Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : World’s first national framework for quantum standards to boost UK leadership and trade in groundbreaking future tech [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 June 2026.

A new national network to coordinate standards for the quantum technologies that will revolutionise everything from medicine to banking and transport.
- £10m network launched to shape the rules of the road for quantum – backing the UK’s global leadership.
- New National Quantum Standards Network will help turn British research into secure, reliable products people can trust and businesses can sell worldwide.
- Coordinated standards to accelerate breakthroughs in healthcare, transport and finance – unlocking jobs, investment and growth.
A new national network to coordinate standards for the quantum technologies that will revolutionise everything from medicine to banking and transport will strengthen the ability of British companies to grow at home and sell around the world.

Announced by Science Minister Lord Vallance today, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will establish the National Quantum Standards Network (QSN) to bring together common standards for game-changing Quantum technology.

Supported by £10 million from DSIT, it will bring together government, industry, and academia to engage with UK companies – ensuring their products are developed to internationally recognised standards.

The QSN will oversee everything from the linewidths of the ultra-narrow lasers needed to control qubits inside a quantum computer, to the size, weight and energy-efficiency requirements that will ensure one quantum sensor’s reading can be trusted against another’s.

It will bring together government, industry, academia and standards bodies, including the British Standards Institution and UKRI’s National Quantum Computing Centre.

Standards already underpin services we rely on, like using our mobile phones abroad and sending data securely. Doing the same with Quantum will help speed up adoption of the technology, and could help with everyday tasks like supporting sensitive transactions for banks all over the world.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Quantum could bring benefits to our society as significant as what we are seeing with AI, with the potential to deliver new medicines, better public services, and protect our finances.

The UK’s quantum sector is already a global leader. With the National Quantum Standards Network we will accelerate its growth, meaning more British jobs and investment into our economy  from all over the world.

As key decisions are taken in international quantum standards-setting bodies over the coming years, the UK will now lead the way globally with its own dedicated network. The QSN will give British companies a voice in standards over the long term in a sector which has the potential to add £212 billion to the UK economy and add 100,000 jobs.

The government’s £2 billion investment into quantum announced earlier this year – building on existing strengths of leading companies and world-class talent – is already keeping the UK at the forefront of quantum innovation. This includes £1.2 billion towards the procurement of large-scale quantum computers, so companies can have confidence bringing technologies from the lab to market.

Dr Peter Thompson, CBE, CEO at NPL said: 

We are delighted to be leading the establishment of the Quantum Standards Network which marks a major step in ensuring the UK can lead the global conversation on quantum. Standards are the backbone of responsible, scalable innovation.

By coordinating expertise across the UK quantum ecosystem, the network will accelerate technology adoption, boost UK competitiveness and support the safe and ethical development of quantum technologies.” 

The UK is a big quantum player. In a recent vote of confidence, Vescent – a leading manufacturer of quantum tech – recently chose NPL as the location for its first office outside the US.

By positioning itself at the heart of common standards for quantum, the UK will secure competitive advantage, attract investment, and ensure British innovation underpins the technologies of the future.

Notes to editors
- Hosted by NPL, the Quantum Standards Network unites key strategic partners including DSIT, BSI, UKRI National Quantum Computing Centre, National Cyber Security Centre, and UKQuantum. Together, they will coordinate the UK’s engagement in emerging international standards activity and foster collaboration with leading technical agencies internationally.
16/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK clamps down on shady networks supplying Putin’s illegal war with new sanctions package [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

UK announces major new sanctions package choking off Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts.
- UK announces 70 new sanctions targeting Russia’s decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks used to circumvent sanctions.
- UK ramps up pressure on Russia during G7 Summit following latest abhorrent attacks against Ukraine, killing innocent civilians and destroying holy sites.
- The UK has now sanctioned almost 500 individuals, entities and ships under its Russia sanctions regime in 2026 alone, as allied support for Ukraine tops the G7 agenda.
The UK has unleashed a major new sanctions package choking off Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts.

New action directly targets Russia’s illicit shadow fleet and finance networks used to circumvent Western sanctions and support military procurement.

Today’s sanctions further crack down on Russia’s decrepit and ageing shadow fleet, targeting more than 20 oil tankers with new and enhanced powers introduced last month. The UK is also tightening the net around those who are suspected of enabling Putin’s illicit oil trade, further sanctioning ship insurers and other shipping services.

