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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Cross-government action announced to champion carers [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Cross-government action announced to champion carers [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 June 2023.

    Minister for Care, Helen Whately, held a reception at No 10 and announced a cross-government roundtable to meet the needs of carers in all aspects of their lives.

    • Minister for Care, Helen Whately, held a reception at No 10 to mark Carers Week and celebrate the contribution of carers
    • Unpaid carers, young carers and representatives from carers’ organisations attended the event
    • The minister announced a cross-government roundtable to champion carers’ needs across Whitehall

    Minister for Care, Helen Whately, held a reception at No 10 Downing Street for unpaid carers on Tuesday 6 June to mark Carers Week and champion the vital work they do.

    More than 30 unpaid carers, young carers and representatives of unpaid carers organisations attended the event, which also provided a forum for discussions on how to boost recognition and support for carers in the community, both by government and the public.

    Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said:

    Over 4 million people in England are unpaid carers. Carers Week is a time to focus on the huge efforts of carers, show appreciation and focus on what more we can do to support people caring for loved ones.

    Making sure carers are recognised in health, social care and education is a priority – along with helping people recognise themselves as carers so they can tap into local carers networks and support.

    I care about carers. I am going to hold a cross-government roundtable with other ministers to make sure that carers’ needs aren’t just recognised in social care, but in every aspect of their lives.

    The reception, held in partnership with Carers UK, provided an opportunity for a wide range of carers and carer organisations, as well as others who engage with unpaid carers through their work, to gather and discuss next steps on bettering support for carers.

    Addressing the reception, the minister called for communities across the UK to come together to recognise the huge contribution unpaid carers make to society.

    On behalf of the charities supporting Carers Week, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

    Carers Week is an important annual opportunity to recognise the vital contribution made by the UK’s estimated 5.7 million unpaid carers looking after relatives or friends who are older, disabled or seriously ill.

    While often a rewarding role, caring for a loved one also comes with its challenges. This week we highlight just how important it is that unpaid carers are acknowledged and supported by all parts of the community.

    Yesterday’s Downing Street reception was an exciting occasion for unpaid carers to come together and be recognised for their contribution. We welcome the Minister for Care’s commitment to a cross-government roundtable which will be an important opportunity for ministers to consider the financial and practical support many unpaid carers really need.

    Led by Carers UK, this year’s Carers Week is supported by Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, the Lewy Body Society, Rethink Mental Illness and Oxfam.

    The government remains firmly committed to reforming adult social care for all, including those with caring responsibilities. In April it published the Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care plan, reflecting the enormous contribution of carers throughout and including a funding package of £25 million for unpaid carers, further details of which will be announced in due course.

    For 2023 to 2024 the Better Care Fund also earmarked £327 million to support local authorities with health and care services, including providing carers with advice, support, short breaks and respite services.

    In addition, the Care Quality Commission will be holding local authorities to account on adult social care through new assessment of the delivery of their Care Act 2014 duties, including those related to unpaid carers, such as undertaking an assessment of a carer’s needs for support.

    To better understand how unpaid carers access support, the government is looking into new ways of collecting data through a potential new survey for unpaid carers and is working with NHS England to streamline the ways unpaid carers are registered in health records. This work means the needs of carers will be more closely monitored and will inform decisions around what more can be done to provide them with the support they need.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Oman – Liane Saunders [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Oman – Liane Saunders [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 June 2023.

    Dr Liane Saunders OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman in succession to Mr William Murray who has retired from the Diplomatic Service. Dr Saunders will take up her appointment during June 2023.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Liane Saunders

    Place of Birth: Cardiff, UK

    Date Role
    2021 to 2023 FCDO, Staff Counsellor
    2017 to 2021 FCDO, Strategy Director and Strategic Programmes Coordinator
    2015 to 2017 Cabinet Office, Director General, Capabilities and Engagement, National Security Secretariat and Chilcot Lessons Learned Coordinator
    2014 to 2015 Cabinet Office, Acting Deputy National Security Adviser
    2012 to 2014 Cabinet Office, Director, Foreign and Defence Policy, and Afghanistan/Pakistan Coordinator
    2011 to 2012 FCO, Additional Director, Middle East and North Africa Directorate (MENAD)
    2009 to 2010 FCO, Head, Counter Proliferation Department
    2006 to 2009 FCO, Head, Consular Crisis Group
    2005 to 2006 FCO, Strategic Challenges Lead, Comprehensive Spending Review Team
    2003 to 2004 Northern Iraq: Secondment to US northern region team, Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, latterly Regional Coordinator (Northern Region), Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq
    2000 to 2003 Ankara, First Secretary (Political) later Head of Political Section, and British negotiator for the Northern Iraq Kurdish Peace Process
    1993 to 2000 Postings to Kuwait and Egypt; Desk Officer for Central America; secondment to the United Nations Observer Team in El Salvador
  • PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian military chaplains receive training from British Army [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian military chaplains receive training from British Army [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 June 2023.

