Day: February 6, 2023

• Malaysia and Chile ratify membership of CPTPP, bolstering the Indo-Pacific trade bloc worth a combined £9 trillion of GDP
• The UK is working to become the first European member of the bloc this year with negotiations progressing well
• British businesses can add Malaysia and Chile to the list of countries they could benefit from lower tariffs on exports to now they have joined CPTPP

Malaysia and Chile have officially joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), meaning British businesses will get better access and lower tariffs in the Malaysian and Chilean markets when the UK joins the dynamic trade bloc.

Malaysia is one of the CPTPP members with which the UK does not currently have a bilateral free trade agreement. The UK and Malaysia both joining CPTPP will greatly increase the UK’s access to the Malaysian market and could boost the £2.9bn worth of exports we currently sell there annually.

Chile was the first country to sign a trade deal with the UK after we left the EU which secured preferential access to each other’s markets. Chile remains one of the foremost champions of free and open trade in the Pacific region and is keen to deepen our trading relationship, which was already worth £1.5bn in 2021.

Joining CPTPP will also provide opportunities for collaboration with Chile in areas such as fintech, green finance and cybersecurity, supporting innovation in our financial services sector and helping develop our countries as leaders of financial services.

The UK is making good progress in negotiating our own accession to CPTPP. UK accession could mean more than 99% of UK exports to member countries become eligible for tariff-free trade.

Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands said:

This is great news for UK businesses and global free trade. The Indo-Pacific has some of the most innovative and fast-growing economies in the world and closer ties with markets like Malaysia and Chile will demonstrate how our trade agenda is delivering for the whole of the UK.

I’ve spent the last few days in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss our accession to CPTPP which will take the bloc from 12% to 15% of global GDP and will mean we are using our independent trading powers to bring a new, strong, persuasive voice to a network committed to free trade.

Sheffield-based chilli paste manufacturer Mak Tok has been exploring Malaysia as a new potential market and is looking to license the brand and partner with a manufacturer in the country.

Mak Tok rose to fame after showcasing its Malaysian chilli paste and sauces on Dragon’s Den. The business has been created around traditional Malaysian cuisine and already exports to other CPTPP member countries including New Zealand.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has supported Mak Tok on its exporting journey and the benefit of improved market access could mean they see increased opportunities to trade with Malaysia as joint members of CPTPP.

Mak Tok Founder Will Chew said:

Malaysia and its neighbouring countries have always been markets Mak Tok has been trying to penetrate. For the past few months, we have been working closely with our dedicated International Trade Advisor and the wider Department for International Trade (DIT) team on a strategy to establish those critical initial contacts in the region.

Being a part of CPTPP will accelerate our conversations with potential manufacturing and distribution partners, which will generate a new revenue stream for the business, expand our market reach and increase the movement of our products.

These key metrics will fuel the growth of Mak Tok by attracting new key investors in the Indo-Pacific region to help drive the brand even further.

Founded in Bath in 1990, the Fine Cheese Co. export a range of traditionally made artisan cheeses from independent producers from across the UK. The product can currently be found in over 600 delicatessens, farm shops and independent retailers across the UK and thirty other nations across the globe, from Chile to Australia.

Fine Cheese Co. Owner and Director, John Siddall, said:

Having exported to the country since 2008, The Fine Cheese Co. is excited about the future opportunity of the Chilean market at the nation’s gourmet market expands.

The most recent round of CPTPP negotiations, held in London in December, made good progress and the UK continues to engage in talks on both a bilateral and collective basis with CPTPP members.

Joining CPTPP puts Britain at the heart of a dynamic group of countries, as the world economy increasingly centres on the Pacific region. As these economies grow, stronger trade links with these countries are crucial to benefiting from this growth.

Notes to editors

• CPTPP is made up of 11 countries in the Asia Pacific and Americas, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam
• CPTPP had a combined GDP of £9 trillion and was home to over 500 million people in 2021
• CPTPP membership not only offers significant direct opportunities for UK exports, but it could also act as a gateway to the wider Indo-Pacific region, which is expected to account for the majority (56%) of global economic growth between 2019 and 2050.

