International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox will launch the government’s new Cyber Security Export Strategy today (Monday 26 March) to promote the UK’s world-leading expertise and strengthen defence capabilities in the UK and allied countries.
With recent cyber attacks threatening NATO countries as well as large global and UK organisations, the government is urging businesses from both the UK and allied countries to ensure they have the best security possible.
Dr Fox said today’s strategy will help the UK’s 800 cyber security companies to win contracts that provide security for high profile international buyers and protect networks across the world.
UK cyber exports overall totalled £1.5bn in 2016, and global demand for software products to protect digital systems from vulnerabilities continues to grow, with total spend expected to exceed £759 billion by 2021.
This new cyber security export strategy supports the ongoing work of the 2016 National Cyber Security Strategy. The 2016 strategy provided £1.9 billion of transformative investment in cyber security, which is being used alongside more conventional land, maritime and air capabilities, to meet these threats head-on.
International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said:
Recent events show that the UK faces a diverse range of threats from hostile state actors. So in an increasingly digital world, it’s vital that we improve our cyber capabilities, which are crucial for national security and prosperity.
The strategy I am publishing today will support UK companies to export our world-leading cyber security expertise, which will help strengthen our capabilities, and protect our country and our allies from those who wish us harm.
This new strategy has been developed with industry and comes with robust export control regimes which will safeguard human rights.
The launch is backed by ADS, the UK trade association for the security sector, who say the export strategy is an important step to help the UK’s world-leading cyber security companies reach new markets and continue to grow.
ADS Chief Executive, Paul Everitt, said:
Public and private organisations in the UK and around the world are facing rapidly evolving cyber security threats. In the UK we have a diverse range of companies able to provide world-leading expertise and innovation to combat these threats.
The UK’s cyber security exports are already worth £1.5bn a year and we expect this area of activity to continue offering the strongest export growth in the security sector in the years ahead.
This new strategy announced today can help the sector continue to grow, make a greater contribution to national prosperity, and protect the UK and our allies from threats in cyberspace.
-ENDS-
Background
The strategy follows the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s investment in 2 world-class cyber innovation centres in Cheltenham and London. The ground-breaking partnership between government and tech start-ups will develop world-leading technologies to protect the UK and organisations overseas from cyber attacks.
The Cyber Security Export Strategy sets out 3 commitments from the Department for International Trade (DIT) to UK cyber companies:
Pursue: in priority markets DIT will act as a trusted advisor to support UK companies bidding for major opportunities, primarily selling to overseas governments and critical national infrastructure providers.
Enable: DIT will curate bespoke offers for the top buyers in these sectors worldwide, running trade missions and pitching UK companies to address identified capability gaps.
Respond: to showcase the best of UK cyber security updated branding and marketing will be developed and deployed around the globe alongside new cyber security content on great.gov.uk.
Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has today (23 March 2018) written to 15 local authorities in England to inform them of decisions on intervention following their continued failure to produce a local plan, which are key to setting out how and where they expect to meet residents’ needs for new homes, for more than a decade.
In November 2017, the government confirmed it would commence the consideration of intervention in 15 local authorities where there has been a failure to produce a local plan.
Local Plans are a key part of the government’s comprehensive programme of planning reform and targeted investment to ensure the homes local communities need are built.
The councils had until 31 January 2018 to explain why they hadn’t yet published a plan, providing any exceptional circumstances for why the government shouldn’t intervene.
Following their submission, the government is now setting out next steps.
Of the 15 local authorities:
in Castle Point, Thanet, and Wirral, the government’s Chief Planner and a team of experts will be sent in to assess if the government needs to take over the process of producing the local plan
in Northumberland the government has instructed the council to produce their plan earlier and to make the timetable clearer
in Basildon, Bolsover, Brentwood, Calderdale, Eastleigh, Mansfield, St Albans, which have all committed to publishing draft plans before the end of September 2018, the government has made clear it will monitor their progress and that any further significant delay to meet this timescale will lead to the case for intervention being reconsidered
4 local authorities – Liverpool, North East Derbyshire, Runnymede, York – have since published their plans
Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has written to them to welcome this progress, but has made clear that should there be any further significant delays to their timetable to submit the plan, the government will not hesitate to act.