The UK is the first G7 country to sanction several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels recently acquired by Russia at great expense to service Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project, responsible for exporting millions of tonnes of LNG, in an attempt to source dirty revenue for the Kremlin.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

These sanctions target the vessels, the money and the actors propping up Russia’s war economy, and in turn, threatening European security.

Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure in Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

As the Kremlin resorts to ever more shady tactics to sustain its war, from its ageing shadow fleet to covert finance networks, the UK remains one step ahead in shutting them down.

These sanctions strike at the heart of these murky efforts, to starve Putin’s war machine and defend Britain’s security.

Shoulder to shoulder with our G7 partners, the UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Those who are suspected of enabling the sale of tankers to Russia’s shadow fleet will be exposed and face action. UK sanctions are greatly limiting Russia’s ability to trade oil – in 2025 the Arctic LNG-2 terminal only exported 1.3 million tons of LNG despite having capacity to export over 13.5 million tons a year.

To date, the UK has now sanctioned more than 600 shadow fleet and Russian LNG vessels.

New measures also expose and target a Russian military intelligence (GRU) network centred around GRU front company LLC Neptune Co Ltd (‘Neptune’).

Neptune is involved in covertly procuring western technology for Russia’s military.

Today’s actions target three companies and 10 GRU officers suspected of acquiring military technology that Russia desperately needs to sustain its military aggression in Ukraine.

Elsewhere, sanctions also hit third country suppliers of critical military equipment to Russia in China, Thailand and Türkiye. Several organisations helping Russia illegally move money, bypassing western sanctions, are also targeted including one entity in Nigeria supporting the illicit finance network A7’s sanctions evasions scheme.

Gathering in Évian-les-Bains, G7 Leaders will discuss their joint determination to tackle the single largest threat to global security – Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.

As the UK increases pressure on Russia’s war economy, today’s action demonstrates an unshakeable determination to defend security in Ukraine, Europe and at home.

Notes to editors:
- UK cracks down on backdoor Russian sanctions evasion with tough new measures
- In total, the UK has committed up to £21.8 billion for Ukraine:
  - £13 billion in military support (including our £2.26 billion ERA Loan contribution)
  - £5.3 billion in non-military support (including bilateral assistance and fiscal guarantees)
  - £3.5 billion cover limit in export finance (via UK Export Finance for reconstruction and defence projects)
- The UK is a leading bilateral donor, having committed £1.2billion in bilateral support, including over £577million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the region since the start of the full-scale invasion. We are committing up to £283million in bilateral assistance for 2025 to 2026, to fund humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, reform, recovery and reconstruction programmes.
- View the full UK sanctions list
- View the full list of Russia sanctions designations, 16 June 2026
16/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Chancellor Merz of Germany [June 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 June 2026.

The Prime Minister met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz along with their spouses at the G7 summit in France.

The leaders began by reflecting on the summit so far, and welcomed the peace deal struck between the US and Iran.

Turning to the close relationship between the UK and Europe, the leaders discussed the UK’s ambition to get closer to the EU. The Prime Minister said he believed good progress had been made, but there was more to be done to benefit people both in the UK and Europe.

The Prime Minister also updated on his decision to ban social media platforms in the UK, announced earlier today.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

16/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : £219 million to power Britain’s green aviation revolution [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 16 June 2026.

£219 million boost for sustainable aviation fuel to cut emissions and back UK innovation and jobs.
- £93 million available now for pioneering UK companies to develop and scale up sustainable aviation fuel production to make flying greener
- part of new £219 million low carbon fuels fund to position the UK as a global hub for low carbon fuels, supporting 15,000 jobs and adding £5 billion to the economy by 2050
- comes as government is exploring through a call for evidence how to support all parts of industry in meeting the SAF Mandate to ensure delivery of its climate and environmental ambitions
UK homegrown sustainable aviation fuel production given a boost thanks to a new £219 million low carbon fuels fund (LCFF) which will launch later this summer, powering up economic growth and supporting thousands of jobs across the country.

Innovative companies from across the UK are invited to bid for a share of £93 million over the next two years to develop low carbon fuel, with applications opening in mid-July. The fund will focus support on the most promising projects meaning those closest to the actual production stage.

Today’s announcement (16 June 2026) builds on £198 million already invested through the advanced fuels fund (AFF) since 2022 to scale up cleaner aviation technologies. Low carbon fuel production could add up to £5 billion to the economy by 2050 and position the UK as a global hub for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather, said:

This £219 million is the next chapter in Britain’s green aviation revolution. We’re backing brilliant British innovation, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and making sure the UK leads the world in the fuels that will power the future of flight.

