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The UK Civil Service has this week launched the UK’s first degree-level apprenticeship in economics

The UK and Qatar’s Defence relationship is closer than ever, the Defence Secretary has reaffirmed, as production starts on Typhoon fighter jets that will be sold to the Gulf nation.

Minister for Environment Hannah Blythyn has praised the ‘buzz in the air’ during a visit to the first Bee Friendly city in Wales yesterday.

An ex-police worker who used an online chatroom to view indecent images of children has been found guilty following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

Unite the union will be making ‘a vigorous and well-argued response’ to the consultation on the future of wholly owned subsidiaries (WOSs) set up by NHS trusts and designed to avoid paying tax.

Exports Minister Baroness Fairhead speaks at the UK-Vietnam Business Forum, as part of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

In the early hours of tomorrow morning (Saturday 20th October) a spacecraft made possible by the best of UK space science is set to blast off bound for Mercury.

Two West Midlands Police officers will face a gross misconduct hearing in connection with the arrest of a man for suspected drug offences in Walsall on 28 June 2016.

The search for “the next big thing” in UK Children’s Television is gearing up as part of a £60 million initiative being introduced by Government to support the nation's vibrant broadcast sector.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published its first Annual Statistical Report on the European Union’s (EU) derivatives markets.

The Hate Crime Community Projects Fund has been launched for the third year so organisations in England and Wales could secure up to £75,000 to tackle hate crime.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford has today announced £5.3 million for 2 schemes to help Wales’ advanced manufacturing workforce keep pace with global advances in innovation and technology.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) have launched a joint regulatory strategy aimed at strengthening their relationship, and taking joint action to deliver better outcomes for pension savers and those entering retirement.

An influential select committee today called on the Government to be more ambitious in encouraging take-up of electric cars, and bring forward their proposals for 100 per cent electric car and van sales from 2040 to 2032 – which would be in line with recommendations in the National Infrastructure Assessment

The Secretary of State introduces bill to facilitate restoration of devolved Government in NI

Mariya Gabriel, the Commissioner for Digital Economy & Society, has presented the prototype of a directory of European films, a key action of the Digital4Culture strategy which is also part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.

Ofgem has appointed First Utility to take on supplying around 7,000 customers of Usio Energy, which ceased trading earlier this week. This follows a competitive process run by Ofgem to get the best deal possible for Usio Energy’s customers.

Innovators and researchers can bid for a share of £60 million with their ideas to make our air cleaner and help tackle climate change.

The Law Commission is to complete a wide-ranging review into hate crime to explore how to make current legislation more effective and consider if there should be additional protected characteristics such as misogyny and age.

At its October plenary session, the EESC adopted a package of three opinions on EU economic governance, providing European decision-makers with new input for the ongoing discussions on deepening Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the next European Semester exercise.

Consultation launched to help more adults get the digital skills they need to get on in life and work

More than 500 delegates from across the international aid community to commit to a “root to branch” change in the way the sector operates.

Cabinet Secretary in Iceland.

Investors are still looking for companies to make business model, risk and viability disclosures more useful, according to a new report from the Financial Reporting Council's Financial Reporting Lab (the Lab).

Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council meetings

Monitoring of the UK’s biggest and riskiest projects has improved, but the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (the Authority) and government departments need to do more to increase transparency about what benefits are delivered to ensure taxpayers secure maximum value, according to today’s report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

People on low incomes want to see improvements to public services and living standards as a priority following Brexit, according to authorative new analysis on public attitudes for the independent Joseph Rowntreee Foundation (JRF). 

Emma Fryer reviews the last quarter’s activity in the data centre programme and identifies priorities for the rest of the year.

New Forestry Investment Zone launched in Cumbria to help unlock the economic benefits of forestry.

More than 90 potential victims of slavery have been identified and 73 people arrested following a fortnight of law enforcement activity targeting modern slavery and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

Blog posted by: Gayle Gander, Head of Marketing, 18 October 2018.

The Finance Secretary yesterday visited the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) on its first anniversary.

Government and independent forecasts of the economic impacts of Brexit focus on the long-term effects and do not provide a guide to the immediate disruption from ‘no deal’, warns a new report by the Institute for Government.