The government has abolished top-down regional planning. But a locally-led planning system requires elected local representatives to take the lead, listen to local residents and business, and set out a clear framework to build new homes, provide key infrastructure, support the local economy and protect the environment.
Most councils have seized the opportunity that localism presents – however a small minority have not and do not have a local plan in place. This can mean uncertainty for local people, have a negative impact on neighbourhood planning groups, result in piecemeal speculative housing development and communities having no plans in place for crucial local infrastructure and services.
Housing Secretary Sajid Javid said:
Whilst most councils rightly recognise their responsibilities and most have worked hard to meet the housing challenge, some have failed.
I expect those authorities we identified in November to continue to make progress. I’m also stepping it up with 3 councils in particular, sending in a team of experts to make a direct assessment, ensuring they plan properly for the future or we’ll have to do it for them.
The department has also commenced preparations to take over plan production so that work can begin as soon as possible, subject to decisions taken after the Chief Planner and his experts report back.
A procurement process is currently underway to secure planning consultants and specialists who will swiftly undertake the work on plan production should these councils not comply in the time required.
The department will also make contact with county councils and combined authorities in the areas concerned about the possibility of inviting those authorities to write plans.
The housing white paper set out how the government would prioritise intervention – where:
the least progress in plan-making has been made
policies in plans had not been kept up to date
there was higher housing pressure
intervention would have the greatest impact in accelerating local plan production
The strategy also made clear that decisions on intervention will also be informed by the wider planning context in each area (specifically, the extent to which authorities are working cooperatively to put strategic plans in place, and the potential impact that not having a plan has on neighbourhood planning activity).
Planning experts – Castle Point, Thanet, and Wirral
The government’s Chief Planner, Steve Quartermain CBE and a team of experts will report back to the Secretary of State who will then take a final decision on formal intervention later this year.
In addition, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will conduct formal discussions with relevant county councils and city regions to see if they could take over plan production on the Secretary of State’s behalf.
Issued for and on behalf of Dame Judith Hackitt and the Independent Review team
This week, Dame Judith Hackitt hosted a meeting of the Chairs of the working groups which were formed following the Independent Review’s interim report publication in December and Summit meeting in January.
The working groups were asked to consider how to develop elements of a more effective building regulations and fire safety system, taking forward the directions of travel identified by Dame Judith in her interim report.
We had an overwhelming response for people to be involved. To ensure the groups were able to respond in a timely manner, it was necessary to restrict the size but group chairs were encouraged to consult as widely as possible when developing their advice.
The inputs of the working groups will be made available after the final report.
Dame Judith praised the commitment of the working groups, all of which have met multiple times over a 6-week period and thanked them for the quality of their contributions.
She will now consider their advice as she develops the recommendations of her final report, intended to deliver the systemic overhaul and culture change required of the building regulations and fire safety system to make sure the people are safe, and feel safe, in the homes that they live in.
Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report will be published in the spring.
Dame Judith and the Independent Review Team would like to thank the following organisations and experts for their contributions.
This group looked at how to ensure an accurate record of high risk/complex buildings is compiled during the design and construction phase, and then handed to the person responsible for managing the building during occupation.
