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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : New transport hub in Porth gets £3.5 million boost [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New transport hub in Porth gets £3.5 million boost [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

    The Levelling Up Fund has awarded £3.5 million to support a new transport hub in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The new hub will be an integrated bus and rail interchange, located in the railway station.

    What the new transport hub brings to Porth

    It will improve:

    • links between bus and rail services
    • the experience for travellers
    • journey times

    The new hub is designed to provide seamless travel between bus and rail.

    Features will include:

    • a new and improved public realm Station Quarter
    • upgrades to the local active travel network
    • electric vehicle charging points
    • a new taxi rank
    • cycle storage

    Transport hub timeline

    Construction on the hub began in spring 2022 and is expected to last around a year. It will open before high frequency fast trains start running. From 2024, these trains will run four times an hour in Porth via the South Wales Metro.

    Further regeneration in Porth

    The new interchange will serve as an anchor for further regeneration in the town.

    It will attract investment and development into the town centre.

    Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said:

    The transport hub will make a huge difference and greatly improve public transport links in Porth, which is strategically situated as a gateway to both the Rhondda Fach and Fawr. The council has ambitious plans for the wider regeneration of the town centre, of which this scheme is a focal point, and we have successfully secured £3.5 million of funding from the Levelling Up Fund to contribute to this.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bethersden community pub allocated £250,000 funding [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bethersden community pub allocated £250,000 funding [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

    The George Pub in Bethersden, Kent has been allocated £250,000 from the Community Ownership Fund.

    The pub is a seventeenth century building that needs an upgrade after been closed since October 2020.

    The George’s future plans

    Once it reopens, the pub will provide facilities for the community. This will include support to combat social isolation for vulnerable groups and a place for local groups to socialise.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Carmarthen and Pembroke’s £19 million investment for community hubs [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Carmarthen and Pembroke’s £19 million investment for community hubs [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

    Residents of Carmarthen and Pembroke will benefit from an investment of over £19 million from the Levelling Up Fund. The investment will create two new community hubs in the town centres.

    A benefit to all

    The hubs will benefit:

    • residents
    • businesses
    • visitors

    The hubs will make it easier for local people to access the support they need.

    Carmarthen hub

    The Carmarthen hub will be developed in the former Debenhams building in St Catherine’s Walk.

    Proposals for the hub include space for:

    • health and tourist information
    • culture and exhibitions
    • a state-of-the-art gym
    • university facilities
    • customer services

    Pembroke hub

    A similar hub will also be delivered at South Quay in Pembroke. This will be a modern community facility that hosts a day centre for older people and people with disabilities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £48.4 million allocated to improve the Isle of Scilly’s sea links [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £48.4 million allocated to improve the Isle of Scilly’s sea links [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

    The Council of the Isles of Scilly have been provisionally allocated £48.4 million from the Levelling Up Fund to provide better sea link services on the islands.

    The planned improvements will:

    • provide a more accessible passenger service
    • respond to the needs of the community to protect access to work, education and health services
    • sustain economic activity on the Islands and encourage new investment in the local economy
    • offer affordable travel for residents
  • PRESS RELEASE : £10 million for improvements to Bridgwater’s transport infrastructure [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £10 million for improvements to Bridgwater’s transport infrastructure [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

    Over £10 million from the Levelling Up Fund will help bring improvements to transport infrastructure in Bridgwater, Somerset.

    Infrastructure improvements

    The funding will see:

    • improvements to the A38 Dunball roundabout and Cross Rifles roundabout
    • extension and improvement of walking and cycle routes including signal-controlled crossing points

    Benefits for Bridgwater

    The investment is expected to:

    • provide better employment opportunities to local people through improved journey times and access to the town
    • create additional capacity for traffic, cutting journey times and congestion
    • boost the transport connectivity in and around Bridgwater
  • PRESS RELEASE : Defibrillator deliveries begin for all schools that need one [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defibrillator deliveries begin for all schools that need one [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 20 January 2023.

    Deliveries of defibrillators begin today (20 January) to all state-funded schools in England that don’t currently have a life-saving device.

    Last year, the government committed to supplying state-funded schools across England with defibrillators to make sure there is a device in every school.

    It follows campaigning from the Oliver King Foundation and its founder Mark King, who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the need for defibrillators since he tragically lost his son at the age of 12 to cardiac arrest while swimming at school.

