Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Sheffield payroll director banned after company went into liquidation with £2.5 million VAT bill [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 23 April 2025.

The company substantially under-declared the amount of tax it had to pay in 2020 and 2021.
- - Hubert Omukhulu failed to declare the correct amount of VAT his Remedy Payroll Solutions Ltd company was required to pay
    
    VAT returns submitted by the company in a 15-month period between June 2020 and September 2021 suggested it had little more than £250,000 to pay
    
    In reality, the company owed more than £2.5 million in tax
The boss of an umbrella company which failed to pay more than £2.5 million in VAT has been banned as a director.

Hubert Omukhulu, 36, failed to accurately declare the amount of VAT Remedy Payroll Solutions Ltd had to pay in 2020 and 2021.

The inaccurate returns Remedy Payroll Solutions submitted suggested the company had no VAT to pay in 2020 and just over a quarter of a million pounds in 2021.

However, this was an under-declaration of more than £2 million according to calculations from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Omukhulu, of Nethershire Lane, Sheffield, has now been disqualified as a company director for eight years.

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Hubert Omukhulu allowed his payroll supply company to substantially under-declare the amount of VAT it owed in 2020 and 2021.

More than £2 million in VAT was not paid by the company. This money should have gone towards funding vital public services such as the NHS, schools and our nation’s defence.

Omukhulu’s conduct falls well below the standards the Insolvency Service expects which is why he has been banned as a company director until 2033.

Debbie Porter, Assistant Director of Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said:

We are determined to create a level playing field that allows honest businesses to thrive which is why it’s crucial we work closely with the Insolvency Service and other partners to act against rogue directors.

The majority pay the tax that is due, but we will pursue those who refuse to play by the rules.

Remedy Payroll Solutions was established in May 2020 with Omukhulu as its sole director.

The company initially had its registered office as Omukhulu’s home address in Sheffield before switching it on several occasions between addresses in Romford and Hainault.

Remedy Payroll Solutions submitted three VAT returns in 2020 claiming it had no tax to pay in that year.

The company submitted another three returns in 2021, claiming it had a combined £264,276 to pay in VAT.

HMRC investigated Remedy Payroll Solutions’ bank accounts and contacted its customers. Through their investigations, they calculated that £2,584,044 was owed by the company in VAT.

Remedy Payroll Solutions went into liquidation in July 2022.

Omukhulu claimed there was third-party involvement in the running of Remedy Payroll Solutions but failed to provide any evidence of this when asked by the Insolvency Service.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Omukhulu and his ban started on Thursday 17 April.

The undertaking prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Further information
- - Hubert Omukhulu is of Nethershire Lane, Sheffield. His date of birth is 16 December 1988
April 24, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Reeves – I will always act to defend British interests [April 2025]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 23 April 2025.

The Chancellor has pledged to “stand up for Britain’s national interest”, as she heads to Washington DC for her first spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

During a three-day visit to the United States, Rachel Reeves is set to hold meetings with G7, G20 and IMF counterparts about the changing global economy. She will make the case for open trade that provides stability for businesses and security for working people. The Chancellor will underline the importance of tackling barriers to trade to kickstart economic growth, supporting businesses and putting more money in working people’s pockets.

Earlier this month the Chancellor announced over £400 million of trade and investment deals with the Indian Government across a range of business sectors, including defence, financial services, education, and development. In recent weeks the government has acted to save British Steel, safeguarding the future of steelmaking in the UK and protecting 2,700 jobs in Scunthorpe and up to 37,000 jobs in the wider supply chain, announced a £20 billion boost to UK Export Finance which will give thousands of British access to government-backed financing and announced new measures to give British car makers certainty and stability, and to support them on the transition to electric vehicles. Earlier this month over 3 million workers in shops, restaurants and workplaces across the UK received a pay boost worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker, while also rolling out free breakfast clubs in primary schools putting £450 a year in the pockets of working parents and protecting the payslips of working people from higher taxes.

