Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 September 2024.

Three days of talks begin with like-minded nations as the UK calls for a renewed focus on tackling global cyber threats and boosting cyber skills.

The UK will convene leading nations including the US and EU for talks on how to tackle the growing threat of cyber-attacks, as new figures show nearly half of British businesses do not have the skills needed to protect against cyber-crime.

Taking place at Wilton Park in West Sussex, the discussions come at a critical time following recent high-profile incidents – including the global IT outage, an attack impacting NHS service providers, and attempts to disrupt London’s transport network.

Over the next three days countries including the EU member states, Canada, Japan and international organisations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will discuss how global cyber security workforces can be strengthened, from agreeing ways to boost cyber skills to developing new professional standards.

To help this effort, the UK will commission a new report, with attendees set to agree key areas it should focus on. The recommendations are expected to be published by the end of the year and will advance international collaboration to improve cyber skills and face down cyber-crime.

Taking more immediate action, the UK government is also launching a new scheme to deliver tailored support across regions of England and Northern Ireland. By tapping into local know how, the move will fund initiatives which will directly address the cyber skills needs of individual areas – whether it’s through apprenticeships or companies developing new forms of cyber security.

It follows the government’s decision to designate data centres as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) alongside energy and water systems, which will bolster the UK’s security and allow the government to support the sector in the event of critical incidents. Supporting UK cyber skills will also boost the £11.9 billion cyber security industry and help protect growth in the UK economy.

Cyber Security Minister Feryal Clark said:

The UK needs a significant improvement in its cyber defences after the previous government failed to strengthen our cyber laws – we’re fixing that.

Later this year, we’ll bring forward new measures to better protect the nation from cyber-crime and our new regional skills programme will support the next generation of cyber talent and innovators.

But this is a shared challenge, which is why we’re bringing together global allies to discuss and agree steps to keep us safe online, improve cyber skills and protect our economy and public services.

A total of £1.3 million is being made available for organisations such as universities, local councils and businesses to provide cyber skills training, and fund organisations developing new innovations in cyber defence across Northern Ireland and England. Delivered by Innovate UK, applications for the scheme open today and will see grants of up to £150,000 awarded to winning applicants by March 2025.

Alongside this, the UK government has also launched a competition to find the best young cyber talent to represent the UK on the international stage.

The event demonstrates the UK’s leadership in bringing likeminded countries together to discuss one of the biggest threats facing nations around the world today. It’s hoped it will firmly place cyber on the global agenda and become a regular fixture – with other nations expected to host going forward.

To mark the opening, the UK has published the latest figures from its Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey. The findings show that while the estimated annual shortfall for jobs in the UK’s cyber workforce has reduced – down from 11,200 last year to just 3,500 this year – 44% of UK businesses do not have the fundamental skills to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.

The figures highlight the need for further targeted action to ensure the UK’s cyber security workforce can continue to develop a rich pipeline of diverse talent to help keep the nation safe online in the years to come – which the new regional skills programme will help to address.

To further bridge the global cyber skills gap, the UK is also teaming up with CREST International – a non-profit organisation representing standards in the global cyber security community – to launch the CREST Cyber Accelerated Maturity Programme (CAMP).

This Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) sponsored scheme will provide mentoring to cyber service providers to develop their capabilities, experience and skills in line with CREST’s standards, and bolster training. Countries in Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, and the Middle East have been invited to join as founding partners.

The UK government is taking swift action to address vulnerabilities and protect the nation’s digital economy to deliver growth, by bringing forward the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. This will strengthen the UK’s cyber defences, ensure that critical infrastructure and the digital services that companies rely on are secure.

Wilton Park CEO Tom Cargill said:

Cyber security is becoming harder, but also ever more essential. That’s why it’s vital that we have a strong international framework of standards for cyber professionals.

Wilton Park plays a discreet but critical role in supporting the skills & knowledge required to protect and advance global freedoms, both on & offline, so we’re delighted to be hosting this dialogue aimed at building an effective and internationalised cyber security profession.

Notes to editors

• Organisations can apply for the Cyber Regional Grants Programme
• CREST CAMP programme
• Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey

Countries and organisations in attendance

• Australia (Australian Public Service Commission)
• Canada (Canadian Centre for Cyber Security)
• Government of Dubai (Dubai Electronic Security Center)
• European Union (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity)
• Ghana (Cyber Security Authority)
• India (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• Italy (National Cybersecurity Agency)
• Ireland (National Cyber Security Centre is a government computer security organisation in Ireland)
• Japan (Embassy)
• Oman (Advanced Cybersecurity Academy, Cyber Defense Centre)
• Singapore (Cyber Security Agency of Singapore)
• United States (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)
• Republic of Korea (Ministry of Science and ICT)
• African Union
• United Kingdom (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, National Cyber Security Centre)

Other organisations involved

• BAE Systems
• BT Security
• CyberSafe Foundation
• World Economic Forum (WEF)
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Protection Group International (PGI)
• TechUK
• UK Cyber Security Council

Certification bodies

• International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2)
• Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
• CREST
• SANS
• Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)
• Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)

Representatives from the academic community such as University of Manchester, Southampton and Oxford.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 September 2024.

Sharing intimate images without consent will be made a ‘priority offence’ under the Online Safety Act and social media firms will have to proactively remove and stop this material appearing on their platforms.

