Invest in UK News
Copyright industry adds an extra £3billion to national accounts
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Imperial College today published new estimates of investment in the UK's copyright industries. When adopted in the National Accounts this adds more than £3 billion to the economy.
Welcoming the announcement Baroness Wilcox, Minister for Intellectual Property, said:
“This is excellent news not just for the UK economy, but also because it shows that Government is serious about understanding and promoting the creative industries.”UK and US call to make the most of international patent system
Measures to make the international system of patent application faster and more effective were announced today by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) with changes to the UK’s Fast Track system. These moves come as part of a wider effort by the UK and US intellectual property authorities to get more businesses to use the PCT system.
Cable welcomes Diageo investment
Commenting on the announcement by Diageo that it plans to open a new distillery in Scotland, Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
"This is a welcome and substantial investment by Diageo in one of the UK's world renowned industries. It is a vote of confidence in the workforce in Scotland and in the strength of the food and drink sector in Britain. This decision will create new jobs and I am particularly pleased to see the investment the company is making in apprenticeships.Transport Statistics: Road conditions in England: 2011
The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:
- Road conditions in England: 2011, see
www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-conditions-in-england-2011
for details.
See http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics for details on all recent transport statistics releases.
These Official Statistics are published according to arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
Contact Information
Name - DfT Press Office - Local TransportBusiness Secretary to visit Speedo and Nottingham University Innovation Centre
Business Secretary Vince Cable will today visit Speedo’s headquarters in Nottingham where he will see how the firm develops its leading swimwear worn by top athletes around the world.
£500 million of Government investment for small and mid-sized businesses open for applications
The Government is today asking for applications to manage £500 million of its investment available through the Business Finance Partnership (BFP).
The BFP aims to ease the flow of credit to small and mid-sized businesses in the UK by diversifying their sources of finance and making them less reliant on bank lending. It is part of a £21 billion credit easing programme being taken forward by the Government to open up new channels of finance for businesses and use the UK’s budget credibility to pass on the benefits of current low interest rates.New app calculates your tax and how it is spent
The Government is today launching a new tax calculator enabling people to work out how much tax they pay and how the Government spends it. The tax calculator can be downloaded as a free mobile phone app and is also available on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website.
UK and Indonesia strengthen educational links
The UK and Indonesia have today committed to boosting their education relationship to a higher level via the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
During his visit to UK, Indonesia’s Minister of Education and Culture Mohammed Nuh met with the UK Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, and agreed a new Memorandum of Understanding. This will commit both countries to developing a ‘Systems to Systems’ action plan.Top team appointed as UK Green Investment Bank company formed
The UK Green Investment Bank (UK GIB) moved a step closer to going live today (25 May) as the Business Secretary announced the formation of the public company and the appointment of its top directors.
Lord Smith of Kelvin will be the new Chair of UK Green Investment Bank plc. Currently Chair of SSE and The Weir Group, he has a strong financial services background, chairing the group set up by the Financial Reporting Council in 2003 to clarify the role of audit committees.Vince Cable witnesses the return of steel production to Teesside
Vince Cable today visited SSI Teesside and announced the award of £1.4 million from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) which will help create and protect 1,800 jobs.
The blast furnace was relit last month, just over a year after SSI purchased Teesside Cast Products (TCP) from Tata Steel and over two years after it was mothballed.Business Secretary Vince Cable statement on the publication of the Beecroft report
On publication of the Beecroft report today Business Secretary Vince Cable today said:
“We are today publishing Mr Beecroft's final report as submitted to our department to dispel some of the myths that have become associated with the report. Because of ongoing interest we reached a view that it is in the public interest to allow people to have access to its content.
“We have always been clear that sensible and well thought-through reforms need a strong evidence base behind them, not just anecdotal experiences.£100 million fund to boost university and private collaboration – open for bids
A new £100 million investment fund to support research partnerships between universities, businesses, charities and philanthropic donors will open for bids on Monday, Universities and Science Minister David Willetts will announce today.
Online sellers have one month to register for tax opportunity
People trading on the internet who haven’t paid all the tax they owe have just one month left to take part in an opportunity offered by HMRC to get their tax affairs in order on the best terms available.