She will hold discussions with finance ministers about the opportunities to strengthen economic ties with Britain, including members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Talks with European finance ministers will also focus on going further and faster to increase defence spending and improve cooperation in response to continued Russian aggression and the invasion of Ukraine.

Reeves will hold her first in person meeting with her US counterpart Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about working together to deepen the UK-US economic partnership through a new trade agreement.

In Washington, the Chancellor will also meet with business leaders to talk about the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth. She will champion Britain as the best place to live, work and grow a business, highlighting the government’s ambition to go further and faster to tackle the barriers to investment. By backing the builders not the blockers, through reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework – which alone is expected to deliver an extra 170,000 homes by 2029/30, as well upcoming the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and a government pledge to cut the administrative cost of regulation on business by a quarter, making Britain the best place to do business and drive economic growth.

Speaking ahead of her visit, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

The world has changed, and we are in a new era of global trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.

This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will means for them. But our task as a government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people’s security.

Instead, we must rise to meet the moment and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our Plan for Change. We need a world economy that provides stability and fairness for businesses wanting to invest and trade, more trade and global partnerships between nations with shared interests, and security for working people who want to get on with their lives.

April 24, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine peace talks – E3 statement [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 April 2025.

A statement on behalf of E3 members, the UK, France and Germany, following today’s meeting with the US and Ukraine in London.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

Representatives of the UK, France, Germany and the US met today in London with a Ukrainian delegation led by Head of Office of the President of Ukraine Yermak, Foreign Minister Sybiha, and Defence Minister Umerov, for another round of intensive talks following up on the meeting in Paris last week.

All parties reiterated their strong support for President Trump’s commitment to stopping the killing and achieving a just and lasting peace.

The talks today were productive and successful, and significant progress was made on reaching a common position on next steps. All agreed to continue their close coordination and looked forward to further talks soon.

April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Breakthrough in bowel cancer research will speed up diagnosis [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 23 April 2025.

Government backs world-leading trial of cutting-edge technology to diagnose bowel cancer earlier, harnessing the power of technology to treat patients.

Patients could soon benefit from world-leading technology to diagnose bowel cancer earlier, faster and cheaper, reducing the need for invasive colonoscopies and biopsies, and potentially saving valuable time and resource for the NHS, the government has announced today (Wednesday 23rd April).

The technology, made on British soil by Xgenera, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, has the potential to detect bowel cancer earlier, improving diagnosis rates, and offering patients valuable time back to treat the disease faster and more effectively.

Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer, with over 42,000 people diagnosed each year. Early diagnosis is crucial, with 9 in 10 people surviving bowel cancer when it’s detected at stage 1, compared to just 1 in 10 when diagnosed at stage 4.

This government is driving forward improvements to cancer care through the Plan for Change to fix our NHS – including by improving waiting times for lower gastrointestinal diagnosis. From July 2024 to February 2025, 76.6% of patients have received their cancer diagnosis or all clear within 28 days, an increase of 4ppt compared to the previous year.

Today’s announcement comes as the Health and Social Care Secretary is set to visit a research lab funded by Cancer Research UK, which has been renamed in memory of campaigner Dame Deborah James.

The BowelBabe Laboratory will bring together leading scientists to advance our understanding of bowel cancer. It will conduct cutting-edge research and will aid in the development of new treatments for bowel cancer.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:

From my own experience, I know the devastating toll cancer can take on patients and families, and how many of them have been faced with long waiting lists to get the diagnosis and treatment they deserve.

We know that the key to surviving cancer is catching it as early as possible, so this government is taking the urgent action needed to make sure that happens through our Plan for Change, from developing world leading technology to detect bowel cancer earlier, through to setting up hubs for the UK’s top scientists to research and treat the disease.

Dame Deborah James dedicated her life to raising awareness for cancer and finding ways that we can beat it, so it is only right that we honour her legacy by investing in research to help stop one of the country’s biggest killers.