    The deliveries of the first defibrillators mark the start of a roll out of over 20,000 defibrillators to almost 18,000 state-funded schools by the end of the academic year.

    The government is also supporting schools in making defibrillators available to the community, with external heated defibrillator cabinets being provided to primary and special schools in areas where provision is lower.

    An internal cabinet is being provided to secondary schools that are receiving two or more defibrillators, so one can be placed at the school’s sports facility, where a cardiac arrest is more likely to happen.

    The Oliver King Foundation and other leading charities, including the British Heart Foundation, Resuscitation Council UK and St John Ambulance, have supported the creation of updated guidance which will give schools the tools and knowledge they need to use their new defibrillators.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

    Today we’re celebrating a huge milestone as we start deliveries of defibrillators to schools, working towards every school having one by the end of the academic year.

    None of this would have come about without the relentless and brave campaigning of Mark King and the Oliver King Foundation, and we are extremely grateful to him and other leading charities for the ongoing support they will doubtless provide schools from lesson plans to staff training.

    Founder of the Oliver King Foundation Mark King said:

    This is a landmark moment and will be welcomed by pupils, parents and teachers up and down the country.

    It is a proud day for us because we’ve campaigned for schools to have access to defibrillators for over a decade. It is a major victory for the Oliver King Foundation.

    Defibrillators save lives and I have no doubt that lives will now be saved so that families do not have to suffer the heartbreak of unnecessarily losing a child. This is for our Ollie.

    This is the largest defibrillator programme in England to date and will ensure that pupils and staff have access to this lifesaving first aid equipment.

    The new guidance provides advice for schools on how to make their defibrillator available to the community. The government is also encouraging schools to sign up to The Circuit, the national defibrillator network.

    As part of the rollout, awareness videos are being provided to show how simple defibrillators are to use, and schools are being encouraged to share these videos in staff meetings and assemblies.

    This follows the announcement last month of a new £1 million fund to increase the number of defibrillators in communities most in need – providing an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators in community spaces across England.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Levelling up projects in Scotland awarded £177 million [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Levelling up projects in Scotland awarded £177 million [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 20 January 2023.

    A new ferry for Fair Isle, restoration of Kilmarnock’s historic Palace Theatre, and regeneration in Stirling are just some of the transformational local projects across Scotland awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the UK Government’s landmark Levelling Up Fund.

    Major UK Government investment will benefit people across Scotland by spreading opportunity and breathing new life into historically overlooked areas.

    A total of 10 projects in Scotland have been allocated more than £177 million from round two of the Levelling Up Fund. The projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally.

    This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK. By working together the UK is better able to collectively tackle the individual challenges faced by every region and nation across the country.

    Grants include nearly £27 million for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle. There is also £20 million to fund the refurbishment of Kilmarnock’s 163-year-old Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, and a new park near the town square, as well as more than £19 million towards the regeneration of the Forthside area in Stirling.

    In Aberdeenshire, £20 million will transform Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub, while the popular marine aquarium in Macduff will be modernised and expanded.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere.

    That’s why we are backing a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in Scotland.

    By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.

    Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

    We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential.

    This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.

    Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

    It’s fantastic to see real momentum gathering as we level up across Scotland. This latest round of UK Government funding will see more than £177 million invested into 10 exciting projects which will breathe new life into communities across Scotland.

    Working with local partners we are boosting culture and leisure in Aberdeenshire, Galloway and Kilmarnock; improving connectivity in Shetland and Dundee; regenerating Greenock and Cumbernauld town centres; unlocking huge swathes of land for green development in East Lothian and Stirling; and helping communities in Fife connect with nature.

    We must and will continue to invest in initiatives that will make a difference to communities and help grow our economy. So far we have announced more than £2.26 billion – including the two Freeports confirmed last week – to bring prosperity and growth to Scotland that is crucial as we tackle the challenges associated with rising energy prices and the increased cost of living.