New changes to the law will force tech firms to clamp down on the sharing of non-consensual intimate images on their platforms as part of a drive to tackle online sexual offending.

The offence of sharing intimate images without consent will be classified as the most serious type of online offences under the Online Safety Act, meaning platforms will now have to take steps to proactively remove this material, as well as prevent it from appearing in the first place. If they fail to do so under this new law they could face fines.

The strengthening of the law forms part of the government’s commitment to ensure new and existing technologies are safely developed and help keep people safer online, particularly women and girls with more than one in three women in the UK having experienced abuse online.

The changes will help tackle sexual offending and the normalisation of misogynistic material online as part of the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.

The changes will help tackle sexual offending and the normalisation of misogynistic material online as part of the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

The rise in intimate image abuse online is utterly intolerable. As well as being devastating for victims these crimes have also contributed to the creation of a misogynistic culture on social media that can spread into potentially dangerous relationships offline. We must tackle these crimes from every angle, including their origins online, ensuring tech companies step up and play their part.

That is why we will classify these vile and cowardly offences as the most severe types of crime under the Online Safety Act. Social media firms will face extra legal obligations – backed up by big fines – to uproot this content from their sites, helping to stop their normalisation and preventing generations becoming desensitised to their damaging effects.

Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said:

Intimate image abuse is an appalling, invasive crime and technology companies must do much more to tackle it. We will use every tool available to achieve our unprecedented mission of halving violence against women and girls within a decade and this is an important step forward.

The scale of violence against women and girls in all its forms is a national emergency, whether in person or online. We must overhaul every aspect of society’s response to stop this abuse from happening in the first place. Platforms must take responsibility for the content they host and we must ensure victims receive the support they deserve.

Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said:

Intimate image abuse is a degrading and deeply misogynistic crime and we must pull all levers available to us to stamp it out.

Today’s announcement builds on the progress which has already been made, making it a specific offence to share intimate images online without consent. It also sends a clear message to those companies who turn a blind eye to such heinous content on their platforms – remove it without delay or face the full force of the law.

The Online Safety Act will require social media firms and search services to protect their users from illegal material on their sites, with protections due to come into force from Spring next year. The most serious forms of illegal content are classed as ‘priority offences’ meaning regulated online platforms will have additional duties to proactively remove and stop from appearing on their sites.

Today’s move will mean intimate image offences are treated as priority offences under the Act, putting them on the same footing as public order offences and the sale of weapons and drugs online.

If firms fail to comply with their duties the regulator Ofcom will have robust enforcement powers, including imposing fines that could reach up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.

Georgia Harrison, journalist and advocate for online safety and the prevention of violence against women and girls, said:

I am proud to be part of the announcement that intimate image abuse will now be recognised as a priority offence.

As a victim of voyeurism and image-based sexual abuse, what shocked me the most is that certain platforms were not only spreading and advertising this harmful content but also legally monetising it.

This new legislation could have shielded me from such exploitation and, more importantly, validated that my voice matters. I earnestly hope tech companies will take this seriously and implement meaningful changes to their algorithms and corporate policies to prevent this type of abuse.

It is inspiring to see the government taking concrete steps to address the rise in violence against women and girls. Change is imperative, and this is a promising start and I thank them for supporting this crucial cause.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 September 2024.

Data including vital NHS, financial, and personal smartphone data is set to be safer from cyber attacks, environmental disasters, and IT blackouts as part of government’s drive for economic growth.

Today (Thursday 12 September), the Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, has announced the government has now classed UK data centres – the buildings which store much of the data generated in the UK – as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’. It is the first Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) designation in almost a decade, since the Space and Defence sectors gained the same status in 2015.

It means the data housed and processed in UK data centres – from photos taken on smartphones to patients’ NHS records and sensitive financial investment information – is less likely to be compromised during outages, cyber attacks, and adverse weather events. Putting data centres on an equal footing as water, energy and emergency services systems will mean the data centres sector can now expect greater government support in recovering from and anticipating critical incidents, giving the industry greater reassurance when setting up business in UK and helping generate economic growth for all.

CNI designation will, for example, see the setting up of a dedicated CNI data infrastructure team of senior government officials who will monitor and anticipate potential threats, provide prioritised access to security agencies including the National Cyber Security Centre, and coordinate access to emergency services should an incident occur.

It comes as the government today welcomes a proposed £3.75 billion investment in Europe’s largest data centre, as plans have been submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council for construction in Hertfordshire by data company DC01UK which will directly create over 700 local jobs and support 13,740 data and tech jobs across the country.

Critical National Infrastructure status will also deter cyber criminals from targeting data centres that may house vital health and financial data, minimising disruption to people’s lives, the NHS and the economy.

In the event of an attack on a data centre hosting critical NHS patients’ data, for example, the government would intervene to ensure contingencies are in place to mitigate the risk of damage or to essential services, including on patients’ appointments or operations.

The new protections will also boost business confidence in investing in data centres in the country, an industry which already generates an estimated £4.6 billion in revenues a year.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

Data centres are the engines of modern life, they power the digital economy and keep our most personal information safe.

Bringing data centres into the Critical National Infrastructure regime will allow better coordination and cooperation with the government against cyber criminals and unexpected events.

