This aim of the exercise has been to invite feedback on ways to manage lorries when there is extraordinary cross-Channel disruption. The solution could be on or off-road, at one site or a number of sites. No sites or solutions have been chosen yet. Views are also welcomed on the possible provision of cross-channel border facilities for lorries and 24-hour lorry parking facilities for everyday use by lorry drivers, which could help with lorry parking problems in Kent.
Seven public information exhibitions have been held across Kent over the last five weeks, in Maidstone, Dover, Ashford, Canterbury and Folkestone. This week, members of the project team are visiting motorway service areas and truck stops in Kent to meet the public. People wanting to have their say can also do so on the website, or via the questionnaire, which can be picked up at over 30 locations across Kent.
Highways England project director John Kerner said:
The response to the listening exercise has been very positive, and we have spoken to many people with lots of interesting ideas. It is important to note that no sites or locations have yet been decided, and this exercise has enabled us to take a completely fresh look at what a permanent solution to Operation Stack could be. With less than one week to go, I encourage anyone with an interest to get involved.
The next step when the listening exercise has finished is for Highways England to analyse responses. If a scheme is progressed, Highways England will consult on more detailed options and proposals this winter. Any scheme that is taken forward will involve extensive public consultation and will require a full environmental impact assessments.
When extraordinary levels of disruption occur, Operation Stack is activated to queue lorries on the M20 until they can catch their ferry or train. In summer 2015, Operation Stack was in place for over 30 days. As a result, the Government asked Highways England to investigate options for management and handling of lorries caught up heading to Dover.
Without action, existing and likely future issues will continue to put pressure on the roads and motorways in Kent. With traffic levels due to increase, this would likely mean Operation Stack being activated more frequently.
The listening exercise started on 11 June and runs until 22 July 2018. While drop in sessions have now finished, information will be available at 30 locations countywide until 22 July.
Anyone interested in the scheme can sign up to receive updates via the project page on the Highways England website.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
A rubber inflatable boat manufacturing and repair company has today been sentenced after an employee sustained chemical burns while cleaning down a boat using solvents at its factory in Hull.
Today (16 July) Lord Ahmad, the Minister for Human Rights Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, publishes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2017 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.
The report is a barometer for the global human rights picture with particular emphasis on the FCO’s 30 Human Rights Priority Countries*. The report also focuses on how the UK is working to protect and promote human rights across the world.
It covers the period from January to December 2017.
The Minister for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, said:
50 years ago the UK played a vital role in drafting the seminal text that remains the cornerstone for human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
However, the ongoing repression of people’s rights reminds us that our work to defend them is as pressing and urgent as ever.
This report is vital in documenting the serious concerns we have about the human rights situations in a range of countries.
Standing up for human rights is not only the right thing; it helps to create a stable more prosperous world.
The report also focuses on how the UK is working to protect and promote human rights across the world.
*Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burma, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
Further information
Follow Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon @tariqahmadbt
Mr Govett is vastly experienced, having worked in leadership roles across the public, private and charitable sectors including as Group Chief Executive at Ixion Holdings, a not-for-profit skills and employment group of companies, Managing Director of Surrey County Council, Shaw Trust Charity Board Executive and P&O Ferries Commercial Board Director. He has a strong track record of driving transformational change, delivering outstanding services and leading successful growth.
A deputy chairman of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, he will take up his new post in October 2018. His appointment, for a four-and-a-half year term, follows an open and competitive recruitment process overseen by the Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments.
The government is bringing together 3 well known and respected organisations, the Money Advice Service, Pension Wise and the Pensions Advisory Service to create a new Single Financial Guidance Body offering UK-wide guidance on pensions and money, and debt advice in England.
SFGB is a fantastic opportunity to improve provision of free and impartial money and pensions guidance and debt advice so that people can make informed choices about their finances. This is a challenging but rewarding opportunity to lead on improving financial capability in the UK.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, said:
I’m delighted to welcome John Govett as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Single Financial Guidance Body.
John has extensive experience and knowledge from across a range of public and private organisations which make him the ideal candidate to establish this crucial new body, heralding a new era of excellence for financial guidance and debt advice in the UK. I look forward to working with John.
John Govett said:
I am honoured to be appointed the Chief Executive of the Single Financial Guidance Body. The new organisation will become a leader in its field, where we will strive to equip those in need of help with the money and pensions guidance and debt advice that they need to engage confidently with financial services. The key for the SFGB will be to focus on those services our customers need, with a joined-up partnership approach with the wider industry.
I very much look forward to this exciting new combined service offer for the public and our staff.
The Chair of the Single Financial Guidance Body, Sir Hector Sants, said:
The new organisation has a clear mission to help everyone manage their personal finances as well as their circumstances allow. My vision is of an organisation which is seen as transparent, accountable, effective and above all respected by all.
I am delighted that John is joining us and I look forward to supporting him over the coming years.
More information
John’s most recent role was as Group CEO of Ixion Holdings. His career has been in transformational change, partnership working, delivering outstanding services and leading successful growth. John has worked in the public, private and charitable sectors, with previous posts including Managing Director at Surrey County Council, Shaw Trust Charity Board Executive and P&O Ferries Commercial Board Director. John is also Deputy Chairman/Non-Executive Director of an NHS Foundation Trust acute hospital.
The department announced Sir Hector Sants as the new Chair of the SFGB in May 2018. Sir Hector spent his executive career in financial services and regulation, including as the Chief Executive of the Financial Services Authority, European CEO of Credit Suisse and a partner of stockbrokers Phillips & Drew. Since retiring from full time work, his focus has been helping people manage their money, and promoting a fairer financial system. Sir Hector is a trustee of Just Finance, a charity which collaborates with the Church of England to promote a fairer financial system, and a member of the UK’s Financial Capability Board. He is also Chairman of StepChange Debt Charity, the UK’s biggest debt advice charity, but will step down before joining the SFGB.