This kind of investment is exactly how we kickstart economic growth, open up exciting new opportunities for young people and make our holidays greener and cleaner.

SAF is an alternative to fossil jet fuel which reduces greenhouse gas emissions on average by 70% on a lifecycle basis, making it a key technology that will allow UK aviation to grow capacity while meeting its net zero commitments.

Growing a thriving domestic SAF industry will give investors the confidence they need to back new production plants in the UK, creating well-paid, skilled jobs in communities the length and breadth of the country.

Investment in low carbon fuels is investment in the future of aviation. For young people looking to build a career, the UK’s growing SAF industry offers some of the most innovative and exciting opportunities anywhere in the economy, from engineering and science to construction and manufacturing.

Alongside the new fund, the government is today launching a Call for Evidence on the SAF Mandate which requires an increasing proportion of jet fuel supplied in the UK to be sustainable, starting at 2% in 2025, rising to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040. The UK is already seeing encouraging growth in SAF supply.

The Call for Evidence will explore what current global supply projections for different types of sustainable fuel mean for meeting the SAF Mandate’s targets in the coming years.

This is part of an ongoing and collaborative approach with industry to ensure the scheme remains responsive to an evolving market. Overall mandate targets are not under consideration for reduction, with proposals focusing on strengthening the scheme for the future.

Keith Packer, Managing Director of British Sugar, said:

We are very pleased to see the launch of the DfT’s low carbon fuels fund and the clear commitment to further development of homegrown sustainable aviation fuel in the UK. At British Sugar, following a grant from the advanced fuels fund, the British BioJet project at our Wissington site is exploring the development of a sizeable demonstration plant.

It will utilise our existing waste feedstocks with ethanol-to-jet technology to produce 1,500 tonnes of SAF – supporting the growth in cleaner, greener jobs and investment. We welcome this next phase of funding to develop SAF, and look forward to making an application so that we can continue supporting the government’s ambition for net-zero aviation.

Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive of LanzaTech, said:

Today’s investment by the UK government strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable aviation fuel production. It will help companies like LanzaTech turn waste into green jet fuel, creating skilled jobs and economic growth for example in Humberside, where we are developing a new SAF facility capable of supplying around 1% of the UK’s jet fuel demand.

The call for evidence on future SAF targets is also an important step towards giving industry the long-term certainty needed to scale production and accelerate private investment today and beyond 2030.
16/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Almost 180 more Youth Hubs to help young people build skills and find jobs [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 15 June 2026.
- Thousands of young people across the country are set to receive employment, education or training support as almost 180 new Youth Hub locations are confirmed.
- Areas including Inverclyde, St Albans and Cardiff will see new hubs open in local sports clubs, libraries and other venues at the heart of the community– bringing support out of the jobcentre to meet young people where they are.
- Youth Hubs are central to the Government’s once-in-a-generation drive to tackle youth unemployment, backed by £2.5 billion investment.
Thousands of young people across Great Britain will benefit from access to expanded employment and wrap-around support services as the locations of almost 180 new Youth Hubs are confirmed this morning [15 June 2026].

The rollout forms part of a national expansion of Youth Hubs to over 360 areas with the aim that a young person is no more than one hour away from a Youth Hub by public transport.

This will ensure that vital support, delivered in the community, is available to even more young people, making local support services accessible, no matter where they live.

From football clubs to colleges and libraries, the hubs bring together local mental health and housing support, skills and training opportunities as well as careers guidance and work opportunities with links to local employers with live job and apprenticeship opportunities.

Confirmation of the next wave of Youth Hubs came shortly after Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited a youth point – the Dutch equivalent of Youth Hubs – during a fact-finding trip to the Netherlands, which has one of the world’s lowest NEET rates.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

We want to make sure young people are getting real, personalised support, that’s not one size fits all. I’ve seen how it can change lives.

Our Youth Hubs have over the past two years pioneered this approach – bringing job centre services together with mental health support, housing advice and more.

I want to turbocharge this rollout so that every young person has this support within reach that can help them move into learning or earning.

Yesterday the Work and Pensions Secretary visited the Tower Hamlets Youth Hub, located in the Feldy Community Centre, where he met young people who are currently receiving personalised guidance to allow them to move into employment and training. The Secretary of State heard from young people who have already been helped by the Hub, and how the range of support offered will be central to them moving forward.