    Projects in Scotland awarded Levelling Up Fund grants in round 2:

    • nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
    • in Aberdeenshire, £20 million will transform Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub, while the popular marine aquarium in Macduff will be modernised and expanded.
    • there is £20 million to fund the refurbishment of 163-year-old Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, and a new park near the town square in Kilmarnock.
    • in Dundee, £14 million will go towards redeveloping a dated multi-storey car park into a sustainable transport hub, creating 350 electrical vehicle charging points, car share spaces, and an e-bike hire scheme.
    • nearly £20 million will help demolish and reroute the A78 dual carriageway to reconnect and transform Greenock town centre into a modern, vibrant hub based around public squares and green spaces.
    • in Stirling, more than £19 million will go towards the regeneration of the Forthside area, helping to create 1,000 new jobs.
    • more than £19.4 million to accelerate the regeneration of Riverside Park in Fife and improve access to the River Leven with new walking routes.
    • in Cumbernauld, more than £9 million will support the demolition and regeneration of two failing shopping centres and a vacant office block, helping to bring education, employment and homes into the heart of North Lanarkshire’s largest town.
    • in East Lothian, nearly £11.3 million of funding will help free up land at a former coal fired power station for future, green regeneration.
    • almost £18 million will help Dumfries and Galloway turn redundant spaces and buildings into exciting new cultural and leisure opportunities.

    The major investment announced follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion. In Scotland there was an allocation of £172 million to 8 Scottish projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £349 million. The UK Government’s levelling up projects across Scotland can be explored on this map.

    The UK Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government signs Islands Growth Deal worth £393m [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government signs Islands Growth Deal worth £393m [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 20 January 2023.

    An agreement to invest £100 million in the future economic prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was signed today (20th January) in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government Ministers and the Council Leaders of the three island groups.

    Up to 1,300 jobs and £393 million of investment is anticipated to result from the signing of the transformative Islands Growth Deal between UK Government, Scottish Government, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Shetland Islands Council, and Orkney Islands Council.

    Over a ten-year period, the Islands Growth Deal will invest in 16 projects and programmes that capitalise on the Islands’ unique assets. These are built around three strategic themes of low carbon, supporting growth and future industries, and thriving sustainable communities, subject to approval of Full Business Cases.

    Jointly funded by up to £100 million – £50 million from each of the Scottish and UK Governments – the Islands Growth Deal will attract further investment of up to £293 million in match funding.

    The Deal (full document) has been developed by the three island Councils, together with public, academic, business, community and third sector partners.

    The first year of the ten-year programme is anticipated to see investment across the islands, including in UHI’s campuses in Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, and the pan-island Islands Centre for Net Zero, which will be based at the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus in Stromness.

    Following the signing within Orkney Islands Council’s chamber, UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

    This will not just boost local economies and create jobs, but also empower communities to get the most out of the many assets and attributes that make the islands such unique and special places to live.

    This deal is packed with a broad range of high-impact projects, whether it’s leading the transition to net zero or developing ‘must-visit’ destinations such as the St Kilda trail.

    The UK Government’s £50m support for the Islands deal, in addition to other levelling up investments, shows our continued commitment to the Scottish Islands.

    Scottish Government Business Minister Ivan McKee said:

    This Growth Deal will be a game-changing initiative for our islands – enabling sustainable economic growth and delivering new and internationally significant port infrastructure that will play an important role in achieving net zero targets.

    This £50 million Scottish Government investment will support the transition to renewable energy sources – including equipping the workforce with new skills – and trial emissions reduction initiatives on islands. It will drive innovation in key space, food and drink and creative industries sectors; help develop significant tourism and cultural attractions and expand education provision.

    We are determined that our islands should be attractive places to live and work and are able to maximise their contribution to Scotland’s sustainable economic transformation.

    Councillor James Stockan, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, said:

    The signing of this important document today in Orkney marks another significant milestone in our collaborative journey and future vision for our three island areas.

    We have worked together to successfully achieve an impactful growth deal from our governments in both London and Edinburgh that will help secure a better future for us all. Not only does the agreement recognise all our unique challenges faced as island areas, but also the strength of our assets and opportunities that we offer.

    Councillor Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said:

    The signing of the Islands Growth Deal is both the culmination of a vision set out by the Islands Councils and the UK and Scottish Governments and the beginning of the implementation of that vision.

    It is a milestone towards achieving our aims of securing 1300 jobs and £393m of investment over 10 years through the Islands Deal, using the resources of our Islands and capitalising on our natural assets and most importantly, our people.

