Scottish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contributed to the government’s Defence Industrial Strategy today as the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, visited the home of Royal Navy Type 31 frigate production. Local Scottish SMEs took part in a roundtable discussion at manufacturer Babcock’s site at Rosyth about the upcoming Strategy, emphasising the government’s commitment to fostering growth in the defence sector. The event, hosted by Minister Eagle, provided a platform for SMEs to explore challenges and opportunities within the shipbuilding industry, reinforcing the Strategy’s goal of ensuring defence investment supports UK-wide prosperity. With the consultation running…
Author: HM Government
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Up to 10,000 more apprentices will be able to qualify per year as the government cuts red tape to boost economic growth by giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements. Rules slowing down the training of workers in key industries like construction will also be changed as the government reveals plans to turbocharge growth industries with reduced bureaucracy for apprenticeships and new leadership also appointed for Skills England. Leading employers have been calling for these changes. Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will…
A Embaixada do Reino Unido no Brasil se prepara para lançar a edição 2025 do concurso cultural “Embaixadora Por um Dia”, uma iniciativa que celebra o Dia Internacional da Mulher e incentiva a participação feminina na política e nas relações internacionais. O concurso busca identificar jovens líderes mulheres (cis e trans) pretas, pardas ou indígenas, com idade entre 18 e 25 anos, que tenham interesse em diplomacia e engajamento político. A vencedora terá a oportunidade de vivenciar de perto a rotina diplomática, participando de reuniões, eventos e experiências imersivas na Embaixada do Reino Unido e em Brasília. Como participar As…
UK government ramps up its Plan for Change as new AI Growth Zone bidding opens Development hotbeds for AI set to revitalise local communities, attract fresh investment and deliver new opportunities Interest is already building for high-potential sites in Scotland, Wales, the North East and North West – with others now poised to come forward Thousands of new jobs are set to be created as the government opens bidding for its AI Growth Zones in a major drive to revitalise local communities as part of the government’s Plan for Change. Local and regional authorities across the UK are being encouraged…
Millions of people are set to benefit from improvements to the way homes are bought and sold, saving them both time and money by helping stop property transactions from falling through. Under major new plans, the government has announced today [February 9] it will modernise the way the process works to bring down current delays of almost five months. One of the key reasons the buying and selling process can be long and frustrating is a lack of digitalisation and join up in the sector, which is why the government is opening up key property information, ensuring this data can…
The SPIRIT programme (Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, Innovation and Transformation) will support Ukraine to strengthen more inclusive and efficient social protection systems and revitalise community and family-based services. SPIRIT will support the Foreign Secretary’s priority to ensure a safe and loving family for every child, improving social care services for 10,000 families across 10 regions The programme will help Ukraine lay foundations for a recovery that meets the needs of citizens in all their diversity including people with disabilities, veterans and other war-impacted groups. The UK will invest £25 million to strengthen Ukraine’s social protection system and services to…
We have supplied advice and recommendations to the Scottish Government, as it looks to develop a climate scenario decision tool for the public sector. The tool will provide guidance and support around the implementation of climate scenario analysis. This will enable consistent analysis of future climate-related risks across the public sector in Scotland. Research and engagement Our report, Using future climate scenarios to support today’s decision making (PDF, 890 KB) forms the basis for the guidance. It was commissioned on behalf of the Scottish Government by ClimateXChange, Scotland’s centre of expertise on climate change. After extensive research and stakeholder engagement,…
On 6 February 2025, with the support of the Department for Business and Trade, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a virtual seminar for UK women entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking to increase trade and investment with Japan. This continues an ongoing series of collaborative activities between the UK and Japan to uphold the commitments set out in the Women’s Economic Empowerment chapter of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It supports the delivery of the joint commitment to enhancing women’s ability to fully access and benefit from the opportunities created by this Agreement, and to reduce…
Funds will drive key health services, from smoking cessation to addiction recovery and children’s health Public Health Grant, which funds health services and other interventions via local authorities, expands to £3.858 billion, an uplift of 5.4% Part of the government’s Plan for Change to help build an NHS fit for the future. Local communities up and down the country will receive funding for family and school nurses, sexual health clinics and other public health services in their areas, thanks to a nearly £200 million boost in funding announced today (Friday 7 February). As part of government plans to improve health…
Prime Minister puts Britain back in the global race for nuclear energy. Changes will allow for Small Modular Reactors for the first time. Latest step in Government’s determination to grow the economy and deliver cleaner, more affordable energy. More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the Prime Minister slashes red tape to get Britain building – as part of his Plan for Change. Reforms to planning rules will clear a path for smaller, and easier to build nuclear reactors – known as Small Modular Reactors –to be built for the first time ever in the…