• Thousands of apprenticeship opportunities to be advertised to young people alongside undergraduate degrees in plans to broaden UCAS
• Half of UCAS applicants would consider an apprenticeship, but not enough vacancies are being offered to meet growing demand
• Education Secretary sets out ambition to go further still, to develop a one-stop-shop to make it easier for young people to see all education and training options and apply for them

Young people will be able to use UCAS to search and apply for apprenticeships, alongside degrees, under new plans announced by the Education Secretary and UCAS today (6 February).

From this autumn, UCAS will expand their service so that young people can see more personalised options, including apprenticeships. From 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships through UCAS alongside an undergraduate degree application.

Almost half of people that register on UCAS say they would consider an apprenticeship, but currently there are not enough vacancies being advertised through the service to meet growing demand.

The plans will help put technical and vocational education on an equal footing with traditional academic routes. By opening up the service to apprenticeship opportunities, thousands more young people will benefit from a wider choice of high-quality options. Employers will also benefit from better access to talent on UCAS and the ability to manage their apprentice recruitment process.

Announcing the plans during National Apprenticeship Week, the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan pledged to go further still, and develop a one-stop-shop where young people can compare the full range of occupations, training and education opportunities available to them.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said:

My apprenticeship was my golden ticket. It gave me a unique insight into how a business
operated, from the shop floor to the boardroom.

I learnt the skills that businesses truly value and it launched my career in international
business.

This National Apprenticeship week I hope more people learn about the incredible
opportunities available in everything from engineering to accountancy, healthcare to
gaming software development. Whatever career goals you aspire to, they can be achieved
through an apprenticeship, up to masters degree level.

Clare Marchant, Chief Executive of UCAS said:

Presenting students with all their choices in one place will not only transform the
apprenticeship offering but create real parity by putting these options side-by-side with
undergraduate courses.  

As an independent charity working across the UK and globally, students are at the heart
of everything we do at UCAS, and with almost half of all UCAS users interested in
apprenticeships, equating to hundreds of thousands of potential apprentices, we can help
meet this growing demand by showcasing all post-secondary opportunities.

Today’s announcement by the Department for Education shows the commitment to deliver
a clear, accessible and joined-up service that will help students discover, decide and apply
in one place, enabling them to achieve their future careers aspirations.

Over 1.5m students already use the UCAS Hub to access information on different education and training routes. From 2023, students will be able to explore apprenticeship opportunities alongside undergraduate courses within the Hub, allowing them to discover and decide between their options in the same place for the first time. It will also show students the different routes into a single career destination, meaning if a student is interested in, for example, engineering, they will see the undergraduate and apprenticeship routes displayed side-by-side.

From autumn 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships within the UCAS Hub and employers will be able to manage applications for their apprenticeship vacancies through UCAS too.

So that as many apprenticeship vacancies are advertised through the Hub as possible, the Government will collaborate with UCAS to share vacancy information collated through its Find an Apprenticeship Service, which already collates and advertises thousands of opportunities.

The government’s ambition is to develop a seamless ‘one-stop shop’ where a young person can explore all the high-quality options and learn about the skills and knowledge they need to develop to succeed in their chosen career, whether it’s a level 2 apprenticeship, a T Level, a degree, a Skills Bootcamp, a higher technical qualification or a degree apprenticeship. The Government has asked the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education to use their work to map technical career routes to support this.

John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager said:

This is fantastic news for the future of apprenticeships. Amazon is celebrating our tenth
year of offering apprenticeships in the UK, and we currently have around 1,700 in training.
One theme we often hear from current apprentices is the need to increase awareness of
apprenticeships as a viable career path. We are clear on the benefits to both the
apprentices, who earn and learn at the same time, as well as to employers, who gain
access to incredible talent while shaping the skills needed for the future. Amazon is proud
to support UCAS and the Department for Education this National Apprenticeship Week to
promote these opportunities.