Do you know your trig points from your National Trails? Can you calculate using contours? And exactly how far the footpath is from the free house? It’s time to find out in Ordnance Survey’s new puzzle book that contains over 200 fascinating and fiendish brainteasers!

The CMA has provisionally found that Rentokil Initial’s purchase of Cannon Hygiene could lead to higher prices or lower quality for some customers.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are scoping the potential for an innovation challenge in maximising human performance.

Moving to a greener, cleaner economy which helps protect the environment is a key part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy.

Guidance launched as Justice Secretary calls on businesses to take responsibility.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to the Public Accounts Committee’s report on Health and Social Care integration

Between 2010 and 2018 the female state pension age (SPA) increased from 60 to 65. This has increased employment among affected women over 60, although not enough to avoid the average incomes of this group falling. 

Freshwater anglers contribute an estimated £1.4 billion annually to the English economy, supporting up to 27,000 full-time equivalent jobs, through their spending on the sport.

New disqualification rules to prevent people found guilty of serious crimes from serving as councillors and mayors.

As the year moves rapidly forward, so too does life at NCFE and I’d like to begin by saying hello to each and every one of you.

Funding comes as the Building a Stronger Britain Together programme grows to a network of more than 220 groups.

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething, has announced the first project to be backed by the £100m Transformation Fund, to develop new models of health and social care.

Government to review how road users should behave in relation to cyclists and pedestrians.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Cabinet will meet at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute on Monday 5 November. The visit also coincides with the official opening of the Roslin Innovation Centre.   

The Environment Agency commits to tackling modern day slavery

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock speaks at the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) Conference.

On behalf of the EU Justice Sub-Committee, and in reply to the Minister's letter of 13 September, the Chairman of the EU Select Committee has written to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice about the findings of the follow-up to the Committee's report Brexit: justice for families, individuals and businesses? 

Today's event galvanised 50 nations to lobby the UN, and convened donors representing 90% of global aid.

The impact of the apprenticeship reforms must be reviewed to ensure we have a skills system which is fit for purpose.

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council Briefing on Syria.

The (IPCC) recently released a report on global warming, and it does not make for comfortable reading, it clearly indicates that keeping the rise in global temperatures...

Today the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) approved, on behalf of the Council, an agreement with the European Parliament on the text of the regulations for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to Amsterdam, and of the European Banking Authority (EBA) to Paris.

A report published yesterday by the Children’s Commissioner for England, suggests there are 15,800 babies under the age of 1 considered by local authorities to be vulnerable or highly vulnerable and at risk of harm, but still living at home. 

Outdated and obstructive NHS IT systems will become a thing of the past, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday as he launched his technology vision.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox visits Tilbury Port today, to meet with port employees and members of the Tilbury on the Thames Trust.

DASA has released its 2018 annual report.

Speech by Sir James Bevan KCMG, Chief Executive, Environment Agency, CIWEM Surface Water Management Conference, 17 October 2018

Statement given yesterday by EU Members of the Security Council: France, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the UK, joined today by the Italy, Belgium and Germany

Secretary of State for International Trade's speech given yesterday at the inaugural International Trade Dinner at Mansion House.

This month, NCFE sent representation to the Labour and Conservative Party conferences, with the aim of hearing the latest policy announcements and influencing policy formulation.

The Boards of the UK’s two food regulators held their first joint meeting yesterday, 17 October 2018, in Edinburgh following the publication of the review which makes recommendations aimed at improving compliance and assurance in the UK meat processing industry.

World’s leading aid players gather in London to make major commitments at International Safeguarding Summit on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Blog by Phil Fitz-Gerald, Director of the FRC's Financial Reporting Lab

WorldDAB, the association which promotes DAB digital radio around the world, has announced the roll-out of a new DAB+ logo for international markets.

Following the success of the first round of DiscoverEU, the European Commission will launch a second competition for free tickets on 29 November 2018.

Blog posted by: Rupert McNeil, 18 October 2018 – Categories: A great place to work, Diversity and inclusion.

Open Europe's Henry Newman examines the latest Eurobarometer survey on public attitudes towards the EU.

The technology vision will be the foundation for a new generation of digital services that will meet the needs of clinicians, patients and managers.

