General News

MoD: The transformation of military accommodation has hit another milestone as hundreds of soldiers returned from Germany to brand new barracks at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire. The successful return of troops from Germany is the Army's largest relocation for more than 20 years.
 
The 6,000-strong 4th Mechanized Brigade, or the ‘Black Rats’, have been based in Osnabruck, Germany for the past 27 years.  1,800 of the returning soldiers will now have their own en-suite rooms, which have been built under a £330m programme to develop the Supergarrison. 
 
The MOD is also building a physiotherapy centre, dining facilities, a sport & leisure centre and swimming pools, as well as redeveloping Catterick town centre under a major PFI contract. Some 11km of cycle path has been created and green areas & ‘corridors’ (representing 30% of the site) have been enhanced to encourage the movement of wildlife through the Garrison.
Press release ~ Project SLAM ~ Project Neptune ~ Project Allenby-Connaught ~ Colchester PFI contract ~ Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) ~ Defence Estates major projects ~ Service Families Accommodation
 
CIOB: The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has announced a new category, the Innovation Research Paper Award, for the launch of the 2008/09 International Innovation and Research Awards.
 
The awards play an important role in bringing together practitioners with education & training providers, as well as policy makers.  This interaction helps to develop, promote & implement new ideas and methods.
Press release ~ CIOB - International Innovation and Research Awards 2008/09
 
UKTI: Abu Dhabi is turning to the UK to bring its extraordinary plan - Masdar City, the world's first zero carbon, zero waste, car-free city - to life. Eager to work with UK companies and academic institutions, the Masdar team has discussed the initiative's business opportunities with 108 companies at a Partnership Seminar, hosted by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).
 
Masdar City is to be finished by 2016 and will eventually be home to 50,000 residents, 1,500 businesses, particularly those in the sustainable and alternative energies field.
Press release ~ Masdar City initiative ~ Report on opportunities ~ UKTI - Environment ~ The Environmental Industries Commission ~ Environmental Industries - BERR ~ UK CEED ~ UKFEI - UK Forum for Environmental Industries ~ Scottish Environmental Industries Association ~ The Environmental Industries Federation
 
MCA: Three fishermen recently died in an accident while living on board a fishing vessel alongside in port.  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is extremely concerned that safety systems & precautions on board (intended for use at sea) were proved to be inadequate for use when the main electrical systems were shut down (‘dead ship’).
 
Paul Coley, Assistant Director Seafarers and Ships, said: “Every owner and skipper should think very carefully about the risks when people are living on board their own vessels and take suitable precautions”.
Press release ~ MCA
 
HO: The Home Secretary has announced that state-of-the art filtering technology will now enable parents, schools, businesses and web users in the UK to further restrict access to websites which advocate or promote terrorism.
 
Many Internet Service Providers (ISP) offer filtering products as part of their internet access package and broadband subscriptions in the UK usually come with free filtering solutions. In order to download the software, check whether a free filtering product is available through your broadband package or from your ISP.
Press release ~ Internet Service Providers Association
 
LLUKLifelong Learning UK is about to commence the first annual collection of workforce data developed specifically for work based learning & adult and community learning providers.  The need for a better understanding of the whole of the further education sector workforce was identified in The Workforce Strategy for the Further Education Sector in England.

All work based learning providers and adult and community learning providers are invited to participate in the data collection process, which opens on 1 December 2008
Press release ~ Workforce Data Collection ~ The Workforce Strategy for the Further Education Sector in England

LLUK: Around 70 candidates, attracted to Lifelong Learning UK’s Make a Difference programme (part of the wider Catalyst programme) through a national advertising campaign, have successfully completed a detailed interview & assessment centre process and are now ready to be matched to suitable vacancies within the further education sector in England.
 
FE providers can take a look at the candidates' profiles and follow up those who match their requirements.  Any candidate recruited through Make a Difference will benefit from a fully funded 12 month leadership development programme (worth £10,000).
Press release ~ Make a Difference ~ Catalyst programme ~ Lifelong Learning UK
 
DSA: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have invited popular TV motorsport presenter Louise Brady and former Superbike Champion and now MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish to support an exciting new scheme aimed at significantly improving motorcycle road safety. The Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) will be showcased at the 2008 Motorcycle and Scooter Show, which takes place at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from 28 November – 7 December 2008.
 
