Every year the UK fire and rescue services deal with more than 55,000 incidents inside buildings and other structures. One of the struggles they face is keeping track of where firefighters are during real emergencies in hostile environments.

This competition has up to £1.25 million for new technologies that can be used in the field to give accurate data on where firefighters are at all times.

It is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The funding is available through the GovTech Catalyst, a £20 million fund that helps the public sector to work with innovative technology providers and improve public services.

A 2-phase competition

The competition has 2 phases, with phase 1 having £250,000 including VAT to fund up to 5 feasibility study projects. These studies must deliver a detailed design package that includes technical and commercial specifications for the technology.

Phase 2 will award the 2 best projects with further contracts for prototype development and evaluation. There is up to £1 million including VAT available.

Real time, shareable data with 3D imaging

To be useful to the emergency services, projects need to demonstrate digital technology that can be put into action straight away to give a full picture of what’s happening.

They must:

• be instantly deployable at unfamiliar locations
• operate on a self-contained mobile secure local network
• provide real-time data about a firefighter’s horizontal and vertical location, including the room they’re in and the floor
• allow seamless sharing across multiple agencies, using local and remote software platforms
• present real-time data in 3D using augmented or holographic technology

Competition information

• the competition opens on 15 October 2018 and the deadline for registration is at midday on 21 November 2018
• organisations of any size can apply
• a briefing event will be held on 24 October 2018 in Swansea where organisations can find out more information and learn how to make a quality application
• total project costs for phase 1 can be up to £50,000 including VAT and last up to 3 months
• total project costs for phase 2 can be up to £500,000 including VAT and last up to 12 months
• successful applicants will be contacted by 18 January 2019
• projects must start by 15 February 2019

The 20-year project resulted in a multi-million pound contract awarded to MBDA to build the next-generation Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM), which has the capability to defend against anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft and other highly sophisticated threats.

In May, the Royal Navy completed its acceptance firing trials, resulting in an initial operating capability for HMS Argyll, with the Army land system also recently completing a successful firing from a pre-production launch vehicle. Sea Ceptor will provide local-area air defence to the Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, replacing Sea Wolf; Land Ceptor will replace the Rapier missile to deliver a state-of-the-art ground-based air defence capability.

A representative from Dstl’s Air Defence Weapons team, said:

Since its conception, Dstl and its predecessors have been involved throughout the development and procurement of both the Sea and Land Ceptor. Initial studies were conducted to define future capability needs, followed by a series of technology demonstrator projects, with Dstl providing technical direction to help ensure the end product was exploitable into the Ceptor projects. As these moved into their Demonstration and Manufacture phases Dstl continued to provide independent technical advice to Defence Equipment and Support and the front line commands in order to ensure that the solutions met their performance requirements.

Richard Smart, Director Weapons at Defence Equipment and Support, said:

The DE&S Weapons project team has working closely with Dstl colleagues to develop Sea Ceptor and Land Ceptor; vital air defence systems which will protect our Armed Forces personnel on operations against current and future threats. Together with industry we will continue to support the front line commands as this world-beating equipment enters service in defence of our national security and interests.

Sea Ceptor and Land Ceptor use innovative seeker and datalink technology to achieve a high degree of accuracy. The associated radar systems track the threat and the datalink is then used to update the missile with the location of the threat. The CAMM’s own active radar seeker can then take over the missile guidance. The missiles are designed to provide 360-degree coverage with a high degree of manoeuvrability.

By employing innovative technologies to enable a common solution across land and maritime domains, CAMM/Ceptor delivers approximately £1 billion worth of through-life savings within the complex weapons pipeline. Further savings are expected through export, for which two customers have already been confirmed.

The Foreign Secretary will reiterate to European counterparts today (15 October) that emerging global threats such as migration and cyber-attacks will only be tackled if we maintain close cooperation.

This comes ahead of a key week in which the Prime Minister will be taking her proposal for a deal to the EU at the October European Council.