A case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Aberdeenshire.

Statement given recently (16 October 2018) by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council Briefing on the Root Causes of Conflict – the Role of Natural Resources.

System leadership in local government — new Collaborate/SOLACE essay collection.

Blog posted by: Sam Dub and Gabrielle Acosta, 17 October 2018 – Categories: Content design, GOV.UK, Service design, Services Programme, Style, content and design.

Charity Commission warns of continued underreporting as it publishes findings of its interim safeguarding taskforce and updates guidance for charities on what to report.

Somehow ‘canaries in the coalmine’ doesn’t seem the right term to use for the high achieving Principals of major colleges but there is no doubt that the departure in quick succession of the leaders of three of the largest colleges in England is a clear signal that there are a number of issues in the current unstable world of FE.

12 councils and 31 housing associations will receive funding for the removal and replacement of unsafe aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding from 159 buildings.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford will today update business leaders about plans for Wales to seek new powers to introduce a vacant land tax.

More than 250 joint engagement events across London as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, TfL and the capital's police are running a series of joint events across London this week, in support of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report Controlling dangerous dogs calls for a full-scale review of current dog control legislation and policy to better protect the public.

Thousands of new homes and jobs across the UK will be created thanks to a portfolio of 7 new investment opportunities being promoted by the government.

Suppliers are invited to a free event to discover how they can win professional services business with the public sector in the North East via NEPRO, our neutral vendor solution for the public sector. 

The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

According to figures released this morning by the ONS, consumer price index inflation fell by 0.3 percentage points to 2.4 per cent in the year to September 2018, more than reversing the rise in August.

National action to disrupt the drug dealing methodology known as county lines has led to more than 200 arrests and the safeguarding of 58 vulnerable people.

The UK, along with the members of the G7, has issued a statement following the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Older people with limited mobility and adults with learning disabilities are among those benefiting from almost £900,000 of National Lottery funding.

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission is a step closer to launch as a UK built device is delivered to Thales Alenia Space in France.

Patients will be able to return equipment, including crutches and wheelchairs, for reuse or donation to charity where possible.

Opportunities to invest in nine projects worth more than £2 billion to Scotland’s economy have been announced by Economy Secretary Derek Mackay.

Damian Hinds yesterday (17 October) spoke at a roundtable at the Centre for Social Justice on alternative provision and exclusions.

Blog posted by: Jonathan Jones, 10 October 2018 – Categories: A great place to work, Civil Service Leaders.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised a national park authority for the way it adopted a policy to charge residents for planning enforcement action.

UK organisations can apply for a share of up to £300,000 to develop new ways to plan railway infrastructure and meet passenger demand.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced £5 million will be spent this financial year to help relieve pressure on critical care units across Wales this winter.

The government has released the first tranche of an estimated £400 million to remove and replace unsafe cladding on social sector high-rise housing.

According to the movie Alien, ‘in space, no-one can hear you scream’. This helped to perpetuate the popular opinion that there is no sound in space, just a noiseless vacuum.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana recently (15 October 2018) delivered a speech at the UK-Ghana Business Summit in Accra.

The UK Government officially opened its Canary Wharf hub yesterday in a bid to save £24 million per year.

The Lord Ferrers Awards celebrates volunteers in policing.

Blog posted by: Sir Philip Rutnam, 17 October 2018 – Categories: A great place to work, Civil Service Leaders, Diversity and inclusion

Dr Gerry McCartney, Head of the Public Health Observatory at NHS Health Scotland yesterday commented on the winter mortality rates in Scotland.

Blog posted by: Barry Corless, 16 October 2018.

Blog posted by: Steve Marshall, 15 October 2018 – Categories: Hosting, Our services, Technology.

Seven more faith and belief groups are to be permanently represented during the National Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph from this year.

techUK represents the companies and technologies that are defining today the world that we will live in tomorrow.

In the first ‘Green GB Week’ to celebrate clean growth, 2 Magnox sites in North Wales have reached landmark anniversaries.

Government will be investing up to £20 million alongside at least £20 million from private investors in a new venture capital fund, the Clean Growth Fund.

Blog posted by: Civil Service Blog Team, 16 October 2018 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service, A great place to work, Diversity and inclusion.