The huge £3.75 billion private investment announced today in Hertfordshire is a vote of confidence in those plans and a clear example of my determination to ensure technological advancements are helping to grow our economy and create wealth across the country.

The Crowd Strike incident earlier this summer, affecting 60% of GP practices with disruption to software holding patients’ appointment details, prescriptions, and health records showed the catastrophic impact of IT and cyber threats on people’s lives.

Awarding Critical National Infrastructure status shows the fundamental importance of data centres for the government, and today’s measures renew the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensuring the UK data industry remains secure and stable.

The move will provide greater reassurance the UK is a safe place to invest in data centres to businesses such as DC01UK, the company behind today’s a planning application for an investment of nearly £4 billion in Europe’s largest datacentre in Hertfordshire.

Currently, the UK is home to the highest number of data centres in Western Europe. Boosting the resilience of the sector will help the country top the global leagues for data security and support the UK government in its mission of achieving sustained economic growth.

Earlier in the summer, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) also announced its intention to introduce the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and strengthen the country’s cyber defences by mandating that providers of essential infrastructure protect their supply chains from attacks.

Bruce Owen, UK Managing Director of digital infrastructure provider Equinix, said:

We welcome today’s announcement by the government which recognises the critical nature of data centres and digital infrastructure to the economy and society.

The internet, and the digital infrastructure that underpins it, has rapidly grown to be as fundamental to each one of our daily lives as water, gas, and electricity, and is now a service that people and the UK economy can no longer live without.

Equinix is happy to have played an important role in the consultation process to bring about today’s critical national infrastructure status, which we believe will help safeguard the industry by ensuring the stability and growth of the UK and global economy and lay the groundwork for the UK’s bright digital future.

Matthew Evans, Director of Markets and Chief Operating Officer at techUK, said:

techUK welcomes the government’s pivotal decision to designate the data centres sector as Critical National Infrastructure and the recognition of the critical role they play in the UK’s modern economy.

Data centres are fundamental to our digitising economy and are a key driver of growth. We look forward to collaborating closely with the government and our stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these new measures and their impact on the sector. Continued engagement and partnership will be key in advancing our shared objectives of a secure, resilient, and thriving digital economy.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 5 September 2024.

Researchers at the University of Dundee are receiving a government funding boost to continue their vital work for a further 5 years.

Dundee-based researchers with a track record of devising treatments for deadly diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s – whose work has crowded in £60 million in investment to date – are receiving further backing from the government to continue their vital work for a further 5 years, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle will announce today (Thursday 5 September).

The Medical Research Council’s Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU) will receive nearly £30 million of funding allocated from UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC) to bolster its cell biology research centre as it continues its vital work over the next 5 years.

Currently, the 200-strong scientific community of staff and students based at the University of Dundee are using cutting-edge technology and biochemistry to explore how signals transmitted within the body’s cells are disrupted. Working closely with industry, Dundee’s unit has been a fundamental part of the development and clinical approval of over 40 drugs that are now widely used to treat patients, attracting almost £60 million in private investment. It is just one example cementing Scotland’s place at the forefront of the UK government’s plans to make Britain a powerhouse for life sciences that attracts international investment and drives forward the deployment of discoveries that grow the economy, create prosperity across the country and improve lives and public services.

Improving our understanding of the processes within cells could be the key to unlocking the scientific basis of innovative treatments for a range of diseases – from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to Crohn’s and coeliac disease.  Their work has already delivered a drug that is now widely used to treat skin cancer.

The new funding comes ahead of the Science and Technology Secretary addressing higher education representatives at the Universities UK conference at the University of Reading, where he will reflect on his personal experience in higher education and will give his full-throated backing to the sector as a vehicle for much-needed economic growth.

He will also outline his vision for DSIT, and the crucial role universities can play in this, harnessing discoveries and innovations for novel therapies and technologies, like those developed in Dundee, that could transform patients’ lives and drive economic growth.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“I went to university later in life than most, but when I did it changed everything for me. It was the first time in my life that people saw potential in me that I never knew I had, and gave me the support and focus I needed to build something from it. The value of our universities, to the economy and to the whole of society, cannot be overstated.

“As we embark on a decade of national renewal, the higher education sector has a profound role to play in every piece of work we’ll need to do, to build a Britain that delivers for working people: from seizing the potential of clean energy to rebuilding the NHS. I will always champion our universities. They are society’s most powerful engines for innovation, aspiration, economic growth and the creation of better lives for all – which is why investing in their work, like this £30m in funding, is so important.”

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

“The work at the University of Dundee, which we are announcing support for today, is proof of how deep expertise, effective links with industry, and the power of curiosity can deliver meaningful improvements to people’s lives, while also driving economic growth across the UK.

“This funding puts the unit on track to strive for still more health breakthroughs, that could help more patients live longer and healthier lives.”

Working with other companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, the team was central to developing a drug now widely used to treat melanoma, and a promising new drug for Parkinson’s disease is in clinical trials as a result of the team’s globally recognise work, investigating the condition to discover potential causes and treatments.

Universities are vital to the government’s mission to boost our economy and transform healthcare services with world-class science and research. They are at the heart of our research strengths, underpinning key sectors including life sciences. Backing university-based researchers, like the team at the University of Dundee, will ensure that they can continue unlocking the technologies and therapies that could be life-changing to patients, and which drive economic growth and productivity.

Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC PPU said:

“We are incredibly grateful for the long-term support that our Unit has received from the MRC over the last 34 years. This has enabled our researchers to tackle the most important questions and greatly contributed to our understanding of how derailment of biological pathways causes human diseases including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer, and immune dysfunction.

“Our mission for the next 5 years will be to work with leading research centres, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies to translate our discoveries into clinical progress and accelerate drug discovery. Whilst doing this research we aim to provide our staff with a unique training opportunity working in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment paying attention to improving culture and development best practices.”

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, said:

“The MRC are proud to be investing for a further 5 years in the exceptional research of the MRC PPU in Dundee. They are leaders in conducting rigorous fundamental research and then working with industry to translate those breakthroughs for patient benefit. The MRC PPU have an outstanding culture of collaboration and sharing their leading research expertise, products and techniques with the wider scientific community.”

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 31 August 2024.

Researchers across the UK to use latest tech and major data bank to provide better flood and drought warnings.

Predicting where future flooding and droughts will strike next in the UK will be made easier under a new project for scientists using the latest tech and real-time data, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today (Saturday 31 August).

It will help key bodies, like local authorities and the Environment Agency, to stem the worst of extreme weather’s impact on communities, saving lives, homes, and businesses, and helping to cut the devastating cost of such events to the UK economy, estimated at £740 million a year.

The Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure, led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and backed by £40 million, will be the first UK-wide network focused on understanding the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country, pinpointing where incidents are likely to occur and planning to limit their impact.

The complexity of Earth’s climate makes forecasting floods and droughts a major challenge, with climate change only further complicating the picture. Researchers will use the latest technologies including sensors and real time computer monitoring, plus a huge bank of data including river profiles and near real-time monitoring of information including on atmospherics, ground saturation, water movement, abstraction and storage – taken together, this will form a clearer impression of where and when extreme weather will strike.

Floods wreak havoc on communities by destroying homes, public infrastructure, and livelihoods like farming which in turn costs consumers. Similarly, droughts have a major impact on the water supply and UK eco-system, harming wildlife and their natural habitats which rely on regular rainfall.

Researchers will be based at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s offices throughout Great Britain, with further input from researchers in the British Geological Survey, University of Bristol and Imperial College London.

Findings from the project will be shared with key bodies like the Environment Agency to steer the UK response to extreme weather. It will also act as a hub for researchers to pursue new innovations with discoveries shared across the world and marking the UK as a leader in the field.

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

Flooding and droughts can devastate UK communities, from leaving people stranded, to destroying homes, gardens, roads and businesses, and even claiming lives.

With climate change sadly making extreme weather events more common and adding an eye-watering cost to the economy, there is no time to waste in backing our researchers and innovators to ensure we are better prepared for floods and droughts striking.

This project will help drive that progress, with dedicated teams using the most advanced tech to crunch data gathered from our rivers and paint a clear picture of its likely impact – using the power of science and tech to keep the public safe.

The new measures build on £5.6 billion of government investment into flooding from 2021 and 2027, with over 100 and coastal risk management projects helping to better protect thousands of people and properties from flooding from the sea, rivers and reservoirs.

We will also shortly launch a new Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of new flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes, which will ensure we’re prepared for the future and help grow our economy.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

In the case of extreme flooding and drought, preparation and prediction are everything.

Our new institute will bring together a team of world-leading researchers and the latest technology to ensure our communities, businesses and farms are protected from these devastating events.

Today’s funding also builds on wider UKRI projects tackling extreme weather in the UK and abroad, including support for businesses to ensure against its risks.

It includes a project sponsored by the NERC linking the frequency and intensity of storms over Northern Europe using mathematical models that enable more accurate pricing of storm-related risks. Meanwhile the Lisflood-FP computer model developed by the University of Bristol has helped over one million Zambian farmers to insure themselves against drought risk through daily rainfall estimates for the continent of Africa.

Another team at Bristol has pioneered the development of high-resolution flood prediction models, which has resulted in Fathom: a spin-out company with an annual turnover of more than £4 million. Its work includes protecting infrastructure valued at over $1 trillion, thanks to improved flood risk management in the UK and across the world.

Executive Chair of NERC, Professor Louise Heathwaite, said:

Earth’s changing climate means the number of extreme floods and droughts will increase in the UK, impacting homes, businesses and services. But predicting their location and measuring their intensity and impact needs the sort of scientific advances that this programme will bring to overcome the data and analytical constraints that are currently very challenging.

The project will transform the way we understand the impact of these events by building a significant bank of data and improving our monitoring capability, and so helping to protect those affected.

This is an example of how NERC is responding to climate challenges with research and innovation investments that will accelerate the green economy and deliver solutions to national priorities.

Notes to editors

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has awarded £38 million from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund to establish the new institute.

A further £1.2 million of funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will go towards a three-year project to slash the time and cost involved in running computer models of projected flooding out to the year 2100. This will enable detailed assessments of a much wider range of potential scenarios than currently possible, taking into account the nature and extent of the impact on extreme weather in these areas, informing solutions much better matched to the specific needs of different parts of the UK.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, the government worked with other risk management authorities to complete around 120 flooding and coastal risk management projects.