Tanzeem Ahmed, Assistant Director of Employment and Training at Poplar HARCA, said:

We’re proud to launch the Tower Hamlets Youth Hub at the Feldy Centre in Poplar this June, supporting local young people to move into work, training or volunteering.

This welcoming, community-based space brings together personalised support – from CV writing and job applications to accredited training and wellbeing advice – helping young people build confidence and skills.

By working with partners like Jobcentre Plus, we’re removing barriers and creating clear, positive pathways into employment for local young people.

Since opening in May 2026, The Tower Hamlets Youth Hub has established itself as an exemplary Youth Hub, working with local stakeholder and partners to ensure a joined-up approach, bringing together access to mental health, wellbeing, employment and skills support for local young people.

Over the next three years, the Government is expanding its network of Youth Hubs to over 360 local areas across Great Britain. This will connect every 16-to-24-year-old across the country and provide themreal opportunities in their local area, ensuring each person has access to high-quality, wide-ranging support to move towards learning or earning.

Our new Youth Hubs will meet young people where they are, in football stadiums and community venues across Britain, giving them access to housing support, mental health help and a clear pathway into work or training, exactly as Alan Milburn recommended.

Youth Hubs are a key part of the £2.5 billion investment in the Youth Guarantee and come alongside changes to the Growth and Skills Levy which aim to refocus the skills system towards people at the start of their working life.

The government is also supporting businesses to hire young workers with a Youth Jobs Grant worth £3,000 for every 18- to 24-year-old hired who has been on Universal Credit for six months, while a £2,000 apprenticeship incentive is available for each new employee aged 16 to 24 taken on by a small business.

Ensuring every young person has the chance to earn or learn through the government’s Youth Guarantee and turning the tide on the nation’s high NEET rate is essential to driving the nation’s plan for growth.

Additional information

The DWP will now work with local authorities and partner organisations to identify the best locations for the hubs.

Youth Hubs may open ahead of the roll out schedule detailed below subject to local readiness.

Hubs opened in Year One (since announcement in March 2026):

England

Wandsworth, Stockton-on-Tees, Bromley, Bracknell Forest, Guildford, Swindon, Crawley, Reigate and Banstead, Sefton, West Berkshire, Derby, Tower Hamlets, Thanet, Knowsley, Leicester.

Scotland

South Lanarkshire

Wales

Carmarthenshire (Llanelli), Rhondda Cynon Taf, Neath Port Talbot, Caerphilly.

Hubs scheduled to open in Year Two :

England:

Norwich, East Suffolk, Cannock Chase, Greenwich, Ashford, North Northamptonshire, East Staffordshire, Thurrock, North East Derbyshire, Rother, North Devon, Harlow, Maidstone, Lincoln, Bedford, Torridge, Chorley, Milton Keynes, Arun, North Warwickshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Dartford, Breckland, Gedling, East Riding of Yorkshire, High Peak, North Norfolk, South Holland, South Ribble, Somerset, North Somerset, Stevenage, Havering, Slough, Fylde, Melton, West Northamptonshire, Castle Point, Teignbridge, Stafford, Lancaster, South Derbyshire, Canterbury, South Kesteven, Lewes, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheshire East, Braintree, West Lancashire, Mid Devon, Colchester, North West Leicestershire, Redbridge, Hillingdon, Broxtowe, Bexley, Dacorum, Wychavon, Camden, Malvern Hills, South Staffordshire, Reading, Watford, North Yorkshire, Sutton, Southwark, Dorset, Rugby, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Tewkesbury, Merton, Kensington and Chelsea, Forest of Dean, Broxbourne.

Scotland

Angus, Inverclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Highland, East Lothian, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, Moray

Wales Vale of Glamorgan, Flintshire, Cardiff, Powys, Monmouthshire, Gwynedd

Hubs Schedules for Year Three:

England

Lichfield, New Forest, Hinckley and Bosworth, Rushmoor, West Suffolk, Hertsmere, Central Bedfordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, North Kesteven, Cheltenham, Adur, Rochford, Wiltshire, South Norfolk, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Huntingdonshire, Test Valley, Bromsgrove, Tonbridge and Malling, North Hertfordshire, Wealden, Welwyn Hatfield, Tunbridge Wells, Cherwell, East Devon, Mid Suffolk, Oadby and Wigston, Fareham, Broadland, Sevenoaks, York, Maldon, Exeter, Derbyshire Dales, Charnwood, Blaby, Vale of White Horse, Stroud, West Devon, Babergh, South Gloucestershire, Harrow, Bath and North East Somerset, East Cambridgeshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, West Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Epsom and Ewell, South Hams, Epping Forest, Chichester, Warwick, Runnymede, Tandridge, Winchester, Brentwood, Harborough, Three Rivers, East Hampshire, St Albans, Cotswold, Horsham, Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, Rushcliffe, East Hertfordshire, Mid Sussex, Ribble Valley, South Oxfordshire, Wokingham, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Uttlesford, Hart, Rutland, Waverley, City of London.