And research is only one part of the work we’re doing. Our National Cancer Plan will transform cancer so patients can get the latest treatments and technology, ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to some of the best in the world.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR said:

Innovations such as the mIONCO-Dx blood test offer an exciting new era in cancer detection with the potential for quicker, easier and more effective ways to detect cancers before they become more difficult to treat.

The NIHR is supporting initiatives such as these, utilising the latest technologies such as AI, to provide patients and the public with timely, accurate and easily accessible options. Supporting the UK’s thriving life sciences sector is key to seeing these strides in diagnosis and early prevention.

In collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the government has awarded £2.4m to progress the development of the AI-driven blood test, known as miONCO-Dx. The test was developed on data from over 20,000 patients and has since been translated into a cheaper, faster and more scalable solution, marking a significant step forward. This new solution will be assessed in a clinical trial of 8,000 patients, giving a formal and significant step towards bringing the test closer to patients by ensuring it is fit for purpose in the NHS.

The test works by measuring the microRNA in a blood sample and using AI to identify if cancer is present and if so, where it is located in the body. Initial tests have produced promising results, having shown that it is able to detect 12 of the most lethal and common cancers, including bowel cancer, at an early stage, with over 99% accuracy. With no other trial currently working in the same way, this a world-leader and will support in placing Britain at the forefront of revolutionising healthcare.

The simple blood test will be able to identify cancer earlier, where treatment is not only more effective, but also cheaper and easier, potentially freeing up valuable NHS resources and staffing time in the long run.

Bowel cancer can be difficult to detect in the early stages, and survivability drops significantly as the disease progresses, as treatment options become more limited. Investing in technologies that can support experts to detect cancer early, such as the miONCO-Dx, is an essential first step in reducing the lives lost by cancer.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths in the UK. I’m delighted to welcome the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to the Bowelbabe Laboratory and show him the cutting-edge research being carried out in the name of the inspirational Dame Deborah James. She touched the lives of so many, and her legacy is supporting people affected by bowel cancer across the country.

This NIHR trial shows the importance of research and the impact new technology and developments could have. The upcoming National Cancer Plan for England is an opportunity for the UK Government to improve the lives of not just bowel cancer patients, but all cancer patients. We will continue to work with them on this.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:

This blood test has the potential to help us detect bowel cancer earlier and reduce the need for invasive tests, and the next step in this trial will now be vital in gathering further evidence on its effectiveness and how it could work in practice.

Dame Deborah James was a tireless and inspirational campaigner who helped change the national conversation on bowel cancer – it’s fitting that this lab in her name will drive forward research that could help thousands more people survive the disease.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

Bowel cancer has brought heartbreak to too many families across the country. But working in partnership with the NHS, researchers, and business, we can harness AI to overhaul how we detect and treat this horrendous disease. This new method is less invasive and will help with earlier detection which means keeping more families together for longer.

Our support for cancer research will unlock more innovation and make vital work like that of the BowelBabe Research Lab possible. All of this will help us build a better NHS as part of our Plan for Change.

Fighting cancer on all fronts, from diagnosis, research, prevention and treatment, is a key commitment made by the government. Earlier this year, the government launched a call for evidence for the National Cancer Plan, designed to improve patient experience to fight cancer.

This forms part of the wider strategy to reduce lives lost to the biggest killers across the UK, with investment in AI and innovative technologies helping to speed up diagnosis and improve treatment.

As part of its Plan for Change, the government will transform the NHS and is already seeing results – with waiting lists falling by over 200,000 since July last year.

April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New smart appliance standards will help consumers save on bills [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 23 April 2025.

Consumers will be able to save money on their bills thanks to new regulations for many smart energy appliances.
- New standards for smart appliances to save consumers money on their bills as part of the Plan for Change
- rules will mean new heat pumps and certain other electric heating appliances must be sold with smart functionality, which customers can choose to activate to access cheaper deals
- customers able to shop around for best deals as smart appliances like electric vehicle charge points and heat pumps must operate across different suppliers
Consumers will benefit from a wider range of cheaper energy deals thanks to new requirements for smart appliances like heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers.

This will enable more households to access cheaper tariffs to cut their energy bills, to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change to put more money in people’s pockets.