Speech given yesterday by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, at the annual Investment Association dinner.

84% of consumers say good data security and a record of protecting personal information is the most important characteristic when deciding which firms to buy from.

The European Asylum Support Office has published a Country of Origin Information Report entitled ‘Pakistan security situation’. TThe report provides information relevant for the protection status determination of Pakistani asylum seekers.

Commission discharges interim managers at Grangewood Educational Association.

A 64-year-old man has been given a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for sexual offences against a child committed more than 40 years ago.

Local authorities in England will receive a share of a £240 million fund to help local areas ease winter pressures on the NHS.

The new Valleys Regional Park can have the same effect as the Wales Coast Path in attracting visitors to Wales and improving the well-being of communities, Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services said yesterday. 

A report published today by the Children’s Commissioner for England, suggests there are 15,800 babies under the age of 1 considered by local authorities to be vulnerable or highly vulnerable and at risk of harm, but still living at home. 

Moped offences in London are down 56% from the high of July 2017 following a joint police operation.

Young people in Edinburgh who are repeat offenders or at risk of offending are amongst thousands of Scots whose lives will be transformed, thanks to almost £1 million of National Lottery funding announced today (WED 17 OCTOBER). 

Defence Medical personnel have completed a 2 week exercise.

A speech given yesterday to the Green GB Week Clean Energy Innovation Summit by the Science Minister Sam Gyimah at County Hall (London).

Almost two-thirds of private landlords with tenants receiving Universal Credit have experienced them going into rent arrears according to new research.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Lidington, yesterday gave a speech at the National Cyber Security Centre on why cyber security matters.

Government is quietly shifting costs of public services on to individuals, according to a new report from the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Where government can get people to pay directly for services – from garden waste to legal aid – it is increasingly doing so.

EFSA has assessed the most effective strategies for eliminating lumpy skin disease (LSD) now that the outbreaks in south-eastern Europe have been contained.

CQC published a joint report with HM Inspectorate of Prisons yesterday.

Blog posted by: Natasha Sloman, Head of Hospital Inspection at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), 16 October 2018.

In celebration of Green Great Britain Week, leading retailers across the UK have pledged to encourage customers to buy cleaner fuels.

Ciaran Martin speaking at the launch event for the 2018 Annual Review (16th October)

The capital’s complex and cluttered health and care system is hampering plans to improve Londoners’ health, according to a new independent report from The King’s Fund.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released its second annual review.

Official figures, released by the Office for National Statistics yesterday, show that youth unemployment has halved since 2010.

A pilot for a new online VAT service was launched yesterday, with HMRC inviting more than half a million businesses to try it ahead of new rules coming into force in April 2019.

A Latvian man has been jailed for ten years for smuggling 14 kilos of cocaine with a street value of £1.4 million into the UK following a National Crime Agency investigation.

As the Welsh Government prepares to launch the latest phase of the Train, Work, Live marketing campaign, Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has stressed the importance of building on its success to date.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to a letter to the Chancellor from leading healthcare groups calling for more money to be invested in adult social care and public health services

Delivering on promises to increase spending on the NHS, defence and aid, and just avoiding cuts to other public service spending – a perhaps minimal definition of the “end to austerity” as promised by the Prime Minister- would require an additional £19 billion a year (in today’s prices) by 2022–23 relative to current plans. And this would still leave social security cuts worth £7 billion working their way through the system. 

A new instrument is set to transform how astronomers look at exploding stars, dangerous asteroids and the sources of gravitational waves.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) yesterday confirmed plans to extend access to the Financial Ombudsman Service (‘the ombudsman service’) to more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Information regarding apprentices registered with BCS by 3aaa – 16 October 2018.

A new Ministry of Defence report that sets out the need to take action against the latest strategic threats to UK defence and security was published recently (15 October 2018).

A new resource that will improve conversations about physical activity between patients and healthcare professionals has been launched.

2017 saw only one recorded incident of illegal bird of prey poisoning in Scotland, according to new maps published by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to the Government’s Loneliness Strategy announced yesterday.

A new report is demanding that ministers be called to explain when things go wrong under their watch – even if they are no longer in office. This means beefing up scrutiny by ensuring select committees get the information they need more quickly and have the resources to use it.

