to innocent civilians impacted by Putin’s invasion.

    The UK and Ukraine will use an annual high-level Strategic Dialogue to ensure progress on the partnership for decades to come.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Plan for Change to deliver jobs and growth in UK leading fusion industry [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Plan for Change to deliver jobs and growth in UK leading fusion industry [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 16 January 2025.

    Government announces £410 million investment to accelerate development of fusion energy and kickstart economic growth as part of its Plan for Change.

    • Record funding into fusion energy to drive growth into the energy of the future
    • new research and development investment to help deliver Plan for Change and mission for UK to become a clean energy superpower
    • funding announced as construction and engineering partners shortlisted to help progress world-leading fusion plant in Nottinghamshire, unlocking limitless clean power and creating thousands of new jobs

    A future powered by limitless clean energy is a step closer to reality, as researchers developing cutting-edge fusion energy receive a record £410 million investment, helping to kickstart economic growth as part of government’s Plan for Change.

    The funding will support the rapid development of the UK fusion energy sector over 2025 to 2026 with investment in the skills needed for scientists, engineers, welders and programme managers to enter the cutting-edge industry. Fusion already supports thousands of jobs in the UK, with thousands more to follow as the technology advances.

    Industry leaders have been shortlisted by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) to help construct a world-leading fusion power plant in Nottinghamshire, unlocking a new clean energy industry for the UK.

    Five construction and engineering bids have progressed to the next round of the UKIFS competition to deliver the prototype fusion energy plant by 2040, driving progress towards the commercialisation of fusion in the UK to supply families and businesses with secure, clean and unlimited energy.

    The prototype fusion energy plant is set at the site of a former coal power plant in Nottinghamshire, and will revitalise a UK industrial heartland, supporting new, skilled jobs in former coal communities.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    After scientists first theorised over 70 years ago that it could be possible, we are now within grasping distance of unlocking the power of the sun and providing families with secure, clean, unlimited energy.

    Britain is at the forefront of this global race to deliver fusion, and today’s record level of funding will provide investment and economic growth through our Plan for Change, delivering on net zero and creating the clean energy of the future.

    Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

    Last year Nottinghamshire marked the end of coal in our country after 142 years and today it starts the process to create the energy of the future.

    We are taking a step forward in the global race to commercialise fusion, growing our economy, attracting investment and harnessing the power of the sun to create clean limitless secure energy.

    This is what our clean energy transition is about – creating jobs in our local communities and building the skills that we need on the path to net zero.

    Professor Sir Ian Chapman, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) CEO, said:

    I am delighted by the strong support from government to delivering fusion as a safe, sustainable energy of the future, and to anchor this exciting new industry in the UK.

    Mayor for the East Midlands Claire Ward said:

    This is fantastic news for Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands, a region that’s ready and willing to lead the way in clean, green energy.

    I am delighted the government is committed to this investment in the East Midlands and look forward to working together to kickstart a green industrial revolutions, creating skilled jobs in our former coal mining communities.

    Fusion uses the same process that powers the sun by combining 2 forms of hydrogen and heating them at extreme temperatures, releasing vast amounts of energy. The UK is at the forefront of the global race to commercialise fusion and unlock its potential.

    Earlier this week the government also proposed plans for the UK’s first AI Growth Zone to be at the UKAEA’s fusion energy campus at Culham, Oxfordshire, which will utilise the advancements of AI to leverage computing power for fusion research and benefit the UK’s wider national AI infrastructure and the local area.

    The multi-stage procurement process to deliver a fusion plant, known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), is led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group.

    The shortlisted companies will undertake detailed discussions with UKIFS, with one successful engineering and one successful construction partner set to be awarded contracts, worth an initial combined value of hundreds of millions of pounds, in late 2025 / early 2026.

    Notes to editors

    The £410 million investment of R&D funding will fund the UK fusion programme in 2025 to 2026.  This includes:

    • STEP (a world leading prototype powerplant)
    • Fusion Futures (a suite of measures aimed at building fusion capability, including skills development and LIBRTI, a new fusion fuel R&D facility)
    • repurposing JET (the old fusion machine at Culham)
    • supporting the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s existing research, innovation and facilities

    This follows the announcement at Autumn Budget 2024 of “significant support in 2025-26 for UK fusion energy research”.

    The following construction partners have been chosen by the UKIFS for the next stage of the procurement process, bidding to help build STEP.

    • Inovus Infrastructure, consisting of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering as the lead member and Vinci Construction, AtkinsRealis, Mott Macdonald and WSP as other members
    • ILIOS, consisting of Kier Infrastructure and Overseas as the lead member and Bam Nuttal, Nuvia Limited, AECOM Ltd, Turner and Townsend Infrastructure Ltd and Amanda Levete Architects Ltd as other members
    • Ferrovial Mace JV, consisting of Ferrovial Construction UK Ltd as the lead member and Mace Consult Ltd as the other member

    The following engineering partners have been chosen for the next stage of the process.