Chair
Independent Review Team
Members
National Fire Chiefs Council
Local Authority Building Control
Construction Products Association
National Housing Federation
Health and Safety Executive
Institution of Fire Engineers
Digital Built Britain
Working Group 3: Regulations and Guidance
Chair
Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association
Members
Building Research Establishment
Build UK
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
Fire Industry Association
Health and Safety Executive
Local Authority Building Control
National Fire Chiefs Council
Working Group 4: Competence
Chair
Graham Watts, Construction Industry Council
Members
BUILDUK
CICAIR
Chartered Institute of Building
Construction Industry Training Board
Engineering Council
Fire Industry Association
Fire Protection Association
Institution of Fire Engineers
Local Authority Building Control
National Fire Chiefs Council
Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
School of Engineering University of Edinburgh
Working Group 5: Residents’ Voice
Chair
Darren Hartley, Tenants and Resident Organisations of England
Members
Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA)
British Property Federation
Camden Leaseholders Forum, nominated by LEASE
Confederation of Co-operative Housing
Fire Industry Association
Local Government Association
National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations
Optivo Homes, nominated by National Housing Federation
Shelter
Tenant Participation Advisory Service (Tpas)
Working Group 6: Quality Assurance and Products
Chair
Dr. Debbie Smith, Building Research Establishment (BRE)
Members
British Board of Agrement
British Standards Institution
Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, University of Central Lancashire
BGO Entertainment Ltd has formally agreed to change the way it offers bonus promotions to customers playing casino-like games online. This means players will be able to access and release their own money.
This follows an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), conducted in collaboration with the Gambling Commission, to make sure the £4.7 billion online gambling sector is not breaking consumer protection law in its promotions.
BGO has now given the CMA formal commitments that it will be clear in the terms and conditions of its bonus promotions, and that it will prominently flag any significant restrictions to players. It will not have terms which:
Require people to play multiple times before allowing them to withdraw their own money
Prevent them from withdrawing their full balance by minimum withdrawal limits
Could oblige players to take part in publicity.
The commitments were made in response to the CMA’s concerns that certain terms in these promotions were likely to be unfair, and that its practices could mislead consumers in breach of consumer protection law. This follows similar commitments given by 3 other operators – Ladbrokes, William Hill, and PT Entertainment – announced on 1 February 2018.
BGO has also separately agreed that it will not include terms which could be used to unfairly change promotions after players have opted in.
George Lusty, CMA Senior Director for Consumer Protection, said:
Gambling firms should not have terms that could be used to catch players out by unfairly changing their promotions after a customer has opted in.
We are therefore pleased that BGO has pledged to make these important changes. Following the CMA’s action, the gambling industry is rightly taking steps to overhaul online terms and conditions that could be misleading or unfair.
Before entering into these commitments with the CMA, BGO had already made welcome changes to address some of the CMA’s concerns – such as removing restrictions on winnings from cash deposits.
Notes for editors
The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. It is an independent non-ministerial government department with responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law. For CMA updates, follow us on Twitter @CMAgovuk, Facebook, Flickr and LinkedIn.
The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in Great Britain in partnership with licensing authorities. It also regulates the National Lottery. Regulations are aimed at ensuring gambling is crime-free, fair and open and children and other vulnerable people are protected. It advises central and local government on the impact of gambling and its regulation. It holds operators to account; it ensures operators meet licensing standards and takes action against those that don’t. It ensures that National Lottery returns to good causes are maximised.
The key pieces of consumer protection legislation relevant to the CMA’s investigation are the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
The CMA opened an investigation into the gambling sector’s compliance with consumer protection law in October 2016 after hearing about a range of concerns that suggested some operators were not treating their customers fairly. This investigation heard from over 1,000 customers with concerns. The CMA investigation required companies to answer questions about how they operate, it closely examined the advertising and terms on a range of websites, and asked companies to give it demonstrations of the consumer journey and consumer play on their sites.
The CMA acknowledges the co-operation of BGO, and in particular that in October 2017 it made a number of welcome changes which addressed some of the CMA’s concerns.
Media enquiries to the CMA should be directed to press@cma.gsi.gov.uk or 020 3738 6798.
Media enquiries to the Gambling Commission should be directed to Ben Glass at bglass@gamblingcommission.gov.uk on 0121 230 6700.
