News Archive

13/12/2023

 
UK Space Agency Funding Boosts Plans For Launch From Saxavord Spaceport And Sutherland Spaceport

Two companies have secured over £6.7 million to develop their world-leading launch technologies in a sustainable way and help cement the UK's position as Europe's leading destination for commercial spaceflight activities.   The funding was awarded using UK Space Agency contributions to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Boost! Programme which aims to help companies develop world-leading space transportation services and bring them to market.  

13/12/2023

 
Space Skills And Careers Resources

These include information for young people and how to find work experience, apprenticeships, internships or jobs in the space sector.   For anyone interested in space as a career go the government web page.  

13/12/2023

New Strategy To Tackle Organised Crime

A new strategy has been launched to tackle the domestic and international threat of serious and organised crime.   A new strategy aimed at tackling the growing threat of serious and organised crime has been announced by the Home Secretary as the government steps up action to clamp down on criminal gangs operating in and against the UK.  

13/12/2023

HMRC Awards £5.5 Million In Grant Funding To Voluntary And Community Groups

HMRC has awarded 12 voluntary and community sector organisations a share of £5.5 million in funding to help customers with their tax affairs.   Twelve voluntary and community sector organisations have been awarded a share of £5.5 million to help customers who need extra support with their tax affairs, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced.  

13/12/2023

 
COP28 - UK Climate Satellite Contracts

Two space companies have been awarded major contracts to work on a UK-led climate satellite mission, during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, UAE.   Airbus UK has been awarded nearly £95 million and Teledyne e2v £9 million, through the UK Space Agency's membership of the European Space Agency (ESA), to deliver the next phase of the TRUTHS mission.  

13/12/2023

UK GDP - A Flatline Festive Season

UK GDP fell 0.3% in October, following 0.2% growth in September.   GDP was flat over the three months to October.  

13/12/2023

 
Uk Trade - October 2023

The value of goods imports increased by £3.6 billion (8.2%) in October 2023, with rises in imports from both EU and non-EU countries.   The rise in imports was mainly the result of greater imports of machinery and transport equipment from both EU and non-EU countries.  

12/12/2023

Summary Statistics For Schools In Scotland 2023 - Teacher And Student Numbers And More

This release provides the latest information on pupils (including attendance and exclusions), teachers and the early learning and childcare (ELC) sector.   The 2023 edition of Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland shows that teacher numbers decreased by 160 full-time equivalents (FTE) to 54,033 FTE, compared to the previous year.  

12/12/2023

 
A New Stopper Car Is Coming To DVSA

DVSA are upgrading their power to stop cars.   DVSA is actively researching electric vehicle alternatives for the enforcement team.  

12/12/2023

Office Of Trade Sanctions Implementation Announcement

A speech delivered by Industry and Economic Security Minister Nusrat Ghani at Policy Exchange on Monday 11 December 2023, The UK has led the world in its support for Ukraine and its condemnation of Putin and his illegal war.   We were the first country to send our Prime Minister to Kyiv to meet with President Zelenskyy at the start of the war.  

12/12/2023

Achievement Of Curriculum For Excellence (cfe) Levels 2022-23

Official statistics have been released today on school pupils' Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels (ACEL) in the reading, writing, listening & talking and numeracy ‘organisers'.   The statistics, based on teacher judgement, report on the percentage of school pupils in Primary 1 (P1), Primary 4 (P4), Primary 7 (P7) and Secondary 3 (S3) who have achieved the expected CfE Levels relevant to their stage.  

12/12/2023

Up To 200 Jobs For Aberdeen - Plan To Move Government Roles Out Of Westminster Brought Forward And New Headquarters Unveiled

Government brings forward target to relocate 22,000 roles out of London from 2030 to 2027.  Aberdeen, Darlington and Greater Manchester are to host second headquarters for major departments.  

12/12/2023

 
New Timber Roadmap Launched To Boost UK Construction And Reduce Emissions

New plan sets out vision to boost the safe use of sustainable UK timber in construction and increase domestic supply.   The built environment makes up around 25% of UK greenhouse gas emissions; reducing its use will be key to reaching net zero.  

12/12/2023

Increasing Financial Support For Scottish Students

Main undergraduate funding package now in line with the Living Wage.   Scottish students will benefit from a £2,400 increase to their annual support package from the start of the 2024-25 academic year.  

12/12/2023

 
UKHSAs HECC Report Shows Impacts On Public Health Due To Warming Climate

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its first Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) report.   UKHSA has today published its first HECC report, drawing together the latest evidence on how our changing climate is already impacting on the nation's health and publishing future projections based on a plausible worst case scenario.  

12/12/2023

Latest Statistics Show Widespread Improvement In Education Attainment

The proportions of pupils in primary achieving expected levels of literacy and numeracy have reached record highs for children from both the most and least deprived areas, according to official statistics.   Overall, the Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) 2022/23 show.:- for numeracy, a total of 79.6% of pupils reached the levels expected in 2022/23, a rise of 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous high (79.1% in 2018/19).  

12/12/2023

Scottish Government Workforce Statistics September 2023

The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.  These statistics cover the numbers of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending September 2023.  

12/12/2023

 
House Prices Falling At Fastest Rate! - 17 Minute Video To Make Your Mind Up

UK House Prices in SHOCK move as ASKING PRICES for top of ladder properties FALL over £30,000 in just ONE MONTH! The UK housing market CRASH continues to gather momentum as new sellers finally begin to wake up and price their properties realistically.   For the past year, Nationwide and Halifax have regularly reported monthly house price falls while at the same time, Rightmove reported that asking prices were increasing.  

12/12/2023

 
Updating The Maths Curriculum - Specialist To Lead Improvements

Maths will be the first subject area to be updated as part of a new approach to improvement to ensure that Scotland's curriculum remains engaging, forward looking and supports high quality teaching and learning.   Beginning in 2024, a maths specialist will lead on this work, alongside the National Response to Improving Mathematics (NRIM), which will include looking at curriculum relevance and transitions between primary and secondary.  

12/12/2023

Falling Price Pressures, More Than Falling Vacancies, Are Set To Drive Smaller Pay Rises Next Year

Strong pay growth in Britain may cool next year, driven more by workers' experiences of lower inflation than a looser labour market, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Tuesday).   The latest Labour Market Outlook examines a key question for policy makers and workers coping with the cost of living crisis - what will happen to pay growth in the year ahead.