Funding of over £200 million to support PhD students in engineering and physical sciences and boost the UK’s research into quantum technologies, has been announced today by Universities Minister Jo Johnson. The £167 million investment in Doctoral Training Partnerships and £37 million investment in the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme will support cutting-edge research across the UK […]

In its submission to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in advance of the 2016 Spring Budget Statement, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the Government to strengthen small business confidence by clearly and consistently backing enterprise. The FSB’s recent quarterly survey shows small business confidence is cooling in the face of deteriorating […]

New figures reveal that the UK’s Creative Industries are now worth £84.1 billion per year to the UK economy. British films, music, video games, crafts and publishing are taking a lead role in driving the UK’s economic recovery, according to the latest Government statistics. The figures show the sector growing at almost twice the rate […]

Business Secretary Sajid Javid will oversee the signing of commercial UK-China contracts in Birmingham with the Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng. This is part of the UK-China 12th Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC) to boost cooperation and understanding between the 2 countries. The UK attracts up to a third of all Chinese investment […]

The Prime Minister said that more than 60% of Northern Ireland’s exports go to the EU, and around 40% of its investment comes from the EU. Northern Ireland is better off in a reformed European Union, the Prime Minister has said ahead of his first visit to the region since the date of the EU […]

Over 780,000 homebuyers saved an estimated £657 million on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in the year since the tax was reformed, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced. Transactions levels at the top end of the market remained constant under the new regime and stamp duty receipts from homes costing more than £1 […]

A new £25m fund will provide an estimated 500 new affordable homes specifically to rural areas across Scotland. The Rural Housing Fund will increase supply of long term affordable housing in rural areas over the next three years, by assisting the building of new homes and refurbishment of existing buildings. The homes will contribute to […]

Organisations can apply for a share in £10m of funding for feasibility studies and research into vaccines for infectious diseases. The Department of Health wants to encourage the development of new vaccines, vaccine technologies and vaccine manufacturing. It is set to invest £10m in an SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) competition. Up to £6m is […]

The agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments on the financial arrangements to underpin the Scotland Bill has been published. The fiscal framework agreement confirms: The method for adjusting Scotland’s block grant to ensure no detriment as a result of acquiring taxation powers An independent review of the block grant adjustment by the end of […]

Matt Hancock has announced a tech partnership between the Office for National Statistics and Alacrity for the next generation of digital talent. Minister for the Cabinet Office, Matthew Hancock, on 25 February visited South Wales to announce a new partnership between the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Newport educational charity Alacrity. The new partnership will […]