Month: June 2018

• UK exports increased by 8.2 % in the year to May 2018
• tech gadgets are top of the list in most Father’s Day wish lists
• there is global demand for quality British goods, with companies such as Mo Bros and Extreme Fliers seeing a rise in their international business since joining the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) exporting programmes

The value of UK goods exports increased by 8.2 % in the year to May 2018, recent HMRC data shows.

Making the most of international demand, Leicester-based Mo Bros are now exporting their beard care goods to 78 countries, providing the latest facial fashion to fathers everywhere.

After embarking on the challenge to ‘grow a mo’ for charity in 2014, brothers Keval, Kunal and Savan Dattani identified a gap in the market for grooming products which catered for all beard types – and so Mo Bros was born. Sourcing the finest British ingredients, the brothers produce a beard care range, exporting over 250,000 products to men around the world in the last 3 years.

Kunal Dattani, co-founder of Mo Bro’s, said:

Since working with DIT, we’ve found that there is huge international appetite for our products. The quality of British-stamped products is appreciated around the world meaning the possibilities for exporting is huge – if we can do it, so can other businesses.

Tech gadgets are at the top of most Father’s Day wish lists this year, and Extreme Fliers – the designers and manufacturers of personal Micro Drone technology – have seen significant export growth in the US.

Vernon Kerswell founded the company 4 years ago and now has a team of 12 inventors, designers and engineers. Since joining DIT’s E-Exporting programme in 2017, the company has rapidly increased online sales through US tech e-marketplace Newegg.

Vernon Kerswell, CEO, Extreme Fliers said:

Out of our small design studio in South London, we have built one of the UK’s leading drone technology companies. By combining the best high-tech engineering with global supply chains, we are able to develop products and scale very fast. With the DIT’s E-Exporting programme our products can quickly reach exciting new markets and customers around the world.

International Trade Minister Graham Stuart MP said:

It’s great to see companies such as Mo Bros and Extreme Fliers making the most of an ever-growing global demand for British goods and services.

The Department for International Trade offers a wide range of export support services to assist British businesses to take advantage of these global opportunities. This support includes our international trade advisers, a comprehensive list of export opportunities on great.gov.uk and our award-winning export credit agency, UK Export Finance.

Recent figures released by HMRC show the number of businesses exporting goods in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is at 109,000 – a rise of 4.1 % from the previous year.

In the first months of 2018, the average value of goods exported per business was £750,000.

For further information

Contact the DIT Media Team on 020 7215 2000 or email newsdesk@trade.gov.uk

Follow us: @tradegovuk, gov.uk/dit

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened a statutory inquiry into Asthan Babe Ke Trust (1027792). The inquiry was opened on 11 May 2018.

The charity’s objects include advancing the Sikh religion and education, the relief of poverty, and the provision of facilities for social recreation and elderly care facilities in the region of the West Midlands and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

The Commission has serious regulatory concerns that the charity has not been properly managed by its trustees, as a result of an internal dispute.

A regulatory compliance case was opened in 2017 after concerns were raised regarding allegations of personal benefits, unmanaged conflicts of interest, invalid appointment of trustees, undeclared income and poor financial controls. The Commission then set the charity an action plan to help the trustees resolve the dispute and issues raised which included commencing a mediation process.

The Commission is concerned about whether the trustees have sufficient oversight and control over the charity’s funds, payments and records given that the charity is seemingly controlled and administered by an executive committee who manage the charity’s cash funds.

The Commission is also concerned about the management of the charity’s freehold assets of almost £1.8m. In order to protect the charity’s assets, the Commission advised the trustees to vest its UK property in the Official Custodian. However, the trustees have so far failed to do so.

The trustees have failed to make any meaningful progress against the regulator’s action plan. As a result the Commission has opened a statutory inquiry to address its concerns.

The inquiry will examine:

• the governance, management and administration of the charity by the trustees, with particular regard to:
  • whether the trustees have exercised sufficient oversight and control of the charity, especially with regards to its assets
  • whether the trustees are willing/capable of managing the charity in accordance with its governing document
  • whether the trustees have complied with previously issued regulatory guidance; and
  • whether connected party transactions have been properly managed

It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries by the Commission are available on GOV.UK.

Notes to editors

1. The Charity Commission is the regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work see the about us page on GOV.UK.
2. Search for charities on our check charity tool.
3. Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Commission the power to institute inquiries. The opening of an inquiry gives the commission access to a range of investigative, protective and remedial legal powers.

A national Windrush Day backed by new government funding will take place on 22 June every year, encouraging communities across the country to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants, Communities Minister Lord Bourne announced today (18 June 2018).

The event will be overseen by a body of British Caribbean representatives and a Windrush Day grant of up to £500,000 will be available each year to charities and communities seeking to hold commemorative and educational events.

The British Caribbean community have been consulted widely to ensure the legacy and contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants is recognised and celebrated.

The announcement comes as the nation prepares for a range of Windrush 70 activities to commemorate the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks. A National Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on 22 June 2018 will form the centrepiece of events.

Communities Minister Lord Bourne said:

A Windrush Day will allow communities up and down the country to recognise and honour the enormous contribution of those who stepped ashore at Tilbury Docks 70 years ago. It will keep their legacy alive for future generations, ensuring that we all celebrate the diversity of Britain’s history.

It is a truly proud moment as we start a week of exciting Windrush 70 events, headed by a National Service at Westminster Abbey, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Windrush.

70 years ago on 22 June 1948 the Empire Windrush landed at Tilbury Docks, Essex. The arrival of 492 passengers from the Caribbean marked a seminal moment in Britain’s history, and has come to stand for the rich diversity of this nation.

The Windrush Generation made a huge contribution to rebuilding the country following the war and their settlement and their descendants have continued to enrich social, economic, political and religious life.

Windrush Foundation Director Arthur Torrington said:

The announcement of a national Windrush Day is a moment of great satisfaction. It will cement in the national consciousness the important contribution of those who travelled from the Caribbean to Britain 70 years ago to build a better life and participate in making Britain a stronger nation.

Their legacy has lived on in their children and grandchildren and the communities they have built across the country. For years to come, Windrush Day will bring people together to celebrate this vital part of our shared history and heritage.

Churches Together Dr Joe Aldred said:

The national service at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Empire Windrush marks a hugely important moment for the nation.

Over successive generations the British Caribbean community has shown resilience and contributed so much to British life. Windrush 70 will honour this contribution and the hugely positive impact the Windrush Generation and their descendants have had to make this country stronger.

Lambeth Councillor Sonia Winifred said:

Windrush 70 is not just a commemoration of the long journey made by several hundred people but recognition of their legacy which has changed all our lives – culturally, socially, economically and politically. As the Windrush 70 logo says, it’s part of our DNA and nowhere more so than Lambeth.

Confirmation of the annual event forms part of the Windrush 70 campaign that will see celebratory activities including dance performances, exhibitions and debates continue throughout the year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is funding a number of events, including the following:

• National Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey
• AGE UK Windrush 70 tea party hosted by Lambeth Council
• Phoenix Dance Company performance of Windrush: Movement of the People at Lambeth Town Hall
• Commemorative ‘platinum’ pin badges designed by Brixton-based design group Champion Agency to be distributed at key Windrush 70 events throughout the country

Further information

www.windrush70.org will list a range of events taking place up and down the country.