WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Home-grown talent is an essential element for long-term success |
Update on the latest AI skills and talent initiatives being joint-funded by industry & government. Combined government & industry investment of £370m will deliver 2,700 new AI PhD places in the UK - 1,700 of these PhD places have been allocated to advance discoveries in bioscience and tackle challenges like feeding the world’s growing population while helping people stay healthier, for longer. This investment is part of a suite of recent AI skills announcements helping to solve the UK’s Grand Challenges and meet some of the commitments made in the AI Sector Deal. At the Autumn AI Skills and Talent Initiatives event there was a strong emphasis on the importance of diversity. Minister for Digital & Broadband, Matt Warman highlighted the need for diverse ideas and representation to ensure tech works for everyone. It is important that these new courses are “student-centric” and support individuals that may have had a negative experience of education so far. Currently in the UK there’s a 13% gap between the chances of white and BAME students getting a first or upper second degree, even when other factors are controlled for. We need to better understand why this is the case and what can be done to mitigate this difference. Technology and online learning can be part of the solution but we also need to ensure that these jobs are made available in regions outside of London. As Jacqueline de Rojas, techUK President highlighted, by 2022, there will be 1.2m unfilled jobs in the tech sector. Regional engagement will have an important role to play in filling these jobs. In industry alone 93% of UK tech companies say that the lack of digital skills available is affecting their commercial operations. techUK is calling for a skills brokerage platform, a single, centralised platform where individuals can find information on skills pathways, current schemes/courses available to them at the national & local level and relevant job opportunities. Stakeholders, such as the Institute of Coding and Data Skills Taskforce, are currently conducting some pilots in this area. It’s important that, alongside government, we join together to make this concept a reality. |
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techUK: Government's latest update on AI skills and talent initiatives ICO: Data Protection Impact Assessments and AI ICO Blog: How coming to work at the ICO on a secondment can benefit both of us Perfect job for females using knowledge, communication skills & is suitable for flexible working |
The UK’s Cyber Shield |
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has defended the UK against more than 600 cyber attacks in the past year – bringing the total number to almost 1,800, new figures show. The figures are contained in the NCSC’s third Annual Review, which also sets out the various ways the organisation has been protecting the public. This includes a pioneering operation to stop hundreds of thousands of people losing money to credit card fraud. Over the period of the review the NCSC has dealt with 658 incidents, which brings the total number to almost 1,800 since the Centre’s formation in 2016. A significant number of incidents continue to come from hostile nation states. In the most wide-ranging review yet produced by the NCSC, which is a part of GCHQ, significant disclosures include:
Elsewhere in the review, the key role the NCSC plays in protecting the democratic process is highlighted as well as the success of the Active Cyber Defence (ACD) Programme. ACD is the NCSC’s world-leading, bold, interventionist approach that stops millions of cyber attacks from ever happening. (See also: Active Cyber Defence (ACD) – NCSC ) ACD features a number of pioneering programmes, such as the Takedown Service, which finds malicious sites and sends notifications to the host to get them removed. Thanks to this service, 98% of phishing URLs discovered to be malicious were taken down, a total of 177,335 phishing URLs. Of those, 62.4% were removed in the first hour. There are also examples in the review of how the NCSC is helping defend individuals and families from the cyber threat, including via Operation Haulster. |
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NCSC defends nation against more than 600 cyber attacks NCSC: The NCSC Annual Review 2019 CO: Minister's speech at the NCSC Annual Review launch NCSC: UK and US intelligence exposes Turla group attack NCSC: Advisory: Turla group exploits Iranian APT to expand coverage of victims techUK: NCSC release Annual Review 2019 ScotGov: Government to spotlight cyber security Alert: Mass credential harvesting phishing campaign active in the UK Over half of charities hit by fraud knew the perpetrator, according to new research Advisory: Exim mail server vulnerabilities Vulnerabilities exploited in VPN products used worldwide The easy way to stop your online accounts getting hacked First threat assessment for universities produced by the NCSC NCSC advice to organisations to mitigate against DoS attacks Advice for users of Huawei enterprise equipment Second CyberThreat summit announced by the NCSC and SANS Institute Cyber strategy update shows how UK intelligence is thwarting attack Global Cyber Alliance Toolkit for Small Business Small businesses given support to bounce back from cyber attacks NCSC advice following WhatsApp vulnerability Alert: Microsoft SharePoint remote code vulnerability Step one to secure IoT devices; Change the manufacturer’s default password Proactive action to make the internet more secure ‘Worrying’; considering SME are the ‘backbone of the economy NCSC; Is your business ‘at risk’? It can happen to any computer system at any time PDNS: Mandatory Active Cyber Defence for Public Sector Networks. Latest Guide |