As part of the major A19 Coast Road project which is creating a triple decker roundabout, the first of its kind in the North East, a time capsule containing items donated by schools and businesses will be buried on site.
One of the schools that has been involved is Hadrian Park Primary School which was visited by the Mayor of North Tyneside Norma Redfearn.
During her visit she spoke to the children about the items they were putting into the capsule including a video which the children produced themselves about the school and teachers.
Highways England assistant project manager Steven Cox said:
We have been really pleased with the contributions we have received from the wider community who have been willing to get involved in this project. There will be a wide range of items including pictures and videos as well as brochures and memory sticks.
We would like to thank everyone who has got involved and hopefully when it is dug up in 100 years it will provide a great insight into the past. There will be information on the £75m Highways England scheme and our contractors Sisk Lagan JV, along with photographs which show the different stages of progress on the scheme.
There will be an official unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the burying of the capsule in August.
Highways England are taking part in the Year of Engineering campaign, which aims to inspire young people to consider engineering as a rewarding career. Highways England is looking for a continuing pipeline of young engineers to deliver the multi-billion investment plans for our motorways and major A-roads, improving lives and making a positive difference to the world.
To support this Highways England and its A19 Coast Road scheme contractors Sisk Lagan JV are organising a competition for local schools. The competition is asking children to design and build a model school using recycled materials. Hadrain Park Primary School has already signed up to the competition which will run from May until the end of September.
Judging will take place in October before crowning the winning school – Best School Design and Build Engineering Project 2018.
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.
Highways England has announced plans to fund three new unmarked HGV cabs, including one based in the Midlands, after a single one used by police forces across the country was used to help catch over 4,000 dangerous drivers in its first two years.
The new cab will patrol motorways and main trunk roads and has been fitted with wide-angle cameras to capture unsafe driving behaviour. It also has a derestricted speed limiter which means it can travel at speeds up to the national speed limit, and flashing lights have been installed for use by police forces in an emergency.
The cabs allow police officers to film evidence of unsafe driving behaviour by pulling up alongside vehicles. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.
The launch comes a year after the government doubled the penalty for drivers caught using their phones at the wheel. Motorists now receive 6 points on their licence and a £200 fine – up from the previous 3 points and £100 fine.
Richard Leonard, Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, said:
This is all about improving safety on Midlands roads. Highways England has been funding a single cab for the past couple of years and we’ve been impressed with the impact it’s had. Over 4,000 dangerous drivers have been pulled over, with police action ranging from verbal warnings to prosecutions.
We’ve found that the vast majority of drivers are sensible behind the wheel but a few have got into bad habits, or are simply ignoring the law and putting themselves and others at risk.
We’ve therefore decided to fund two extra unmarked HGV cabs, including one based with police forces in the Midlands, to continue to target dangerous driving on England’s motorways and major A roads, improving safety for everyone.
In total, 28 police forces across England have taken part in the HGV cab safety initiative since it began in April 2015, pulling over 4,176 drivers in relation to 5,039 offences in its first two years.
In the East Midlands, 199 drivers were pulled over in relation to 122 offences.
In the West Midlands, 576 drivers were pulled over in relation to 634 offences.
Offences in the East Midlands have included a driver who was spotted steering with his knees while he ate his lunch and used his mobile phone.
More than 300 of the drivers who were stopped in the West Midlands were illegally using a mobile phone while driving, despite the latest statistics showing that mobile phone use is a factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month.
Nearly two thirds of the drivers who were stopped nationwide were illegally using a mobile phone while driving, despite the latest statistics showing that mobile phone use is a factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month.
At the same time as refurbishing the M5 Oldbury viaduct, the team is working to improve both the capacity and capability of the construction industry and make life better for 320,000 residents and thousands of businesses in the local community.
Now the combined efforts of BAM Nuttal, Morgan Sindall and Volkerfitzpatrick joint venture have scooped a top accolade at Highways England’s annual supplier recognition awards.
