Business and Other Briefings (Archive)

BEIS:  Government commits to drawing up new guidance to support working mothers of premature babies ~ (BEIS:  Margot James launches Scale-Up Taskforce to identify barriers to small business growth ~ BEIS:  £100m a year boost for energy intensive industries ~ BEIS:  Business Minister Margot James urges FTSE 350 chief executives to improve diversity & inclusion ~ BEIS:  Business Minister Margot James renews UK’s commitment to corporate responsibility in extractive industry)

DIT:  UK and Israel set to hold first trade policy working group – (DIT:  UK government ministers attend first maritime trade mission in China ~ DIT:  Priti Patel urges City of London to become global financial centre for developing countries ~ DIT:  UK’s design for global expo in Astana unveiled)

HMT:  Chief Secretary to the Treasury lays out Britain's long-term plan for Britain's infrastructure

HMRC launch criminal investigation into global financial institution

NAO:  Planning for 100% local retention of business rates ~ LGA responds to NAO report on business rates

CLG:  How LEPs can build the local foundations for a global Britain – (CLG:  New businesses back the Northern Powerhouse)

DWP:  Welfare reforms and £330m employment package start from April 2017 ~ DWP:  100,000 new businesses launched thanks to employment scheme

DH:  Guidelines on reducing sugar in food published for industry

DfE:  New agency to provide joined-up education and skills funding

DfT:  First MTR South Western Trains Limited wins South Western franchise – (DfT:  Light dues: 2017 to 2018)

Defra:  New app to report Asian hornet sightings

ScotGov:  Building a commercial seaweed industry – (ScotGov:  LFASS update ~ ScotGov:  Individual Training Accounts launched ~ ScotGov:  Strengthening business support)

Innovate UK:  Tackling healthcare challenges: apply for business funding ~ Innovate UK:  Cancer innovation challenge in Scotland: apply for funding ~ Innovate UK:  Women's health tech firm attracts £4.8m investment ~ Innovate UK:  Government sets out next steps in establishing the UK as global leader in connected & autonomous vehicles ~ Innovate UK:  How does your organisation approach research & innovation?)

Ofgem proposes to reduce National Grid’s allowance for its gas transmission price control – (Ofgem:  The extension to the Energy Company Obligation Scheme)

Ofcom:  BT to be fined £42m for breaching contracts with telecoms providers – (Ofcom confirms priorities for 2017/18 ~ Ofcom:  Encouraging investment in full-fibre networks and promoting competition)

PC&PE:  Flagship apprenticeships policies will not fill growing skills gap

HSE:  Laing O’Rourke fined £800,000 after worker fatally crushed at Heathrow Airport – (HSE:  Principal contractor fined for safety failings

Skills Funding Agency:  National Apprenticeship Awards 2017

Food Standards Agency welcomes sugar reduction guidance for industry in Northern Ireland – (Food Standards Agency:  Latest Food & You survey report published)

CBI/PwC: Optimism stabilises as financial services gets boost from solid economy – (CBI: What business wants from UK-EU negotiations after Article 50 ~ CBI: 'Pivotal moment in country's history')

TUC: Gender pay gap regulations are a start – but we need action to close gap too

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority settlement, contract termination, & inquiry ~ Take Magnox nuclear plants’ ‘clean up’ back into public control, says Unite

IPPR:  North-South divide will be widened by new £2bn-a-year apprenticeship scheme, finds think tank

Dstl:  Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) testing

CIPD responds to the triggering of Article 50

Revenue & Customs Brief 1 (2017): VAT - historical bad debt relief claims

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