Editor’s choice of other ICT items of note: |
ICO Blog: Global collaboration and how it helps the UK Cabinet Office: New guide aims to make location data more accessible DCMS: £1bn deal set to solve poor mobile coverage RUSI: The EU Assesses Cyber Security and 5G Networks AXELOS: ITIL is a lifeline for the non-traditional IT Leader |
Primary Health care is not just dishing out pills |
DHSC Secretary Matt Hancock has set out his ambition for every patient in the country to have access to social prescribing schemes on the NHS as readily as they do medical care. Social prescribing involves helping patients to improve their health, wellbeing & social welfare by connecting them to community services. This can include activities such as art and singing classes. The National Academy for Social Prescribing will work to:
The indepedent academy will receive £5m of government funding and will be led by Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, the outgoing Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners. It has been developed in partnership across government, with Sport England, Arts Council England and a range of voluntary sector partners. Alongside the benefits for patients, the National Academy for Social Prescribing could reduce the burden on the NHS. Only 60% of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) use social prescribing for patients with anxiety, mental health problems and dementia. In some parts of the country, patients with long-term conditions who have had access to social prescribing link workers have said they are less isolated, attended 47% fewer hospital appointments and made 38% fewer visits to A&E. The NHS Long Term Plan includes plans to recruit over 1,000 trained social prescribing link workers by 2020 to 2021, with the aim of 900,000 people being referred to social prescribing schemes by then. The government’s Loneliness Strategy committed to every eligible patient in the country having access to a social prescribing connector scheme by 2023. |
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DHSC: Social prescribing - new national academy set up NHS England » Social prescribing What is social prescribing? | The King's Fund But can people stay sufficiently motivated to maintain their changed lifestyles? Winter is often the loneliest time Minister for Equalities awards Lewisham GP Practice for trailblazing programme for LGBT patients New fund for frontline organisations tackling loneliness Grants awarded from £1.6m partnership between government and Co-op Foundation New social care database being used by 50 GP practices in Cheshire Dependence on prescription medicines linked to deprivation NHS rolls out staff retention scheme as part of the Long Term Plan How local and national government can work together to improve health and care New ways of working to free up doctors as part of the NHS Long Term Plan Embracing AI and technology to improve patient outcomes NHS sets out ‘care for young carers’ offer in GP surgeries ‘NHS Skype doctors and nurses’ prevent thousands of avoidable hospital trips Committee publishes report on the social impact of participation in culture and sport NHS ‘sleep clinic’ programme boosts children and parents’ mental health GP scheme frees up half a million hours for patients New tools to help health professionals boost prevention impact NHS applauds plans by English Football League to improve nation’s health Millions To Get Fast Support To Overcome Back Pain Thanks To NHS Long Term Plan Expansion of budgets for personalised health and care support announced Army of workers to support family doctors Lack of alternative treatments increases anti-depressant prescribing in Northern Ireland Speaking up in support of self care The power of the arts and social activities to improve the nation's health Demos: Reading can help halt loneliness epidemic, says new report North Wales project to transform care for people with learning disabilities UK Research and Innovation launches new Mental Health Networks |
Editor’s choice of other Health, Social care & Homelessness related items of note: |
DHSC: £184m loan funding for urgent hospital upgrades NHS Digital: Universal electronic prescriptions could save NHS £300m in next three years NAO: Investigation into pre-school vaccinations ScotGov: Update on flu programme Audit Scotland: NHS is 'running hot' and needs to refocus priorities Innovation Agency champions diversity in innovation Unite: Crisis in health visiting comes under MPs’ spotlight DHSC: Grant awarded to improve the health of people sleeping rough HL: Supporting your clients around Universal Credit – what are the issues for you? |
SME Supplier Locator update... | ||
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. Against this ambitious 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.