The nomination was among 122 entries in this year’s awards which also recognised companies for achievements in various fields including; Building capacity and capability, communities, customer experience, delivering sustainable value and solutions, efficiencies and continuous improvement, inclusion, innovations and Supply chain management.
Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England said:
Highways England needs the expertise, innovation and passion of our supply chain to help us achieve our goal of delivering our operations and projects across the Strategic Road Network.
Our challenges are extremely demanding and our awards recognise and celebrate their achievements and contribution to our imperatives of safety, customer service, and delivery.
The £100 million Oldbury Viaduct scheme is the largest by value in Britain. Judges said the team’s work to attract girls to construction had paid dividends and increased the diversity of the workforce. The award also recognised their efforts to employ local apprentices, source people from a diverse talent pool, and employ disabled and long term unemployed people.
The team has also worked with residents to transform a former derelict site into a community garden.
Winners: BAM Nuttal, Morgan Sindall and Volkerfitzpatrick
Highways England is taking part in the Year of Engineering campaign, which aims to inspire young people to consider engineering as a rewarding career. Highways England is looking for a continuing pipeline of young engineers to deliver the multi-billion investment plans for our motorways and major A-roads, improving lives and making a positive difference to the world.
These awards show what can be achieved across the roads industry and could help inspire young people to consider engineering as a rewarding career.
Highways England hails supply chain partners
The following winners and highly commended awards, with judges’ comments, were made:
1. Building capacity and capability
Awarded to suppliers that have developed their employees’ skills and capabilities through delivery of Highways England contracts.
Winner: BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall & Volkerfitzpatrick joint venture
For supporting the future of the industry by building capacity and capability (M5 Oldbury). This is an excellent example of a project living the criteria surrounding this category. The scheme runs through a mixed industrial and residential conurbation with up to 320,000 residents.
The scheme provides an excellent opportunity to improve the capacity and capability of the construction industry. Working with local organisations the supplier has striven to attract girls to consider construction as a career, employ local apprentices and source people from a diverse pool of talent.
Highly commended: A Blackwell (Contracts) Ltd for the A14 Plant Operative Training Programme.
This submission was a great example of how the matter of capacity and capability in a specialist area is taken seriously. This organisation is working on one of the larger schemes on the strategic road network and has taken a direct line by establishing both an operative training programme and training facility on-site. By targeting a diverse working population they have already recruited and trained 16 people.
2. Communities
Awarded to suppliers that have engaged with community groups from the outset, understood what really matters to them and identified ways in which they can work differently.
Winner: John Sisk Lagan joint venture for the A19 – A1058 Coast Road
This supplier has continually gone the extra mile to ensure local residents are engaged as well as trying to engage members of the wider community who would otherwise have been missed by traditional community and media methods. They have provided numerous examples of the positive impacts they have had on the community, including open days at retail parks, libraries, universities and visiting every school in the area.
Highly commended: A14 Integrated Delivery Team (Costain, Skanska, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Atkins, and CH2M Designs) for delivering world class community engagement
This scheme has gone to considerable lengths to make a real difference to the communities in the area of the scheme before and during construction. They have built lasting relationships through engaging via multiple methods in two way dialogue to inform and listen to the community.
They have invested in a mobile visitor centre to go into the community to talk about the scheme and have raised the profile of Highways England, used social media to engage with a wider audience, and created a ring fenced sum of money that the community has access to ensure the legacy of the new road is much more than just a road but also supports other local schemes.
Also highly commended is Costain for delivering a lasting legacy
This project team has taken steps to understand community expectations and has built effective relationships with the community over a three year period, attending Parish Council meetings and holding specific public exhibitions for those communities most affected by the works.
3. Customer experience
Awarded to suppliers who have demonstrated industry leading commitment to customer service.