The Council adopted a new regime of restrictive measures to address the use & proliferation of chemical weapons. This decision is a direct follow-up to the conclusions of the European Council of 28 June 2018.

The CMA yesterday set out the issues it expects to examine in its investigation of the Sainsbury’s / Asda merger.

On its second anniversary, the NCSC has revealed it has defended the UK from an average of more than 10 attacks per week.

Economy Secretary Ken Skates yesterday welcomed statistics showing that the employment rate in Wales increased by one percentage point over the past year.

Independent panel will look at how funding supports the needs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday announced the release of a report on Scottish emissions of ammonia, sub-10 micron particulate matter (PM10), sub- 2.5 micron particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and lead on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) website.

New developments will include 100% genuinely affordable housing.

HMICFRS has, today, published the summary of a research project into victims’ experiences of hate crime.

Some of the UK’s biggest business names - from financial services to the high street – are among 30 firms pledging action to tackle climate change during first-ever Green GB & NI Week.

Minister for the Constitution, Chloe Smith, yesterday gave a speech on democracy at the European Commission in Brussels.

Jeremy Hunt met Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in London to discuss UK-Turkey trade and investment, the situation in Syria, and the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi.

Compulsory water meters by the end of 2019 and leakage reduction by 50% by 2040, rather than 2050.

Blog posted by: Hannah Turner and Ann Blundy, 15 October 2018 – Categories: Recruitment.

Prime Minister Theresa May updates the House of Commons on the Brexit negotiations.

Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion delivered a speech at the UK-Ghana Investment Summit in Accra.

On 15 October 2018 the Council agreed on next year's total allowable catches (TACs) and member states' quotas for the ten commercially most important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea.

New measures put in place to tackle hate crimes include a review of legislation, extra funding to support communities and improving the response to incidents.

The Government yesterday issued its official response to the CCC’s annual reportassessing progress in reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

An investigation, following an incident in which a woman and her children were held hostage in Greater Manchester, found an officer breached the standards of professional behaviour.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer must use his Budget statement to make changes to Universal Credit and prevent more people and families being pushed into poverty, Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said today.

Prime Minister Theresa May met the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.

Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to the members of the European Council ahead of their meetings on 17 and 18 October 2018.

Matt Hancock yesterday talked to the Made By Dyslexia global summit about the challenges he has faced and the great benefits he has gained from being dyslexic.

On Wednesday 17 October the House of Lords debates the European Union Committee's report, Dispute resolution and enforcement after Brexit

Blog posted by: Cameron Stewart – AXELOS Head of Product Development, 15 October 2018.

Health chief Simon Stevens has today asked NHS hospitals to ensure they are ready to realise savings of up to £150 million a year to reinvest in frontline care after the patent on the NHS’s most costly drug ends this week.

First meeting of the clean maritime council who will make the plan for a zero emissions UK maritime sector.

Lord Deben, Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, has welcomed the Government’s formal request for the Committee’s expert advice on setting the UK’s long-term emissions targets.

The 2018 Modex Romania is the largest medical exercise ever conducted in the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and is taking place in Bucharest, Romania until 18 October 2018.

Industry 'Voice of the Customer' on-line survey now open As part of its renewed focus on customers, and in recognition of Industry as a significant customer, the Customer Services section of MOD Information Systems & Services (ISS) invites Industry customers to participate in an Industry-focused online survey. 

Today is World Food Day, a global action day celebrated every year on the 16th October. On this day, the world comes together to declare its commitment to end world hunger and to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all.

The Defence Authority for Technical & Quality Assurance (DATQA) has produced a Vision Paper for Engineering Support Transformation.

The environmental performance of regulated businesses across the country continues to improve, according to latest figures released from the Environment Agency (EA) yesterday.

One year on from the launch of the European Battery Alliance (EBA), the EC Action Plan is in place, the first pilot production facilities are being built and further projects are announced to establish the EU as the lead player in the strategic area of battery innovation & manufacturing.

Charity regulator opens class statutory inquiry into Future Vision Care and Future Vision Consortium.

Blog posted by: Clare Fuller, 15 October 2018 – Categories: Research and development, Skills, Supply Chain. 

Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, announces UK support to help screen, prevent and tackle malnutrition in Yemen.

New controls over prescription drugs pregabalin and gabapentin following rising fatalities.

Houses that generate their own power, flats with vertical gardens and homes built using local supply chains are some of the projects to share in £43m of innovative housing funding this year.

Health advice from Public Health England following the Grenfell Tower fire.

Meet the latest GeoTech and PropTech companies to join the Geovation Programme.

Figures released today by National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that a total of 23,137 deaths were registered across Scotland from December 2017 to March 2018, (winter 2017/18) compared with 20,946 in the previous winter (2016/17).

The Annual Review 2018 – the story of the second year of operations at the National Cyber Security Centre.

The Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Annual Report for 2017/18 highlights priority projects delivered and actions undertaken by the FRC in pursuit of its mission to promote transparency and integrity in business.

The Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythyn, yesterday gave a statement on flooding over the weekend.

Usio Energy, an energy supplier with around 7,000 domestic customers, has ceased trading.

On 15 October 2018 the Council decided to confirm in 2019 the rules already adopted at the beginning of the year and set at zero tonnes the quantitative limitation for buying-in skimmed milk powder (SMP) at a fixed price.

The team will join 17 other nations at the international event for wounded, injured and sick serving and former military personnel.

Upgrade will mean longer trains, more reliable services, more seats and faster journeys.

A new tool to help healthcare professionals talk to patients about the benefits of physical activity is now live.

The first Green Great Britain Week will take place 15 – 19 October 2018.

The Constitution Committee yesterday published a report calling for amendments to the Trade Bill.

Prime Minister Theresa May launches Government’s first loneliness strategy.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a scheme to encourage a switch from fossil fuel heating systems to renewable and low-carbon alternatives in homes and business premises in Great Britain. 

The Welsh and Scottish Governments have expressed serious concerns with the UK Government’s plans to replace the EU ETS with a carbon tax if there is a ‘no deal Brexit’, and insisted that any approach must maintain accountability to devolved administrations and legislatures.

The Geovation Programme has been running for three years and has so far helped 72 GeoTech and PropTech businesses create 189 new jobs and raise £19.5M in investment funding.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) yesterday published a Discussion Paper on climate change and green finance.

A new cutting-edge air defence missile system is on target for full-time use by both the Royal Navy and the British Army – with its innovation supported by experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), who have been at the heart of its development since conception.

A PHE world-leading evidence review and UK Chief Medical Officer physical activity infographic has been launched for disabled adults.

A new training centre in Oxfordshire will equip up to 350 apprentices a year with badly-needed technical skills for the local economy.

Switzerland will become one of the first EU countries to abandon DTT broadcasting opting instead for delivery technologies such as cable, internet and satellite.

Find out how you or your business could reduce emissions and help to tackle climate change.

Sir John Armitt yesterday welcomed the Government’s announcement of a package of measures to develop greener infrastructure – and encouraged Ministers to go even further.

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £1.25 million to develop location tracking technology and keep fire crews safe during live incidents.

More people across Wales are being encouraged to consider adopting children by the Minister for Children, Huw Irranca-Davies.

Housing and Homelessness Minister Heather Wheeler MP speech given yesterday to the Modern Slavery and Homelessness conference.

Marine Scotland Science yesterday published the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2017. 

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester arrives in Bangkok today for an official visit that signifies the strength of the UK-Thailand partnership.

Government launches new voluntary Code of Practice to help manufacturers boost the security of internet-connected devices such as smartwatches, virtual assistants and toys.

There has been inaccurate speculation in the media this weekend about the Gender Recognition Act.

Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster bolstered the strong defence relationship between the UK and Italy on a visit to Rome.

International Development Secretary has committed £35 million of UK aid to protecting critical forest habitats and species threatened by extinction.

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths has today announced the implementation of additional contiguous testing in the Intermediate TB Area North (ITBAN) following a spike in TB incidents.

A 55 year-old man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexual activity with a child, following a National Crime Agency investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in Rotherham.

Climate experts will advise the government on whether the UK should set a date for a net zero emissions target.

The Foreign Secretary is in Luxembourg to meet with his European counterparts.

The Wales and Borders rail service can be the best passenger rail service in the UK within the next 15 years.