These projects better protected people and properties from:

• sea and tidal flooding (16,800 properties from 27 projects)
• river flooding (6,500 properties from 59 projects)
• surface water flooding (900 properties from 21 projects)
• coastal erosion (1,100 properties from 7 projects)
• reservoirs (1,100 properties from 1 project)
• groundwater (35 properties from 2 projects)

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 26 August 2024.

Ramblers, hill climbers, and wildlife watchers in dozens of UK tourist hotspots will enjoy faster, more reliable mobile coverage to explore the Great British countryside this bank holiday.

Four masts providing 4G coverage in some of Britain’s most visited national parks have now been switched on following UK Government funding, improving safety for tourists and local residents, and reducing the number of signal losses in these remote areas.

The key locations targeted by the programme include areas of outstanding natural beauty across England and Wales, such as Snowdonia, the Shropshire Hills, the Wye Valley, and the Brecon Beacons, which are benefitting from improved connectivity without new infrastructure being installed. It will mean residents and visitors who previously struggled to fulfil basic tasks on their mobiles, such as finding routes via online maps, uploading pictures on social media, and using messaging platforms to text and make calls, will no longer face frustrating mobile dropouts.

The boost comes as the UK Government seeks to fix the digital divide to ensure Britons up and down the country can have the same opportunities and are not held back by lack of connectivity.

Minister of State for Telecoms Chris Bryant said:

We want everyone to be able to enjoy the breath-taking views of our mountains, parks, and lakes and this connectivity boost without any impact on scenery will give visitors the peace of mind to be able to call a friend should they get lost, or find their way to enjoy a much-needed lunch break in a local pub.

The upgrade is also set to reduce the risks of tourists needing emergency assistance, easing pressures on the emergency services who normally receive higher number of calls during bank holidays.

Where people do find themselves at risk, the masts will give first responders immediate access to life-saving data, images and information – making it quicker and easier for them to rescue anyone in danger.

Mike Park, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Rescue England and Wales said:

Teams across the country are seeing a year-on-year increased demand for our unpaid, voluntary services. This announcement means that we are being given the best chance to be alerted when people require our life-saving services.

Thirty years ago, when mobile phones and network coverage were in their infancy, it was typical that simply getting off the mountain to a telephone to alert Mountain Rescue could add more than 2 hours before a rescue could be initiated. Because of the improvement in the mobile phone networks in these remote areas, mountain rescue teams are now able to be alerted so much quicker, which is a benefit to all of us – casualty and rescuer.

The boost is the latest milestone of the Shared Rural Network programme, a £1 billion funding project geared towards improving connectivity in rural areas of the country. This part of the programme upgrades existing masts so that the impact on the surrounding environment is kept to a minimum.

Beyond national parks, the upgrade will also benefit tourists visiting historic landmarks, such as the UNESCO world heritage site Blaenavon Industrial Landscape and the Norman-era Caldicot Castle and Country Park in South Wales.

The Shared Rural Network has already led to an additional 14,800 square kilometres – an area roughly the size of Northern Ireland or two million football pitches – receiving coverage from all four operators.

The UK government is investing in upgrades to the Home Office’s Emergency Service Network mobile masts to provide coverage from all four mobile operators – mostly in Scotland and Wales. To date, 16 Extended Area Service (EAS) mast upgrades have been switched on – including 13 in Wales, one in Scotland and two in England.

Mobile operators are also investing over £500 million to target partial ‘not spots’, where customers can only access 4G if they are signed up with a mobile network operator that is active in the area. This part of the programme has already delivered significant coverage improvements across the UK, including in the areas of Shetland, Yorkshire, Fermanagh and Devon.

Bryn Jones, Director of SRN at Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited which represents the four major mobile operators, said:

With 16 publicly funded mobile sites now live, residents, businesses and tourists across the UK are benefitting from the sharing of existing infrastructure. The Shared Rural Network will continue to deliver improved 4G coverage as more upgrades go live.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 22 August 2024.

Hazel Hobbs has been appointed by the UK government as the interim Chair of Building Digital UK (BDUK), starting on 1 September 2024. BDUK is an executive agency of DSIT with responsibility for delivering the government’s two major digital infrastructure programmes, Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network.

Hazel has also been reappointed as a non executive director of BDUK, having been a member of the Board since the organisation became an executive agency in March 2022. She will serve as interim Chair whilst an exercise is launched to recruit a permanent Chair.

Hazel previously chaired BDUK’s Audit and Risk Committee. Her wider experience includes being former job-share Director at the Government Digital Service where she led on implementing the transformation strategy for digital government and championed innovation to bring modern, digital services to every community in the UK. Hazel is an Associate at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and regularly leads assurance reviews of the highest profile major projects in government. She consults widely on governance and public service reform and has led three public body reviews for Cabinet Office and Northern Ireland Ministers. She is an Associate Fellow at the Oxford University Said Business School and teaches and coaches on a range of programmes, including the Major Projects Leadership Academy.

Commenting on her appointment, Hazel Hobbs said:

I’m delighted to have been appointed as BDUK’s interim Chair and will continue working with DSIT, the Board and Chief Executive to drive forward the Government’s commitment to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030.

As a citizen, independent business director and parent, I know how critical our work is to power economic growth and ensure nowhere is left behind. My priority will be to build on the hard work and brilliant foundations established by BDUK staff and prepare for the forthcoming Spending Review. We remain focused on collaborative working with the telecommunications industry and devolved governments to secure fast, effective and good value digital infrastructure for the taxpayer.

