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Press release: UKEF and VAMED present export opportunities at London supplier fair

UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade are partnering with global healthcare provider VAMED to showcase export opportunities for UK companies in Zambia at a supplier fair on 4 October 2018.

Companies attending the event will find out more about opportunities to supply VAMED’s Kasama Hospital project in Zambia, which will bring much-needed healthcare provision to the northern region of Zambia and improve the lives of nearly two million local residents.

Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, said:

The UK is at the forefront of technological innovation in healthcare, and our recently launched Export Strategy sets out how we will ensure that our world-class suppliers can thrive in a global marketplace. I am delighted that UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade are partnering with VAMED to harness UK expertise to deliver this transformational healthcare project, improving the lives of millions of people in Zambia.

John Griffin, VAMED UK, said:

Delivering world-class healthcare depends on cooperating with the leading suppliers in the field. We are delighted to team up with UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade on this supplier fair and look forward to meeting suppliers who share our passion for improving healthcare provisions to communities around the world.

Apart from its activities in Zambia, VAMED is successfully active in many other countries in Africa and around the globe where the company is providing first class health care facilities in South and Central America, the Middle East and Asia. This event will also provide attendees with insight on VAMED´s global activities.

In addition, UK companies will learn how UKEF, as the UK’s export credit agency, can boost UK exports by providing financing for major international healthcare projects, as well as helping companies access trade finance to fulfil their international ambitions.

VAMED is a global provider for hospitals and other facilities in the healthcare sector. To date it has delivered 850 projects in more than 80 countries.

When completed, the Kasama hospital will have a capacity of over 300 beds, including 48 for paediatric patients, and eight theatres, and will help the Zambian Government improve healthcare in rural areas and reduce its dependence on overseas treatment.

Event Details

  • Thursday 4 October 2018 08:30 – 17:30
  • St James’ Court Hotel, 54 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AF
  • Free to attend
  • Deadline for registration – 26 September

Register for the VAMED supplier fair.

This event follows the recent launch of the Export Strategy, which sets out how the government will support businesses of all sizes to make the most of the opportunities presented in markets around the world.

Background

UK Export Finance

  1. UK Export Finance is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for International Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.
  2. It exists to ensure that no viable UK export should fail for want of finance or insurance from the private market. It provides finance and insurance to help exporters win, fulfil and ensure they get paid for export contracts.
  3. Sectors in which UKEF has supported exports include: aerospace, healthcare, telecommunications and transport.
  4. UKEF has a regional network of 24 export finance managers supporting export businesses. Find your local representative here.
  5. Find UKEF’s latest country cover positions.
  6. UKEF supports exporters with a range of products that include:
  • Bond insurance policy
  • Bond support scheme
  • Buyer & supplier credit financing facility
  • Direct lending facility
  • Export insurance policy
  • Export refinancing facility
  • Export working capital scheme
  • Letter of credit guarantee scheme

About VAMED

Founded in 1982, VAMED has become the leading global provider of a full line of services for hospitals and other health care facilities. The group has implemented about 850 projects in more than 80 countries on five continents. VAMED’s portfolio ranges through project development, planning and turnkey equipment, with an option for maintenance, technical, commercial and infrastructure services to total operational management of health care facilities.

With its portfolio of services, VAMED covers the entire range of health care, from health tourism and preventive medicine including medical care and nursing to aftercare and rehabilitation. VAMED is Austria’s leading private provider of rehabilitation services and, through VAMED Vitality World, the company is also Austria’s largest operator of thermal spas and health resorts.

In the year 2017 the VAMED group was responsible for more than 18,000 staff worldwide, generating a volume of business of €1.7billion.

Media enquiries: Claire Lynch, Media Relations Officer

Link: Press release: UKEF and VAMED present export opportunities at London supplier fair
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to visit Japan

As part of the annual Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Japan, the Foreign Secretary will hold talks with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday, to discuss key areas of close cooperation, including our future economic partnership, security and defence, and foreign policy issues such as the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Secretary Hunt will also meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to discuss the UK’s commitment to working with Japan during a very busy two years, which will see Japan host the G20, Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo. He will also offer condolences on the deaths and destruction caused by the recent Typhoon 21 in the Kansai area and earthquake in Hokkaido.

A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said:

The UK and Japan are both globally engaged, democratic nations, supporters of the rules-based international system.

As the UK leaves the European Union next March, the Foreign Secretary’s talks this week will be an opportunity to deepen our close cooperation on security and defence, and further enhancing our excellent trade relationship.