Winner: Carnell Support Services Ltd for a collaboration journey
This winning submission clearly demonstrated how customer experience has been embedded into its culture and day-to-day practices. Among a variety of examples, the company has introduced customer induction shared on the supplier portal, leadership and workforce training guides on how to deal with customers, has minimised the impact of customer disruption by carrying out noisy operations during the day and erecting noise barriers around works to reduce noise levels if working overnight.
A663 operatives temporarily reinstated the pavement to enable a member of the public and her disabled son to gain access. On the M52 Nottingham Junction scheme, they approached their local RSPCA animal shelter to offer construction work and on the M58 cycle scheme helped a distraught customer to safety.
Highly commended: Costain and Galliford Try joint venture for the M1 junction 23a – 25 smart motorway scheme customer experience
4. Delivering sustainable value and solutions
Awarded to suppliers who have integrated environmental, social, economic and management aspects of sustainable development into the delivery of Highways England contracts.
Winner: Tarmac, Costain and Jacobs for engaging early to embed sustainability – A160 scheme, Port of Immingham
Upgrading the A160 between the A180 Brockelsby Interchange junction and Immingham Harbour was seen as a priority project for Highways England to improve the important strategic route to the Port of Immingham. The supply chain worked collaboratively over a two-year period prior to work commencing on site to value engineer the pavement design to ensure sustainability is at the heart.
Highly commended: Balfour Beatty & Social Value Portal for delivering social value on the M3
In June 2017, the M3 smart motorway scheme between J4a Farnborough and J2 M25 was opened. The upgrade added an extra lane in both directions along a 13.4 mile section. Balfour Beatty came together with their supply chain to measure and calculate added social value associated with the project. Using industry-recognised tools, they were able to calculate a total of £77.6 million of added societal, economic and environmental benefits to the community and wider economy.
5. Efficiencies and continuous improvement
Awarded to suppliers that have demonstrated significant achievement in mobilising all their talents and resource to delivery smarter and more efficient ways of working.
Winner: Category Management Community (Tarmac Trading Ltd, Hansosn UK, Aggregate Industries) for delivering efficiencies through Category Management
This was a fantastic example of Highways England and supply chain teams taking hold of the essence of category management and working together flexibly and collaboratively to deliver intended outcomes. Together they have pushed boundaries of the framework to deliver better performance and efficiencies through the use of different materials, plant and processes.
Highly commended: Aone+ Integrated Highway Services & Tarmac for A64 Ultigrip Pavement Solution efficiencies and continuous improvement
This innovative use of a pavement design solution is an expression of collaborative problem solving, which has locked in efficiency savings, minimised future maintenance interventions, delivered road worker safety benefits and improved customer experience.
And, Balfour Beatty & Mott MacDonald Area 10 joint venture for ‘improvement is not a destination it’s a journey’
This was an impressive example of using Lean approaches to deliver significant efficiencies and deliver a culture of continuous improvement. Since early 2015 this contract has been on a Lean and continuous improvement journey that has engaged with all members of the contract and key supply chain partners. This has included formal Lean training for 206 people in Lean familiarisation and 48 to yellow belt standard.
6. Inclusion
Awarded to suppliers that have created opportunities to bring people into the workplace, developed skills and created an environment where differences are valued and utilised.
Winner: Jacobs for cultural diversity
This winning entry provided real evidence of listening to and learning from employees, and its proactive approach has led to improved employee experience. There was great evidence of celebrating and considering the diversity through engagement of local staff whose demographic varied by locations.
Activities were put in place to create a positive work place culture, initiatives such as flexible working during Ramadan, learning about, supporting and celebrating different cultural and religious customs, adapting working practices to accommodate different needs, establishing cultural networks.
Highly Commended: Mott MacDonald for equality diversion inclusion
This company is undertaking activity on many fronts. They have embedded EDI into hiring manager training, and will collect and analyse applicant data. All new starters will undertake EDI learning and they have introduced a reverse mentoring programme connecting senior leaders with employees to provide an opportunity to gain insights and views from a diverse perspective.