    • Ten Ukrainian military chaplains have completed two weeks of training with their UK counterparts in the first course of its kind.
    • The programme seeks to further develop their chaplaincy, whose members deploy to the front line to provide vital spiritual and pastoral support to personnel.
    • Chaplaincy is a ‘critical capability for Ukrainian commanders’, says British Army’s Chaplain General.

    Ukrainian military chaplains have graduated from the first course of its kind to be run on British soil.

    For the last two weeks, ten chaplains have been embedded with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department of the British Army to learn more about providing pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance during military operations – and the post-war rebuilding period that ultimately follows.

    They will now deploy to the front line of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, where their task will be to build hope and restore spirits as troops battle to reclaim Ukraine’s sovereign territory.

    The course, which was developed by British military chaplains, and supported by the UK Armed Forces under Operation Orbital, came in response to a request from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, aimed to equip participants with the religious and practical resources needed to support personnel through the most challenging aspects of operations – from bereavement and loss, to mental health difficulties.

    The Reverend Michael D Parker KHC CF, Chaplain General, said:

    It has been the greatest of privileges to work with our Ukrainian Partner Forces to develop an understanding of chaplaincy within high intensity warfare. Together, we have examined the centrality of the moral component of fighting power and the part chaplains play in monitoring and sustaining this. They have been able to teach us as much as we have been able to teach them.

    The ability to deliver pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance has made chaplaincy a critical capability for Ukrainian commanders. Chaplains are in demand and it is truly humbling to be asked to support them in deepening their understanding of their role within war. These ten chaplains have answered the call of their nation; they are no longer just our international partners, they are our colleagues and friends. I pray that God will bless, protect and guide them as they return to Ukraine.

    There are currently 160 chaplains within the growing, multi-faith Chaplaincy branch of the Ukrainian military, which was formally established in 2021. There are aspirations to grow their ranks to 738 chaplains, to ensure that spiritual and pastoral support is available across units, hospitals and training sites.

    Reverend Robin Richardson, Chaplain, Royal Army Chaplain’s Department, was responsible for developing the programme. He said:

    Wherever there are people, they need the spiritual support, moral guidance and pastoral care that chaplains bring, whether they are in units, in hospitals or training establishments.

    These ministers are driven by their faith to step out of the door, unarmed, into the face of any enemy so that they can provide care for people of all beliefs. They are operating in circumstances that we could never dream of experiencing ourselves, drawing on their faith to support those navigating the chaos of war and doing everything they can to give soldiers hope.

    The hope is that the planning tools, religious and pastoral resources, and hands-on experience we have provided will only make them more effective in their roles on the front line.

    A significant proportion of the programme was devoted to delivering chaplaincy within an operational context, with participants supporting troops who are currently undergoing battlefield training in Wiltshire as part of the UK-led training of Ukrainian recruits. The bespoke programme highlights the broad range of training the UK has delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which has also included basic infantry training, medical training, and training on Challenger 2 tanks.

    Formed in 1796, the Army Chaplains’ Department has become synonymous with bringing comfort, care and compassion to those caught up in war. Since 1945, Chaplains have served wherever British soldiers are sent – caring for the whole force and their families irrespective of faith, world philosophy or status.

    The UK and its allies have to date trained more than 15,000 Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel in areas such as the fundamentals of frontline combat and more specialised training. The five-week training programme for basic recruits sees them receive instruction in weapons handling, battlefield first aid, fieldcraft, patrol tactics and the Law of Armed Conflict, enabling them to effectively defend their country on their return to Ukraine.

    The UK Government provided £2.3 billion of military aid to Ukraine in 2022 and the Prime Minister has committed to match this in 2023, having already supplied more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition (with 100,000 more planned for supply in 2023), vital air defence capability, including more than a hundred anti-aircraft guns, as well as self-propelled artillery.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Successful NHS programme to recruit care volunteers [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Successful NHS programme to recruit care volunteers [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 June 2023.

    The government is expanding the NHS Volunteer Responders programme into social care.

    • NHS Volunteer Responders Programme to be expanded into social care
    • Potential volunteers being asked to come forward to sign up for the programme in their local area
    • Volunteers to provide support to people receiving care from local services in their community

    Following the success of the NHS Volunteer Responders Programme scheme over the pandemic, the government has announced it will expand it into social care to form a joint NHS and care volunteering programme and allow care providers to recruit volunteers to help people in their local areas.

    Backed by £3 million, the scheme will use the same GoodSAM app that NHS volunteers currently use, to bring providers and volunteers together. The roles available for care volunteers are:

    • Check in and Chat Plus: contacting people who have been identified as particularly vulnerable to offer a friendly voice to those who may be experiencing loneliness
    • Pick up and Deliver: helping to transport medicines or small items of medical equipment to people’s homes or community settings from NHS sites to aid discharge from hospital or continued healthcare support
    • Community Response: collecting and delivering food shopping and essential items as well as prescriptions and medications to people in the community

    Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said:

    Volunteers can be a lifeline for people needing support. They can provide help to people needing a hand with food shopping, picking up prescriptions or even battling loneliness by lending a listening ear.

    That’s why we are building on the success of the NHS Volunteer Responders programme by expanding into social care. This launch will support the discharge of medically fit patients from hospital, freeing up the time so our workforce can focus on meeting more complex needs and most importantly support people to live independently at home for longer.

    All roles available to volunteers will help ease pressure on the health and social care system, but the Pick Up and Deliver role is specifically designed to support hospital discharge and prevent admissions.

    It will help to address challenges around pharmacies dispensing medicines – which NHS professionals cited as one of the biggest difficulties when trying to discharge patients from hospitals – as volunteers will deliver medications directly to patients, allowing them to return home sooner from hospital and removing the need to wait for prescriptions.

    Jointly delivered by the Royal Voluntary Service and GoodSAM, the expansion of the NHS programme into social care will also help to ease pressure on the NHS as volunteers will be able to step in to support people waiting to be admitted to hospital, those recently discharged and people in the community. This will free up the social care workforce enabling them to focus on those with more complex needs to live independently.

    The government is also continuing to look at ways to expand and maximise the benefit of volunteers in the NHS, such as whether it would be possible to make it easier to apply for volunteer roles by, for example, removing the requirement for employment history where this isn’t necessary.

    Volunteers can be crucial in supporting the health and care sector and complement the existing workforce. They do not replace the existing, highly valued, paid health and care staff.

    Sam Ward OBE, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Royal Voluntary Service, said:

    The NHS Volunteer Responders scheme has been invaluable to the NHS and communities for the past 3 years. We are privileged to be taking the learning from the pandemic and extending the support of the valued volunteers to even more people and communities, working closely with social care providers and NHS England.

    Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:

    We are delighted that this innovative volunteering programme is being expanded and look forward to seeing what positive changes this move can bring for our social care colleagues – it has been a wonderful support for the NHS over the last couple of years.

    There are a wide range of roles available which give amazing support to our patients and existing staff – we are looking for people who can help provide essentials to others who may be vulnerable, or for those who want to take a potential first step into a career in the NHS. If you are interested, we want to hear from you.

    Local authorities have been referring care recipients from the start of the NHS Volunteer Responder Programme and have found the scheme useful. Volunteer Responders will soon be able to provide support to more people in the community when other care providers, including care homes, are able to request volunteers.

    Samantha Aylott, Specialist Advisor for Adult Social Care at Essex County Council, regularly uses the Volunteer Responder programme to organise volunteer Check in and Chat calls for people as part of their social care package.

    Samantha said:

    It’s immensely helpful to be able to offer people emotional wellbeing support and the opportunity to have a friendly phone call as part of their care package. Having someone to chat to can mean a lot to the adults we work with; it’s about knowing someone cares and is interested in them.

    I would recommend the programme to other social care providers, it’s quick and easy to use.

    Maz Chafekar, 51, is from Birmingham and initially signed up as a Check in and Chat volunteer during the first lockdown. Following the relaunch of the service, Maz is once again volunteering, providing friendly phone call support to vulnerable, isolated or lonely people.

    Maz said:

    When I first heard about NHS Volunteer Responders, I believed that the role was just perfect for me. It is such a positive way to engage with people and give back to my community.

    There are so many people on their own, without anyone to turn to, and I want to give them as much support as possible. Many people are vulnerable and lonely and as a responder it’s great to know that I am helping people to overcome the challenges that they are going through. It’s very rewarding.

    A lot of people need support, and a chat can go a long way. For those who are lonely, in some cases without family or friends nearby, having someone to speak to can make such a difference to their happiness.

    I’ve had calls which start teary, but by the end of it they are smiling and feeling a lot better.

    Background

    There are 3 roles now available for volunteers to sign up to:

    • Check In and Chat Plus
    • Community Response
    • Pick Up and Deliver
  • PRESS RELEASE : Dr Catherine McClellan reappointed to Ofqual Board [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dr Catherine McClellan reappointed to Ofqual Board [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 June 2023.

    Dr Catherine McClellan, who joined the Ofqual Board in June 2020, has been reappointed for a further term of office and will now serve until 31 May 2026.

    She is Deputy CEO (Research and Assessment) at the Australian Council for Educational Research, which is a not-for-profit research organisation that aims to create and promote research-based knowledge.

    Catherine is also a member of the Measurement Advisory Group, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Learning Analytics at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

    Sir Ian Bauckham, Ofqual Chair, said: “I am delighted that Catherine will work with us on the Ofqual Board for another 3 years. We will be able to continue to benefit from the expertise and insight that she brings.”

    Appointments to the Ofqual Board are made by the Secretary of State for Education.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Major funding boost to support rollout of quality skills training [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major funding boost to support rollout of quality skills training [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 June 2023.

    £48 million to boost rollout of Higher Technical Qualifications and £140 million for schools and colleges to transform their facilities.

    Students up and down the country are set to benefit from more opportunities to embark on a high-quality alternative to a traditional degree, as part of a major investment in skills so people can access training to secure great jobs and grow the economy.

    The £48 million Skills Injection Fund (SIF) is being launched today to boost the rollout of Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). HTQs are technical courses at levels 4 and 5 which equip students from all backgrounds with the high-quality, higher-level skills needed to secure well-paying jobs, like software developer or construction site supervisor. They also help to meet local labour market needs and boost local economies. The new investment will allow colleges and other providers to deliver more HTQs by funding specialist equipment, facilities, and upskilling staff.

    Meanwhile, more than 40 schools and colleges will receive a share of £140 million to transform their facilities to meet demographic increases in young people aged 16 to 19. This could include building more classroom space or technical teaching facilities, so that more students have access to high quality learning environments and projects that will set them on a path to success.

    Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

    Supporting people from all backgrounds to embark on high-quality technical courses, armed with the skills they need to climb the ladder of opportunity, is crucial to building a world-class skills nation.

    Boosting funding to support the delivery of Higher Technical Qualifications and ensuring that schools and colleges have the space they need to provide all students with top notch training is essential to achieving parity of esteem with traditional degrees and plugging skills gaps in key sectors.

    The rollout of HTQs is a key part of the Government’s post-18 skills reform to grow high-quality Level 4 and 5 qualifications, building towards the Lifelong Loan Entitlement. The previous round of the SIF distributed over £21 million to 85 providers, boosting skills training across the country. This includes Manchester City College which used the funding to build a digital lab contributing to the growing media and TV sector.

    Further Education colleges and other providers have been invited to apply for a share of the Skills Injection Fund, with new courses starting September 2024. This includes courses in Education & Childcare and Engineering & Manufacturing which will help to produce a pipeline of talent that will plug skills gaps in these key sectors.

    Both rounds of funding are part of the Government’s plans to transform technical education and training to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to succeed and provide local employers with access to the skilled workforce they need to grow. This builds on the £165 million Local Skills Improvement Fund announced earlier this month, which will provide tailored funding to plug local skills gaps across the country. These transformative measures will revolutionise skills training to meet local needs and help fulfil the Prime Minister’s priority of boosting the economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Procurement Bill strengthened to protect national security [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Procurement Bill strengthened to protect national security [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 7 June 2023.

    Stepped up measures to protect national security in government contracts are to be brought forward, the government has announced today.

    • New amendments tabled to the Procurement Bill to strengthen national security.
    • Specialist unit to be established to investigate suppliers who may pose risk to national security.
    • Amendment to allow bidders to be banned from sensitive sectors, while able to win contracts in non-sensitive areas.
    • Procurement Bill, which will rip up red-tape and help small businesses, to have its Report Stage next week.

    Stepped up measures to protect national security in government contracts are to be brought forward, the government has announced.

    Yesterday the government tabled amendments to the Procurement Bill, ahead of its Report Stage in Parliament next week to include two new measures:

    • Establishing a National Security Unit for Procurement. The new team, which will be based in the Cabinet Office, will investigate suppliers who may pose a risk to national security, and assess whether companies should be barred from public procurements.
    • New powers to ban suppliers from specific sectors, such as areas related to defence and national security, while allowing them to continue to win procurements in non-sensitive areas.

    In addition, the Government is committing to publish a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment produced by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law from sensitive central government sites.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General Jeremy Quin said:

    Protecting the nation’s security has always been the government’s number one job.

    These new measures will protect our sensitive sectors from companies which could threaten national security and are a firm deterrence to hostile actors who wish to do Britain harm.

    This builds on the robust rules within the Procurement Bill to hold suppliers to account and ensure that the taxpayer is protected.

    The new National Security Unit for Procurement will  draw on a full range of expertise within government and  respond swiftly to emerging threats, such as companies looking to win public contracts in order to gain access to sensitive information or sites which could be used to compromise government and society. The specialist team will work across government, including liaising closely with our intelligence agencies.

    To further strengthen the national security measures, the government is introducing new, context-specific mandatory debarments on national security grounds. This will mean that the government will be able to ban suppliers which pose a risk to national security from specific types of contracts.

    The commitment to publish a timeline for the removal of relevant surveillance equipment from sensitive sites builds on action taken last year to halt the installation of new equipment on the government estate. It will provide the necessary reassurance that departments are removing surveillance equipment from sensitive sites.

    Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart said:

    The Procurement Bill puts the government in a stronger position to get the best deal for taxpayers, while prioritising growth by cutting red tape and removing barriers for small businesses.

    It’s absolutely right we continue to look at ways to strengthen central government rules when it comes to national security and I have no doubt these additional measures will ensure the Bill delivers on its objective to have a robust, modern procurement process which delivers for the British people.

    The Bill, which will have its Report Stage in the House of Commons next week, will make it easier for small businesses (SMEs) to win more of the £300billion of goods, services and works that the government buys each year.

    The Bill introduces new rules to help the government procure in emergency situations, such as during health pandemics, ensuring that contracting authorities can act quickly and transparently to buy vital goods.

    These simpler rules take advantage of freedoms now that Britain has left the EU, as well as strengthening the government’s ability to exclude suppliers who may have previously underperformed on government work. The rules will help exclude suppliers, both in the UK and overseas who are involved in modern slavery – further clamping down on this abhorrent practice.

    The Bill also confirms that value for money remains paramount during contracting, whilst also encouraging buyers to take into account other relevant wider social and environmental considerations the supplier may bring.

    Notes to editors:

    • The new provisions will allow Ministers to consider the risk profile of a particular supplier, supported by the new National Security Unit for Procurement, and act accordingly. Certain types of contracts can be identified on the debarment list that the supplier must not be allowed to bid for. This can be identified by the type of goods, services or works or by reference to certain contracting authorities or locations.
    • The new unit will be proactively monitoring the supplier landscape and will  recommend to Ministers which suppliers should be investigated for debarment; the outcome of that investigation may lead to an entry on the debarment list. The proactive approach will be highly advantageous in minimising the risk posed by some suppliers and will make it easier for contracting authorities to implement national security exclusions.
    • We will also commit to publish a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment produced by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law from sensitive central government sites. By committing to this timeline, we are providing reassurance and urgency around the removal plans.

    The main benefits of the Bill are:

    • Delivering better value for money – Supported by greater transparency and a bespoke approach to procurement, the Bill will provide greater flexibility for buyers to design their procurement processes and create more opportunities to negotiate with suppliers.
    • Slashing red tape and driving innovation – More than 350 complicated and bureaucratic rules govern public spending in the EU. Removing these and creating more sensible rules will not only reduce costs for businesses and the public sector, but also drive innovation by allowing buyers to tailor procurement to their exact needs, building in stages such as demonstrations and testing prototypes.
    • Making it easier to do business with the public sector – The Bill will accelerate spending with small businesses. A new duty will require contracting authorities to consider SMEs and we will ensure 30 day payment terms on a broader range of contracts. The Bill will also create a single digital platform for suppliers to register their details once so that they can be used for multiple bids.
    • Levelling up the UK – While value for money will remain the highest priority in procurement, the Bill will require buyers to take account of national strategic priorities such as job creation, improving supplier resilience, and driving innovation. Buyers will be able to reserve competitions for contracts below certain thresholds for suppliers located in the UK, SMEs and social enterprises.
    • Taking tougher action on underperforming suppliers – The Bill will put in place a new exclusions framework that will make it easier to exclude suppliers who have underperformed on other contracts. It will also create a new ‘debarment register’, accessible to all public sector organisations, which will list suppliers who must or may be excluded from contracts.
    • Creating an open and transparent system – Everyone will have access to public procurement data. Citizens will be able to scrutinise spending decisions. Suppliers will be able to identify new opportunities to bid and collaborate. Buyers will be able to analyse the market and benchmark their performance against others, for example on their spend with SMEs.
    • Effective emergency procurement – The Bill will allow faster competition processes for emergency buying, reducing the reliance on direct awards while retaining (and improving) the ability to act at pace in situations similar to the COVID pandemic
    • Protecting national security – The Bill includes specific rules for defence and security procurements and provides flexibility for contracts to be upgraded to refresh technology to address gaps in capability. The Bill also has provisions to enable a contracting authority to exclude suppliers from procurements if they present a threat to national security. In addition, the debarment list can identify suppliers that must be excluded from certain contracts, as well as identify suppliers that contracting authorities should consider excluding from a procurement.
    • Strengthening exclusion grounds – The Bill toughens the rules to combat modern slavery by allowing suppliers to be excluded where there is evidence of modern slavery, accepting that in some jurisdictions it is unlikely that a supplier would ever face conviction.
  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK Government Launches New Trade Scheme in the Philippines [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK Government Launches New Trade Scheme in the Philippines [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 June 2023.

    The UK’s new Developing Countries Trading Scheme comes into force this June, improving Philippine businesses’ access to the UK market.

    On 7 June 2023, the UK government launched the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) in Manila – a major milestone in opening up new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

    His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils opened the event, with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual joining as the guest of honour. Representatives from the Philippine government, exporters to the UK, and industry associations were also in attendance. The launch was delivered in partnership with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP).

    Speaking at the launch, His Majesty’s Ambassador, Laure Beaufils said:

    I am delighted to announce that the UK’s new unilateral preferences scheme, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), will come into effect on 19 June 2023. The DCTS will cut tariff, remove conditions and simplify trading rules. It will increase trade and strengthen the trade relationship between the UK and the Philippines.  I strongly encourage businesses to take full advantage of this new scheme.

    Trade Preferences Policy Advisor Sabiha Ahmed delivered a keynote highlighting high potential value chains and products that can benefit from the new scheme. This was based on research into UK retailers’ and consumers’ buying considerations, and insights from Filipino producers, financiers, trade programmes and policymakers. The programme also included presentations on customs processes and agricultural standards for Philippine exporters.

    Trade between the Philippines and the UK reached an all-time high of £2.4 billion in 2022. The Philippines exports a range of high value products to the UK including tuna, shirts, and starch, which benefit from significant tariff reductions under the DCTS. . DCTS has the potential to save Philippine businesses over £20 million a year on UK export tariffs.

    Philippine exports to the UK can benefit from an additional 150+ tariff cuts under the DCTS. DCTS Enhanced Preferences offer generous tariff preferences and facilitate access to the UK market for Philippine businesses across a wide range of industries.

    Also present during the launch was Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual. In his opening message, he said:

    The UK-DCTS, as one of the most generous trade preference schemes in the world, enables the Philippines to have continued access to enhanced preferences. We look forward to our country having access to duty-free, quota-free trade on 92 percent of our eligible goods—or 99 percent of our exports to the UK.

    The UK Government is launching the DCTS to replace the Generalised Scheme of Preferences with the aim to grow free and fair trade with selected countries. It offers one of the most generous sets of trading preferences in the world and demonstrates the UK’s commitment to building long term, mutually beneficial relationship with the Philippines.

    The Trade Preferences Policy Advisor also delivered information sessions to DTI, BCCP, and other industry associations. The sessions focused on sharing insights on current trends, UK market purchasing criteria, barriers to trade and what can be done to unlock the Philippines’ trade and investment potential. Attendees also learnt about other key trade-related information including quality certification and customs requirements.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Investing in Women Code closing the finance gap [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Investing in Women Code closing the finance gap [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 7 June 2023.

    The Government has published the third annual Investing in Women Code report.

    • A higher percentage of venture capital deals made by Investing in Women Code (IWC) signatories feature at least one female founder as compared to the wider market, a new report shows.
    • This is the third year in a row that IWC signatories have outperformed the venture capital market.
    • The report also shows that more diverse investment committees are key for bridging the investment gap.
    • With 204 signatories, the IWC now covers a significant proportion of the SME lending market and accounts for 39% of UK venture and growth equity deals, up from 24% in 2020.

    35% of all venture capital deals made by Investing in Women Code signatories were in female-founded companies last year, compared to the market average of 27%, revealed in the latest report published today.

    The Investing in Women Code was founded in 2019 as a landmark government-lead initiative in response to the Rose Review’s findings that a lack of funding continues to be one of the most significant barriers to women seeking to effectively scale a business.

    Over 200 organisations have signed up to the code, showing the growing numbers of lenders and investors committed to increasing the levels of finance directed towards women-led businesses. Today’s report demonstrates that IWC members are leading the way in addressing the finance gap between male and female entrepreneurs. Equal access to finance will boost the potential of female founded businesses and deliver on the Government’s priority to grow the economy.

    Business and Trade Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch said:

    With equal access to funding and support, female entrepreneurs could add £250 billion to the economy.

    It’s excellent that members of the Investing in Women Code are leading the way in addressing the finance gap between male and female entrepreneurs, ensuring that the UK is the best place in the world to start a business, regardless of gender.

    Other key findings from the Investing in Women Code’s third annual report show that:

    • Venture Capital (VC) firms that have signed up to the code represent a larger share of the market than ever before. The proportion of UK VC deals involving a signatory has risen from 24% in 2020 to 39% in 2022.
    • New signatories included British Patient Capital, the UK’s largest domestic investor in venture and venture growth capital, M&G Catalyst, one of the first large asset managers to join the Code; and the University of Exeter, the first higher educational institution to sign up, as the reach of the Code expands into new investor groups.
    • The number of deals made by VCs with all-female teams rose from 6% in 2021 to 9% in 2022 in the broader market, bringing it in line with the levels achieved by VC signatories which remained constant for the last year.
    • Female investors remain underrepresented on investment committees. Signatories report an average of 32% female representation in their investment teams and 24% on their investment committees. The report found a relationship between more diverse investment committees, and successful pitches from all female and mixed gender leadership teams, so this is a crucial area to address.
    • Reflecting the challenging economic backdrop, Angel group signatories recorded a decrease in the level of funding being requested by all-female teams as compared to 2021. This aligned with a fall in the requests made by their all-male counterparts.
    • With the addition of Funding Circle and six others during the year, the 23 lenders now signed up to the Code provide an extensive range of products and services to SMEs across the UK alongside targeted initiatives to support women led businesses.

    The findings demonstrate that there has been important progress, but more work is required to close funding gaps.

    Signatories are implementing a range of measures to improve their support for female entrepreneurs, including connecting them with female-focused networks, recruiting from a more diverse pool of candidates, providing mentoring and training for female founders and implementing diversity metrics and policies to achieve gender equity in the start-up ecosystem.

    Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake MP said:

    It’s fantastic to see that we have over 200 signatories for the Investing in Women Code, and we’ve already seen dividends in the increasing success of female founders in accessing finance.

    Now that we have a community of committed signatories from across industry, we must keep pushing forward to bridge the finance gap for female entrepreneurs by getting more money out of the door.

    Jenny Tooth OBE, Executive Chair of the UK Business Angels Association, said:

    We are delighted to have seen a 25% increase in the number of Angel groups that have now signed up to the Code since the last report. This is a clear indication that the Angel community is actively seeking to better embrace diversity and recognise the investment potential among women founders. However, the data reflects the impact of a challenging economic climate for Angel investment in the latter half of 2022.

    We hope that 2023 will show an improving economic environment for Angel investing, boosted by more certainty over EIS and new enhanced SEIS and with further roll out of the Regional Angel Programme co-investment funds. At UKBAA we will be continuing to recruit more Angel Group signatories to the Code and working together with our community and Rose Review partners to redouble our efforts in taking practical steps for change, directly impacting the level of investment into female founders in the year ahead.

    Catherine Lewis La Torre, Rose Review Board Member and British Patient Capital CEO said:

    The British Business Bank was a founding signatory of the Investing in Women Code and British Patient Capital was one of the first institutional investors to sign up to the Code. We have seen huge progress in the number of venture capital firms becoming signatories since the Code was first launched and collectively we are driving change in investment behaviours which is resulting in better outcomes for diverse entrepreneurs. 39% of venture capital deals in the UK had an IWC signatory as a funder, providing us with good market coverage and valuable data which is already starting to demonstrate that IWC signatories are meeting their commitment to support more female-led businesses, compared with the overall market.

    However, whilst celebrating this milestone, we acknowledge that there is still more work to be done to reduce the significant funding gap for female entrepreneurs. We will continue to work together to unlock potential by ensuring that more of our talented and ambitious female founders and business builders can access the finance they need to thrive.

    Stephen Pegge, Managing Director, Commercial Finance, UK Finance, said:

    The contribution of female entrepreneurs is critical to the UK’s growth objectives and support for women-led businesses with the right mix of finance was rightly identified as a key driver of growth. That’s why I’m pleased to see not only more firms signing up to the Investing in Women Code but also the initiatives they have launched bearing fruit.

    The community of banks and non-bank lenders supporting female entrepreneurs is now beginning to pull together. The figures show there is more to do, especially across the regions and nations of the UK where finance ecosystems are less developed.  UK Finance and our members are keen to play our part through collaboration and practical work across the UK. As a member of the Rose Review board, I’d like to thank my colleagues for their enthusiastic support.

    Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, said:

    This year’s report highlights important progress, with a significant growth in signatories for the Code and a growing proportion of VC deals in the UK involving a signatory. But there is much still to do, and our industry remains committed to addressing the funding gaps between female-led and male-led investing. Our partnership with others in supporting the Code is about delivering meaningful progress and addressing the barriers which stubbornly persist.

    Background:

    • The Third Annual Report can be found online on the British Business Bank’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/investing-in-women-code/annual-report-2023/
    • The Investing in Women Code is an initiative recommended by the government-commissioned Rose Review, led by NatWest CEO Alison Rose, into how best to support female entrepreneurs. The Code is designed to directly address the lack of investment going to female entrepreneurs from all corners of the financial services and investment landscape, from early stage and seed funding, to venture capital investment and bank loans.
    • The Investing in Women Code is a commitment to support the advancement of women entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom by improving their access to the tools, resources and finance they need to achieve their goals.
    • The Code commits signatories to:
      • Adopt best practices to improve female entrepreneurs’ access to finance needed to start and grow successful businesses
      • Nominate a member of the senior leadership team responsible for supporting equality in all interactions with entrepreneurs
      • Provide annual funding data disaggregated by gender to DBT, based on agreed guidelines. Providing data and analysis helps to promote greater transparency across the industry, highlighting where measures are working and where further measures may be needed.
    • A diverse and inclusive business ecosystem is good for customers, entrepreneurs, businesses, investors, and society. DBT together with the Investing in Women Code partners and signatory firms share a commitment to work in partnership to make the United Kingdom one of the most attractive countries in the world to start and grow a business by advancing female entrepreneurship. The Investing in Women Code Partners are the UK Business Angels Association, the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association, UK Finance, and the British Business Bank.
    • New signatories are not required to provide data in their first year.
    • Organisations are eligible to become Code signatories if they provide debt or equity finance to businesses. Examples include banks and non-bank lenders, venture capital funds, private equity firms, Angel syndicates, crowdfunding platforms, and public sector providers.
    • DBT welcomes interest in the Investing in Women Code from all eligible organisations. Further information about the Code and an online sign up from are available on the British Business Bank’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/investing-in-women-code/
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to galvanise support for Ukraine’s recovery at OECD meetings [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to galvanise support for Ukraine’s recovery at OECD meetings [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 June 2023.

    Foreign Secretary chairs the OECD’s Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris to mobilise international support for Ukraine’s recovery and tackle global challenges.

    • The UK will help mobilise international support for Ukraine’s recovery as it chairs the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris for the first time in nearly 50 years.
    • Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will chair the meeting on behalf of the UK, highlighting the need for partnerships, technology and innovation in tackling a range of global challenges, which are also having an impact in the UK.
    • The UK and partners will also discuss the path to opening up membership of the OECD, including to Ukraine and countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

    THE UK will galvanise global support to help Ukraine’s reconstruction, as it chairs the annual Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting in Paris from today (June 7).

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, hosting the annual Ministerial Council Meeting after visiting Ukraine earlier this week, will set out how the UK and its fellow OECD member countries will support its reconstruction, ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London later this month (June 21 and 22).

    The gathering in Paris will also set out how the UK, chairing the meeting for the first time since 1975, and the other 37 member countries of the OECD can collectively tackle global challenges. These include strengthening global economic resilience, tackling energy insecurity and climate change, and addressing the use of new and emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence. The meeting will also discuss the path to Ukraine and more countries in the Indo-Pacific region becoming members of the global economic organisation.

    Mr Cleverly will be joined at the meeting in Paris by Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch; Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Chloe Smith; Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Grant Shapps; and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Victoria Atkins, who will be chairing sessions focused on economic resilience, energy, and international tax. They will discuss issues of direct relevance to the UK, such as the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy, reducing debt, and halving inflation.

    Countries from the G7, G20 and EU are also sending senior ministers.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Every day we witness Ukraine’s suffering and tragic losses as Russia’s cruel and illegal invasion continues. This includes loss of life, loss of homes, loss of livelihoods and a colossal loss of economic opportunities, but never a loss of hope, as I saw for myself when I visited Ukraine this week.

    I welcome the role that Ukraine’s international partners, including the OECD, are playing in helping them rebuild. The people of Ukraine didn’t ask for this war. They have sacrificed a lot for the values we all share. The OECD must support them. Their fight is our fight.

    It is only by working together as an international community of like-minded partners that we can address global challenges and secure a resilient and prosperous future for all.

    UK expertise is set to support the OECD’s Ukraine Country Programme, due to be launched today. UK government experts will support and advise the OECD to establish a programme that has impact and delivers for the people of Ukraine. Funding from the UK’s Good Governance Fund will back the programme for an initial two-year period.

    The fresh support for Ukraine’s recovery announced today follows the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine this week.

    The FCDO is also due to announce at the OECD meeting a £50m portfolio of research projects to be implemented via the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) programme, launched at COP26, which is co-funded by the UK and Canada to support science and innovation for climate resilience in lower income countries.

    In addition, the FCDO will propose a strategic framework to strengthen the OECD’s future engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. This follows the publication of the Integrated Review Refresh in March 2023, which set out how the UK will prioritise the Indo-Pacific in the long-term, making the region a permanent pillar of the UK’s international policy.

    OECD members will also discuss the issue of energy security, with Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine having triggered a spike in global energy prices, impacting households around the world, including in the UK where the government has taken unprecedented action by covering around half of the typical household’s bill.

    Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    Putin’s weaponisation of energy served as a global wake-up call that we must secure our energy supply and independence.

    The UK is leading the world in the pursuit of cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy such as nuclear, solar and wind power, which will ensure we can never again be held ransom through a dependency on fossil fuels.

    We are committed to freezing Putin out of global energy markets and working with our international partners and allies, including the OECD, will deliver energy security for generations to come.

    The Business and Trade Secretary will chair a session of OECD Ministers on economic resilience where they will discuss how together we can build trade, investment and diversify supply chains in response to the challenges our economies are facing. They will agree the launch of key trade and investment-related deliverables, including the updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and the launch of the OECD Trade Strategy.

    Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch said:

    Stronger supply chains and fairer trading systems are vital for our economic security so that British companies can ensure access to the materials they need to manufacture the vital goods we all depend on.

    Defending free trade is one of my top priorities, and the UK will use this summit to work with our closest international partners to tackle shared global challenges and grow our economy.

    Recognising the importance of corporate tax revenues to developing countries, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will chair a session on tax for development, in which developing countries will discuss how the OECD can accelerate efforts to help them tackle tax avoidance and support sustainable development.

    Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

    As countries continue to face global headwinds and new challenges, the OECD has never played a more vital role in helping us tackle these together.

    From delivering our historic global tax deal and helping developing nations implement it, to driving through new global standards for crypto-regulation, I am proud the UK continues to play a leading role in the new economic world.

    On Tuesday (June 6), Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Chloe Smith also chaired discussions at the first ever Global Forum on Technology, where participants from over 50 countries and stakeholders from industry and civil society discussed the opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies, including immersive technology and the metaverse, engineering biology and the role of Artificial Intelligence.

    Notes to editors:

    The UK government is due to announce the following at the OECD summit:

    • The Ukraine Country Programme is an OECD programme focused on supporting the country’s reconstruction and working towards Ukraine becoming an OECD member.
    • The UK will be announcing a £50m portfolio of research projects implemented via the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) programme, co-funded by UK and Canada, to support climate resilience in lower income countries.
    • The Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework sends a signal of OECD intent for a deeper level of future engagement with the countries of the region including the prospect of welcoming Indo-Pacific countries as potential members. It will be followed up by an implementation plan.
    • The Ukraine Recovery Conference will take place in London on June 21 and 22.