Richard Hamer, Director of Education and Skills, BAE Systems plc said:

BAE Systems is committed to supporting apprenticeships and young people so we are
delighted to hear there will be better matching between the UCAS Hub Users and
apprenticeship vacancies. This will help support both young people looking for
apprenticeship opportunities and us, as employers, identifying diverse talent for our
apprenticeship programmes.

Vanessa Wilson, CEO University Alliance said:

As the body representing leading professional and technical universities across the UK,
we welcome moves to better support students into degree apprenticeships. Delivering
skilled and job ready graduates is in the DNA of alliance universities, and we positively
embrace any opportunity to provide students at all levels and ages with routes into
education and training.

It is important that a wide range of opportunities appropriate to individual learning
preference is available to all, and that these deliver the best outcomes for the learner as
well as employers and society.

As the gold standard course and provider platform for generations, UCAS are the natural
choice to deliver information, advice and opportunities in the apprenticeship space.
Alliance universities stand ready to deliver these training opportunities.

Jane Hickie, Chief Executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers said:

Accessing information about apprenticeships can be confusing and complicated at times.
That’s why we’re delighted to see that UCAS will expand their apprenticeship service to
match potential apprentices with vacancies. This could be a gamechanger, and alongside
an enhanced talent finder function for employers, is much needed. It also shows how
apprenticeships are a really valuable option for learners and employers alike.

We would urge employers and training providers to work closely with UCAS to showcase
the opportunities they have for potential learners to ensure this improved service becomes
a real success.

Karen Luckly-Tang, Head of Future Talent,  Legal and General Group PLC said:

At Legal & General, a well skilled, talented workforce is absolutely critical to our mission.
Having apprentices that are talented, ambitious and diverse is absolutely key and we are
delighted that UCAS is developing its services to employers further to enable this. We look
forward to being part of this exciting development in attracting the very best to this ‘earn
whilst you learn’ route.

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, said:

Degree apprenticeship provision at universities like Sheffield Hallam have grown
substantially since their introduction. In fact, apprenticeships across all levels are an
increasingly important part of our education eco-system.

We welcome this announcement as a step towards providing learners with better
information on all the options available to them, so that they can take a considered view on
what route is best for them.

Adam Tickell, VC at the University of Birmingham, said:

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer degree apprenticeships in partnership with
major employers and smaller firms because our collaborations offer exceptional education
and training opportunities.  We also offer apprenticeship opportunities in many of our
technical and professional services to provide essential training in shortage areas. We
welcome this step to make it easier for prospective students to apply for apprenticeships
alongside undergraduate degrees.

John Cope, executive director at UCAS and leading board member for IfATE, said:

This new, ground-breaking partnership between UCAS, Government and IFATE will see
undergraduate degrees and apprenticeships sit side-by-side for the first time, boosting
apprenticeship and supporting our economy to grow.

At UCAS, we know over 50% of those who set up their account with us are interested in
doing an apprenticeship, while data from IFATE shows 84% of those who become and
apprentice feel they made the right choice. This new partnership will boost numbers and
make sure more people are making the right choice for them as they plot their career plan.

From today households across Great Britain who don’t use mains gas for heating will start receiving £200 towards their energy bills as the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme launches. Most will get the £200 AFP automatically as a credit on their electricity bill but some customers will need to apply for the support later this month.

Nearly 2 million households who use alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to warm their homes will receive the support which was doubled to £200 last year.

The vast majority, including many homes in rural areas, will get it automatically through their electricity supplier as a credit on their bill throughout February. A small minority of customers, such as those living in park homes or on static houseboats with no direct energy supplier, will need to apply to receive the payment through an online portal that will launch later this month.

Meanwhile from Wednesday, energy suppliers will also be able to start making payments to businesses and both public and voluntary sector organisations that use alternative fuels to heat their buildings. A credit of £150 will be provided to eligible customers across the UK through the Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment scheme (ND-AFP). Suppliers will deliver this support up to 10 March, with most customers expected to receive it later this month. There is no need to contact your supplier.