The ERS is a new training package that forms part of the Government's Motorcycling Strategy (GMS) to help reduce the number of fatal & serious accidents on our roads each year involving motorcyclists.  ERS aims to encourage & help qualified riders become safer on the roads and reduce accidents.
Press release ~ 'Enhanced Rider Scheme' (ERS) ~ Enhanced Rider Scheme leaflet ~ 2008 Motorcycle and Scooter Show ~ Driving Standards Agency (DSA) - Motorcyclists ~ Motorcycle Industry Association ~ Becoming a driving instructor ~ Registered Post test Motorcycle Trainers (RPMT) ~ Government Motorcycling Strategy ~ Revised Motorcycling Strategy Action Plan ~ IHIE Guidelines for motorcycling ~ National Motorcycle Council ~ Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles ~ SHARP - the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme ~ Bikesafe - Motorcycle Rider Safety ~ Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA)
 
ScotGov: Almost £20m has been saved for the NHS through Scotland's NHS's counter fraud services since they were established in 2000, Scotland's first counter fraud conference was told last week.
Press release ~ Counter Fraud Charter ~ European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network ~ NHSScotland CFS
 
FCO: British diplomats who helped Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution are to be commemorated by a plaque in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  The sculpture has been privately funded through donations made to the Three Faiths Forum.
 
Renowned holocaust historian Sir Martin Gilbert said: "When the Holocaust is finally beyond living memory, the desire will remain to remember and to honour those who extended a helping hand.  It is important to recognise individual bravery.  It is also important to provide a reminder that human beings can, in situations where civilized values are being undermined, find the strength of character and purpose to resist the evil impulses of the age, and to rescue the victims of barbarity."
Press release ~ Three Faiths Forum ~ Nazi Holocaust
 
DH: A new deal has been reached between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry that hopefully means that more patients will benefit from a wider range of innovative drug treatments at a fair price to the NHS.
 
The flexible pricing scheme agreed is intended to ensure that medicines fairly reflect their value to patients, branded drugs will see their price cut, and industry innovations will be encouraged & rewarded.  As a result, patients should have faster access to new medicines that are clinically & cost effective.
Press release ~ 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) ~ OFT market study of PPRS
 
LLUK: A database of vocational experts who want to 'pass on their skills' as a further education teacher, tutor or trainer has been launched by Lifelong Learning UK to help colleges & independent learning providers fill key learning delivery roles.
 
The Pass on Your Skills vocational practitioner database allows providers to search, free of charge, for professionals with technical or vocational backgrounds who want to start a new career in teaching.  It links providers with individuals who have expertise in specific areas where corresponding skills shortages exist in the learning & skills sector.
Press release ~ Pass on Your Skills vocational practitioner database ~ Pass on Your Skills: Employer Registration
 
ScotGov: First Minister Alex Salmond has officially opened the new Clackmannanshire Bridge over the Firth of Forth, which will help reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety and open up the wider area to economic benefits.
 
The £120m crossing, designed to alleviate traffic pressure on the Kincardine Bridge, is the second largest of its type in the world.  It includes an extensive network of new cycleways & footpaths and provides transport links between Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Fife.
Press release ~ Transport Scotland - Clackmannanshire Bridge ~ ScotGov - Transport ~ Watch the video of the opening
 
NE: Cornflowers, cowslips and oystercatchers have helped David Hutchinson win Natural England’s prestigious Future of Farming Award.  David, who has lived & worked all his life on his 300 hectare arable farm at Manor Farm, Strixton in Northamptonshire, has built up a successful farm business, which is a showcase for how wildlife & habitat creation can be integrated into farm production.
 
A range of environmentally-friendly land management techniques are used across Manor Farm, which has been in Environmental Stewardship for a number of years and joined Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme (HLS) in 2006.
Press release ~ Natural England's Sustainable Land Management Campaign ~ Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme (HLS)
 
Ofwat: The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) has announced targets for water companies to increase water efficiency savings by 40% from 2010 - a response to lacklustre performance by some companies on helping their customers use water more wisely. This reduction would come on top of savings from targets on leakage from pipes, and increasing water metering.
 
