WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
| Many more than 23 Apprentices will be required to meet the UK’s need for cyber security experts |
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Almost 1,250 people applied in 3-week application period for 23 apprentice roles as part of a bold new pilot scheme to help protect the nation’s critical national infrastructure from cyber threats and attacks. The apprenticeships in Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) scheme aims to help develop tomorrow’s online security professionals and tackle the risk of a future skills shortage. The successful recruits will be employed in energy, water and transport companies which cyber criminals could target. 13 firms including Northern Powergrid and Network Rail are taking part in the initiative. The scheme will see the apprentices receive around 60 days of specialist classroom and lab training alongside their on-the-job education where there will work with existing cyber security professionals. This will help them develop skills to become cyber security professionals in under two years. |
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DCMS: Huge response to join cyber security apprenticeship scheme Statement: NCSC offer of assistance to political parties NCA: New assessment warns industry that cyber criminals are imitating nation state attacks techUK: British Retail Consortium launches cyber security toolkit Surrey college to train young cybersecurity experts announced Constant threat is the new norm for digital organisations; even charities! NHS 2020 Case Study: Balancing Digitising Whilst Repelling IT Attacks The Hacker Hardened Public Sector Enterprise: Practical Steps to Real Cyber Security Our defence in the Cyber (not so Cold) War Meeting the Challenge of GPG13 Compliance – Latest Brief on Achieving NCSC Requirements White paper – The Business of Hacking AXELOS: Phishing awareness training can thwart cyber-attacks |
Understand the key themes surrounding the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) with this latest Toolkit. As an organisation within the public sector, this resource will enable you to understand the legal framework that has been recently issued within the EU and will become applicable in 2018. Advance your understanding of: • The new legal framework Click here to download the GDPR Toolkit Checklist. |
| The problem is that politics is all about changes in policy |
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A new report lays bare the staggering amount of change in key government policies over the last 5 decades. Published by the Institute for Government, All Change examines 3 policy areas which have experienced near-constant upheaval: further education, regional governance and industrial policy. For example, the last 30 years have seen 28 major pieces of legislation relating to further education led by 48 secretaries of state. And there have been 3 industrial strategies in the last decade. The cost of all this reinvention – both human & economic – is high. In further education, thousands of students & employers are faced with a confusing and ever-changing set of qualifications, with no certainty that those same qualifications will exist a few years down the line. |
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IFG: Policy reinvention leads to huge waste and little progress Collaborate: We all have a role in systems change Meanwhile ‘Life’ goes on for the ‘everyday’ Government The IPPR describes it as ‘A Bold Decision’, which is usually Civil Service ‘speak’ for ‘unwise’ IFG: Civil service will face fresh challenges after Article 50 Cabinet Office: Ministry of Justice joins shared services programme set to save £300m |
| ‘Potential’ needs nurturing and may take years of the right encouragement! |
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Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon has revealed figures showing that almost 30% of officers in the Armed Forces progressed from the lower military ranks, as he met would-be officers at the MoD’s London HQ. The Defence Secretary spoke with students in week nine of the Potential Officer Development Programme (PODP), a 12 week intensive course which runs 3 times a year, aimed at catapulting soldiers from diverse backgrounds into the officer ranks. |
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MoD: 30% of officers progress from the ranks Armed Forces praised for literacy & numeracy training Armed Forces basic skills longitudinal study: executive summary British Army - Reading & Writing Army Education Officers teach Gurkhas in Helmand Army Basic Skills Provision Whole Organisation Approach (A2139) - Lessons learnt |
| SME Supplier Locator update... |
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UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. The past 5 years have seen government make a priority of getting money through its supply chain into the hands of SMEs, by both setting targets and introducing new procurement mechanisms. Against this backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers. |
| Can you help reduce gap between theory & practice? |
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A From April 2017, Gender Pay Gap reporting regulations will require all employers with 250 or more employees to publish statutory calculations every year showing the pay gap between their male & female employees. These results must be published on the employer’s own website and the government site. The Government Equalities Office is keen to get feedback from those who will be reporting so that they can design the service to be as useful and as user friendly as possible. They are on the hunt for HR & Payroll professionals who will help them to improve the government Gender Pay Gap Reporting online service, either by answering questions in an online survey and/or by attending workshops they are holding in London. Ideally, they want to talk to staff directly involved with gathering their organisation’s data, making calculations, and publishing/reporting the final figures. Closure date for the survey is: Friday 24 March 2017. |