This comes as new figures show that, thanks to the government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme, £3 billion has been cut from business energy bills in just over 3 months – helping both private and public sector organisations from schools, to hospitals and pubs.

Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said:

Our main energy bill support schemes have seen millions of homes and businesses across the country get much needed help to cover costs, with figures today showing nearly £3 billion in government support has been paid out to business to date. Now we’re getting support to those remaining few that are off the gas grid and most difficult to reach.

I am determined to see households and businesses of all stripes protected from global pressures this winter – whether that’s those living in a houseboat, park home or operating a rural hospital or school.

That’s why we are kicking off payments of £200 to households using alternative fuel to heat their homes today – while businesses and organisations using alternative fuels will receive a boost of £150 in the coming weeks.

Ministers are today warning households to stay vigilant to scams and only to enter their details on the government’s gov.uk website, which will provide all official communications, if applying for support. No one will be asked for information by any individual or organisation prior to this or outside of the portal. Those that require additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

These schemes form part of a suite of energy bill support for domestic and non-domestic customers across the UK for winter 2022-2023.

On the domestic side, the Energy Price Guarantee is saving a typical UK household £900 over this winter by reducing the unit cost of electricity and gas, while the Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a further £400 off electricity bills through a monthly discount of £66 or £67. So the average family is saving £1300 altogether while more vulnerable households have received £800 on top of that as well – making a £2100 saving.

Businesses and other non-domestic customers are also benefiting from government support on a comparable basis. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a direct subsidy of wholesale electricity and gas prices until the end of March, protecting jobs in charities and businesses alike. This will then be replaced by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme from April, which will offer universal support albeit at a reduced rate to protect the public finances.

Notes to editors

Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment

Domestic AFP support was doubled to £200 in the Autumn Statement to help with rising fuel costs. Automatic payments will appear as a credit on bills and start from 6 February. They are expected to be completed within the month – although this will depend on customers’ suppliers and how they pay their bills.

A small minority of customers, including those living in park homes or on houseboats with no direct electricity supplier, will need to apply to the domestic AFP Alternative Fund to receive payment. An application portal on gov.uk will open later in February, alongside further information on which households will need to apply. Those on the gas grid but without a gas connection and using alternative fuels as their main heating source will also likely need to take this route.

Customers should take no action until the online portal launches later in February. The application process will require customers to enter their household bank details onto the gov.uk portal. Customers will not be asked for details by any individual or organisation prior to this or outside of the portal, and any such contact is likely to be a scam. If you require additional help when applying for your AFP support, you may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

Non-domestic Alternative Fuel Payment

Last year the government committed to providing businesses and other non-domestic energy customers using alternative fuels with support equivalent to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This includes shops, offices, libraries, schools, hospitals, factories, and farms, among others. A credit of £150 will be provided to eligible customers across the UK through the Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment scheme (ND-AFP).

The government has today issued instructions to electricity suppliers on how to deliver this support to eligible customers. Credits will be delivered by 10 March, with most businesses expected to receive it later this month.

Electricity suppliers will be provided with a list of households eligible to receive support under the Alternative Fuel Payments (AFP), identifiable by their Meter Point Access Number (MPAN).

• MPANs are unique codes assigned to everyone’s electricity supply. The government determined whether an MPAN was eligible by taking a list of all domestic MPANs and removing those which are on the gas grid or where the local area predominantly uses electricity for heating
• households eligible to receive £200 AFP have been determined using:
  • GB post codes where there is no active gas meter connection as of 13 December 2022
  • mapping active GB post codes to Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOA) using ONS National Statistics Postcode Lookup
  • census data on heating type
  • the MPAN report produced by the Retail Energy Code (REC), which will be accurate as of February 2023.

The AFP Alternative Fund application portal will open later in February. The application process will require households to provide their bank details – any direct request for your bank details from any individual or organisation is very likely a scam and should not be responded to.