7. Innovations
Awarded to suppliers who deliver innovative products or services that improve the customer and stakeholder experience, and can demonstrate commercial opportunities.
Winner: Kier Highways & Area 9 Collaborative Delivery Community Partners for the M6 NE Spur / Rushall Canal Rapid Set Concrete
This successful entry combined a new product never before used in the UK, with a newly tested traffic management solution involving full weekend closures. By using a fast setting concrete which cures within 18 to 24 hours, the programme went from taking 26 weeks using traditional methods to just 5 weeks, giving an approximate benefit to the UK economy of £35 million, and additional positive impacts for customer experience.
Highly Commended: WSP for state for bridge infrastructure
Adopting an innovative approach to gathering data to understand the performance of Highways England’s bridges, this project has worked for many years to analyse a vast quantity of inspection data. The innovative use of this data allows us to gain new insights into the performance of our bridges. This means inspections can be planned better with targeted interventions, develop new standards and metrics for structures and enable a more value based approach for future investment.
Also highly commended is Mott MacDonald, Simulation Systems (now Costain), Emtek Services and Kier for supporting Highways England to deliver effective innovation.
This project improved worker safety, led to a 55% reduction in swap out times and reduced traffic management activities.
8. Supply chain management
Awarded to suppliers that demonstrate Highways England’s strategic agenda, values and principles through supply chains.
Winner: A14 Integrated Delivery Team (Costain, Skanska, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Atkins, CH2M Design) for approaches to supply chain management
The win goes to a delivery team which is formed by a number of organisations committed to delivering the £1.5 billion upgrade of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon. Working together the team has set out to deliver safely a world class scheme.
Highly commended: Interserve Construction, WSP, Toppesfield, WJ South & Roadtech for M11 Essex
This highly commended award goes to the team resurfacing the dedicated link road between the M11 and A120 near Stansted Airport which was successfully completed in May 2017. The supplier adopted a collaborative approach with the extended supply chain, working to Lean principles and collective willingness to exceed conventional industry surfacing outputs, enabled the scheme to be completed over 3 weekends instead of the planned 5, minimising disruption to our customers.
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.
The Department for International Development encouraged businesses from across London and the South East to make the most of new opportunities to deliver UK aid, at the latest of its supplier engagement events yesterday (Thursday 22 March).
Addressing 100 representatives from over 85 organisations, the Minister of State for International Development Lord Bates demystified the application process and urged businesses to use their local expertise and skills to help the worlds’ poorest people.
By working with DFID, local companies across London can play their part in supporting Global Britain and in turn, grow their own business, create jobs and help to boost the local economy.
Yesterday was the third and largest of DFID’s regional events, which have been set up as a direct result of a review undertaken into DFID’s work with suppliers. Delivering on recommendations made, the department is proactively cutting red tape to boost competition and open up DFID’s market to new businesses, including small enterprises in the UK and the world’s poorest countries.
Minister of State for International Development, Lord Bates said:
Today, I have met with business representatives from across London and the South East who want to help deliver UK aid and achieve the best results that UK taxpayers and the world’s poorest deserve.
If we are to successfully tackle the unprecedented humanitarian and development challenges of today, we need to use the very best of British expertise. By making it easier for new and smaller businesses to work with us, and by ensuring the bidding process is more competitive, we can increase our positive impact on the world’s poorest, while boosting the local and UK economy at the same time.
Aleeza Mitha, Strategic Partnerships Manager at London-based the Aga Khan Foundation, said:
The Aga Khan Foundation has been working with communities to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable populations across Africa, Asia and the Middle East for decades.
I came to DFID’s supplier event because I wanted to understand more about the procurement process. The event certainly delivered; it was a great opportunity to meet the procurement team face-to-face and to have many key questions answered.