During his visit to Tokyo, Foreign Secretary Hunt will also meet the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike and donate an old mobile phone to the ‘phones for Tokyo 2020’ initiative, a project launched by Tokyo 2020 to recycle old electronic devices and turn them into medals ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

The Foreign Secretary will also host a breakfast meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Eisai, one of Japan’s largest pharmaceutical companies and tour Hie Shrine, the highly respected place of worship for the people of Tokyo.

Further information

Media enquiries

For journalists

Link: Press release: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to visit Japan
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: Government investment to overcome barriers to building

Investment to tackle issues on potential housing sites and get homes built in areas where they are needed most has been launched today (17 September 2018) by Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP.

Issues like land contamination, infrastructure requirements, and complex land ownership can present real barriers to building homes where they are needed most.

From today, the government is intervening by providing 2 streams of investment – the Land Assembly Fund and the Small Sites Fund – for Homes England to deploy alongside their expertise. This will help release land to deliver 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s.

The £1.3 billion Land Assembly Fund, will be used to acquire land needing work and get it ready for the market, making it less risky for developers to invest in and start building. Outside of London this work will be carried out by Homes England.

For public land owners or local authorities that are struggling to get building on land in their area, the £630 million Small Sites Fund will provide grant funding to speed up getting the right infrastructure in place to support home building on stalled small sites to provide the homes their communities need.

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:

We need to act on a number of fronts to build the homes this country needs.

The availability of this investment will help us intervene in the sort of sites that aren’t yet ready to build on, or where developers have been put off.

Developers can now get straight on with building homes, rather than overcoming the barriers to build. And in the same way we are also supporting councils that have land for housing, but need additional help to enable development.

An example of Homes England acquiring land is Burgess Hill in Sussex, a site that desperately needed affordable housing, but which sat undeveloped for years. The national housing agency has stepped in, bought the land and is also delivering the infrastructure, so that the roads, schools and doctor’s surgeries are all in place for over 3,000 new homes that will now be built there.

Homes England Chairman, Sir Edward Lister said:

Homes England is stepping in where the market isn’t working, unlocking land and releasing sites to those developers that are committed to providing homes at pace.

The £1.9 billion announced by the government today will mean we can invest in crucial infrastructure and help local authorities to get more homes built on public land.

The government will work closely with the Greater London Authority to help ensure targeted funding through the Land Assembly Fund and Small Sites Fund can deliver additional homes in the capital.

Office address and general enquiries

2 Marsham Street

London
SW1P 4DF

Media enquiries

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Link: Press release: Government investment to overcome barriers to building
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: Seven Welsh high streets shortlisted for Great British High Street awards

Seven high streets across Wales have been shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street Awards 2018.

The awards, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and sponsored by Visa, recognise and celebrate local achievements on our high streets and shine a light on great examples of how high streets can meet the challenges of changing consumer behaviour and a changing retail environment.

After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, four Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Champion high street category, which aims to find the UK’s best high street, while three Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Rising Star category, which aims to find the UK’s most ambitious high streets.

The shortlisted high streets in Wales are:

Champion Award

  • Holywell, Flintshire
  • Welshpool, Powys
  • Crickhowell, Powys
  • Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

Rising Star Award

  • Cardigan, Ceredigion
  • Narberth, Pembrokeshire
  • Cowbridge, Glamorgan

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

This is fantastic news for all seven high streets in Wales recognised for their excellence and ambition to thrive in an increasingly competitive time.

High streets across Wales are the lifeblood of our societies, providing an opportunity for small businesses to set up shop and make a name for themselves, and for people to get together and support their communities by shopping locally.

Good luck to all of those high streets in the running in Wales, and I encourage everyone to show their support and vote for their favourite.

The 38 finalists across the UK will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30 per cent of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best.

Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information. The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.

High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:

Congratulations to all 38 high streets shortlisted for this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.

Over the next six weeks they have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they also battle it out in a public vote for the title of Britain’s best high street. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work taking place on our high streets, so get voting.

For more information about the Great British High Street Awards 2018 terms and conditions and details on how to vote, visit: www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

Link: Press release: Seven Welsh high streets shortlisted for Great British High Street awards
Source: Gov Press Releases

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The Rating Lists (Valuation Date) (Wales) Order 2018 / Gorchymyn y Rhestrau Ardrethu (Dyddiad Prisio) (Cymru) 2018

By virtue of sections 41(2) and 52(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (“the 1988 Act”), read in conjunction with the Rating Lists (Postponement of Compilation) (Wales) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1370 (W. 139)) made under section 54A of the 1988 Act, non-domestic rating lists for Wales are to be compiled on 1 April 2017 and every fifth year afterwards.

