Industry News

GPS: The value delivered by Government Procurement Service frameworks is wide ranging.  More new case studies can be viewed in the press release, such, such as:
* NHS Trust clears medical records library in 7 weeks
* RAF Northolt saves 25% in accommodation upgrade
* National Audit Office saves 30% on office refit
Press release & links
 
OS: The national mapping agency of Great Britain is extending its range of all-weather, plastic coated maps following high demand from consumers & trade. The active map range produced by Ordnance Survey, which can be written on with washable ink, has already proven to be very popular with walkers, off-road cyclists, horse riders and those who enjoy outdoor activities.
 
Following the success of OS Explorer Map – Active and with such a strong consumer appetite for 1:50 0000 scale all weather maps, Ordnance Survey is extending the range to include all 204 titles in the OS Landranger Map series.
Press release & links
 
BIS: The Government has received 269 bids from employers looking to take part in a new pilot to design & develop their own vocational training programmes, Skills Minister John Hayes has announced. 

The Employer Ownership pilot invited the first round of bids earlier in the year for a share of the £250m fund which will route public investment directly to employers – enabling them to invest in the training & skills development they need to grow their business.

Testing the impact of greater employer ownership of the vocational training agenda is the key objective of the pilot. The vision of greater employer ownership has been championed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) – a non-departmental public body that provides strategic leadership on skills and employment issues.   The winners of the bids will be announced later in the year.
Press release ~ Employer Ownership pilot
 
DCMS: Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has announced a package of measures to strengthen the UK film industry as part of the Government’s response to Lord Chris Smith’s recent review of British Film Policy.
 
The majority of the review’s recommendations are directed at the BFI, which has recently published its Future Plan consultation (closes on 10 June 2012) that sets out its proposals to implement the independent panel’s findings.
Press release & links
 
WAG: First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has launched a new centre aimed at creating the skills needed to build the financial and professional workforce in Wales. 

The University of Glamorgan’s new Centre for Financial & Professional Services will offer opportunities for up-skilling the growing sector’s workforce, further strengthening Wales an attractive option for inward investment.
Press release & links
 
WO: Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan has yesterday welcomed the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) £5.5bn commitment to funding an Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) pipeline, which is set to safeguard & create hundreds of jobs in Wales.
 
The MoD has confirmed in its Planning Round 2012 that it will commit funding to the supply of armoured vehicles to the British Army, which includes the Scout SV project led by defence firm General Dynamics, based in Oakdale and Newbridge in Caerphilly.
Press release ~ Scout SV project
 
DECC: The Government has published a list of companies that have signalled their intention to apply to the new UK CCS competition.  The list covers companies that have indicated that they will lead a bid and not all companies that may be involved in that bid. 
 
It is not a list of applicants – the closing date for bids remains 3 July 2012 and DECC don’t expect all parties who have expressed an interest to apply.  The CCS Commercialisation Programme will, subject to State Aid clearance, support commercial scale CCS with the £1bn in capital funding that we have made available. Press release & links
 
GPS: The Government Procurement Service is pleased to be part of a joint project to drive low carbon sourcing in more than £1bn of spending.  Working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change and leading UK companies, they will be delivering the commitments made in 3 Procurement Compacts in catering, transport and energy..
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: Alex Salmond recently announced a £10m funding package to support plans for a deep-water quay facility in Shetland to secure decommissioning work on major offshore structures from the Northern North Sea. to secure decommissioning work on major offshore structures from the Northern North Sea.
 
Lerwick Port Authority signed an exclusivity agreement with AF Decom Offshore UK in 2010 to develop the project, which aims to establish a centre of excellence at Dales Voe, incorporating a 24-metre deep quay & oil rig decommissioning yard. 

A steady stream of offshore installations are approaching the end of their design life and demand for onshore demolition facilities is growing.  The total market value of decommissioning over the next 30 to 40 years is estimated to be just over £30bn.
Press release & links
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