Invest in UK News
Cable launches biggest ever Apprenticeship Week
Business Secretary Vince Cable today launched the fifth annual Apprenticeship Week.
The week is on track to be the biggest Apprenticeship Week to-date, with over 500 events across the country celebrating the countless achievements of learners and employers.
The official launch event, held at Channel 4 in London, will be attended by apprentices and representatives from the creative industries.Statistical press notice: NHS 111 Minimum Data Set – December Release
The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health:
Call statistics to the NHS 111 service up to and including December 2011 from the seven sites providing this service and able to provide data at this time. The sites are: County Durham and Darlington, Lincolnshire, Luton, Nottingham City, Isle of Wight, Derbyshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.
The main findings for December 2011 were:NHS Trusts to receive funding support
Seven NHS hospital Trusts who have demonstrated that they face serious structural financial issues may receive additional support from the Department of Health if they can demonstrate that they can meet four key tests.
9.45 million on time tax returns set new record
A record 9.45 million Self Assessment tax returns were filed on time this year, and a record 7.65 million (80.9 per cent of them were filed online, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed today.
This means that for the first time in seven years 90.4 per cent of taxpayers met the deadline – an increase of four per cent (700,000 returns) on last year. In fact, it’s the highest on-time filing result since HMRC was created.Fresh approach to business records checks
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced a fresh approach to its business records checks programme in 2012, following a review.
The review, which included discussions of the pilot programme with trade and professional bodies’ representatives, found clear evidence that it is effective in improving record-keeping practices in smaller businesses. However, it recommended that the checks are more targeted in future, linking to available education and support.Norman Lamb appointed Employment Relations and Postal Affairs Minister
Business Secretary Vince Cable has today welcomed the appointment by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Norman Lamb as Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
“I am delighted to welcome Norman Lamb to the Department. Norman’s professional background as an employment lawyer and experience as the Liberal Democrat’s Trade and Industry Spokesman make him an ideal replacement.Transport Statistics: Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Provisional Estimates Q3 2011
The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:
• Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Provisional Estimates Q3 2011, see
www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-accidents-and-safety-quarterly-estimates-q3-2011/
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.
02 February 2012Hayes launches independent review of professionalism in the FE and skills sector
Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes, today launched an independent review to investigate ways to improve the professional status of the further education and skills workforce.
He confirmed that the review will be chaired by Lord Lingfield, working with an expert panel led by David Sherlock CBE, former head of the Adult Learning Inspectorate.
Mr Hayes said:Better service for motorist at garages
Motorists are set for improvements in customer service from garages under a package of transparency and value-for-money measures unveiled today by Transport Secretary Justine Greening.
An evaluation of existing MOT test standards and frequency took account of the views and evidence offered by a wide range of organisations.NHS to get £28m cash boost to improve access to dentists
Andrew Lansley has announced extra cash for dentistry in a major Government drive to increase the number of people able to access an NHS dentist.
820,000 more people have already been given access to an NHS dentist since May 2010. Today £28 million of funding will be announced, which will bring the number of extra people now able to access an NHS dentist to one million.Government brings forward amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill
The Government today outlined its plans to further improve the Health and Social Care Bill as it prepares to re-enter the House of Lords next week.
As the Health and Social Care Bill has progressed through the Lords, the Government has listened to peers, and is now coming forward with amendments to further strengthen its plans to safeguard the future of the NHS.Patent Prosecution Highway with Canada opens today
A new, two-year pilot scheme, launched today will provide a boost for growth by helping businesses speed up the process of patent applications in the UK and the Canada.
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) allows applicants who have been successful in obtaining a patent from either the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country.
Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness Wilcox said:32 sites bid to host the Green Investment Bank
The Business Secretary Vince Cable has received 32 bids from across the UK wanting to host the Green Investment Bank (GIB).
