Industry News
WAG: Businesses in some of Wales’ most deprived areas will receive a £7m jobs boost (including support for disabled workers) Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones has announced. Almost 150 businesses will benefit from funding support of between £10k & £90k.
The Enhancement Areas Fund will create up to 600 jobs and help protect up to another 150. It will be delivered through the Welsh Assembly Government’s Single Investment Fund (SIF), and is backed with £6m from the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund.
It is expected to generate a total investment of £23m with additional private sector funding. It could also help with costs, including wages, associated with safeguarding & creating employment for disadvantaged & disabled workers.
Press release ~ Flexible Support for Business (FS4B) ~ Single Investment Fund (SIF) ~ EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund ~ WAG: Creating better jobs and skills
Ofgem: A new certification scheme has been launched to label green electricity tariffs, which have been certified as having genuine environmental benefits. The ‘green energy certified’ label is intended to help customers recognise tariffs that have been certified under the scheme and reassure them that, if they choose a certified green energy deal, they will be supporting suppliers who are going the extra mile to reduce carbon emissions.
The certification scheme will implement energy regulator Ofgem’s Green Supply Guidelines, published in 2009. The guidelines set out what green tariffs should comprise, how they should be marketed and the evidence required to back-up claims.
The certification scheme will implement energy regulator Ofgem’s Green Supply Guidelines, published in 2009. The guidelines set out what green tariffs should comprise, how they should be marketed and the evidence required to back-up claims.
To be eligible for certification, suppliers will have to demonstrate to an independent panel of experts that their tariffs result in a reduction of a minimum threshold of carbon dioxide emissions. Crucially suppliers must show that the activity associated with the green tariff is in addition to what they already have to do to meet existing Government targets for sourcing more renewable electricity and reducing household carbon emissions.
Press release ~ Ofgem’s Green Supply Guidelines ~ Ofgem ~ Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme ~ Good Energy
HO: Three new design innovations to tackle mobile phone crime, including a device that locks a phone & alerts the owner if it is taken away from them, have been unveiled. The prototypes were developed by teams of designers & technology experts as part of the Mobile Phone Security Challenge, an initiative from the Home Office Design and Technology Alliance and the Design Council, with support & funding from the Technology Strategy Board.
The aim of the challenge was to protect mobile phone users from crimes such as mobile phone identity fraud, which rose by over 70% in 2009, to make phones more secure and to prevent unauthorised use of mobiles for electronic 'contactless' payments, soon to be become widespread in the UK.
The solutions are:
* i-migo - a small device which the user keeps about their person, which sounds an alert & locks the handset if it is taken out of a set range - either through theft or loss. It also provides automated backup of important data using Bluetooth technology
* The 'tie' solution - this electronically matches a handset to a SIM card & protects data stored on the handset with a password & encryption. If stolen, the handset cannot be used with another SIM and data (such as saved passwords, browsed websites & contacts) cannot be accessed by criminals, who could otherwise use it to defraud victims, by hacking into online bank accounts
* TouchSafe - aimed at making ‘M-Commerce’ transactions more secure by using a small card worn or carried by the user, who discreetly touches the phone to the card to enable the transaction. It uses the same Near Field Communication (NFC) technology currently used by the Oyster travel card.
Press release ~ Mobile Phone Security Challenge ~ DC: Designing more secure mobile phones ~ Technology Strategy Board ~ Design and Technology Alliance ~ Design Council – Designing out Crime ~ Design Bridge ~ InnovationRCA ~
ScotGov: The new £200m Loch Ryan port will safeguard 500 jobs & deliver significant investment to Dumfries & Galloway, First Minister Alex Salmond has claimed. Relocation of Stena Line's operations from Stranraer to the new Loch Ryan Port will shorten crossing times between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The creation of the port will also aid the regeneration of the waterfront at Stranraer, providing an opportunity to develop 26 acres of waterfront and strengthen the town's reputation as a marine leisure destination.
LDA: A new website launched by the London Development Agency is set to ‘revolutionise the way information on the capital’s labour market is used by colleges, businesses, government and local authorities’. The London Skills and Employment Observatory website, developed by technology, information & research experts, is a dedicated new resource for all organisations involved in the design & delivery of employment & skills services in London.
MoD: Frontline troops are set to benefit from new ideas which have been supported by MOD research grants.
A range of new technologies has recently been showcased at the Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), Harwell, Oxfordshire, by UK companies that have recently been awarded research funding.
The Centre helps potential suppliers who have never worked with the Ministry of Defence access the right people. It regularly holds seminars to outline the Ministry of Defence’s specific research requirements. Proposals are submitted online through www.science.mod.uk.
The Defence Technology Plan (DTP), launched in 2009, was the first time that the MOD has gone public with its research needs. The DTP is made up of five Capability Visions, which aim to use innovation to:
* lighten the load on the dismounted soldier
* reduce the reliance on fossil fuels
* provide research to develop future protected vehicles
* develop a novel air concept
* provide technology to conduct & defend against cyberwarfare.
Press release ~ Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE ~
LSN: The Learning and Skills Network has reinforced its position as a leading supplier in the learning & skills sector with the acquisition of independent learning & e-solutions provider Learning Resources International (LRI). The acquisition will combine LRI’s expertise with LSN’s 25-year track record of supplying services to the further education sector & beyond.
In recent weeks, LSN has also acquired FE Associates, a leading supplier of interim managers in the further education sector and Connections (Oxford), a major business leadership & development organisation.
Press release ~ Learning and Skills Network ~ Learning Resources International (LRI) ~ FE Associates ~ Connections (Oxford)
WAG: Wales has been designated one of the UK Government’s flagship Low Carbon Economic Areas (LCEA) and will be a lead area, for developing alternative fuels, including hydrogen from renewable sources.
Vehicles driving along the M4 in Wales will be able to refuel with hydrogen fuel (or recharge if electric) as part of the first phase to extend the low carbon refuelling corridor along the motorway. It will create the UK’s longest hydrogen highway with strategically placed multi fuel filling and recharging points.
Press release ~ WAG: Energy and fuel ~ WAG: Climate change ~ Pan-Wales Low Carbon Research Institute ~ Cenex – DfT’s Centre for Excellence for Low Carbon & Fuel Cell Technologies ~ LowCarbonEconomy.com
MoD: The Soteria Consortium has been chosen to provide a harmonised Search & Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) service for the UK well into the 21st Century. Currently the MOD and Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) together provide a 24-hour military & civil helicopter SAR service for the UK SAR Region from 12 bases around the UK.
This capability will be replaced over the next decade through a single contract placed with Soteria that will retain a proportion of military aircrew working alongside civilian aircrew trained to the same high standards. The new service will be phased in progressively taking over site by site, anticipated to start in 2012. The 4 MCA bases will transition to the new service first and will be followed by the 8 MOD bases.
The UK will benefit from a single fleet of modern helicopters, some 30% faster than the current Sea Kings. Moreover, unlike today, the entire fleet will be able to attend low level overland night-time incidents which require pilots to use Night Vision Goggles. All helicopters will have Forward Looking Infra-Red equipment which enables the crew to search the terrain, over sea or land, in low light conditions.
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