News Archive

Embracing Strategic Energy Plans

The connections queue now stands at 722GW across transmission and distribution, a 3GW drop on last month.  Whilst this reduction is obviously welcome, there remains much to do.  

Closing The Disability Employment Gap In Scotland

This week the Economy and Fair Work Committee of the Scottish Parliament published its latest report - Closing the Disability Employment Gap in Scotland.   A summary of recommendations is at the start of the report and a link to the full report is at the bottom of this page.  

Provisional Cereal And Oilseed Production Estimates For England 2024 - Wheat Production Drops

This release contains the first estimate of the 2024 English cereal and oilseed harvest.  Data are not yet available for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but will be included within the final production estimates for the United Kingdom in December 2024.  

A New Pro-growth UK-EU Relationship Will Require Both Closer Alignment And Managed Divergence

The new Government needs to be both pragmatic and strategic about where to pursue closer regulatory alignment with the EU, if it's to make its reset of relations with the EU a growth-boosting one, according to new Resolution Foundation briefing published 9th October 2024.   With the new Government pledging to reset its relationship with the EU, while also maintaining strict ‘red lines' on future agreements that limit its room for manoeuvre, EU-turn examines how the Starmer administration might seek to pursue ‘pro-growth' trading relations with the EU.  

Index Of Production Uk - August 2024

Monthly production output was estimated to have increased by 0.5% in August 2024; this follows a decrease of 0.7% (revised up 0.1 percentage points) in July 2024.   The monthly output increase in August 2024 resulted primarily from an increase of 1.1% in "manufacturing", supported by smaller contributing increases in "water supply and sewerage" (1.5%) and "electricity and gas" (1.2%); these rises were partially offset by a fall in “mining and quarrying” (down 4.0%).  

Next Phase Of Auto-enrolment Should Focus On Flexing Pension Saving

The first decade of auto-enrolment has improved private pension coverage and boosted people's pension pots.  The Government should now make the next decade focus additionally on flexing pension savings - in order to address the different savings challenges that low, middle and higher earners face - according to major new research published on Thursday 10th October 2024 by the Resolution Foundation.  

Employment Rights Bill In Brief

As part of the plans, the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal will be removed.   However, workers will be subject to a proposed nine-month probation period when they can still be sacked without a full process.  

Is The Russian Economy Growing Or Slowing Down

Russia's economy is showing signs of slowing down after a period of high growth, Second and third quarter Growth in the construction, retail, and services sectors slowed, and industrial output was dragged down by a weak extractive sector.   Inflation Inflation continued to rise, and the central bank raised its key interest rate to 18% to combat it.  

Energy Experts Appointed To Deliver Clean Power 2030 Mission

Government appoints leading industry and academic experts to the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission to help accelerate UK's mission to decarbonise the electricity grid.   Eight energy and nature experts have been appointed to accelerate UK's mission for clean power by 2030.  

New Investment Minister To Spearhead Bolstered Office For Investment

A new Minister for Investment has been appointed to head up a bolstered Office for Investment, as part of a wider Whitehall ‘shake up' to strengthen the government's offer and partnership with businesses and investors.   Former Darktrace CEO Poppy Gustafsson OBE appointed as Minister for Investment ahead of inaugural International Investment Summit.