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Editor’s choice of other Business / Commercial items of note: |
BEIS: Government backs next generation of scientists to transform healthcare & tackle climate change DIT: UK rises to 8th on World Bank's ‘Ease of doing business’ index DfT: Action to detect, deter and disrupt the misuse of drones Cabinet Office: £1m boost for UK smart waste tracking DWP: Over 200 businesses started each week through DWP scheme HMRC: Get your ducks in a row, with 100 days to go WAG: Renewables generated enough electricity to meet half Wales’s needs in 2018 HMLR: Geovation welcomes latest set of data innovators Dstl: DASA showcases innovations that predict and thwart future threats Innovate UK: Building centres to drive electric revolution - apply for funding RLA: TDS launches free tenancy deposit protection scheme for RLA members Ofgem proposes new financial checks & tests for existing suppliers CCW: Water companies set out plans to thwart future droughts Ordnance Survey: Geovation welcomes first Scottish start-ups to its Accelerator Programme FRC: Revised & strengthened UK Stewardship Code sets new world-leading benchmark |
Editor’s choice of other Policy & General items of note: |
MoD: £1m innovation boost for service personnel’s welfare & training LGA: 800% increase in child modern slavery referrals made by councils Children’s Commissioner for England calls for changes to online gambling laws STFC: UK research challenges Martian ice theory EA: The Climate Emergency: “....this year the answers are different.” Civil Service: Social mobility and the People Survey Charity Commission: New research reveals the biggest fraud risks to charities FS update to Parliament on Harry Dunn case PC&PE: Radical change needed in approach to UK drugs policy MHCLG: Local Government Secretary confirms new support for survivors of domestic abuse DfE: Vital new support for young people leaving care DCMS: £12m boost for youth projects ScotGov: Disposable cup charging DfT: New laws to combat illegal use of unmanned aircraft & modernise airspace APCC: Prevention - How PCCS are making a difference Action Fraud warns of Amazon Prime scam that has cost victims over £400,000 in two months |
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Still a ‘hot topic’, with widely spread views: |
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How to prepare if the UK leaves the EU with no deal 10DS: PM statement in the House of Commons: 19 October 2019 10DS: PM’s statement in the House: 19 October 2019 DExEU: Government introduces landmark Withdrawal Agreement Bill to Parliament Cabinet Office: Statement to the House on Brexit preparedness BEIS: 17 banks & lenders confirm support for SME customers through Brexit & beyond ScotGov: Withdrawal Agreement Bill, Legislative Consent Memorandum ScotGov: Withdrawal Agreement Bill ScotGov: Support for EU citizens WAG: Welsh and Scottish First Ministers demand time to scrutinise Brexit deal Northern Ireland Assembly to Hold Plenary Sitting EU News: MEPs adopt plan to keep 2020 EU funding for UK in no-deal Brexit scenario EU News: Financial support for workers affected by no-deal Brexit EU Article: Verhofstadt - “We will only approve Brexit deal after UK has approved it” EU News: Brexit: statement by EP President EU News: Brexit - EP Group leaders support a flexible extension until 31/1/20 PC&PE: Deal or no deal, the UK should honour its financial obligations PC&PE: Treaty with the Republic of Korea drawn to the special attention of the House CBI: UK creative industries crown must gleam brightly Post-Brexit ~ Centre stage - CBI Unlock the Brexit deal for Northern Ireland economy – CBI President |
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