More information on Project Gigabit can be found here and information on the Shared Rural Network can be found here.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 August 2024.

Hundreds of thousands of rural homes and businesses will receive major internet speed upgrades, as the UK Government fixes the digital divide and powers up all regions of Britain.

• Up to £800 million in UK Government funding to end the plight of poor broadband for around 300,000 across Great Britain
• For the first time, Wales is included in the initiative to enhance connectivity, expanding the reach of improved infrastructure to homes and businesses
• Marks start of UK Government’s ‘renewed push’ to reach full gigabit coverage by 2030 to plug connectivity black holes across the country

Hundreds of thousands of rural homes and businesses struggling to fulfil basic online tasks due to outdated broadband infrastructure will receive major internet speed upgrades, as the UK Government fixes the digital divide and powers up all regions of Britain.

Up to £800 million in government investment will be made available to modernise broadband infrastructure in rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales, ending the plight of buffering so people can fulfil everyday online tasks, such as streaming films, video calling, or downloading large files, which is currently particularly challenging in some areas of Wales and Scotland.

The deal will provide access to lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband to around 312,000 homes and businesses across Great Britain. It is the first time Wales, the region with the lowest percentage of gigabit coverage, will benefit from this programme.

It will mean residents and businesses in remote areas of Britain, such as the South Wales Valleys, Exmoor National Park and the Forest of Bowland will finally gain access to the fastest connection on the market. This will help deliver improved productivity, as part of the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

The landmark deal with telecoms provider Openreach represents one of the biggest milestones in the rollout of Project Gigabit, which targets places too expensive for providers to reach in their commercial build and which would otherwise be left behind with poor digital infrastructure. It will help meet the growing demand for reliable connectivity, stimulating local rural economies and reducing regional disparities, by enabling remote working and attracting new businesses.

The announcement follows this Government’s vow to redouble its efforts to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030 and harness the enormous potential of technology to grow the economy, accelerate innovation and improve people’s lives.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle said: 

Over the past decade, the UK’s broadband rollout has clearly not happened fast enough and has overlooked too many areas, especially in Scotland and Wales. Robust digital infrastructure is essential for growth, productivity and competitiveness and this shortfall not only poses risks to our economic stability, but also entrenches existing inequalities across the country.

We are fixing this by delivering for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses up and down the country, focusing on the areas that were not prioritised by the previous government, such as Wales.

Today marks a significant milestone in delivering on our promise to redouble our efforts to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030 and lay the foundations for a more inclusive, dynamic and prosperous future for all citizens.

Today’s announcement will also improve learning opportunities for students, who will be able to gain better access to online resources and remote learning platforms, as well as healthcare patients, who will be able to further rely on remote consultations – as the UK Government continues its mission to improve public services and grow the economy.

Contracts worth £288 million have already been signed with Openreach under the agreement to connect approximately 96,600 homes and businesses in England and, for the first time, Wales. Areas to benefit include Lancashire, North Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, West and Mid-Surrey, Staffordshire, West Berkshire and Hertfordshire, West and North Devon, and North West, Mid and South East Wales.

Talks are now underway with Openreach to agree further contracts to benefit around 215,800 more premises across England, Scotland and Wales, with more announcements expected in the coming months. Areas expected to benefit from these future contracts include Central and North Scotland, North and South West Wales, Mid and South Devon, East and South Shropshire, North Herefordshire, North Somerset, Essex, North East England and Worcestershire.

Minister for Digital Infrastructure Chris Bryant said:

Far too many rural citizens and businesses are still stuck with outdated internet infrastructure, not being able to fulfil day-to-day tasks as easily as people living in our towns and cities.

We have been clear we want to achieve sustained economic growth in every corner of Britain, and this starts by ensuring our communities have the infrastructure they need to thrive.

This monumental deal with Openreach will make a real difference to communities – such as staying in touch with loved ones or being able to do business no matter where you are.

Project Gigabit will support the government’s plans to kickstart economic growth, creating and supporting thousands of high-paid, high-skilled jobs, empowering industries of all kinds to innovate and increasing productivity by taking up digital technology. It will also ensure people can access vital services they need now and, in the future, from giving patients improved access to healthcare through virtual appointments and remote health monitoring to helping pensioners combat loneliness by catching up with loved ones over higher quality video calls.

For households, gigabit-capable broadband delivers faster speeds and fewer dropouts. Unlike traditional copper-based networks, gigabit connections won’t slow down at peak times, meaning no more battling for bandwidth with the neighbours. Gigabit networks can easily handle over a hundred devices all at once with no buffering, meaning the whole family can seamlessly surf, stream and download at the same time.

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach said:

Research shows that full fibre provides a host of economic, social and environmental benefits – and I believe we’re the best in the business at delivering it.

I’m proud we’ve been chosen, through a fiercely competitive process, and we’re already cracking on with the job.

This is a British infrastructure success story. Our network already reaches more than 15 million urban and rural premises and, wherever we build, we bring the widest choice of providers for customers. I’m confident we can reach as many as 30 million homes by the end of the decade if the conditions remain supportive.