The process for finalising the location of the GIB was announced last month with interested parties invited to self-assess against a common set of criteria, to demonstrate whether they would be an effective base for the GIB.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:BIS response to NAO report on apprenticeships
Responding to The National Audit Office Assessment of Adult Apprenticeships, published today, John Hayes, Minister for Skills said:
"Unprecedented investment, backed by tough new measures to ensure that quality matches quantity, has helped make apprenticeships the gold standard vocational qualification.New Chair for Government’s fund management company
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk today announced the appointment of Lucy Armstrong as the new chair of Capital for Enterprise Limited (CfEL).
Capital for Enterprise Limited is the company which advises the Government on the design, implementation and management of finance measures to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. It manages programmes that provide around £4 billion in finance to SMEs.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:Northern Bank is first local signing for UK Export Finance in Northern Ireland
UK Export Finance today announced that Northern Bank will be the first local bank in Northern Ireland to deliver its bond support scheme, which helps exporters with trade finance facilities.
UK Export Finance is the UK’s official export credit agency, providing a range of services which complement the private sector through the provision of assistance to exporters and investors. These services come principally in the form of insurance and guarantees to banks.
Northern Bank’s head of trade and export finance Ruth Graham said:Government publishes Financial Services Bill
The Government has today published legislation which will fundamentally transform and strengthen financial regulation in the United Kingdom, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban, has announced. The new regime sets out a clear, coherent and comprehensive regulatory framework, replacing the uncertainty and inadequacy of the previous structure, and helping to mitigate against future risks to stability.
The Bill:Improving health results for children
A new focus on improving care for children and young people will be unveiled later this year, Secretary of State Andrew Lansley announced today.
The ‘Children’s and Young People’s outcomes strategy’ will focus the health service on improving health results for children, including those needing primary, hospital and urgent care, and children with long-term conditions.
It will identify health issues that matter most to children and young people, and how a modern NHS will meet their needs.New calendar unlocks enterprise opportunities throughout 2012
A new comprehensive and interactive calendar of key enterprise events throughout 2012 has been unveiled by Business Minister Mark Prisk.
The StartUp 2012: Enterprise Calendar highlights over 600 enterprise opportunities across the UK throughout the year. They include competitions, conferences, workshops and networking events that could be the kick-start needed to help a new or growing business venture.UK Export Finance helps Manchester events firm expand in Gulf
UK Export Finance has worked with Lloyds Bank to help Manchester-based WRG Creative Communication win new business in Qatar.
The opening of WRG’s offices in Doha in 2009 placed the company in the perfect position to pitch for a number of high-profile events, including the 20th World Petroleum Congress and the Arab Games. But the contracts for these events demand both performance and advance payment guarantees.Glasgow 2014 gets tax boost
Athletes resident outside of the UK who compete at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be exempt from income tax, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander will announce in Glasgow today. The decision mirrors a similar exemption in place for London 2012.
Met Office launches android app
Following the highly successful Met Office weather app on iPhone, weather forecasts from the Met Office are now available for Android. The app can be used on all android phones and includes a widget so information can be accessed directly from the dashboard.
The new android app is the latest addition to our range of products for mobile users and provides easy access to the latest weather forecasts and warnings wherever you are and is available at Marketplace.Department of Health sets out scope of PiP implant and cosmetic surgery reviews
The Department of Health has today published the terms of reference for two reviews established following the recent concerns about PIP implants.
The first review, led by Lord Howe, the Minister for Quality, will establish what happened in the UK when the MHRA and Department of Health learnt about the situation with PiP implants in France.
Lord Howe will submit a report to the Health Secretary by the end of March this year and will look at:David Miles re-appointed to Monetary Policy Committee
The Chancellor, George Osborne today announced the re-appointment of David Miles as an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
David Miles' second term on the MPC will begin on 01 June 2012, and end on 31 May 2015.
The Chancellor said:
"David has been a very effective member of the MPC throughout his first term. His knowledge of the UK economy and background in the financial sector has proved invaluable through a challenging period.