Energy smart appliances allow consumers to shift their electricity usage to times when it is less costly for the energy system. When an appliance’s smart function is activated, it will respond to price signals and can then use energy when it is cheapest, such as overnight.

Many are already cutting their bills by taking advantage of off-peak deals. For example, electric vehicle owners with a typical annual mileage can save £332 a year by charging their cars overnight using a time-of-use tariff.

A new framework will introduce requirements for heat pumps to be sold smart-ready, in line with regulations that already apply to electric vehicle chargers. This will give heat pump owners the choice to activate smart functionality and make savings by heating their homes when energy is cheaper. This can save around £100 per year compared to the costs of a gas boiler.

The government will also ensure that a range of appliances including electric vehicle smart charge points, heat pumps, and battery energy storage systems must be able to operate across different tariffs. This will mean that devices are not tied to one energy supplier, and so consumers will not be locked into one plan. This will deliver savings by encouraging competition and allowing customers to shop around for the best deals regardless of what device they have.

The measures form part of the government’s Clean Power Action Plan, which sets out pro-consumer reforms to help households benefit from lower energy bills.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

From EV chargers to heat pumps, smart appliances can do the hard work for consumers by automatically using energy when the price is low. We want to put more money in people’s pockets as part of Our Plan for Change by making it easier for people to benefit from cheaper off-peak tariffs in their home.

These new standards will also bring a common-sense approach to smart appliances by ensuring different brands and models can operate across different energy suppliers, allowing consumers to shop around for the best deals.

Tough new cyber security standards will be introduced for smart appliances, to protect customers and their data from cyberattacks.

Not only will these measures help smart energy consumers to cut their bills, but lowering peak electricity demand would minimise the electricity infrastructure that needs to be built. This could contribute to saving £40 to £50 billion between now and 2050, leading to further savings for all billpayers.

Increased consumer-led flexibility will help to deliver the Clean Energy Mission, by enabling Britain to make the most of its renewable electricity at times of high generation or low demand, which will reduce the need for expensive fossil fuelled power.

The introduction of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement in 2027 will require energy suppliers to use the most accurate data, so they can offer more smart tariffs that allow customers to choose when to use energy and benefit from savings. Earlier this month, the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley wrote to energy companies warning that no further delay will be tolerated to the roll out of this new system, to ensure consumers can benefit as quickly as possible.

Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at the Association for Decentralised Energy said:

To hit net zero and slash bills, consumers must lead our energy overhaul. With 84% of households ready to embrace flexible energy use for savings, it’s time to make smart tech the standard. Smart EV chargers, heat pumps and similar innovations will save families hundreds a year, as well as save the energy system billions by avoiding costly grid upgrades. We applaud the government for stepping up to turn this vision into reality.”
April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Aid to Gaza – E3 foreign ministers’ statement [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 April 2025.

Joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the UK on more than 50 days of Israel’s block on aid to Gaza.

Israel has now fully blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza for over fifty days. Essential supplies are either no longer available or quickly running out. Palestinian civilians – including one million children – face an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death. This must end. We urge Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians. During the last ceasefire, the UN and INGO system was able to deliver aid at scale. The Israeli decision to block aid from entering Gaza is intolerable. Minister Katz’s recent comments politicising humanitarian aid and Israeli plans to remain in Gaza after the war are unacceptable – they harm prospects for peace. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change. Israel is bound under international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.

Humanitarians must be able to deliver aid to those who need it most, independent of parties to the conflict and in accordance with their humanitarian principles. Israel must ensure unhindered access for the UN and humanitarian organisations to operate safely across Gaza. Hamas must not divert aid for their own financial gain or use civilian infrastructure for military purposes.

We reiterate our outrage at recent strikes by Israeli forces on humanitarian personnel, infrastructure, premises and healthcare facilities. Israel must do much more to protect the civilian population, infrastructure and humanitarian workers. This includes restoring deconfliction systems, allowing humanitarian workers free movement within Gaza. And Israel must prevent harm to medical personnel and premises in the course of their military operations. They must allow the urgent healthcare needs of the population to be met, while allowing the sick and wounded to temporarily leave the Gaza Strip to receive treatment.