Majority of new-build houses to be sold as freehold and new leases to be capped at just £10.

Children in Gloucester will benefit from an innovative cyber environment in one of the NCSC's latest Cyber School Hubs.

Code outlines guidelines that manufacturers of consumer IoT devices should implement into their product’s design to keep consumers safe.

DHSC will award up to £32 million of capital funding to the NHS, universities and research organisations for research into antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The Heritage Lottery Fund have awarded £3.8 million for a project led by Natural England to save bats and protect churches.

The Treasury has confirmed that the £50 note will remain a part of UK currency.

The Counsel General, Jeremy Miles AM was recently at the Legal Wales conference in Aberystwyth University talking about his plans to improve the accessibility and accountability of the law in Wales.

Joint Statement by the French, German and UK Foreign Ministers following the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into a road traffic collision on the M4 in December 2016 in which Darran Walker died found that Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers did not breach standards of professional behaviour.

The Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Hundreds of small radio stations across the UK are to receive a helping hand to broadcast in digital for the first time.

Constitutional Relations Secretary: rural Scotland ‘hit hardest’.

The FDA demands the Government fund a pay rise for Crown prosecutors in light of the recommendation on judges’ pay by the Senior Salaries Review Body. 

The resting places of Second Lieutenant Norman Frederic Surry and Private George Skilbeck have been marked a century after their deaths in the Great War.

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has urged sheep farmers to remain vigilant for bluetongue virus (BTV) after the disease was picked up and dealt with in a consignment of four sheep imported from France.

High level of satisfaction with hospital environment.

We are very excited to launch a brand new online game for this year’s campaign – Digital Dash.

Eighty new expert teachers to be recruited from industry into further education through the £5 million Taking Teaching Further programme.

Non-executive members of both provider and commissioning organisations are set to gain a fresh perspective on how to meet their statutory responsibilities, as an event in November turns the spotlight on social value, sustainable development and local growth.
 

Blog posted by: Alan Cumming, 12 October 2018 – Categories: Safety and Wellbeing, Skills

People urged to have their say on whether competition in the digital market is being is stifled by powerful tech giants.

The Welsh Government will leave no stone unturned in supporting Refinitiv workers now facing an uncertain future following the sudden announcement to close its Wrexham site, Economy Secretary Ken Skates recently said.

Successful 2018 Illegal Wildlife Trade conference comes to a close in London.

Ahead of the IMF/World Bank Group meetings, KfW Group on behalf of the German Federal Government, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD) launched the Clean Oceans Initiative to support the development and implementation of sustainable projects that will reduce pollution in the world’s oceans over the next five years.

AXELOS Global Best Practice has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HDI, the membership association and certification body for service and support professionals, to raise the profile of IT service management (ITSM).

The Ministry of Defence has launched a new strategy – a “Force for Inclusion” - to continue to increase diversity.

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler announces plans to raise standards across the property agent sector.

Statistics published recently by Scotland's Chief Statistician show that in 2017-18 Scottish councils spent £625m on the day-to-day management and maintenance of council housing and £275m on loan charges.

techUK's Deputy CEO, Antony Walker states it is important that all businesses, large and small, properly digest each of these notices.

The new fund will support more summer Olympic and Paralympic sports and help inspire local communities.

The families of over 300 children with epilepsy and other neurological diagnoses have avoided having to travel nearly 30,000 miles of hospital trips after two hospitals joined forces to provide care closer to home.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has published draft guidance on how evidence should be collected after a member of the public dies or is seriously injured during contact with the police.

A new harmonised set of fuel labels has appeared across Europe. They will give drivers better information on the suitability of fuels for their vehicles wherever they travel in the EU, helping them avoid misfuelling and informing on the environmental impact of their choice.

Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams recently joined pupils at Ysgol Bro Pedr in Lampeter as they took part in the first ever ‘E-sgol’ lesson in Wales.

Further rounds of funding for the popular small grants scheme for farmers has been confirmed.

The Academy9 programme has won the British Construction Industry Skills Impact Initiative of the Year award.

Government is quietly shifting costs of public services on to individuals, according to a new report from the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Where government can get people to pay directly for services – from garden waste to legal aid – it is increasingly doing so.