    • Celestial JV, consisting of Eni UK Limited as the lead member and AtkinsRealis, Jacobs Clean Energy (now Amentum), Westinghouse and Tokamak Energy as other members
    • Phoenix (UK) Fusion Limited, consisting of Cavendish Nuclear Ltd as the lead member, KBR Ltd and Assystem Energy and Infrastructure Ltd as other members
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK government advances growth mission overseas by strengthening links with leading European businesses [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK government advances growth mission overseas by strengthening links with leading European businesses [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 January 2025.

    Minister Stephen Doughty will travel to Madrid and Lisbon to meet with counterparts and senior representatives from top European businesses.

    • Minister Stephen Doughty to visit Spain and Portugal to reset relationships and advance opportunities for investment and growth with European partners
    • trip to Madrid and Lisbon includes talks with world-leading companies Iberdrola and Avincis to explore further opportunities to deliver UK jobs and growth
    • demonstrates how government is leveraging international engagement to deliver its Plan for Change and make Britain better off

    Today (Thursday 16 January) as part of the government’s priority to kickstart economic growth, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty will travel to Madrid and Lisbon to meet with counterparts and senior representatives from top European businesses to foster closer ties and explore opportunities for investment and jobs in the UK.

    With a trading relationship worth £63 billion annually, the UK is the number one European destination for Spanish investment. To build on this the minister will visit Iberdrola Innovation Centre in Madrid – one of the biggest energy companies in Europe – to tour the training campus and see demonstrations from chief engineers of the main technologies driving the clean energy transition.

    Iberdrola has invested over £30 billion in the UK since 2007, and through Scottish Power employs over 6,000 UK staff. In 2023 the company successfully completed their biggest ever recruitment drive to fill 1,000 new green jobs. The shared ambitions of the government and Iberdrola in industrial development and jobs have led the company to announce they will double their investment in the UK over the next 4 years to reach up to £24 billion, in a clear vote of confidence in the UK’s policy direction and stable regulatory frameworks.

    Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty said:

    Through our Plan for Change, this government is taking a laser focus on driving economic growth, and a powerful lever for this will be showcasing what the UK has to offer overseas investors – including our friends in Europe.

    Both Spain and Portugal will be an essential part of this commitment, and I will be speaking to key businesses that are supporting British jobs, investing in our economy and helping us become a clean energy superpower.

    During his time in Madrid, Minister Stephen Doughty will also meet Spanish counterparts, to discuss cooperation on European security.

    The minister will also travel to Lisbon where he will spend time at the headquarters of Avincis Helicopter Services, provider of lifesaving emergency air services owned by London-based Ancala Partners. With UK exports in services to Portugal having increased by more than 10% in 2024 compared with the previous year, the minister will discuss how the UK government’s support is helping the company to grow and continue their vital work across Europe, and the further opportunities to work together to create prosperity and opportunity.

    With the historic Anglo-Portuguese Alliance dating back to 1373, the UK and Portugal share close links, from foreign and defence policy to people-to-people ties. Minister Stephen Doughty will see Inês Domingos, Portugal’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, following Portugal’s donation of €52 million for drones for the International Fund for Ukraine which will make a vital difference on the battlefield for Ukraine.

    Background

    • total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Spain was £63 billion in the 4 quarters to the end of Q2 2024. Read more in the Department for Business and Trade’s Spain trade and investment factsheet
    • Avincis is owned by the London-based Ancala Partners. In early 2023 Ancala Partners announced the acquisition of Babcock International’s aerial emergency services in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Finland, renaming the company Avincis
  • PRESS RELEASE : Green light for groundbreaking hearing aids [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Green light for groundbreaking hearing aids [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 January 2025.

    Fresh guidance will give businesses the green light to sell certain pioneering hearing aids.

    • Tens of thousands of people with hearing loss to benefit from government action as it delivers Plan for Change to drive growth and improve living standards
    • Green light for companies to sell innovative devices, like earphones with hearing aid functionality
    • Pro-business move supports UK’s ambitions to be tech superpower and shift healthcare from analogue to digital

    Tens of thousands of people with hearing loss will have access to groundbreaking new hearing aid devices, thanks to government action.

    Fresh guidance has been published today (16 January 2025), giving businesses around the world the green light to sell certain pioneering hearing aids here in the UK.

    This includes earphones with both hearing test and hearing aid software functionalities. Such revolutionary products allow someone to take a hearing test at home using their earphones and an app on their phone. If the test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, the person can then switch on the hearing aid function on the same earphones.

    This will make it easier and more convenient for patients to manage their own health. Combating hearing loss can also reduce associated risks like social isolation.