The SFGB will replace the 3 existing providers of government-sponsored financial guidance – the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise – bringing together the provision of debt advice, money guidance and pensions guidance for the first time. A new, single body provides an opportunity to deliver a more streamlined service to members of the public providing easier access to the information and guidance people need to help them make effective financial decisions throughout their lives.
We expect the SFGB to be established as a legal entity in October 2018 and start preparing for its official launch in January 2019 when the body takes on its delivery functions and staff will transfer to the new organisation. It will have 5 core functions:
the pensions guidance function – to provide information and guidance to the public on matters relating to occupational and personal pensions
the money guidance function – to provide information and guidance designed to enhance people’s understanding and knowledge of financial matters and their ability to manage their own financial affairs
the debt advice function – to provide members of the public in England with information and advice on debt
the consumer protection function – enabling the SFGB to work with government and the Financial Conduct Authority in protecting consumers from detriment
the strategic function – to work with others in the financial services industry, the devolved authorities, and the public and voluntary sectors to develop a national strategy to improve the financial capability of members of the public, the ability of members of the public to manage debt, and the provision of financial education to children and young people
The body will also provide advice to the Secretary of State on establishment of a debt respite scheme.
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Nick Robinson, a former Artificer Telecommunications with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), even had a spell with the US Army as part of his three decades in the armed forces.
Back in ‘civvy street’ he has landed a role project managing a scheme to turn part of the M1 in the Midlands into a smart motorway.
He is now urging anyone leaving the armed forces to follow his lead and consider a career with Highways England, the Government company responsible for the country’s motorways and major A roads.
Nick Robinson
Nick said:
The armed forces is a great place to work and it can seem a daunting task when thinking about leaving.
But I can honestly say I am finding life at Highways England similar to working in the Army – I’m proud of what I do, making a difference and helping others.
Two working days here are never the same, as was the case in the Army and as highly skilled ex-service personnel we can make an immediate contribution to the company’s work improving the country’s motorways and major roads.
I would urge anyone looking for a career change or a new challenge to give this company a go.
Nick recently spoke of his transition from the military to motorways at the Raja REME careers and employment event at the REME museum in Chippenham, where he provided inspiration for those looking for a career change or a new challenge following retirement from service.
Since proudly signing an Armed Forces Covenant in June 2017, Highways England has actively been supporting all leavers from the military through their reintegration into civilian careers, helping operate, maintain and improve the spine of the country.
New recruits to Highways England from the Armed Forces are all assigned a buddy who is also ex-military to support the new starter into the company and help smoothly integrate into the civilian work place.
Leading mental health charity, Combat Stress, who works with veterans helping them tackle the past and plan for the future, welcomed this recruitment campaign.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Executive of Combat Stress, Sue Freeth said:
Former servicemen and women bring enormous value to the workplace. Most service personnel make a successful transition to civilian life but a significant minority can struggle after leaving the military. At Combat Stress, veterans tell us that with the support of their employer, they’re able to engage in mental health treatment alongside full time work and have a rewarding career applying the skills and knowledge they developed in the military.
I’m delighted to see this campaign from Highways England to recruit more veterans into the company. The buddy initiative to help veterans transition to a civilian job is a fantastic example of how a company has created an effective support programme in the workplace.
Most of Highways England’s roles are suitable for the ex-forces with many of the skills being transferable. Popular roles include operations and project management, through to support functions such as commercial and procurement and IT roles.
Interview with Nick on how he made his transition into Highways England
Q. Did you always want to join the military? Is there a family history?
Funnily enough, there isn’t. I left school in the 70’s and went on to be an apprentice heavy engineer. Let’s put it this way, I didn’t have a good relationship with my boss, so one day I left for the day and went into town and applied to join The Army. I did and completed 31 and a half years in service.
Q. Why did you choose Highways England?
I left the Army and spent some time transitioning and moving home with my wife to the North West. I soon realised that my CV was too specialised and needed to move to a place where there was more opportunity.
I ended up returning to the Midlands, where I am originally from, working for a company called Force Protection Europe, a military vehicle that can withstand explosions and provides specialised protection against roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Following this, I travelled around the world and became a qualified diver. On my return home, I attended the engineering construction fair at the NEC. Contacts there helped me to construct my CV and advised me to consider companies like Network Rail or The National Grid. After searching specialist websites I came across the project manager role at Highways England, and I’m really pleased I did.
Q. How did you find the transition from military to motorways?
I just took it in my stride. Everyone has a different way of coping with returning to civilian life, and I have my way that works for me.
Q. Is there one particular skill you’ve brought from the military that you find particularly useful in your new position?
Rolling with the punches. Two working days at Highways England are never the same, as was the case in the Army.
Q. What does it mean to be a Project Manager for Highways England? What is your role from day to day?
Similar to working in the Army – I’m proud of what I do, making a difference and helping others. I am the assistant project manager for a scheme to convert the M1 between junctions 23a to 25 into a smart motorway, smart , so I am helping to improve people’s journeys; no two days are the same and I cover all aspects of project management including leading from the front.
Q. What do you most enjoy about your job here?
I go out at least twice a week on to my scheme, and it’s great to actually see the difference and changes as it develops.
Q. This year is The Year of Engineering, what would be your one message to inspire the young?
Go for it! If you’re thinking of doing it – don’t think about it, just go for it!
Q. One piece of advice for any member of the Army who might be looking to change careers but are worried about leaving the armed forces?
Research, research, research. Research where you are going, research the qualifications you have and how you can convert them into something a company is looking for, and then research how you will approach the company – do you have a connection that can make an introduction? How will you write your covering letter?
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
