The Home Office has today (Thursday 25 October) announced grant funding of up to £9 million to support EU citizens who might need additional help when applying for their immigration status through the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office has been working closely with voluntary and community organisations across the UK representing the needs of potentially vulnerable EU citizens.

The grant will help these organisations to both inform vulnerable individuals about the need to apply for settled status and support them to complete their applications to protect their status as the UK exits the EU.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

EU citizens are our neighbours, our friends and our family and we want them to stay.

It is essential that those who are more vulnerable and require support are able to access the help that they need.

This funding and our work with the voluntary and community sector will help ensure that every EU citizen who is eligible to stay has their status protected.

Jane Ide, Chief Executive at National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NVCA), said:

It is encouraging that the government has recognised and actively drawn on the local voluntary sector’s expertise in working with the most marginalised and disadvantaged members of our communities in planning for this crucially important programme of work.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Home Office to ensure that the local voluntary sector is given all the tools and resources it needs to effectively enable every EU citizen in this country, no matter how vulnerable, to access the support they need at this time of enormous change.

Organisations working with people who might be affected and require additional support can apply for project funding from the end of November.

Earlier this month, the Home Office announced the next phase of the rollout of the EU Settlement Scheme. From 1 November to 21 December the private test phase will be extended to include vulnerable people with additional support needs with the involvement of a small number of local authorities and community organisations. The scheme will be fully open by March 2019.

• New facility will showcase the UK’s world-leading aerospace manufacturing capabilities in making more than 100 advanced components for Boeing planes
• it will export £80 million of products a year while employing 25 apprentices
• Business Secretary Greg Clark attended the opening of the facility which was supported by a £2.7 million grant from the government through the modern Industrial Strategy

Manufacturing more than 100 high-tech components for the Boeing 737 and 767, the facility has been supported by a £2.7 million grant from the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).

The UK is a world leader in civil aerospace with strengths in some of the most technologically advanced parts of aircraft. Through the modern Industrial Strategy, government and industry have committed to invest £3.9 billion in aerospace technologies.

Boeing’s new facility spans just over 6,000 square metres, providing high skilled jobs including 25 high-valued apprentices and this is set to increase. The facility will source high-quality materials from the UK supply chain and produce several thousands of components per month. Boeing already employs more than 2,200 people in the UK and spends around £2 billion per annum in the UK supply chain.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

Boeing choosing the heart of South Yorkshire as its first European home is testament to the reputation of Sheffield as a centre of innovation, advanced manufacturing and the UK’s status as a world-leader in aviation. This new facility will export components around the world, boosting the UK supply chain and creating high quality jobs.

We are the wing capital of the world and leading aerospace manufacturer and through our modern Industrial Strategy, the government, along with industry are investing £3.9 billion in aerospace to seize the opportunities of the future.

Earlier in October, Boeing launched the Office of UK Industrial Capability (OUKIC) to enhance the competitiveness of Boeing’s UK supply chain and increase aerospace and defence technology exploitation in the UK.

The aim of the OUKIC is to drive the Long Term Partnering Initiative to increase opportunities for UK suppliers on Boeing’s civil and defence programmes, increase Boeing’s investment into the UK, and increase R&D spend with exploitation in the UK.

The new facility is located alongside the University of Sheffield’s world-class Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) which will also allow Boeing to initiate a major research and development programme. 

Boeing Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Operations Jenette Ramos said:

We appreciate all the community support for Boeing’s new advanced manufacturing factory in the UK. This is a fabulous example of how we are engaging global talent to provide greater value to our customers. In Boeing Sheffield, we are building on longstanding relationships and the region’s manufacturing expertise to enhance our production system and continue to connect, protect, explore and inspire aerospace innovation.

Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis said:

It’s excellent news that Boeing has opened its first European factory here in the Sheffield City Region. Boeing’s choice of location is a strong sign of confidence in our advanced engineering excellence, confidence in our workforce and strong manufacturing heritage, and confidence in the cutting-edge collaborations between university and business that enable us to lead the world.

Boeing Sheffield will also be a key part of our region’s ‘Global Innovation Corridor’, creating a connected set of research and business interactions based on the advanced manufacturing and engineering strengths we have here in the region, and linking people, places and ideas. The opportunities for our communities, for businesses, for researchers and for the workforce of the future are limitless.

This opening of this new facility is hugely significant for South Yorkshire, the wider Northern Powerhouse, and indeed for the UK.

In 2015, the government and industry committed to spend £3.9 billion to further transform aerospace research and manufacturing until 2026 to help this sector build on our unique strengths in the UK through the modern Industrial Strategy.

A man who repeatedly abused 2 young children will spend longer in jail after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal for being too low.

Brian Gillard, now 75, carried out a campaign of sexual abuse against the girl over a 15 year period. The victim was 4 years old when this started. He also physically abused a young boy on a number of occasions during this period.

In August this year, Gillard was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with a 1 year extended licence period at Basildon Crown Court. Today, this has been increased to 18 years and 6 months imprisonment with a 1 year extended licence period after the Solicitor General referred the case for being unduly lenient.

Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said:

“Gillard carried out a campaign of abuse against two children over many years. I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed to increase Gillard’s sentence, and hope the victims can begin to move on from what would have been a hugely traumatic experience.”

Published 25 October 2018