The event, taking place on the penultimate day of National Apprenticeship Week 2018, saw high profile names in business, politics and society address an audience of teachers, apprentices and female business leaders at the National Gallery, London, whilst leading art historian introduced some of the artwork created by women and on show in the Gallery’s collection.

The event included speeches and presentations from inspirational leaders – including Anne Milton, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, Ann Francke, Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute and Charlotte Hughes from GlaxoSmithKline and National Apprenticeship Awards 2017 Higher and Degree Apprentice of the Year award winner.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton said:

International Women’s Day is a brilliant time to talk about why more women are choosing an apprenticeship and in subjects that used to be seen as “for men”.

I want lots more women seeing apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering and maths as a real and achievable choice. Our Year of Engineering campaign is highlighting the amazing opportunities these fascinating subjects can give, so my message is sign up today!

‘Apprenticeships Work’ has been the theme of the 11th National Apprenticeship Week. During the week employers and apprentices from across England have come together to celebrate the success of apprenticeships whilst encouraging even more people to choose apprenticeships as a pathway to a great career.

Sue Husband, director, National Apprenticeship Service added:

National Apprenticeship Week 2018 is a week-long celebration of apprenticeships and the impact they have on individuals, employers, local communities and the wider economy. It is great that today’s event coincides with International Women’s Day and allows us the opportunity to celebrate how apprenticeships can lead to brilliant career opportunities for women.

The audience here today is made up of strong, successful women who were or are apprentices, who recruit apprentices, or who support the apprenticeship movement and want to see more women succeed through an apprenticeship.

I am delighted to address and welcome this audience and special thanks go to teachers from the Apprenticeship Champions Network who are at this event in recognition of the work they do to encourage young women into well great apprenticeships.

Charlotte Hughes, an associate scientist for drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has worked and studied as an apprentice since September 2015. She won the National Apprenticeship Awards Higher and Degree Apprentice of the Year award for 2017 and addressed today’s audience. Charlotte said:

Entering a full-time job with a degree and work experience combined has been great for my career. I have had opportunity to learn from scientists, progress through my apprenticeship and speak at a big STEM-based careers events to more than 100 people, promoting the benefits of science careers and apprenticeships.

Being invited to speak at this amazing event today has shown me how successful my journey has been so far. There are so many great opportunities for women in all sectors, and particularly for me, in science. I am proud of my apprenticeship and how it has worked for me. I hope others will be inspired by my story.

The event today closed with calls for the audience to continue to press the case for more to be done on gender inequality in the workplace.

You can find images from the event on the National Apprenticeships Service Flickr page.

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Published 8 March 2018

Call for entries for BT Infinity Awards: Augmented Intelligence. Photo: all rights reserved

A man who murdered his ex-partner will spend more time in prison after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP referred his original sentence to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient.

Theodore Johnson, 64, was originally sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years in January at the Central Criminal Court. The minimum term was increased today after the Solicitor’s action, meaning Johnson will now serve at least 30 years behind bars.

Johnson, who had previously been convicted of the manslaughter of 2 former partners, attacked and killed his 51 year old ex-partner after she ended her relationship with him.

The Solicitor General presented the case personally to the Court of Appeal. Speaking after the hearing he said:

“This was a vicious and brutal attack which ended in the tragic death of a woman. The offender is a danger to women and his crimes deserved tougher sentencing. I am pleased the Court has now seen fit to increase the prison term.”

This was agreed during today’s constructive Joint Ministerial Council (Gibraltar, European Negotiations) by Minister at the Department for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker and the Chief Minister for Gibraltar Fabian Picardo.

The package sets out how we will continue to collaborate closely in a range of important areas, such as on the environment, online gaming, financial services market access, transport and the level of university tuition fees during our Brexit negotiations and beyond.

The measures include a commitment to continued market access for financial services, assurance that British Citizens resident in Gibraltar will continue to be eligible for higher education home fee status at English Institutions, enhanced liaison on environmental issues, and that Gibraltar can continue to refer an unlimited number of their patients to the UK for free elective treatment. The full details of the deal are available in the UK Government statement here [link].

Following the meeting, Minister Robin Walker said:

I’m delighted that the sixth meeting with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and his team saw us agree this set of measures to ensure UK-Gibraltar ties will endure and strengthen.

Today we have agreed a positive package deal on issues surrounding our exit from the EU, once again demonstrating that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Gibraltarians in our unwavering commitment to the UK-Gibraltar relationship.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen said:

We know the people and businesses of Gibraltar have been asking for certainty, and we have heard them. We are ensuring that Gibraltar’s access to UK markets will continue unchanged until 2020, even in the unlikely event of no deal being reached. This will give us the time we need to work with the Government of Gibraltar to design a new, modernised agreement, based on similar, high standards of regulation and enforcement.

Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo said:

Today our bilateral relationship grows stronger and the terms for it to endure are further cemented as we realise the commitment to maintain and enhance market access for Gibraltar service providers into the UK post-Brexit.

There is a lot to celebrate in this and a lot of hard work to recognise on the part also of the team in Gibraltar, in particular the Deputy Chief Minister and the Attorney General, and in the UK FCO, DExEU, Treasury, DCMS, Cabinet Office and Downing Street. I extend the gratitude of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and the people of Gibraltar to all involved.