Scotland

Stirling, City of Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Wales

Ceredigion
16/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Pressure piled on Russia as Prime Minister steps up support to power Ukraine at G7 Summit [June 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 June 2026.

Pressure piled on Russia as Prime Minister steps up support to power Ukraine at G7 Summit.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer to turn up the pressure dial on Russia as he announces new sanctions and doubles down on energy support for Ukraine at the G7 in France today
- Major energy deal to power Ukraine for the next two years through the supply of UK nuclear fuel, supporting hundreds of British jobs in the North West of England
- New sanctions package expected today is also set to choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts, boosting European security
The UK is set to power Ukraine for the next two years and announce a new swathe of sanctions today [TUE] as the Prime Minister steps up support to ensure Ukraine can continue to fight for as long as it takes.

It comes as G7 gets under way in Evian, France, this morning, with the first roundtable session focused on building peace and security for Ukraine and for Europe. The Prime Minister is expected to speak during the session, telling leaders that the G7 should collectively go further to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves.

He will reiterate that the fighting needs to stop, an immediate ceasefire should be implemented, and that negotiations should start from the current line of contact.

The Prime Minister directed officials in recent weeks to step up support for Ukraine across every dimension, from military equipment to vital energy support and pressure on Putin’s war machine to ensure Ukraine’s momentum on the battlefield is sustained into next winter.

That pressure includes action on Russia’s shadow fleet, which was illustrated by the major military operation to interdict the SMYRTOS vessel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Vital lessons from Ukraine, and how the UK can drive forward European security, are also expected to be a central focus of the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published ahead of the NATO Summit.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Russia’s aggression threatens not just Ukraine, but the security of all Europe.

That is why the UK is stepping up – choking off the revenues that fuel Putin’s war and powering Ukraine through the winters ahead.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and this announcement reinforces that. Putin should roll back his tanks, end his barbaric strikes, and come to the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, the UK will power Ukraine’s nuclear plants for the next two years with £210 million of UK Export Finance support to enable UK-based Urenco to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine’s nuclear power producer, Energoatom. The deal was agreed between the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy during their meeting at Downing Street last week.

The deal is critical to Ukraine’s energy security, with Energoatom providing over 50% of the country’s electricity.

The agreement also supports UK jobs and exports, with more than a third of the uranium content originating from Urenco’s processing plant in the North-West of England. Urenco employs more than 650 people in the UK and its work at its Chester site supports more than 4,500 jobs around the UK in the wider supply chain.

The financing, backed by UKEF, builds on a previous two-year deal to supply nuclear fuel to Ukraine.

By securing Ukraine’s energy supply, the deal strengthens Ukraine’s resilience and ability to resist Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, directly supporting UK and Euro-Atlantic security interests.

Today’s major new sanctions package [16 June], expected to be announced later this morning, will choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts.

It will directly target Russia’s illicit shadow fleet and finance networks used to circumvent western sanctions and support military procurement.

The UK is expected to also be the first mover on sanctioning several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels moving sanctioned Russian LNG.

This package is expected to bring UK sanctioned shadow fleet and Russian LNG vessels to more than 600.

The new measures are also expected to expose and target a Russian state linked network, involved in covertly procuring western technology for Russia’s military, as well as closing in on several third country suppliers helping Russia to illegally move money around the world.
16/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : LinkedIn and government join forces to help jobseekers build their careers [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 15 June 2026.

Thousands of jobseekers could be supported into a new career as the government joins forces with LinkedIn to bolster careers advice.
- Landmark partnership between LinkedIn and the Government reflects that the ‘job for life’ has given way to career mobility.
- Anonymised data from LinkedIn’s pool of 40 million UK accounts will help the DWP have the best possible data within the Jobs and Careers Service.
- This comes as government brings forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation with a particular focus on helping young people into work.
Thousands of jobseekers could be supported into a new career as the government joins forces with LinkedIn to bolster careers advice.