The Aga Khan Foundation and DFID share core values. We are both working to empower the world’s most disadvantaged, especially women, and working together, we can achieve this goal.
Catherine Stevens, Head of International, Quality, Excellence and Development at London-based company Schole, said:
We run local curriculum schools in east Africa, and we develop these schools so that they reach a good or outstanding level. We are keen to expand what we do so that having access to a quality education is made available to all.
I was particular interested in coming to the event to find out how we could draw on support from DFID so that we can develop our aspirations to serve more lower income people. It has been welcoming to hear that SME’s like ours are a priority area and that DFID is actively encouraging us to consider ourselves a priority. I am looking forward to connecting with the procurement team and taking this forward.
The Infrastructure Investor Global Summit in Berlin will include 1,400 delegates from more than 140 of the world’s biggest global institutions and private investment firms, who collectively manage more than £500 billion in capital.
During his speech, Minister Stuart will explain why the UK is the top investment destination in Europe, thanks to its open, liberal economy, flexible labour market, and business-friendly regulation.
Inward FDI stock now stands at a record £1,199 billion, and is estimated to have created or safeguarded 107,000 jobs in 2016/17.
The UK also has an excellent record of infrastructure delivery, with over 4,500 projects completed since 2010 and 98% of 158 priority projects either on track for delivery or completed.
A further 720 infrastructure projects – with a value over £500 billion – are due to start before 2020/21, and Minister Stuart will hold roundtables with leading figures in the German financial community to show how the UK will continue to offer huge investment potential in years to come.
Minister for Investment Graham Stuart said:
Since DIT’s foundation in July 2016, the British government now has a department of state solely focused on trade and investment and our network is dedicated to supporting businesses across the globe.
The UK is Europe’s top destination for foreign investment, and as an international economic department, we are determined that investment in infrastructure is a major part of the Industrial Strategy.
With more than £500 billion of infrastructure investment opportunities up to 2020/21, and an exemplary record of project completion, I will be telling the world’s most influential investors why the UK should be their first choice for investment.
One recent investment – of £1.4 billion as part of a consortium including Meridiam and Allianz Capital Partners – will help NeuConnect build the first direct power link between Germany and the UK.
The project will create new export and import routes for electricity for each market, benefitting UK and German consumers with reduced wholesale and consumer electricity prices.
Chief Executive Officer of NeuConnect Britain, David Inglis, said:
The first direct connection between the UK and German power grids offers great economic benefits for both countries and furthers the integration of renewables by enabling both countries to balance their future energy needs from a new market.
The long-term investors are very committed to jointly work with the national governments and regulators of both countries to successfully deliver this innovative and independent energy infrastructure project to German and British consumers.
Known locally as the ‘missing link’ this stretch of single carriageway road between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout restricts the flow of traffic on a key route which is otherwise a continuous dual carriageway between M5 at Gloucester and the M4 at Swindon.
Two options are being presented following a detailed consideration of potential routes to upgrade this three-mile stretch of the A417. The improvement is being made possible by the Government’s £15bn investment in motorways and major A roads and will be delivered by Highways England.
The A417/A419 route passes through the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and so any solution will be designed sensitively to meet the special character of the landscape, environment and history.
Upgrading this section to dual carriageway will help unlock Gloucestershire’s potential for growth and secure opportunities for housing and jobs, as well as improving life in the adjoining local communities.
Mike Goddard, Project Manager said: “Nearly 800 people have joined us at our events over the past few weeks, and more than 1400 have responded to the consultation. This is an excellent response and we appreciate the time and effort people have taken to find out more about our proposals, and to share their thoughts.
“With a week to go we are encouraging anyone else who might want to contribute to do so before 29 March. There is still the opportunity to feedback online at the consultation page.
Alternatively, consultation booklets and feedback forms are available at the following public information points:
Crickley Hill Visitor Centre, Crickley Hill, Birdlip GL4 8JY
