As part of the Industrial Strategy, the government committed to making the most of the UK’s strengths and to develop the infrastructure necessary to support this. The UK’s rail network supports people getting to work and training opportunities every day, enables businesses to access the talent they need to grow, and moves goods across the country and to our ports and airports.

The aim of this sector deal is to develop new, digital capabilities to support the railway in becoming an even stronger driver of economic growth and opportunity.

Sector deals bring the industry and the government together in partnership to boost the productivity and earning power of specific sectors. The rail sector deal struck today follows ambitious sector deals with the life sciences, automotive, construction and artificial intelligence sectors.

The government and rail industry have come together to agree a plan to increase efficiency, improve journeys and increase the sector’s capability to trade internationally. The deal was developed through close engagement with the UK’s world class consulting engineering sector and wider rail supply chain, and with backing from the major train manufacturers in the UK. This engagement from the industry has been led by the Rail Supply and Delivery groups, both of whom will be fundamental to delivering these ambitions.

The deal contains mutual commitments that will encourage innovation to improve passenger experience, provide the confidence necessary for investment in capital and skills, while reducing the cost to the taxpayer of state-of-the art digital rail control systems. Furthermore, the deal, through collaboration between train manufacturers and those providing services and running the network, will provide a common data platform. This will enable businesses to access highly useful data held within the industry in order to develop services and products to meet passengers’ needs. This deal also includes a pilot programme in the Midlands to attract further diversity and skills into our growing railway, supported by the Midlands Engine, LEPs and other regional partners.

This deal will support the rail industry into the next phase of its development as a world leading industry. I will place a copy of the document in the libraries of both Houses.

Close to £1 million of government funding will be used to inspire the next generation of engineers and support future commercial range control services for UK spaceflight.

Data (Northern) Limited has been placed into provisional liquidation following a hearing at the High Court on 30 November 2018 after an application was issued by the Insolvency Service on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Official Receiver has been appointed as the provisional liquidator and has responsibilities to protect the company’s assets pending the outcome of a petition to wind up the company in the public interest.

As provisional liquidator the Official Receiver will:

• take control of the company from those currently responsible
• take steps to protect the company’s assets
• provide a point of contact for those who have had dealings with the company

The provisional liquidator also has the power to investigate the affairs of the company to protect assets including any third party, or trust monies, or assets in the possession of, or under the control of the company.

The case is now subject to High Court action and no further information will be made available until the petition is heard on 18 February 2019.

All public enquiries concerning the affairs of the companies should be made to: The Official Receiver, Public Interest Unit, 2 Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN.

Data (Northern) Ltd – company registration number 07159588 – was incorporated on 16 February 2010. The company’s registered office is at Unit 1, The Business Park, Chichester Road, Romiley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 4BL

The petition was presented under s124A of the Insolvency Act 1986. The Official Receiver was appointed as provisional liquidator of the company on 30 November 2018 by HHJ Halliwell, a Judge of the High Court.

Company Investigations, part of the Insolvency Service, uses powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Further information about live company investigations is available here.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available here

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 7637 6498

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

Publisher seeking sponsorship for schools drug awareness booklet has been placed into provisional liquidation by the High Court.

Tony Cohen

After working as a newspaper journalist and television producer in the UK Tony Cohen ran a television production company in the US for several years. He was CEO of FremantleMedia, a major international television production, distribution and rights company, specialising in primetime entertainment, drama and factual programming, for over 11 years from 2001 until 2012. He has served on a number of not-for-profit boards, including the Arvon Foundation, City of Westminster College, the RSA and Barnardo’s, where he was chair of trustees for the last four and half years until May this year. Tony is a Sloan Fellow of the London Business School and a Fellow of the RTS.

Nina Hingorani-Crain

A Chartered Accountant and Law Graduate, Nina has had a diverse 20-year career in the private, public and charity sectors. After 8 years in financial services corporate finance and consulting, she joined the Financial Services regulator. Here she spent 10 years, including in management roles as the Chairman’s Principal Private Secretary during the global financial crisis and subsequently as Chief of Staff leading the creation of the new Financial Conduct Authority. Whilst at the FCA, Nina also undertook a 6 month strategic secondment to Age UK to inform the strategy of placing consumer needs at the heart of the regulatory mandate. She embarked on a portfolio career in 2015 and is today a Director on the Boards of the Monmouthshire Building Society (the second largest building society in Wales), Achieving For Children (an award-winning provider of children’s services) and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (a mental and community health trust).

Nina graduated from King’s College London with an LLB Honours degree, and from the Sorbonne Paris with the French equivalent. She subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and has also completed the Financial Times Non Executive Director Diploma. She enjoyed a diverse upbringing and has lived in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Ian Karet

Ian Karet is a solicitor and a partner of Linklaters LLP. He specialises in Intellectual Property and Technology and handles a range of commercial matters and disputes. He is a Solicitor Advocate, a qualified arbitrator and trained mediator. He read Chemistry at Oxford. Ian is also a member of the Civil Justice Council and a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, appointed in 2014, where he currently chairs the Finance Committee. He has served on the board of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property and writes and speaks on intellectual property issues.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Tony, Nina and Ian have declared no such activity.