It will see timely anonymised data on jobs, skills, hiring and workforce movement shared with Skills England from LinkedIn’s network of 40 million UK accounts, giving the government a new way of viewing the labour market.

In the future this could be used by the new Jobs and Careers Service to provide jobseekers with more tailored advice on industry specific skills and career routes, helping them to reach their goals.

As the recent Skills England Annual Report found, a further 1.8 million extra jobs will be needed in priority sectors by 2035. The DWP will work with LinkedIn to map how people move between jobs, with the aim of helping people to widen their career options and businesses to look beyond traditional recruitment pools.

The landmark partnership with LinkedIn recognises the days of a job for life are increasingly rare. As Funding Circle has found, the average worker will go through seven jobs in their lifetime, with younger people more likely to change roles. This shows that having the right data on career paths and the skills necessary to follow them is more crucial than ever.

The DWP and Skills England are excited to explore how this data can be used and will explore a number of possibilities as our work with LinkedIn progresses.

An improved understanding of where there is a skills mismatch between local job adverts and the skills of the local population is our first priority for this work in order to inform new skills options and drive economic growth.

Young people in particular will benefit from this partnership as the government will gain a more detailed insight of the local workforce and how it is evolving.

Last week the Secretary of State Pat McFadden met with LinkedIn’s Blake Lawit, to mark this exciting new partnership. The partnership comes as the government takes forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation, including the creation of the new Jobs and Careers Service and a major drive backed by £2.5 billion investment to give every young person the chance to earn or learn.

Pat McFadden Secretary of State said:

We know young people today are far less likely than previous generations to stay in the same career for life, which is why we must give them the tools to build a fulfilling, lasting career path.

This partnership with LinkedIn will give us a clearer understanding of the jobs market – what employers need, where opportunities are, and how people are building their careers, in order to boost economic growth.

Together with our £2.5 billion youth employment support package, we are making sure that every young person across the country has the chance to earn or learn.

Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, said:

I’m really excited about this partnership. LinkedIn has become such a hub for businesses that are recruiting and people on the look-out for jobs.

The resulting insights from their anonymised data will be incredibly valuable to Skills England and the new Jobs and Careers Service – particularly when it comes to identifying local skills gaps and helping young people to fill them.

We’re looking forward to joining forces to make a major difference.

Blake Lawit, Chief Global Affairs & Legal Officer of LinkedIn:

Today’s careers are increasingly shaped by skills, adaptability, and continuous learning.

Professionals entering the workforce now are on pace to hold twice as many jobs over their careers compared to 15 years ago. As people navigate more career transitions, access to timely labour market insights is more important than ever.

We’re proud to be supporting the UK Government’s efforts to better understand workforce trends, close talent gaps, and help more people find their next opportunity faster.

Additional Information

No individual-level member data will be shared with DWP.

LinkedIn has a database of 40 million accounts which includes students, retirees and working people recognise the UK as their professional home.

To protect the privacy of LinkedIn’s members, data will be collected within LinkedIn’s existing systems, with anonymised findings shared with Skills England. insight into how many people are employed, how they’re working.

Skills England will lead on this partnership on behalf of DWP, with officials already working to begin the initial phase of the project.
15/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 June 2026.

UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea. Delivered at the 62nd Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The UK thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update and for his work throughout his tenure. We are disappointed that the Eritrean Government continues to refuse to engage with this mandate.   

We welcome the release of some of those held in arbitrary detention for political or religious reasons. However, many more remain detained in inhumane conditions, and we encourage the Eritrean Government to extend these releases.

The system of indefinite national service has a suffocating impact on the lives of Eritreans, especially young people, and has contributed to mass emigration including to the UK. It requires urgent reform.

We support the report’s recommendations, including the call for the implementation of Eritrea’s Constitution.

Special Rapporteur, as you reflect on the past 6 years of your tenure, where do you see the most realistic opportunities for progress as you hopefully hand the baton to a successor?

15/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government backing helps UK’s Rolls-Royce SMR win multibillion-pound Sweden nuclear export contract [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 June 2026.

Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden, marking a major multibillion-pound export win for the UK and a breakthrough moment for British nuclear.
- Rolls-Royce SMR wins race for multibillion-pound deal to partner with Videberg Kraft for Sweden’s nuclear programme.
- Major vote of confidence in UK innovation and government’s Modern Industrial Strategy secured by government export campaign.
- Deal to support thousands of skilled jobs, strengthen supply chains and deepen UK–Sweden partnership.
Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden, marking a major multibillion-pound export win for the UK and a breakthrough moment for British nuclear.

The multibillion-pound deal was supported by a UK Government export campaign, including a visit by Business Secretary Peter Kyle to Sweden earlier this year.

The deal will boost jobs, back UK industry and strengthen the UK’s domestic nuclear programme, while supporting Sweden’s plans to deliver clean, reliable and secure power.

The decision marks a clear endorsement of the technology’s credibility, following the decision by Great British Energy – Nuclear in June 2025 to select Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred technology partner for the government’s own SMR programme.

It is also a strong signal of international confidence in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, almost a year on from its launch in 2025.

It opens up significant opportunities for UK and European supply chains, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and long-term economic growth across both countries.

The partnership also represents a step-change for Europe’s energy security, delivering reliable clean power and reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuels.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

This deal is a major win for Britain’s economy — showcasing UK engineering on the world stage and securing high‑value jobs, investment and export growth for years to come.

It proves that British technology and innovation is helping to drive Europe’s clean‑energy transition, strengthen energy security and open new markets for our world‑class nuclear sector.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:

I’m unashamedly backing British business on the world stage and that’s why I went to Stockholm earlier this year to champion this partnership, and it’s great to see Government’s effort paying off.

This is a major vote of confidence in Rolls-Royce SMR and the UK’s world‑leading civil nuclear sector — showing that, thanks to our Modern Industrial Strategy, Britain is the partner of choice for the next generation of clean energy.

At a time of global instability, this deal strengthens Europe’s energy security while creating jobs, driving investment and growing our supply chains at home and with partners like Sweden — backing British industry to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

This is further proof that clean energy is the industrial opportunity of this century for Britain – and that this Government’s commitment to this agenda is winning jobs and investment for Britain.

It’s time to make and build things in Britain again – that is why we’ve embarked on the biggest nuclear power programme in a generation, as we drive for energy sovereignty and abundance.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

We have the right economic plan, and after this government backed Rolls Royce to make the UK’s first SMRs at Wylfa, this deal showcases British businesses’ ability to compete and win in the global market for clean energy technologies.

New high-value jobs, a strengthened industrial base and export opportunities worth billions of pounds will help drive long-term growth and position the UK at the forefront of the industries powering the future.

This decision reflects strong alignment between the UK and Sweden on clean energy, energy security and long-term economic growth — and lays the foundations for deeper cooperation on nuclear deployment across Europe. The Government will now work closely with Swedish partners alongside Great British Energy – Nuclear to explore how the respective SMR programmes can benefit from collaboration.

The global SMR market is expected to reach nearly £500 billion by 2050, with the UK well-placed to lead the race to build and export next-generation nuclear technology.

The UK’s first SMR project will be built at Wylfa in North Wales and is estimated to support around 3,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more across the UK supply chain.

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said:

Rolls-Royce SMR has now been successful in every competitively tendered SMR selection process in Europe and it is now very well placed to become a market leader globally. Success in Sweden shows the real momentum that Rolls-Royce SMR is generating as it builds upon its crucial first-mover advantage in a market that is growing and attracting significant international interest.

Selection by Videberg Kraft reinforces the status of Rolls-Royce SMR as the only company with multiple contractual commitments to deliver SMR units in Europe. It is an endorsement of our technology and technical capability to deliver a scalable, repeatable nuclear solution.

This selection is also further evidence that the strategic choices we have made in the transformation of Rolls-Royce are delivering. We are unlocking significant future growth opportunities through our unique nuclear capabilities and are well positioned to benefit from the ongoing nuclear renaissance.

ENDS

Notes to editors
- Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s leading small modular reactor technology, designed to deliver reliable low-carbon electricity and support domestic and export growth.
- The deal supports skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities across the UK and Europe.
- The UK is positioning itself as a global leader in next-generation nuclear technology.
15/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General refers Vickrum Digwa to Court of Appeal [June 2026]
The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 June 2026.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has referred the sentence of Vickrum Digwa, convicted of the murder of Henry Nowak, to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the existing sentence.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP says:

This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.

After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal.

No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.

Notes for Editors
- Anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it’s too low.
- The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they’re asked to. The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision
- By law only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as murder, manslaughter and rape
15/06/2026