    Councillor Emma Macdonald, Leader of Shetland Islands Council, said:

    The Deal contains projects which are island-specific and focus on local opportunities and priorities, as well as those which, working in partnership, will help us unlock more economic success for all our islands.  These vital projects supporting our islands’ sustainability could not have progressed without the UK Government and Scottish Government’s support and investment

    Our partnership has developed as we have developed the Deal, and I look forward to seeing how it develops over the coming decade.

    The UK Government’s £50 million investment will be shared across the following projects:

    • £16m for Islands Centre for Net Zero
    • £11m for Outer Hebrides Energy Hub
    • £2.6m for Creative Islands Wellbeing
    • £4m for Outer Hebrides Destination Development
    • £1m for Orkney World Heritage Gateway
    • £1m for Orkney Vertical Farm
    • £4.4m for Shell-volution
    • £1.5m for TalEntEd Islands
    • £8m for Orkney Research and Innovation Campus
  • PRESS RELEASE : Barclays Eagle Labs chosen to help turbocharge next generation of UK tech stars [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Barclays Eagle Labs chosen to help turbocharge next generation of UK tech stars [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 20 January 2023.

    Government funding package awarded to organisation to boost regional growth of tech start-ups and scale-ups.

    • Grant will build on Barclays Eagle Labs’ track record of supporting high-growth businesses across the UK and deliver new programmes
    • Two-year programme to start in April 2023

    Barclays Eagle Labs has been awarded a new grant to boost small and scaling tech businesses in all corners of the UK.

    Estimates suggest strengthening regional tech industries could grow the UK’s digital sector by an additional £41.5 billion by 2025 and create 678,000 jobs.

    The £12.09 million Digital Growth Grant builds on more than £42.2 million invested by the government to support tech start-ups and scale-ups since 2016.

    Combined investment from Eagle Labs and the government will increase support for the tech sector so more than 22,000 businesses can benefit, with at least 80 per cent based outside London.

    Barclays Eagle Labs has expertly delivered growth programmes, business mentoring and events to start-ups and scale-ups since 2015. Their growing network already supports businesses from Aberdeen and Belfast to Cardiff and Cumbria through 38 physical sites, as well as virtually across the country.

    Together with best-in-class business support experts, Eagle Labs will create effective local networks to help tech businesses wherever they are in the country.

    Eagle Labs and industry partners will provide specialist support, funded by the Digital Growth Grant, for founders from underserved communities – for example expanding access to their growth programmes for Black and female founded businesses.

    The grant will fund training resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs, including a Learning Management System providing virtual training to over 10,000 businesses and training modules created for young people to inspire the next generation of UK entrepreneurs.

    Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, Paul Scully, said:

    We want to unlock the potential of the next generation of start-ups and scale-ups and boost tech businesses in all corners of the country.

    Barclays Eagle Labs are digital industry experts and will help tens of thousands of tech firms and founders to achieve their dreams and create jobs and economic growth.

    The Digital Growth Grant was awarded following an open competition and rigorous assessment process. The Barclays Eagle Labs bid represented the best value for taxpayers’ money as the full grant will be allocated to supporting the UK tech ecosystem, with Eagle Labs absorbing all operational and people costs associated with delivering the programme of activity.

    It will enable Eagle Labs to launch new programmes to grow tech businesses as well as increasing access to Eagle Labs’ existing services. The funding will double the number of mentoring sessions offered to tech firms to 1,500 a year.

    The independent panel assessing applications concluded Eagle Labs was uniquely positioned to deliver targeted support across the country. A bespoke regional partnership programme will ensure funding and training reflects the challenges digital businesses are facing in their area.

    Amanda Allan, Director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said:

    Eagle Labs’ vision is to make the UK tech sector an engine for growth and for the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a tech business

    Through the Digital Growth Grant, we’re excited to double down to reach more businesses across the country with our best-in-class business growth programmes and bespoke regional support.

    We have a track record of supporting over 8000 start-ups and high-growth businesses since we launched in 2015 and we’re proud that, due to our established Eagle Labs network, we can pass through all grant funds to our delivery partners and programmes, helping to maximise the impact of the grant in supporting the UK tech ecosystem.

    Tech Nation will continue to deliver remaining DCMS grant funding until March 2023. The Digital Growth Grant will be awarded to Barclays Eagle Labs from April 2023 and will fund activity until March 2025.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK landmark genomic partnership with Thailand to unite against health threats [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK landmark genomic partnership with Thailand to unite against health threats [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 20 January 2023.