Average household consumption per head across England & Wales in 2007/08 was 148 litres a day, but the water usage of households varies significantly from company to company. If England & Wales followed Germany's lead and reduced household consumption by 22 litres per person per day, enough water could be saved to supply the needs of the combined population of London, Birmingham and Cardiff. A key factor in this reduction would be an increase in usage of devices such as water saving toilets and shower heads.
Press release ~ Ofwat - International comparisons - water efficiency ~ Water Saving Group ~ Water Saving Group Action Plan ~ Consumer Council for Water ~ Water UK ~ Waterwise ~ Defra: Water conservation ~ Water Strategy: Directing the Flow - priorities for future water policyDefra - Water Resources
 
Defra: The Water Saving Group reviewed its achievements as it met for the last time on 20 November 2008.  In the last three years members of the group have worked together on a programme of measures to promote water efficiency in households.
Press release ~ Water Saving Group ~ Final Waterwise evidence base report ~ Waterwise
 
OSSandwell Borough Council has scooped the award for most innovative use of geographic information. The Council’s ‘Gaming the Tibby’ project was honoured at the mapping agency's Local Government and Emergency Services conference, which highlighted the very best uses of digital mapping data.
 
‘Gaming the Tibby’ – an interactive game designed to engage the young people of the Tibbington estate – invites players to enter a 'virtual environment'.  There they can use a huge range of building tools to present their thoughts & opinions about the area’s regeneration.
Press release ~ Sandwell BC – Gaming the Tibby ~ Ordnance Survey – Local Government
 
TfL: The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced £168.3m of funding for London’s boroughs to deliver local transport improvements, cut road deaths, improve town centres & cycling facilities, tackle the school run and carry out essential main road maintenance during the financial year 2009/10. 
 
The funding includes allocating £390k to 12 Boroughs to install an additional 70 electric vehicle charging points across London.  The first on street vehicle charging point in London was implemented in August 2006 in Covent Garden followed by an individual 28 points in 8 Boroughs in 2007 /2008.
Press release ~ Newride – Recharge points ~ Business Plan for 2009/10-2017/18
 
NA: With the recent commemoration of Armistice Day 90 years on, secondary school students throughout the UK (and as far afield as America) have been given an insight into life in the trenches, via The National Archives´ videoconference workshops.
 
The First World War videoconference, All Pals Together, tells the story of real-life Private Henry Fairhurst of the 14th Yorkshire and Lancashire Battalion - the Barnsley Pals - played by a costumed actor.  From the comfort of their own classrooms, students are given the opportunity to pose questions to the soldier as he talks about the perils of life in the trenches, demonstrates his kit and describes the sensation of going ´over the top´ during the Battle of the Somme.
Press release ~ The National Archives Learning Curve ~ The Great War
 
LLUK: The Disability Equality Commitment, facilitated by Lifelong Learning UK, is a framework to help organisations in further education recruit, retain and train disabled employees so that they are equally represented in the sector.  LiverpoolCommunity College has become the first institution to sign up and commit to disability equality in this way.
Press release ~ Disability Equality Commitment ~ Disability Equality Implementation Group ~ The Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning
 
BERR: Around 100,000 students & graduates will get the chance to develop world-class skills as entrepreneurs and business leaders with the launch of the first University Enterprise Networks (UEN) for STEM, Innovation, and Nuclear networks. The networks will be managed by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE).
Press release ~ University Enterprise Networks (UEN) ~ National Council For Graduate Entrepreneurship
 
Defra:  The UK became officially free from Avian Influenza (AI) on 20 November 2008, according to the rules laid down by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).  OIE rules require a 3 month interval between the final cleansing & disinfection of premises involved in the outbreak and official recognition of freedom from the disease. Trade with other EU countries resumed on 8 July 2008, under separate EU rules on AI.
Press release ~ Defra - Avian influenza (bird flu) ~ World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

 
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