Trinity House, a charity dedicated to safeguarding lighthouses and maritime navigation aids in England and Wales is set to benefit from this investment. Chief Executive Rear Admiral Iain Lower welcomed the rollout:

As an organisation that works in remote parts of the nation, we applaud this rollout by Openreach and Government. This rollout will, among other things, help our operational teams work, connect and live better at our remote lighthouses, an invaluable improvement for when they are away from their homes and families.

Looking at the wider benefits, improved working conditions help ensure that our lighthouses work exactly as expected for the tens of thousands of mariners in our waters that rely on our aids to navigation. Safer seas make for a more prosperous island nation, as we depend on merchant shipping to carry 95% of the goods we use daily.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 August 2024.

Tens of thousands of Welsh homes and businesses struggling to fulfil basic online tasks due to outdated broadband infrastructure will receive major internet speed upgrades, as the UK Government fixes the digital divide in Wales.

Tens of thousands of Welsh homes and businesses struggling to fulfil basic online tasks due to outdated broadband infrastructure will receive major internet speed upgrades, as the UK Government fixes the digital divide in Wales.

Around £170 million in UK Government investment will be made available to deliver top-of-the-range ‘gigabit-capable’ broadband for around 70,000 hard-to-reach premises in Wales, as figures show the nation records the lowest levels of gigabit connectivity in Great Britain.

It will apply to some of the most remote parts of the country from the South Wales Valleys to the Llyn Peninsula – so residents and businesses have access to the fastest connection on the market.  This will help deliver improved productivity, as part of the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

It is the first UK Government contract under Project Gigabit to boost connection in Wales which had until now not benefitted from the support.

The deal, which is part of a wider UK Government plan which will make up to £800 million available to deliver gigabit connection across Great Britain, is set to provide lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband to Welsh communities that would otherwise be left behind with poor digital infrastructure. It will help meet the growing demand for reliable connectivity, stimulating local rural economies and reducing regional disparities, by enabling remote working and attract new businesses.

The announcement follows this Government’s vow to redouble its efforts to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030 and harness the enormous potential of technology to accelerate innovation and improve people’s lives.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle said:

Within weeks of taking office, we have already taken the steps to begin providing faster broadband to tens of thousands of people across Wales. The signing of this major contract with Openreach ensures we are on track to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030.

Robust digital infrastructure is vital for competitiveness, productivity and growth, and we are committed to delivering for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, focusing particularly on areas that have been left behind, such as Wales.

Minister for Digital Infrastructure Chris Bryant said:

Communities across Wales are set to benefit from our deal with Openreach, from young pupils having an easier time completing their homework to seafarers in the Vale of Glamorgan feeling more connected personally and professionally.

This Government is determined to address the regional disparities we have inherited and provide the necessary infrastructure for all communities to prosper, including the digital infrastructure vital in today’s world.

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

I’m delighted that so many people in harder to reach areas in Wales will be benefitting from this deal between the UK Government and Openreach. We are all increasingly dependent on high-speed broadband to work efficiently, access vital services and enjoy our leisure time.

At the moment we have too many people, especially in the more remote areas, of Wales who can’t properly access the online world, and I’m pleased that thanks to this substantial investment from the UK Government work, on fixing that is starting now.

Project Gigabit will support the government’s plans to kickstart economic growth, creating and supporting thousands of high-paid, high-skilled jobs, empowering industries of all kinds to innovate and increasing productivity by taking up digital technology. It will also ensure people can access vital services they need now and, in the future, from giving patients improved access to healthcare through virtual appointments and remote health monitoring to helping pensioners combat loneliness by catching up with loved ones over higher quality video calls.

For households, gigabit-capable broadband delivers faster speeds and fewer dropouts. Unlike traditional copper-based networks, gigabit connections won’t slow down at peak times, meaning no more battling for bandwidth with the neighbours. Gigabit networks can easily handle over a hundred devices all at once with no buffering, meaning the whole family can seamlessly surf, stream and download at the same time.

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach said:

Research shows that full fibre provides a host of economic, social and environmental benefits – and I believe we’re the best in the business at delivering it.

I’m proud we’ve been chosen, through a fiercely competitive process, and we’re already cracking on with the job.

This is a British infrastructure success story. Our network already reaches more than 15 million urban and rural premises and, wherever we build, we bring the widest choice of providers for customers. I’m confident we can reach as many as 30 million homes by the end of the decade if the conditions remain supportive.

This announcement builds on work already underway through other Project Gigabit contracts to build faster networks for up to 910,000 hard-to-reach premises across England. Dozens of contracts representing more than £1.9 billion investment have now been signed with 11 suppliers to deliver the upgrades, including many smaller, independent broadband providers.

Trinity House, a charity dedicated to safeguarding lighthouses and maritime navigation aids in England and Wales is set to benefit from this investment. Chief Executive Rear Admiral Iain Lower welcomed the rollout:

As an organisation that works in remote parts of the nation, we applaud this rollout by Openreach and Government. This rollout will, among other things, help our operational teams work, connect and live better at our remote lighthouses, an invaluable improvement for when they are away from their homes and families.

Looking at the wider benefits, improved working conditions help ensure that our lighthouses work exactly as expected for the tens of thousands of mariners in our waters that rely on our aids to navigation. Safer seas make for a more prosperous island nation, as we depend on merchant shipping to carry 95% of the goods we use daily.