Crucially, we urge all parties to return to a ceasefire. We continue to call on Hamas for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages, who are enduring terrible suffering. We must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region.

April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Great British Energy to lead the field in ethical supply chains [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 23 April 2025.

An amendment to the Great British Energy Bill will enable the company to ensure forced labour is not used in its supply chains.

Great British Energy will act to secure supply chains that are free of forced labour, under an amendment brought forward by the government today.

Owned by and for the British public, Great British Energy will be a sector leader in building new energy infrastructure using ethical supply chains.

A new measure set out in the Great British Energy Bill will enable the company to ensure that forced labour does not take place in its business or its supply chains.

The amendment is the latest move in the government’s work to tackle the issue of forced labour as it becomes a global leader in clean energy. Great British Energy is already able to bar suppliers that use illegal and immoral practices from bidding for its contracts.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

Great British Energy will be an industry-leader in developing supply chains free of forced labour as it propels us in our clean energy superpower mission.

Owned by and for the British public, Great British Energy will be an institution we can all be proud of as we build our clean energy future here in the UK.

The government has already:
- brought the Procurement Act 2023 into force, so public bodies can reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers that are known to use forced labour
- committed that Great British Energy’s strategic priorities will include an overarching expectation to tackle forced labour, becoming a sector leader in this space, as expected from any company owned by the British public
- set out that Great British Energy will appoint a senior leader on ethical supply chains and modern slavery
- relaunched the Solar Taskforce, to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable and free from forced labour
- encouraged renewable developers accessing its flagship Contracts for Difference scheme to grow the supply chain through the Supply Chain Plan process
- published updated guidance on producing modern slavery statements, providing all businesses and public bodies with practical advice on how to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains
And the Solar Roadmap will set out how government will work with industry to triple the UK’s solar capacity by 2030. It is set to be published later this year.

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of the trade association Solar Energy UK said:

Solar Energy UK welcomes the government’s amendment to the GB Energy Bill.

The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), which we developed with SolarPower Europe, is already having a real impact on the global supply chain. By the end of this year, SSI-certified manufacturing facilities will be able to produce 100 gigawatts of solar panels per year from independently-assessed sites that are not complicit in forced labour. That is around five times more than all of the UK’s existing solar panels put together, more than enough to meet both UK and EU demand. This number will continue to grow.

Given progress in ensuring that the UK supply chain is free from solar panels produced with raw materials tainted by human rights abuses, we are confident that there will be no slowdown in solar deployment. The amendment poses no threat to the attainment of clean power by 2030, nor to reaching net zero by 2050.

This latest commitment will support growth in the UK and plans to deliver clean power by 2030, by using domestic suppliers, alongside those across the world, who have safe supply chain practices.

The solar industry is confident that the government can meet its clean power ambitions whilst also tackling forced labour in supply chains, and the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out the supply chain requirements to deliver on this ambition.

Notes to editors

The proposed amendment, to Clause 3 of the GBE Bill, will be voted on by MPs and Peers.

This clause sets Great British Energy’s activities as: facilitating, encouraging and participating in clean energy projects; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; improving energy efficiency; ensuring energy security; and now, measures to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its business or supply chains.
April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : First prisoners arrive at new 1,500-place jail [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 23 April 2025.

The first prisoners have been locked up at a new jail that will create nearly 1,500 prison places, helping to cut crime and make streets safer today as part of the Government’s Plan for Change (23 April).
- New prison built to cut crime and keep dangerous offenders locked up
- Part of Government’s Plan for Change to make streets safer
- 2,400 prison places already delivered since July
HMP Millsike in Yorkshire is now operational, making it the first of four new jails to be opened as part of the pledge to create 14,000 extra prison places by 2031, keeping dangerous offenders locked up.

This extra capacity will help keep the public safe by making sure the country never runs out of space again.