At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Mr Hunt will argue that the merits of achieving a deal are in our mutual interests, and will reiterate the importance of continued international security cooperation in the face of new and emerging threats on a global scale.

Mr Hunt will tell the UK’s partners that issues such as cyber, chemical weapons, terrorism and migration can only be tackled as a united force.

The Foreign Secretary was able to thank eight of his European counterparts yesterday for their support and collaboration in equipping the EU with a new chemical weapons sanctions regime.

The Foreign Secretary said:

This is a crucial week both for the UK and our European partners. The importance of achieving a Brexit deal that respects the autonomy of the EU and the sovereignty of the UK cannot be overstated.

And delivering this is vital for our security too because economic relations sit at the heart of all our partnerships including the vital security alliances we have with our friends in Europe.

Further information

Published 15 October 2018

As part of Green Great Britain Week, you, your friends and family, and your business can reduce emissions, save costs, and could help tackle climate change.

Below are 10 actions that households and businesses can take to tackle climate change, reduce emissions and save money.

Advice for individuals and households

Advice for individuals and households

1. Prepare your home for winter: the government-endorsed Simple Energy Advice service has personalised advice on how to make your home warmer.

2. Upgrade your heating controls: Energy Saving Trust has guidance on thermostats and controls. Simple Energy Advice has personalised advice on how to make your home warmer.

3. Get a Smart Meter: Smart Energy GB has more about Smart Meters, or just speak to your energy supplier directly about getting an installation.

4. Turn off your electronic devices: Get further guidance on electronic devices and appliances from Energy Saving Trust

5. Understand where your pension is invested: If you are thinking about making changes to your pension, consider obtaining professional advice. The Money Advice Service provides guidance on choosing a financial advisor.

6. Walk or cycle on short journeys: Public Health England’s The “Active 10” app can help you build ten minutes of brisk walking into your day.

7. Test drive an electric vehicle: Go Ultra Low is a joint government and industry campaign which aims to increase purchase consideration of electric vehicles. It also includes a useful tool to estimate how much you could save by driving an electric vehicle.

8. Recycle and avoid food waste by planning meals in advance: Love Food, Hate Waste has helpful tips on how to reduce the amount of food you throw away.

9. Recycle more – and use the right bin: Recycle More has lots of information about recycling for households.

10. Use a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and shopping bag: Find out about refill schemes which allow you to fill up your water bottle for free.

Advice for businesses

Advice for businesses

1. Prevent waste by reusing and recycling: Take a look at Business in the Community’s circular office resources and sign up to the circular office campaign. You can also find out more with WRAP’s recycling guide for offices.

2. Cut your energy use: Take a look at the Carbon Trust’s report, Office based companies: Maximising energy savings in an office environment (April 2018). Note that you need to register for free account.

3. Get a Smart Meter: Smart Energy GB has more about Smart Meters, or just speak to your energy supplier directly about getting an installation.

4. Improve your buildings: The Carbon Trust’s Building Fabric Guide (March 2018) introduces the main energy saving opportunities relating to building fabric.

5. Review your vehicle fleet: The Energy Saving Trust offers guidance and bespoke fleet consultancy services, funded by Department for Transport.

6. Engage with your employees: Take a look at the Smart Energy GB and Carbon Trust employers’ guide to raise energy efficiency awareness at home and at work.

7. Prioritise at Board Level: The Energy Managers Association provides a useful a guide on Energy Reduction for Boards and Directors.

8. Find out if your business can benefit from ‘green’ tax reliefs.

9. Find out if your business can benefit from government investment.

10. Understand the long-term risks and opportunities of climate change for your business: Use the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Disclosure’s knowledge hub to find out more.

Published 15 October 2018

3 December, 2018

featuring

Nigel Ball │ Deputy Director │ Government Outcomes Lab

and

Neil Stanworth │ Founding Director │ ATQ Consultants and GO Lab Fellow of Practice

Please see the attached flyer for information and how to book.

PDF, 196KB, 1 page

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email academy@noms.gsi.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Published 15 October 2018