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techUK : Gender Pay Gap Reporting Regulations PC&PE: Government lacks plan for achieving commitments on equality EU is stuck half way to achieving gender equality, MEPs say Pregnancy is too often a significant ‘bump’ in a woman’s career path True pay equality will also only be achieved when both sexes retire at 65/67! |
| It is not as easy as just passing a law |
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The TUC recently launched a major new survey into how lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people find working life in the UK. Despite changes in the law that should have brought an end to discrimination & prejudice, the TUC is concerned that LGBT people are still experiencing difficulties at work: As a result the TUC wants to carry out a thorough investigation into the experiences of LGBT people at work, and will use the findings to:
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TUC launches major new survey into experience of LGBT people at work Watch date LGA: Fire service ditching outdated image in major diversity drive WAO commitment to diversity & equality receives external recognition Schools to teach 21st century relationships and sex education OUTing the Past 2017: A resounding success LGBT+ History Month: BCS Calls For Organisations To Develop A Culture For Diversity We are participating in OUTing the Past 2017 Continued success for NCA in workplace equality index 'Turing's Law' extended to gay & bisexual men convicted in Northern Ireland TUC publishes new guide for union reps to support trans people at work Scotland “a more tolerant place” Pride of the NHS celebrates in Leeds – Oli Mansell FRA presents guidance from across the EU on combating hate crime Wrong & outdated views towards LGBT people endanger their fundamental rights Working together we can improve gender identity services – Will Huxter |
| Prevention requires real action not just action plans |
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The Government has published a progress report on its suicide prevention strategy but it must take tangible action to ensure effective implementation. So says the Health Committee in its final report on suicide prevention. In December 2016, the Committee published an interim report on suicide prevention in order to inform the Government's updated suicide prevention strategy. The Government has now published its update to the strategy in the form of a progress report, the third of its kind. Witnesses to the inquiry told the Committee that the underlying Government strategy is essentially sound but that the key problem lies with inadequate implementation. 95% of local authorities now have a suicide prevention plan, but there is currently little or no information about the quality of those plans. It is not enough simply to count the number of plans in existence—there must be a clear, effective quality assurance process and implementation at local and national level. |
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PC&PE: Government's suicide prevention strategy needs greater focus on implementation LGA responds to Health Committee report on suicide prevention ‘Survivor’s guilt’ is a real issue Scale of avoidable loss of life by suicide is unacceptable System failing to prevent deaths post-detention NHS Confederation - HSC report on suicide prevention is right that more must be done LGA responds to ONS suicide statistics NICE address mental health within the criminal justice system Children's Commissioner comments on rise in calls to Childline about suicide The Zero Suicide Policy challenges Children are mentally vulnerable DH: New data reveals suicide prevalence in England by occupation |
| Not all ‘incarceration’ is the result of criminal acts |
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Thousands of vulnerable people with dementia & learning disabilities are being detained in hospitals & care homes without the appropriate checks, due to a law unfit for purpose according to the Law Commission. Often those who lack the mental capacity to consent – like certain people with dementia or learning disabilities – need to be detained in a place like a hospital or care home when it is in their best interests. For example, a dementia patient may be kept in their care home to prevent them from wandering off, which could put them in danger. This is known as a deprivation of liberty and a proper authorisation process should be in place to ensure that this is done lawfully. But since a landmark legal case in 2014, which widened the definition of who was subject to the “Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards”, local authorities have been under increased administrative pressures. As a result last year 100,000 people who required the authorisation did not receive it. |
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LGA responds to Law Commission report on DoLS Government must commit to closing social care funding gap £2.6bn could be needed to fix social care - LGA warns Protecting the liberty of those who are less able to protect themselves |
| A cutting edge Human & Social Sciences Research Capability challenge |
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The MOD, via the Dstl’s Defence and Security Analysis Division is seeking to appoint a contractor to lead, manage and deliver human social & behavioural sciences research for up to 7 years. The framework, known as the Human & Social Sciences Research Capability (HSSRC) will deliver agile & robust human social and behavioural sciences research by building & maintaining a supplier network with an emphasis on scientific excellence, innovation and collaboration to exploit skills & capabilities. This research will be used to shape current & future Defence and Security strategy, policy and capability. A Market Interest Day for suppliers to find out more about the HSSRC requirement is being held on Tuesday 4 April 2017 at the MacDonald Botley Park Hotel, Southampton. The event starts at 9am and ends at 4.30pm. The deadline for registration is before 5pm Friday 24 March. |