    The government’s Plan for Change has a laser focus on securing the UK’s position as a global tech powerhouse which fosters innovation to transform the lives of working people, with the Prime Minister this week setting out a blueprint to unleash artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK – including in healthcare – and deliver a decade of national renewal.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

    Britain can be a powerhouse for medical technology, but only if we rip out pointless regulation that suffocates innovation.

    Groundbreaking new hearing aid devices have the potential to help tens of thousands of people with hearing loss, helping them to live their life to the full. The action we’re taking will give businesses the green light to start selling these products to patients across the UK.

    This is part of the work this government is undertaking in partnership with leading technology companies, to harness the revolution in medical technology, bring our analogue healthcare into the digital age and make life more convenient for patients.

    One in 3 adults in the UK are deaf or experience hearing loss or tinnitus – which rises to more than 50% of over 55s.

    Of these, approximately 53% use hearing aids. Currently, there is uncertainty about whether patients are able to buy hearing aids directly, including as part of testing their hearing at home. Today’s guidance will put an end to this confusion – speeding up patient access to the devices while making the UK an attractive place to manufacture innovative and wearable medical technology.

    The move delivers on the Prime Minister’s commitment at the International Investment Summit to tackle bureaucracy blocking investment and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens that have previously stifled growth.

    There are lots of possible causes of hearing loss. It may be caused by something treatable or it may be permanent. The NHS advises that if patients have not already undergone a clinical assessment, they should see a GP if:

    • they think their hearing is getting gradually worse
    • they’ve had treatment for an ear infection or earwax build-up but their hearing has not come back
    • they have sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
    • their hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
    • they have hearing loss along with other symptoms, such as earache or discharge coming out of the ear

    Patients can also have hearing tests at some pharmacists and opticians too.

    Patient safety will be paramount, and the government will ensure that all manufacturers comply with the relevant legislation. People will also still be encouraged to seek clinical advice through their GP if they are having problems with their hearing.

    This will help fulfil 2 of the 10 Year Health Plan’s key goals – moving care from hospital to the community and shifting the health service from analogue to digital.

    The move will help establish the UK as a global leader for innovative treatments and technologies, supporting sustained economic growth, good jobs and increased productivity across the country, while ensuring patients have greater control of their own healthcare.

    Background information

    The government has already set out a series of steps to ensure this kind of innovation is nurtured in the UK.

    In October, a new group was set up to ensure new technologies – like AI for better treatments in our NHS and drones delivering emergency supplies to all corners of the UK, could reach the public faster.

    The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) will reduce the burden for businesses hoping to bring new products and services to the market, including AI training software for surgeons to deliver more accurate surgical treatments for patients.

    It will speed up approvals and ensure different regulatory bodies work together smoothly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 2025 should be a year of progress and reform, in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace – UK Statement at the UN General Assembly [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : 2025 should be a year of progress and reform, in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace – UK Statement at the UN General Assembly [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 January 2025.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN General Assembly briefing by the UN Secretary-General on his 2025 priorities.

    Effective multilateralism remains the key to effective global leadership, to peace and development.

    But around the world, we see conflict exacting a terrible toll in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond; we see rights being rolled back, climate changing and development stalling.

    As my Prime Minister said in this hall in September, we should not accept this slide into greater conflict, instability and injustice. And we will do all we can to work together for peace, human rights and development.

    As we approach the 80th anniversary of the UN, with the world in turmoil, we must come together and deliver.

    For the UK there are three core elements to this:

    First, we recognise the opportunity this year presents to turbocharge practical and tangible action as we mark other significant milestones, including the UN Ocean Conference, the 30th climate COP, a decade since the Paris Agreement, and the Social Development Summit.

    At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development we want to work in genuine partnership to unlock the finance, reforms and impact needed to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

    2025 is also a critical year for advancing women’s rights. As we mark Beijing+30 and the 25th anniversary of the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, we reaffirm the need for women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in peace processes and decision-making.

    Second, we take our responsibility as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council seriously.

    We will continue to work hard to ensure that the Council delivers on this crucial mandate.

    This includes efforts to secure lasting peace for the people of the Middle East towards an inclusive political transition in Syria, an enduring ceasefire and political stability in Lebanon and of course, bringing to an end the awful conflict in Gaza, returning the hostages home, injecting aid and delivering a two-state solution.

    Finally, we must also turn our attention to the UN’s potential for the decades ahead and ensure the organisation is fit for the future.

    We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most.

    When we come together and when there is political will for change, we can make a difference.

    Adopting the Pact for the Future by consensus at the Summit of the Future last year was a prime example of this.

    Now we must implement the commitments we made in the Pact and its Annexes.

    We renew our commitment to General Assembly revitalisation and to Security Council reform to ensure these bodies can continue to deliver on their mandates, as outlined in the UN Charter.

    Mr President, 2025 should be a year of progress and reform.

    It is in this spirit, that we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to work with all UN members in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace.