Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits Chile [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2023.

The Foreign Secretary visits Chile as the UK and Chile celebrate 200 years of bilateral consular relations.

During his time in Santiago, the Foreign Secretary will chair the UK-Chile High-Level Political Dialogue alongside Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren. As Chile commemorates 50 years since the military coup of 1973, the Foreign Secretary will visit Santiago’s Museum of Memory and Human Rights alongside Foreign Minister Van Klaveren, reaffirming the UK and Chile’s shared values and commitment to democracy and human rights. 200 years since the appointment of Great Britain’s first Consul General, the Foreign Secretary will launch a campaign celebrating the bicentennial of bilateral consular relations. The Foreign Secretary will also deliver a speech to young Chilean changemakers, meet Chile’s next generation of female leaders and visit Latin America’s first green hydrogen plant and fuel station.

The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, will visit Chile on 22 May as part of a regional tour of Latin America and the Caribbean underscoring the UK’s partnership with the region. At the UK-Chile High-Level Political Dialogue, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Van Klaveren will set the direction for the UK and Chile’s diplomatic, economic, trade and defence links. The ministers will review the UK and Chile’s bilateral trade relationship after Chile’s accession to CPTPP and the UK’s conclusion of negotiations to join the agreement; the UK and Chile’s partnership on climate and sustainability, including the green energy transition; and co-operation on multilateral issues as two likeminded partners committed to working together to solve global challenges.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

This is a milestone year in the history of UK relations with countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, including in Chile.

While I look forward to celebrating our longstanding and historic relationship, I am also in Chile to renew and enhance our ties for the years ahead.

It is a partnership that will be marked and strengthened by our shared values of freedom, democracy and concern for the state of our planet.

The Foreign Secretary will also address an audience of young Chilean changemakers at the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Centre, where he will give a speech on the UK’s relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean, the values shared by the UK and the region, and how to work together to tackle the critical global issues of the 21st century. The Foreign Secretary will also visit Anglo American’s green hydrogen plant to witness how renewable energy technologies pioneered by British business are leading the way on the green energy transition and a more sustainable approach to mining. During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will also announce a post-graduate scholarship programme focusing on lithium technologies and environmental governance.

At an event marking the 200-year anniversary of the UK and Chile’s bilateral consular relations, the Foreign Secretary will celebrate the UK and Chile’s historic and thriving people-to-people links. The Foreign Secretary will join representatives from business, government, academia, the arts, civil society and sport to celebrate this historic moment with people who are at the heart of the UK-Chile relationship, working together on issues that are important to both the UK and Chile.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New £1 billion strategy for UK’s semiconductor sector [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 May 2023.

A new 20-year plan to secure the world-leading strengths of the UK’s semiconductor industry has today (Friday 19 May) been unveiled by the government.
- National Semiconductor Strategy reveals plan to double down on design, research and advanced chip leadership – securing the UK’s position as a global science and technology superpower
- chip plan sets out how UK will build on industry strengths, safeguard supply chains from disruption and protect tech against national security risks – supporting the delivery of the government’s priority to grow our economy
- government will invest up to £1 billion in the next decade to improve access to infrastructure, power more research and development and facilitate greater international cooperation, with up to £200 million over the years 2023-2025
- follows UK and Japan commitment to establish ambitious collaboration in the semiconductor sector, covering R&D cooperation, skills exchanges, and improving the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain
The National Semiconductor Strategy sets out how up to £1 billion of government investment will boost the UK’s strengths and skills in design, R&D and compound semiconductors, while helping to grow domestic chip firms across the UK.

Working in tandem with industry, investment made by the government will drive research, innovation and commercialisation through the sector – helping to deliver products from lab to market.

It comes as the Prime Minister is at the G7 leaders’ Summit in Japan for discussions on strengthening our tech collaboration with like-minded economies and strengthening supply chains for critical technology like semiconductors.

Semiconductors are vitally important for the modern world we live in, being an essential component for the functioning of almost every electronic device we use. From phones and computers to ventilators and power stations, nearly every piece of technology in the world depends on them.

Over a trillion semiconductors are manufactured each year, with the global semiconductor market forecast to reach a total market size of $1 trillion by 2030. Semiconductors also underpin future technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum and 6G.

The strategy focuses on the UK’s particular areas of strategic advantage in the semiconductors sector – semiconductor design, cutting-edge compound semiconductors, and our world-leading R&D ecosystem – supported by UK universities from Cambridge to Cardiff and Manchester to Edinburgh demonstrating global leadership in this space.

Compound semiconductors do things silicon chips can’t, with use cases in evolving technologies such as autonomous driving and future telecoms. Their creation requires expertise in advanced materials, an area of UK science leadership.

To support the growth of the sector in the UK, the government will invest up to £200 million over the years 2023-2025 to improve industry access to infrastructure, power more research and development and facilitate greater international cooperation.

Taking a strategic approach to investment over the next decade, the government will invest up to £1 billion in a range of measures to secure the UK’s advantage in this globally important sector and meet 3 key objectives:
- growing the domestic sector
- mitigating the risk of supply chain disruptions
- protecting our national security
The strategy builds on the consistent support the government has provided for the semiconductor industry, having provided £539 million in grants for research and £214 million directly to SMEs in the sector across the last 10 years, as well as funding 450 PhD students since 2017.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Semiconductors underpin the devices we use every day and will be crucial to advancing the technologies of tomorrow.

Our new strategy focuses our efforts on where our strengths lie, in areas like research and design, so we can build our competitive edge on the global stage.

By increasing the capabilities and resilience of our world-leading semiconductor industry, we will grow our economy, create new jobs and stay at the forefront of new technological breakthroughs.

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said:

Semiconductors are the beating heart of all electronic devices, from powering our phones and cars to medical equipment and innovative new technologies like quantum and AI which will make a real difference to all of our lives.

Britain is already a world leader when it comes to researching and designing semiconductor technology – our new strategy will double down on these core strengths to create more skilled jobs, grow our economy, boost our national security and cement the UK’s status as a global science and technology superpower.

The UK’s Integrated Review placed securing strategic advantage in science and technology at the heart of the UK’s national security and foreign policy. In recognition of the fundamental importance of semiconductor technologies in these areas, the National Semiconductor Strategy demonstrates a clear vision for our position in the sector.

As part of the strategy, the UK will increase its cooperation with close partners, working together to manage national security threats and driving growth in the sector, while championing international cooperation to help develop a coordinated approach to supply chain resilience.

In Hiroshima this week, the UK and Japan committed to establishing an ambitious semiconductor partnership, led by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). It seeks to deliver new R&D cooperation, skills exchanges, and improving the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain for both countries.

UK Research and Innovation will work with the Japan Science and Technology Agency on a joint investment of up to £2 million in early stage semiconductor research next year. This will support UK and Japanese researchers to work together on fundamental semiconductor technologies.

The strategy has been developed in close consultation with the semiconductor industry and academia, and the government will build on this partnership by creating a new UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel. The Panel will bring together key figures from industry, government, and academia to work closely on shared solutions and implementation.

Growing the UK industry

The government will focus on growing the UK’s unique and already world-leading strengths in compound semiconductors, research and development, intellectual property and design by investing up to £200 million over the years 2023-2025, and up to £1 billion in the next decade. This funding will be used to improve the talent pipeline and will make it easier for British firms to access things like prototyping, tools and business support.

These efforts will include investment in a new National Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative to unlock the potential of British chip firms in these key areas. It will look at whether better access to prototyping facilities for chip firms is needed to tackle barriers to innovation and grow the industry. It will also explore opportunities to make specialist software tools more available for start-ups. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology commissioned research that will look at the best way to establish the Infrastructure initiative. This will report its findings in the autumn.

Furthermore, the government will announce plans by the autumn on support for investment in the semiconductor manufacturing sector, particularly where they are critical to the UK tech ecosystem or the UK’s national security.

Further announcements include:
- a new UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel that brings together key figures from industry, government, and academia to work together to deliver the strategy. The Advisory Panel will speak on behalf of the sector and provide advice and feedback
- a specialist incubator pilot will focus on removing obstacles which hold semiconductor startups back from growth. The scheme, launching today, will provide industry with better access to technical resources as well as coaching and networking
- support for industry-led learning will ensure people can gain the skills the semiconductor industry needs. Programmes will provide opportunities for learning focused on the advanced skills needed for the sector, such as electrical and electronic engineering and computer science
Safeguarding supply chains

The journey of a semiconductor chip from lab to market can involve thousands of production stages taking place across the world, with various locations that have particularly concentrated production capabilities.

The surge in demand for consumer electronics during the pandemic demonstrated how global industries can be impacted by semiconductor supply issues. This strategy highlights the importance of collaboration with international allies to develop secure supply chain resilience.

The government will take steps to help sectors mitigate the impact of supply shortages in the future. The UK government also wants to protect critical sectors (essential services, healthcare, critical national infrastructure and defence) from disruptions that could cause risks to life, or national security. To help ensure the UK is better protected against future disruption the government commits to:
- new guidance to be published to help businesses better understand risks and steps they can take to be more resilient against supply chain shocks
- continued collaboration through international initiatives – like the UK’s technology partnerships with the US, Japan, and the Republic of Korea – to explore shared approaches and solutions to improve global supply chain resilience
Protect UK against security risks

Semiconductors can create vulnerabilities in the electronic devices they are used in, and these risks are becoming more significant as the use of internet connected devices increases. The government is clear that a compromise to the cyber security of the hardware behind every device powering modern life is not acceptable. The acquisition of chip firms can also present national security issues. The strategy announces actions to protect the UK against these security risks including:
- additional information on the government’s approach to using the National Security and Investment Act, providing information to the industry on what areas of the sector the government has seen particular concerns potentially arising to ensure technology remains securely protected
- the government will continue to support world-leading programmes like Digital Security by Design, which aims to ensure semiconductors can be more resilient and secure in the face of growing cyber threats
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Increased sentences for Kaylea Titford’s parents [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 19 May 2023.

The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died after she was neglected have been ordered to serve longer in prison following a review of their sentences.

Alun Titford, 44, and Sarah Lloyd Jones, 39, the parents of Kaylea Titford, were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter following the teenager’s death at her home in Newton, Powys in October 2020.

Kaylea was wheelchair dependant, with acute medical needs including assistance to use the toilet.

The court heard that the teenager had not seen a medical professional in the nine months leading up to her death. She had become morbidly obese with a weight of 146kg and was immobile.

Her bedroom was unfit for living in, surrounded by bottles of urine and faeces. Maggots were found on her body and her bedlinen was soiled.

Her parents, who were found to have failed to provide adequate care, will now serve longer prison terms after their case was reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

Alun Titford was originally sentenced to seven years and six months’ imprisonment and Sarah Lloyd-Jones was sentenced to six years. Both were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on 1 March 2023.

Following the review, Alun Titford will now serve ten years’ imprisonment and Sarah Lloyd-Jones will serve eight years.

Following the hearing on 19 May at the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

This was a deeply distressing and upsetting case, and my thoughts today are with all of those who loved Kaylea.

Kaylea was subjected to horrific neglect by her parents and the court’s decision to extend Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd Jones’ sentences sends a clear message that child abuse will never be tolerated.

Following multiple referrals of the sentence to the Attorney General’s Office as potentially unduly lenient, the Solicitor General agreed it should be referred to the Court of Appeal.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Holocaust Memorial passes important milestone [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 May 2023.

Parliamentary examiners announce decision on Holocaust Memorial Bill.

Construction of the UK’s National Memorial to the Holocaust moved a step closer yesterday (18 May 2023) as the Holocaust Memorial Bill passed an important milestone in Parliament.

A detailed scrutiny process by parliamentary examiners lasting almost 3 months has confirmed that the Bill should be treated as ‘hybrid’, allowing those who believe they will be affected by the provisions of the Bill the opportunity to put their views to parliament as the Bill is considered. The decision of the parliamentary examiners resolves uncertainty and brings closer the opportunity for MPs from all sides of the House to express their support for the Memorial.

The Holocaust Memorial Bill seeks to update Victorian legislation and progress the building of a new Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster.

Located next to the Houses of Parliament, the Memorial will serve as a powerful reminder to the whole of society of the Holocaust, its victims and where prejudice can lead if unchallenged.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:

The Holocaust is history’s most appalling example of cruelty, injustice and intolerance: the systematic attempt by a modern state to eliminate the whole Jewish people. It is profoundly important that we remember the facts of the Holocaust and all its victims and that we seek to understand the lessons it teaches Britain today.

We are privileged in this country to have among us many survivors of the Holocaust who have been willing to share their testimony. Sadly, this living testimony will not be with us forever. It is essential that we create this Memorial, at the very heart of our national life, to preserve the memory of what happened for ourselves and for all future generations.

The government is absolutely determined to complete the Holocaust Memorial. I am pleased that the examiners have now reached their view on classification of the Bill so that it can now proceed through parliament. I know that a great many MPs from all sides of the House are very eager to express their support and to get the Memorial built.

Welcoming the progress of the Bill, UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation Advisory Board, Co-Chairs, the Rt Hon Lord Pickles and Ed Balls said:

Today’s decision by the examiners marks a vital step forward in delivering on our promise to build the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next to the Houses of Parliament in Victoria Tower Gardens. We are hugely heartened by the government’s determination to legislate, with cross-party support, to make this possible.

With the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, we are convinced that there is no better place to demonstrate our commitment to remembering and learning from the Holocaust than at the heart of our democracy. We look forward to the Bill receiving Royal Assent so that we can then get on and build.

Holocaust survivor, Manfred Goldberg BEM said:

I was 84 when Prime Minister David Cameron first promised us survivors a national Holocaust Memorial in close proximity to the Houses of Parliament. Last month I celebrated my 93rd birthday and I pray to be able to attend the opening of this important project.

Chief Executive of the Holocaust Education Trust, Karen Pollock CBE said:

Following today’s announcement, we hope that this important Bill will pass through Parliament in time for the Memorial to be completed in time for survivors to see.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Department announces new Non-Executive Directors [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 May 2023.

The Business and Trade Secretary has appointed five Non-Executive Members to the Department’s Board.

Today (Friday 19 May) the Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has announced the appointment of five non-executive members of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Board.

The new board members are:
- Stephen Hill OBE as Lead Non-Executive Director
- Karina McTeague as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC)
- Robert Leeming as Non-Executive Director
- Lord Syed Kamall as Non-Executive Director
- Peter Fleet as Non-Executive Director
The board will also include Sir Stephen O’Brien and Noel Harwerth, who previously sat on the former Department for International Trade Board.

The new members have been appointed for at least 3 years and will provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the department’s work, to help deliver the Government’s ambitious business and trade agenda.

The Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch said:

The Department’s new non-executive directors bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise and will help us to grow the UK economy, support UK businesses and create jobs and opportunities across the country.

Background
- Non-Executives are experts from outside government who provide oversight and challenge to the department in the development of policy and the management of resources.
Biographies
- Stephen Hill was previously a Non-Executive Director of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). As part of his role, Stephen Hill will also chair the Nominations and Governance Committee. Stephen has extensive board level experience. He was awarded an OBE in 2017 for his work in philanthropy, particularly for those with hearing impairments.
- Karina McTeague previously served as a Member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee at the Home Office. Ms McTeague has a background in law and in the financial sector. She was previously Chief Risk Officer at Visa Europe. She also worked as a Director of Supervision for the Retail Banking and Payments sectors and Director of General Insurance and Conduct Specialists at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Robert Leeming has been a partner at the private equity firm, Charterhouse Capital Partners, since 2007. He was previously a partner at EPIC Private Equity and an associate at PwC. He is also Chairman of the Autism Research Trust.
- Lord Syed Kamall is a Professor of Politics and International Relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and a member of the House of Lords Communications Digital Committee. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and also the Department of Health and Social Care. He was made a life peer on 11 February 2021.
- Peter Fleet is a former Group Vice President at Ford Motor Company. He was most recently President of Ford Asia Pacific and Chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China. He now has a portfolio of non-executive roles.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government backs scheme to make pubs ‘dementia friendly’ [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 19 May 2023.

University of Stirling researchers – part-funded by £7.25m UK Government investment – pioneer programme to make pubs, cafes and restaurants more inclusive.
- Scheme will see more venues introduce simple menus and have ‘quiet table’ provision
- Training for staff to ensure increased inclusion for people with dementia and their families
- UK Government supports associated improvements for ageing population with £7.25m funding
A drive to make pubs, restaurants and cafés across the UK more dementia-friendly has been launched by Scottish experts researching the impact of ageing.

The University of Stirling’s internationally-renowned Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) has developed a certification scheme that will encourage pub and restaurant owners to make adaptations for people with age-related degenerative conditions.

The voluntary scheme will make the spaces more accessible to people with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s so that they can enjoy going out with their families and carers.

The aim is to create a Google map to chart all dementia-friendly facilities across the UK. Establishments would bear a badge to show they’ve considered things like a clear line of sight to the bar, clearly signposted toilets, some private and quieter tables, easy-to-read menus and staff with an understanding of the condition to give customers the support they require.

The University is keen to break down social barriers associated with dementia. Their scheme sits in tandem with the new Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub, part-funded by £7.25 million from the UK Government through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, to pioneer technologies for an ageing society.

Lesley Palmer, the University of Stirling’s Acting Director of DSDC, said:

We have long accepted that there should be no barriers for people with wheelchairs. Similarly, there should be no barriers for people with dementia – they should be able to go out for a drink or a meal without stigma and feel comfortable.

The scheme is entirely voluntary for owners, and by making relatively small and inexpensive adaptations, pubs and restaurants can become accredited.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Interim appointment of a policing member to the Sentencing Council [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 19 May 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the interim appointment of Chief Constable Rob Nixon as a policing member of the Sentencing Council (SC) from 5 May 2023 to 30 November 2023, pending the outcome of a recruitment campaign for the role.

The SC was established under Section 118(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The SC’s responsibilities include developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use, assessing the impact of guidelines on sentencing practice, and promoting the understanding of and increasing public confidence in sentencing and the criminal justice system.

The appointment of non judicial Sentencing Council members are made by the Lord Chancellor after consulting the Lord Chief Justice.

All appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who was consulted about the interim appointment, and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biography

Rob Nixon was appointed as Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary in November 2022.

Rob has served with Leicestershire Police since 1993. He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable, in April 2017, with responsibility for local policing, crime and intelligence and public protection, before being promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in February 2018.

Between 2015 and 2018, as temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Rob worked on collaborative projects across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

Rob was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in December 2020.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Mortgage rate cut for energy efficient homes under government-backed trials [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 19 May 2023.

£4.1 million awarded to green finance projects to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient.
- 26 innovative green finance projects awarded funding to make it easier to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes by unlocking upfront cash
- products receiving a share of £4.1 million include mortgages that reward energy efficiency upgrades and loans linked to installing heat pumps
- retrofitted properties could potentially save more than £460 a year on bills
Homeowners who make their properties more energy efficient could see their mortgage rate cut under a new government-backed pilot.

Perenna Bank will receive more than £193,000 in government funding to help develop their long-term, fixed-rate mortgage that will incentivise customers to make their homes more energy efficient by offering to reduce their mortgage rate.

Another trial will see buy-to-let landlords add the cost of making properties more energy efficient onto their mortgage – enabling them to borrow the money for the improvements and include it in their monthly repayments.

Ashman Bank Limited will be awarded £200,000 to design and develop this, which will assess a property’s energy efficiency, provide options on how it can be improved and incorporate the cost of carrying out the work on to the duration of the mortgage.

The projects are among 26 green finance products being developed and tested, backed by £4.1 million of government funding.

They are aimed at encouraging and helping homeowners make their properties more energy efficient, with measures such as loft insulation and double glazing. This in turn will help them save more than £460 a year on their energy bills – one of many ways the government is helping ease the cost of living for families across the country.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

The government has put in place long-term commitments to ensure homes across the country have greater energy efficiency to reduce bills, drive down energy use and lower emissions.

We are supporting these organisations to develop fresh and innovative ways of helping more people get better access to energy efficiency measures, such as loft insulation, double glazing and heat pumps.

Other projects successful in bidding for funding include Aviva Equity Release UK Limited, who will receive £87,612 to design a service that allows homeowners to access equity in their property through a specialist lifetime mortgage, freeing up cash to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Clydesdale Bank PLC, trading as Virgin Money, will receive £171,000 for a product that will offer bespoke energy efficiency products for customers’ properties, after carrying out a survey to outline the improvements needed.

Scott Brown, Head of Equity Release Pricing at Aviva, another winning project, said:

Aviva is delighted to have secured funding from the government to explore building a green mortgage solution for later life lending.

Aviva and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will co-fund our customer research to explore the development, which will aim to enable later life households to make home energy efficiency improvements, making their homes more comfortable to live in, reducing energy bills and helping drive a reduction in the carbon footprint of the UK’s housing stock.

Given the value in the research being produced, Aviva commit to sharing the output when finalised with the wider industry to support industry level change.

Craig Calder, head of secured lending at Virgin Money, one of the winning projects, said:

To be part of the innovative Green Home Finance Accelerator project is important for Virgin Money as we look to reinforce our aspiration to halve our financed emissions by 2030 and deliver net zero by 2050.

Working with industry experts Sero and Rightmove is an opportunity to research, test and learn what consumers want before we take a proposition to market – enabling us to provide a great product for customers while at the same time making a positive impact on the environment.

Following a 6-month Discovery Phase period, all 26 Green Home Finance Accelerator projects will be able to apply for larger grant awards, between £200,000 and £2 million to enable them to pilot their green finance products and services.

Investments announced today form part of the £20 million Green Home Finance Accelerator, which is funded through the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. Funding will help drive wider government efforts to ensure as many homes as possible reach an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2035, with higher ratings likely to result in lower fuel bills.

Based on a standard occupancy and heating regime, owner-occupiers improving their homes to EPC C could save over £460 a year on their energy bills.

Winners of the awards
- Aceleron Limited will receive £199,697 to trial an Energy Storage as a Service subscription model for the provision and maintenance of lithium-ion batteries.
- Arctica Partners Limited will receive £169,210 to investigate a carbon credits financial product which will support home retrofit.
- Arniston Ltd (trading as Snugg) will receive £170,870 to develop a prototype version of the Green Home Hub to guide customers on the journey from initial enquiry, to developing a retrofit plan, funding the work, engaging with installers and monitoring the results.
- Ashman Bank Limited will receive £200,000 to design and develop a new variant of buy-to-let to be known as Impact Buy to Let (IBTL), which will be underpinned by an assessment of the retrofit works needed to enhance the energy efficiency of a property.
- Aviva Equity Release UK Limited will receive £87,612 to design an equity release proposition, targeted as a cost-effective way of funding home improvements to improve the energy efficiency and the EPC rating of customers’ homes.
- Bankers without Boundaries will receive £99,241 to explore the design of a service which will display homes on a geographic heatmap, highlighting where energy saving returns from retrofits are economically sufficient to support individual consumer investment or how whole areas could be aggregated for a blended return.
- Chameleon Technology (UK) Limited will receive £155,692 to develop a complete solution which enables homeowners to accurately assess their home energy efficiency and offers a tailored loan product to meet their retrofit needs.
- City Science Corporation Limited will receive £199,916 to explore ways to provide buy-to-let landlords with a comprehensive solution for upgrading their properties. They have also secured £199,330 to provide, through research and analysis, a clear understanding of the legal and commercial challenges facing the Heat as a Service (HaaS) industry and offer practical solutions to enable the delivery of HaaS in the UK.
- Clydesdale Bank PLC (trading as Virgin Money) will receive £171,000 to remove the upfront cost barrier to installing retrofit measures facing the ‘able to pay’ market, as well as providing robust technical guidance on appropriate energy efficiency improvement measures to consumers.
- Cybermoor Services Ltd will receive £56,344 to develop an integrated solution targeting the barriers impacting the uptake of low-carbon heating within the harder-to-reach rural domestic market.
- E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd will receive £196,921 to develop and pilot innovative green finance products that enable home energy efficiency, low-carbon heating and potentially micro-generation improvements.
- ELPS Energy Ltd will receive £199,597 to develop an integrated one-stop-shop solution for residential retrofit financing.
- Energy Saving Trust Enterprises Limited will receive £193,674 to explore a Pathways to Green Finance service aimed at the private rented sector (PRS) looking to retrofit homes.
- Escrow-Tech Limited will receive £159,040 to create an innovative approach to green home financing as it utilises the potential (or projected) offset carbon from retrofitting activities in adjusting loan rate settings for homeowners thus reducing the cost of home retrofitting.
- Heat Scheme Limited will receive £116,238 to develop a UK-wide green home finance loan product, for use in bridging the gap between the upfront cost of a gas boiler replacement and the net cost of a heat pump installation after applying a £5,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
- Kamma Limited will receive £200,000 to drive energy efficiency retrofit upgrades in UK properties by developing an online, end-to-end retrofit marketplace connecting homeowners, green finance providers and retrofit installers.
- Landslide Energy Ltd will receive £126,110 to shorten retrofit payback periods for homeowners who are looking to remortgage and living in properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower.
- Leeds City Council will receive £194,780 to develop a one-stop-shop (OSS) delivery vehicle to create and test green finance retrofit offers.
- Parity Projects Limited will receive £165,589 to investigate the potential for a sustainable retrofit one-stop-shop that meets homeowner needs and overcomes barriers in the current retrofit journey.
- People Powered Retrofit Limited will receive £120,911 to develop a mutual, local and trusted one-stop-shop approach to retrofit, combining quality assurance, financing and verification, and setting out replication plans to take advantage of the extensive network of UK Credit Unions.
- Perenna Bank PLC will receive £193,350 to bring to market a long-term, fixed-rate green mortgage that incentivises homeowners to retrofit by offering to reduce their mortgage rate.
- Phoenix Group Management Services Limited will receive £102,249 to explore a solution to enable older, less-affluent, homeowners make decarbonising home improvements through using lifetime mortgages.
- Scroll Finance Limited will receive £136,572 to develop a point-of-sale financing technology solution to be deployed for retrofit decarbonisation projects. They have also been awarded £158,608 to scope, design and test an end-to-end retrofit journey embedded with an innovative and flexible financial product in three pilot areas.
- Sunsave Group Ltd will receive £196,395 to research the roadblocks that remain for subscription solar PV and to develop a proposition that can be brought to market and rapidly scaled.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2023.

UK government sanctions 86 individuals and entities, targeting Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources.
- UK sanctions 86 individuals and entities – freezing the assets of those involved with key revenue streams
- package includes companies connected to theft of Ukrainian grain, and those involved in shipment of Russian energy
- companies connected to Rosatom’s support of Putin’s military efforts also sanctioned
- Foreign Secretary confirms that Russia’s sovereign assets will remain immobilised until Russia agrees to pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine
The UK has today (Friday 19 May) announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia, targeting businesses and individuals connected to Russia’s capacity to fund and wage the war.

The 86 designations target individuals and organisations connected to Russia’s energy, metals, defence, transport, and financial sectors – ramping up pressure on Putin’s remaining revenue and attempts to use these sectors to support the military machine.

The designations come after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced new import bans on Russian diamonds and metals at the G7 in Japan earlier today.

This includes a crackdown on the shady individuals and entities connected to the theft and resale of Ukrainian grain, as well as targeting Russia’s major energy and arms shipping companies.

Companies connected to Rosatom, which are producing advanced materials and technology, including lasers, have also been sanctioned.

The Foreign Secretary has also announced, consistent with our laws, that Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilised until Russia agrees to pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

These new sanctions come as the Prime Minister meets his counterparts at the G7 Summit in Japan and holds talks on long-term support for Ukraine’s defence and joint action on Russia’s malign activity.

Through a combination of these designations and new import bans on Russian diamonds and metals, the UK is working with international partners to further constrain Russia’s capacity to wage its illegal war, increasing economic pressure, and tackling all emerging forms of circumvention until Ukraine prevails.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Putin and his supporters must – and will – pay the price for their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

That’s why through today’s new sanctions we are increasing the economic pressure on Putin – making it harder for him to wage his illegal war and inflict untold suffering on innocent Ukrainians.

We will continue to increase this pressure and crack down on all emerging forms of circumvention until Ukraine prevails and peace is secured.

Our support for Ukraine is, and will remain, resolute for as long as it takes.

Energy

The UK is taking new action against Russia’s energy sector – building on the import bans of Russian coal, oil, and LNG – by introducing designations of 9 organisations connected to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Rosatom, which has been connected to Putin’s war effort.

This includes UMATEX, which produces composite materials based on carbon fibre for Rosatom that could be used for military purposes, and TRINITI whose research and development into laser physics is directly funded by the Russian Federation’s State Defence Order. TRINITI’s lasers have been installed on tank chassis with the aim of dazzling the optics of aircraft and disrupting precision weapons.

Oleg Romanenko, a lead official at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant who has been colluding with the Russian government, the Operating Organisation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, 13 members of the Gazprom-Neft board of directors, and 5 members of the Transneft board of directors have also been designated.

Metals

Igor Altushkin, the billionaire oligarch who owns the Russian Copper Company, has been sanctioned. As the third largest producer of copper in Russia, Altushkin and his business have continued to play a key role in a sector of strategic significance for Putin’s military machine.

Eight other companies connected to metals production in Russia have also been sanctioned, and the UK has announced that we will also ban imports of Russian metals including aluminium, nickel, and copper.

Together, these actions increase pressure on Russia’s metal industry, which remains an important revenue stream funding the Kremlin’s war machine, and they have wider impact on the operation of other sectors such as transport and energy.

Transport

Twenty four individuals and entities connected to Russia’s transport services have also been sanctioned.

This includes Pawell Shipping Co LLP, the State Grain Corporation (GZO) and their director Nikita Busel who are connected to the systematic theft of Ukrainian grain. This grain, and other agricultural goods, has been reportedly stolen from warehouses and fields in the temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine and shipped out from Zaporizhzhia – badged as Russian goods.

Six major Russian shipping companies which have enabled and supported Putin’s wartime economy have also been sanctioned. This includes Sun Ship Management, an entity connected to Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, supporting Russia to circumvent or undermine the effects of Western sanctions.

Military

Twenty defence executives and companies have been sanctioned as part of today’s tranche – further targeting the individuals and organisations that are supporting Russia’s continued military activity in Russia by equipping both the Russian armed forces and Wagner group. Amongst those sanctioned are:
- Alan Valerievich Lushinkov and Vladimir Nikolaevich Lepin, who are both Directors of JSC Concern Kalashnikov, who produce 95% of all firearms in Russia
- JSC BMZ which has produced anti-personnel and anti-tank mines used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine
- JSC Motovilikhinskiye, a minority subsidiary of Russian defence conglomerate Rostec which manufactures howitzers used by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
Banks

Five financial institutions have also been sanctioned as part of today’s package of designations – further isolating Russia from the global financial system and undermining Putin’s military capability. This includes JSC Dom RF, which acts under the instruction of the Russian government, and Metallurgical Investment Bank, which is supporting Russia’s industrial exports.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment announced [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 May 2023.

More than six million disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from 20 June.
- Vast majority of £150 payments set to be made automatically over two-week period between 20 June and 4 July 2023
- More than six million disabled people will receive payment and benefit from extra cost of living support
- Comes as part of wider package of Government support, including separate means-tested Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900, and £300 Pensioner Payments
This follows the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment that was paid last September, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in society while delivering on its commitment to halve inflation this year and grow the economy.

Those being paid a disability benefit that qualifies them for the payment will receive it automatically during a two-week window starting on 20 June and finishing on 4 July.

At a time when costs are rising for everyone, this payment recognises the extra costs disabled people in particular often face, such as care and mobility needs.

A small proportion of payments will be made after this date, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to disability benefits on 1 April.

There will also be further payments of £300 for pensioners due later this year, meaning some of the most vulnerable households can receive up to £1,350 in direct Cost of Living Payments.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said:

This payment helps protect those who need our support the most, providing a vital financial boost to six million disabled people.

Our multi-billion-pound package of support reinforces our commitment to help UK households with the rising cost of living. It comes on top of record increases to benefits and the national living wage.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

We know the cost of living has gone up for disabled people, which is why we are taking action to reduce the financial pressures they face.

This £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment is on top of up to £900 that most low-income benefit claimants will also receive, helping ensure the most vulnerable in our society are protected from rising costs during this challenging period.

The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the upcoming Disability Cost of Living payment are those who receive:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
May 30, 2023