As a Category C “resettlement” prison, HMP Millsike has been designed with a clear aim – cutting crime and reducing reoffending. It includes 24 workshops and training facilities aimed at getting offenders into work on release and away from crime for good, so fewer people become victims in the future.

Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, James Timpson, said:

HMP Millsike is a vital part of our Plan for Change, building 14,000 new prison places by 2031.

This modern prison has been designed to cut crime. This prison will force offenders to turn their backs on crime, delivering safer streets and ensuring there are fewer victims in the future.”

The prison is the size of 39 football pitches and comes fitted with security technology to combat the drugs, drones and phones that have plagued prisons in recent years and risked the safety of frontline officers.

This includes reinforced barless windows to deter drone activity, hundreds of CCTV cameras, and X-ray body scanners to spot and stop contraband entering the prison.

The prison will be operated by Mitie Care and Custody. Education and workplace training provider PeoplePlus will give offenders the tools they need to find work on release and stay on the straight and narrow.

Russell Trent, Managing Director, Immigration and Justice, Mitie Care & Custody said:

As the first prisoners arrive at HMP Millsike, our focus is on building safer communities by creating an environment that promotes problem solving and self-determination to help the rehabilitation process enabling prisoners to break the cycle of reoffending.

As a resettlement prison, every element including the design, facilities and technology is purposefully structured so that prisoners leave HMP Millsike qualified, employable and ready to integrate and contribute to society.”

With the country still using many of its Victorian prisons, HMP Millsike has been built to also stand the test of time. Its use of modern materials and fittings will keep running and repairs costs to a minimum for taxpayers.

Its opening is a major milestone in the government’s 10-year prison capacity strategy published in December. This plan includes 6,400 places through new houseblocks and 6,500 places via new prisons. One thousand rapid deployment cells will be rolled out across the estate while more than 1,000 existing cells will be refurbished.

It follows a £2.3 billion investment to deliver these prison builds, with a further £500 million going towards vital building maintenance across prisons and the probation service by the end of March 2026. The strategy will work alongside the Independent Sentencing Review to ensure the most serious offenders can always be sent to prison to protect the public.

Background information
- The first prisoners arrived today, and the population will steadily increase each week to ensure a safe and stable ramp-up process.
- Ramp up will be strictly monitored and can be adjusted or paused should the safety or stability of the prison require it.
April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : £10 million boost to employment support in Wales to Get Britain Working again [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Work and Pensions on 22 April 2025.

People in Wales are set to benefit from a £10 million investment aimed at improving local work, health, and skills support as part of the UK Government’s initiative to tackle inactivity and Get Britain Working.
- First Wales trailblazer launches to tackle economic inactivity, with new tailored support to be rolled out including one-to-one mentoring, counselling, wellbeing services, and condition management for health issues.
- Comes as part of UK Government’s drive to Get Britain Working again to unlock growth and deliver Plan for Change.
The first trailblazer programme in Wales, launched in Denbighshire by UK Minister for Employment Alison McGovern and Welsh Government Minister Jack Sargeant, will for the first time provide targeted interventions tailored to local needs, rather than the current “one size fits all” approach.

This includes help with CV writing and job searching, one-to-one mentoring, counselling services, wellbeing provision, and access to condition management services for those with health conditions.

Trailblazer areas are specific places selected to trial out new and innovative approaches to employment support – these areas receive targeted funding and resources to roll out new strategies for reducing unemployment, tackling inactivity and improving job opportunities.

During their visit to Working Denbighshire yesterday, both Ministers witnessed the support available, including meeting Work Coaches who offer expert, tailored assistance.

Wales is one of nine places receiving support through the UK Government’s £125 million economic inactivity trailblazer programme, targeting areas with the highest levels of inactivity.

Local leaders in Denbighshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Neath Port Talbot will design employment support schemes tailored to their community’s unique challenges.

This localised, multi-agency approach aims to help people back into work, which is one of the most important ways to put extra money in people’s pockets and unlock growth as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.