    UK signs memorandum of understanding with Thailand to boost genomics expertise and explore mutual priorities for improving patient outcomes.

    • The UK is set to boost its genomics expertise to deliver better healthcare through a landmark memorandum of understanding signed with Thailand
    • Thailand is a world-leader in life sciences and genomics and plans to share knowledge with the UK to help prevent, diagnose and treat major diseases that burden people in both countries
    • New partnership will explore mutual priorities for improving patient outcomes

    UK patients will benefit from a new partnership with Thailand to share expertise of genome sequencing, collaborate in research, education and training opportunities, knowledge exchange and genomics data handling.

    Yesterday afternoon (Thursday 19 January) the memorandum of understanding was signed by UK Health Minister Lord Nick Markham CBE and Thailand’s Minister for Public Health and Deputy Prime Minister HE Anutin Charnvirakul. Both countries have committed to working together on genomics and understanding rare and undiagnosed diseases and cancer, as well as building stronger academic and institutional links through working groups that could start as early as February 2023.

    The collaboration will allow the 2 countries to better share information on genomics, the study of people’s DNA, including Genomics Thailand’s 50,000 Genome Initiative and the UK’s pioneering 100,000 Genomes Project led by Genomics England.

    Genomic sequencing can speed up diagnosis of cancer, ensure patients with treatable illnesses receive treatment faster and improve our understanding around how health outcomes differ by ethnicity to tackle inequalities.

    A key lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic was that collaboration with international partners is crucial to building our own resilience to health threats. Thailand has world-leading genomics capabilities, so the landmark new partnership will help to broaden the UK’s expertise in this field and cement our status as a global life sciences superpower.

    UK Health Minister Lord Nick Markham CBE said:

    Genomics has the power to revolutionise healthcare in the UK and across the world, so it is brilliant to be joining hands with Thailand for this exciting partnership. Both countries share the common goal of enhancing our healthcare systems with innovative technology and scientific understanding to reduce inequalities and ultimately save lives.

    We look forward to working closely with our counterparts in Thailand to bolster our ability to offer diagnosis for rare diseases and develop cutting-edge treatments.

    Through our commitment to sharing knowledge, exploring training opportunities and pioneering joint research initiatives we can collaborate to deliver better health outcomes at lower costs.

    Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dame Jenny Harries, said:

    Improving the world’s ability to monitor and detect newly emerging pathogens is critical for global health security. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated clearly how vital genomic surveillance is in helping us detect and prepare for new dangers to global public health.

    International co-operation is a crucial part of developing this capability. I welcome this agreement with the government of Thailand which will strengthen our ability to closely monitor and respond to new health threats. I look forward to a fruitful and productive collaboration.

    Thailand’s Minister for Public Health and Deputy Prime Minister, HE Anutin Charnvirakul, said:

    This is the first partnership between Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care. It marks an important step for genomics collaboration between the 2 countries.

    With mutual interest, Thailand and the UK will come together to share knowledge and best practices in genomics medicine, including data handling, ultimately to help treat and protect the people from diseases that we may have never been able to do so before.

    Chief Scientific Officer for Genomics England, Professor Matt Brown, said:

    The potential for genomics to revolutionise the way we deliver healthcare is great and we’re already starting to see this transformative science being adopted across many areas of medicine. We’re delighted to partner with Thailand and share our knowledge and experience to put the promise of genomics into practice and bring benefits for patients worldwide.

    Building on the success of the ground-breaking 100,000 Genomes Project – which has already helped diagnose rare disease in hundreds of children – the government recently allocated new funding to genomics to ensure a better quality of life for UK patients. In December 2022, £175 million was awarded in new genomics funding to ensure a better quality of life for our patients, putting the NHS on the front foot and affirming our position as a life sciences superpower.

    This funding will build on the world-leading work of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, harnessing innovation to drive improvements across the health system.

    The funding also included £25 million of UKRI–MRC funding for a UK-wide new initiative on functional genomics, an area of genomic research which uses molecular tools such as gene editing to improve understanding of how genetic variation leads to disease and support smarter diagnostics and the discovery of new treatments.

    The memorandum of understanding builds on the Life Sciences Vision set out in 2021, which commits to delivering a world-class offer on functional genomics and the UK is in a strong position to become a leader in this area.