Notes to editors

Data provided by Think Broadband shows Wales lags behind all other nations in Great Britain, with only 74% of its landmass covered by gigabit-capable connection. This is compares with 84% in England, 78% in Scotland and 95% in Northern Ireland.

All figures are based on the latest available data provided by Ofcom and broadband suppliers, which the government’s broadband delivery agency Building Digital UK uses to calculate which premises will not be connected through commercial rollout and will therefore require subsidy. All figures are subject to change as existing rollout plans develop and discussions on the scope of future contracts continue.

Welsh constituencies in line to benefit from the contract (call off 2) announced today include: Arfon, Clwyd South, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Ceredigion, Montgomeryshire, Brecon and Radnorshire, Monmouth, Torfaen, Newport West, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff North, Cardiff Central, Cardiff West, Cardiff South and Penarth, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Ogmore, Islwyn, Pontypridd, Cynon Valley, Rhondda, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Neath, Aberavon, Swansea East, Swansea West, Gower.

The new agreement will make up to £800 million government investment available from funding which was already committed to Project Gigabit.

Under the agreement, Openreach has now signed contracts valued at around £280 million to connect around 96,000 homes and businesses.

Talks are happening now with Openreach to agree further contracts to connect more remote areas across Britain, and we’ll have more to say on these in the coming months.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 7 August 2024.

Government unveils AI projects to improve productivity and public services supported by a share of £32 million.

Companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve safety on construction sites, reduce time spent repairing the railways and cut emissions across supply chains are amongst a number of projects set to receive a share of £32 million in UK Government funding.

Announced today (7 August), almost 100 ground-breaking projects have been awarded financial backing as the government continues its mission to boost productivity and kickstart growth across the economy through AI so everyone is better off.

A total of 98 projects from Southampton to Birmingham and Northern Ireland will receive funding, involving more than 200 businesses and research organisations spanning a range of sectors including public services, driving efficiencies and reducing administrative tasks.

Minister for Digital Government and AI Feryal Clark said:

AI will deliver real change for working people across the UK – not only growing our economy but improving our public services.

That’s why our support for initiatives like this will be so crucial – backing a range of projects which could reduce train delays, give us new ways of maintaining our vital infrastructure, and improve experiences for patients by making it easier to get their prescriptions to them.

We want technology to boost growth and deliver change right across the board, and I’m confident projects like these will help us realise that ambition.

Among the projects is V-Lab Ltd, which has received £165,006 to further develop software powered by AI to help people train in the construction sector. Their system offers immersive, scenario-based virtual simulations of real construction sites to efficiently train workers on risk assessments and safety protocols – helping to ensure the UK has a skilled workforce to deliver the infrastructure the country needs.

As part of the government’s mission to build an NHS which is fit for the future, pharmacies that deliver prescriptions across the country are also set to benefit from this new financial support. A project led by Nottingham-based Anteam will see them working alongside retailers and the NHS to improve the efficiency of their deliveries using AI algorithms. This technology will match the delivery needs of retailers and hospitals to existing delivery journeys, unlocking under-utilised capacity, cutting carbon emissions and delivering a better experience for patients.

In a transformational change to how our railway network is maintained and inspected, Hack Partners will also lead on the development of an entirely autonomous system which can monitor, manage, and identify defects on rail infrastructure across the country. This represents a significant step forward for the British public, boosting the efficiency and safety of our railway network to deliver a better service for rail users.

The funding announced today will specifically support solutions in ‘high growth’ industries, ensuring AI is at the heart of driving forward greater productivity and efficiency across key areas of the economy. Cambridge-based Monumo are part of a team awarded £750,152 to develop improved designs for motors in electric vehicles – their 3D Generative-AI Tool is set to improve sustainability across sectors spanning commercial transportation, flight and power generation.

Work on bringing these new innovations to life is already underway as the winning teams begin to develop their solutions to deliver the cost-cutting, efficiency boosting benefits across the UK.

In the field of logistics, Robok Limited are setting to work on their SeeGul AI tool, which uses AI to monitor efficiency, improve resourcing, and identify bottlenecks which hamper productivity for businesses operating warehouses and storage facilities. Meanwhile, Kelp Technologies are collaborating with fashion retailers Depop and Selfridges to develop real-time pricing and market trend analysis to address the complexity of pricing second hand apparel. The results of the project will save time and money for retailers and play an important role in growing the second-hand clothing market, reducing waste and greenhouse emissions.

Dr Kedar Pandya, UKRI Technology Missions Fund Senior Responsible Owner and Executive Director of Cross-Council Programmes at UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council said:

These projects will drive AI innovation and economic growth in a diverse range of high-growth industry sectors in all nations of the UK.

They complement other investments made through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund, which are already helping to boost growth and productivity across the UK by harnessing the power of AI and other transformative technologies.

The support announced today places UK AI innovation at the heart of the government’s plans to spark economic growth through a productivity revolution. The winning projects are funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund to secure the UK’s global leadership in emerging and future AI technologies. The projects are delivered through the Innovate UK BridgeAI  programme, whose additional support also includes access to training and scientific expertise, expert AI advice and guidance, and greater collaboration between businesses and developers.

It follows the King’s Speech where the government committed to ‘take the brakes off Britain’ through a raft of new Bills, including generating sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.