Under the time-limited opportunity, known as the e-Markets Disclosure Facility, online marketplace traders who come forward at any time between now and 14 June and pay the tax, duties and interest they owe can benefit from lower penalties than those who wait for HMRC to catch up with them.New National Council to raise standards of careers advice
Skills Minister John Hayes has appointed careers expert Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE as the Chair of the new National Council for Careers.
The council will be a driving force for excellence in careers guidance and will provide independent, expert advice to the Government on the future development of the National Careers Service which was launched at the beginning of April.Business Secretary Vince Cable and Lord Heseltine comment on the National Audit Office’s report on the Regional Growth Fund
Responding to today’s publication of the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report on the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable said:
"The NAO’s report recognises that the Regional Growth Fund is working.
"It shows that the RGF is set to create and protect 328,000 jobs for people in communities that need the most support and help companies grow. It shows that our processes are robust, competitive and un-biased. It shows that we chose to support the highest quality bids offering best value for money.‘Focus on Enforcement’ - opportunity for chemicals sector to comment on the way COMAH regulations are enforced
The Government is inviting companies in the chemicals sector to feed in their experiences of working with national regulators and local authorities on the enforcement of the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations. For the next six weeks, during the evidence gathering phase, businesses involved in chemicals (manufacturing or storage) can input their views through the Focus on Enforcement website, including the option to post comments on an anonymous basis
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:£50 million Business Angel CoFund invests first £7.2 million
The Angel CoFund has today announced the completion of its first five investments, with a total of £7.2 million committed to SMEs. Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk joined some of the first businesses to receive funding, following the end of a strong first quarter for the Angel CoFund, which was launched in November 2011.
Land Registry Launches Consultation on Proposals to close Telephone Services
Land Registry today, 4 May 2012, launched a consultation on proposals to change Land Charges legislation that will enable it to provide a wider range of services online, and close down its telephone ordering service for business customers (Telephone Services), which can be used for both Land Charges and Land Registry applications.
The search is on for the UK’s most enterprising places
If you live in an area with a thriving business community looking to grow and become a real force both here and abroad, then you could be living in the most enterprising place in the UK.
Communities are being encouraged to come forward and take part in a nationwide competition that will see a town, city or area crowned as the country’s most enterprising place.
The winner will be the location that can show itself as a hotspot of innovation and somewhere that is boosting local business and nurturing budding entrepreneurial talent.Report recommends measures to support and increase outward UK student mobility
A range of ways to help students gain vital international experience from overseas study and work placements was set out today in a report commissioned by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts.
The report by Professor Colin Riordan, Chair of the UK HE International Unit, looks at the incentives and obstacles to students studying and working abroad. It makes recommendations to ensure the numbers of students choosing to go abroad increases in the future.
The report’s main recommendations are:‘Focus on Enforcement’ - opportunity for small businesses in food manufacturing to have their say on the way regulations are enforced
The first review theme for the Government’s Focus on Enforcement campaign is now up and running. For the next five weeks, the Government will be focusing on enforcement that affects small businesses in food manufacturing; and inviting companies to feed back their experiences of working with national regulators and local authorities.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:Sunday Trading Bill receives Royal Assent for Olympic Games
The Bill to suspend Sunday Trading Laws during the Olympic and Paralympic Games received Royal Assent today after it passed the remaining stages in the House of Commons last night.
The Bill, which was announced in the Budget 2012, will mean that shops with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres will not be subject to current Sunday trading restrictions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.Providers sought to help deliver start-up loans for young people
The next stage of the Government’s new £10 million ‘Start-up Loans’ for young people pilot scheme has been announced today by Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk.
The initiative aims to provide budding entrepreneurs with support and a small amount of capital to help them get started as well as access to training and business mentors.
The Government is now inviting organisations and consortiums who can offer the right level of support to deliver the programme to bring forward their proposals.More university places to be freed up
Changes announced today to the allocation of university places increase the focus on putting students at the heart of system.
• Uncapped recruitment for high achieving students will be further eased in 2013/14. The A-level threshold will lower from AAB+ to ABB+.
• A further 5,000 places will be allocated through a competitive core and margin to universities and colleges offering good quality and value for money.