UK Government Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern said:

Everyone deserves to thrive, including people suffering from long-term health conditions.

No one will be written off and left on the scrapheap. That’s why we’re allocating the Welsh Government a £10 million boost to shake-up and connect health and employment services, delivering on the Plan for Change.

Everyone deserves to benefit from the security and dignity that good work affords, and this trailblazer will help people to access this support.

Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant said:

This £10 million investment is an instrumental step in our collaborative approach to supporting people across our nation back into good employment. By working in partnership with the UK Government, Wales trailblazers will create a tailored approach that meets the unique needs of the three communities it is aiming to help in its first year.

Our focus is on delivering integrated services that truly connect health support with employment opportunities, recognising that good work is fundamental to wellbeing. The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring no one is left behind, and this trailblazer programme demonstrates how devolved employment support can be responsive to local needs while contributing to our wider economic ambitions for Wales.

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens added:

This £10 million programme to get people into work will deliver tailored support where it is most needed. Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire and Neath Port Talbot have been selected as areas where we can make the most difference.

It’s an approach that we know works and builds on the success of the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee which already provides support for young people to gain skills or get into work.

Work improves physical and mental health and raises people’s standard of living. The trailblazer scheme ensures that anyone who’s able to work is helped into employment.

The trailblazers are the latest milestone in the UK Government’s £240 million Get Britain Working reforms which includes transforming Jobcentres to focus on people’s skills and careers, guaranteeing young people the chance to earn or learn and providing mental health support to help people to start and stay in work.

Yesterday’s launch in Wales follows the launch of the first trailblazer in South Yorkshire earlier in April, which plans to deliver a new service working with employers to hire those with health conditions – with both programmes focused on boosting growth by getting communities back to health and back to work.

In the coming weeks, similar trailblazer schemes will launch in Greater Manchester, the North East, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and three in London.

In addition to inactivity trailblazers, the UK Government has boosted the National Living Wage, increased the National Minimum Wage and is creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill to support people into good work and get Britain growing again.

Funding provided to the Welsh Government for this programme also delivers on the Prime Minister’s promise to kickstart a new era of devolution, resetting relationships with devolved Governments so they have the support they need to play their part in delivering economic growth as part of the Plan for Change.

Additional Information
- The nine economic inactivity trailblazers, backed by £125 million of UK Government funding, is giving power to the Welsh Government and some Mayoral Authorities to design joined up work, health and skills offers.
- Funding for Scotland and Northern Ireland has been devolved in the usual way.
- Employment support measures are fully transferred to Northern Ireland. Jobcentre Plus services is reserved in both Scotland and Wales, but the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government also deliver other forms of employment support.
- The UK Government also plans to establish new governance arrangements with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to help frame discussions around the reform of Jobcentres and agree how best to work in partnership on shared employment ambition across devolved and reserved provision.
- In April, UK Government increases to the National Minimum and National Living Wage came into effect, putting more money into people’s pockets. Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will get a £1,400 annual boost, while full-time workers on the Minimum Wage could see a £2,500 annual boost.
- Details of the first inactivity trailblazer, in South Yorkshire, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/south-yorkshire-kicks-off-125-million-plans-to-get-britain-back-to-health-and-work
April 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Prime Minister Luxon of New Zealand [April 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 April 2025.

The Prime Minister hosted New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at Downing Street today.

The two leaders reflected on their visit to Operation Interflex to see Ukrainian troops being trained earlier today, and the importance of supporting Ukraine for the long term.

Discussing the Coalition of the Willing, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Luxon for New Zealand’s ongoing support, adding that the planning phase was making good progress across all four domains – land, air, regeneration and sea.

The Prime Minister welcomed New Zealand’s recent uplift in defence spending, and both agreed the direct link between defence spending, economic security and putting money back in the pockets of hardworking people.

Turning to the situation in the Indo-Pacific, the leaders agreed on the importance of working together to support regional stability and counter malign threats.

They also discussed the strong trade links between the UK and New Zealand, and the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

April 23, 2025