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Dstl: £m funding available for Human & Social Sciences Research |
| Sounds reasonable, but what about also reducing their student debt from 5 year course? |
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The expansion of undergraduate training places aims to increase the home-grown medical workforce by 25% – the largest single increase in doctor training places in the history of the NHS. Currently more than 6,000 university training places are available each year for prospective new doctors. This will increase by up to 1,500 each year from September 2018. It costs £230,000 to train a doctor in England and proposals set out in a consultation include plans to obtain a return on this investment. They include newly trained medics serving a minimum term with the NHS, with those who leave before this time is up having to repay some of the fees that the NHS invests in them. |
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| Requires careful ‘application’ |
| A ruling from the Court of Justice of the EU has found that employers can ban staff from wearing visible religious symbols, but must have a relevant policy in place before doing so. |
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EHRC: Religious symbols ruling does not mean staff can be targeted for dismissal EU News: Prohibiting the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign |
| One notes that the Commonwealth population is over 5 times the size of a post Brexit EU! |
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The 2018 Commonwealth Summit will set out the future for a vibrant & diverse Commonwealth, the PM said last week, as the UK joins nations around the world to mark Commonwealth Day. Leaders from more than 50 countries are expected to attend next year’s Summit, which will take place during the week of 16 April 2018 in London & Windsor. The Commonwealth is made up of 52 members spanning six continents with a combined population of around 2.4bn people, almost half of whom are under 25. The network includes established economies such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand, as well as emerging markets like India, Malaysia, and South Africa, with trade between Commonwealth countries projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2020. The summit in April 2018 will see the UK take over as chair of the Commonwealth until 2020 (Editorial note: Perfect timing for Brexit trade negotiations). |
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10DS: PM - Summit will set out future for a vibrant & diverse Commonwealth FCO: Secretary-General - 2018 Commonwealth Summit will reinforce a true global partnership Would WTO tariffs really be such a ‘cliff edge’ for Brexit? Like removing a plaster; it hurts less if you do it quickly Civitas: EU share of UK exports is in dramatic decline, new analysis shows A ‘counter-balance’ to recent HM Treasury ‘Project Fear rants’ |
| Editorial commentary; “The Lady doth protest too much, methinks" |
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The Scottish First Minister set out proposals on Monday to ‘seek the Scottish Parliament’s approval for a referendum to take place giving people the choice between a hard Brexit and an independent Scotland after the Brexit deal is clear but before it is too late to choose an alternative path’. The irony of this announcement was best summed up last week by Willie Rennie MSP (Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats) at FM’s Questions (http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170316_fmqs - starting at time stamp 20:50mins), when the FM refused to deny that Scotland could find itself outside the EU and the rUK markets. One might also add that Scotland would presumably have to go through the process of applying to join the World Trade Organisation (while the rUK is already working towards reactivating its former membership - suspended on joining the Common Market) and the Commonwealth. While the rUK has already started the complex preliminary pre-talks with the WTO (just in case of a ‘No Deal’ with the EU), one wonders if the Scottish FM has considered just what a newly independent (and un-subsidised by the current Barnett funding formula) Scotland will have to achieve in order to trade with other countries, let alone ‘governing/running’ Scotland itself! If the rUK finds/will find it difficult to find the resources to negotiate its way forward in global trading, just how difficult will it prove for the Scottish government and how long will it take to achieve a balanced full fiscal autonomy? Perhaps the Scottish FM’s press statement should have read; Set out proposals on Monday to ‘seek the Scottish Parliament’s approval for a referendum to take place giving people the choice between a hard Brexit and an even harder Scexit before it is clear just what alternative paths would be open to an independent Scotland’. |
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Still a ‘hot topic’, with widely spread views, for those who put fingers to keyboard in order to ‘share their views’: |
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10DS: PM Commons statement on European Council: 14 March 2017 DExEU: Walker - ‘London will go on being a great place to do business’ DExEU: Statement on Royal Assent of EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill FCO: Secretary-General - 2018 Commonwealth Summit will reinforce a true global partnership PC&PE: Article 50: 'Dereliction of duty' to fail to plan for 'no deal' PC&PE: Customs admin and delays a serious concern for firms after Brexit PC&PE: Brexit: environment & climate change report debated by Lords ScotGov: Brexit impact on universities IFG: Civil service will face fresh challenges after Article 50 CBI Scotland: Clarity on future EU deal is the priority for Scottish firms EU News: Defence: MEPs urge member states to show political will and join forces |
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