Yn rhinwedd adrannau 41(2) a 52(2) o Ddeddf Cyllid Llywodraeth Leol 1988 (“Deddf 1988”), sydd i’w darllen ar y cyd â Gorchymyn Rhestrau Ardrethu (Gohirio Gwneud Rhestrau) (Cymru) 2014 (O.S. 2014/1370 (Cy. 139)) a wneir o dan adran 54A o Ddeddf 1988, mae rhestrau ardrethu annomestig ar gyfer Cymru i’w llunio ar 1 Ebrill 2017 a phob pumed flwyddyn wedi hynny.

Link:

The Rating Lists (Valuation Date) (Wales) Order 2018 / Gorchymyn y Rhestrau Ardrethu (Dyddiad Prisio) (Cymru) 2018

Source: Legislation .gov.uk

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Press release: ‘Don’t be a Space Invader’ – stay safe, stay back says Highways England

New figures show that one in eight of all road casualties are caused by people who drive too close to the vehicle in front, with more than 100 people killed or seriously injured each year.

While a small minority of tailgating is deliberate, most is unintentional by drivers who are simply unaware they are dangerously invading someone else’s space.

So a safety campaign launched today uses the well-known Space Invader video game character to alert drivers to the anti-social nature and risks of tailgating.

Space Invader ‘Tailgating’ campaign

A survey by Highways England reveals that tailgating is the biggest single bugbear that drivers have about other road users. And in-car research – using dashcams, facial recognition, emotion tracking and heart monitors – reveals that a driver’s typical reaction to someone who tailgates them is surprise, anger and contempt, with a spike in heart rate.

Nearly 9 out of 10 people say they have either been tailgated or seen it. And more than a quarter of drivers admitted to tailgating.

The ‘Don’t be a Space Invader – stay safe, stay back’ campaign is supported by one of the world’s best drivers. Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell, who is President of the Institute of Advanced Motorists RoadSmart, says:

Tailgating is a driving habit I utterly deplore. Not only is it aggressive and intimidating, but it can lead to a crash with a tragic outcome.

There is absolutely no upside to it – you will not get to your destination faster, you are not a skilled driver for doing it, and you are putting so many innocent people at risk. So I very much back this campaign to highlight the dangers of tailgating.

Nigel Mansell
Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell is backing the campaign

Highways England says good drivers leave plenty of safe space for themselves and others.

Richard Leonard, Head of Road Safety at Highways England, says:

If you get too close to the car in front, you won’t be able to react and stop in time if they suddenly brake.

Tailgating makes the driver in front feel targeted and victimised, distracting their attention from the road ahead and making them more likely to make a mistake.

It is intimidating and frightening if you’re on the receiving end. If that leads to a collision, then people in both vehicles could end up seriously injured or killed. We want everyone to travel safely, so the advice is – stay safe, stay back.

If you wonder whether you are ‘space invading’, then remember the Highway Code, which says that drivers should allow at least a two second gap, which should be doubled on wet roads. If you are tailgated, then avoid speeding up, slowing down or staring in the rear-view mirror. Reduce the risk to yourself by driving normally, signalling clearly and allowing people to overtake.

Being a Space Invader can also cost you money. One insurance company reports that almost a quarter of accident claims between January and August this year involved either a policy holder’s or a third party’s vehicle being hit from behind.

Andy Watson, Chief Executive of insurer Ageas, says:

A bump won’t just damage your vehicle, it’s likely that it will also hit your pocket when it comes to renew your insurance. So we urge all drivers to follow the advice of Highways England and back off from the driver in front.

Thatcham Research are experts in vehicle safety technology, vehicle security and crash repair. Director of Research at Thatcham, Matthew Avery, says:

Tailgating is one of the most dangerous driver behaviours seen on UK roads. Not only does it intimidate others and create ‘phantom’ traffic jams via the ripple effect of sharp braking, it is also a leading cause of accidents. Thatcham Research is proud to offer our full support to this potentially life-saving Highways England campaign.

National Express, which will carry the campaign on some of its long-distance coaches, is among supporters of the campaign that also include the National Police Chiefs Council, leading road safety bodies Brake and the Institute for Advanced Motorists, and the motor insurer Thatcham.

Highways England has a dedicated webpage where drivers can find more information about tailgating and what they can do to stay safe.

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.


Link: Press release: ‘Don’t be a Space Invader’ – stay safe, stay back says Highways England
Source: Gov Press Releases