Recognised for its outstanding commitment to encouraging young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers, the UKHO is nominated alongside companies including Just Eat, Airbus, Nissan, Amey and Legrand Electrical Ltd.

The winner will be announced on November 1 during a ceremony at the House of Lords, which will be attended by guests across industry, education and government.

Tamsin Hodge, the UKHO’s STEM Ambassador Group coordinator, commented:

We are incredibly proud of this amazing achievement, which is a reflection of a truly fantastic team effort, the dedication of our STEM Ambassador volunteers, support from all areas of UKHO and the collaborative partnerships we have developed with Code Club South West, Somerset County Council, Taunton Library, Glassbox, Skirting Science, Big Bang Fair, Soroptimist International, STEM Learning UK and the Digital Taunton, Tech Exeter and Women’s Tech Hub communities.

We’ve now established the UKHO STEM Ambassador programme into the way we do things here and are leading the way in bringing STEM to life in our local community, across the South West and now on the national stage too.

Over the past year, the UKHO’s STEM Ambassadors have worked with over 1,500 people aged 5-19 by partnering with 20 schools in the local area. This outreach work has included supporting weekly code clubs, attending science fairs and coordinating a local event in celebration of World Hydrography Day, attended by 400 members of the public.

The organisation has plans in place to work with a further 13,500 young people and 41,000 members of the public within their STEM Programme.

Amy Northern, Data Engineering Team Manager and STEM Ambassador at the UKHO, explains how we’ve helped young people into STEM careers over the past 18 months: UKHO shortlisted for STEM Inspiration Award

A van used to dump waste illegally in Berkshire has been seized and crushed by the Environment Agency.

The green Transit had been linked to waste crime across a network of illegal sites in London and surrounding counties. These sites were characterised by illegal entry, which involved the forcing or cutting of locks and chains, or the removal of fencing securing the sites.

The van was destroyed by a licenced scrapyard, under Environment Agency supervision, after it was seized by officers as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the large-scale illegal dumping of commercial waste. Intensive unlawful waste-dumping involved several small trucks and the movement onto the sites of caravans to mask the waste-tipping. The sites were quickly trashed, with a hefty clean-up bill for the owner, usually in the tens of thousands of pounds.

It is clear from examination of the waste by environment officers that much of it came from small building operations, offices, shops and other small businesses. Under the law, small businesses generating waste are defined as waste “producers,” and when they get rid of their waste, have to comply with what is called their “duty of care.” This includes prescribed information about the waste, and checks on where it is going.

Failure of any business to comply with its duty of care leaves open the potential for very heavy fines – £5,000 in a magistrates’ court, or an unlimited fine if a case is referred to Crown court.

The Environment Agency urges producers of waste, in particular small businesses such as independent building companies, to take responsibility of their commercial rubbish.

Helen Hancock, an enforcement officer with the Environment Agency in Berkshire, said:

If you operate any form of business, you have a legal responsibility to safely contain and legally dispose of any waste produced. If you don’t, you can be taken to court as you are committing a serious offence.

When you transfer waste to another person, you must ensure that a written accurate description of the waste is agreed and signed by you and the next holder. Don’t give waste to someone who can’t prove they are a legitimate waste-carrier, as they are likely to dump your rubbish to avoid paying-waste disposal costs.

Always obtain a waste-transfer note as proof and, if in any doubt, call our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or alternatively use the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Using illegal waste dealers may seem tempting in terms of cost, but it can help fund organised crime. All businesses have a responsibility for their commercial waste, and if your waste is found at an illegal site, you could be facing unlimited fines at court. We encourage firms to familiarise themselves with their duty of care: https://www.gov.uk/managing-your-waste-an-overview.

Waste crime drains the UK economy of £1 billion each year in clean-up costs and lost tax revenues. It has a devastating effect on the environment and local communities, with pest infestations and fires, which could lead to water and land contamination, plus air pollution from smoke.

The Environment Agency has closed two illegal waste sites a day on average in the past year, seizing a number of vehicles connected with waste crime across the UK. New waste powers mean tougher action can be taken to reduce criminal waste activity – making a real difference to communities.

The Environment Agency can crush seized vehicles under the powers granted by the Control of Waste (Dealing with Seized Property) Regulations 2015.

Media enquiries: 0800 141 2743 E-mail: southeastpressoffice1@environment-agency.gov.uk Twitter: @EnvAgencySE

Green Transit connected to waste crime across southern England

Anticipation is growing ahead of this year’s national ceremony, with over 7,000 votes cast for the winner of the new Lloyds Banking Group sponsored ‘rising star’ category in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2018.

Voting closed on 17 October and for now, the 9 regional ‘rising star’ winners will have to wait until November to find out who will be crowned the national winner at the national ceremony in London. The award will be presented alongside 8 other National Apprenticeship Awards 2018 category winners and highly commended employers, apprentices and individuals.

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their 15th year, showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships, whilst celebrating outstanding apprentices, employers and individuals who go above and beyond to champion apprenticeships across England. In addition to the new for 2018 ‘rising star’ category, another new category, the PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence, will also be presented.

And with national judging now having taken place, a full list of national finalists in each category can be announced:

Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the year national finalists:

• Shivam Radia, East Midlands
• Aleksandra Burzec, East of England
• Thomas Mynott, London
• Jenny Jones, North East
• Joseph Buck, North West
• Aimee Wilkinson, South East
• Henry Crosby, South West
• Sam Brown, West Midlands
• Hannah Turner, Yorkshire and the Humber

The British Army Award for Intermediate apprentice of the year national finalists:

• Amelia Wayne, East Midlands
• Chloe Ludkin, East of England
• Danielle Lebby, London
• Niall Bennison, North East
• Leigh Carter, North West
• Natalie Annalls, South East
• Vikas Khan, South West
• Bethany Geddes, West Midlands
• Muhammad Uddin, Yorkshire and the Humber

The Rolls Royce Award for Advanced apprentice of the year national finalists:

• Elliott Walker, East Midlands
• Jade Smith, East of England
• Jessica Eley, London
• Alexandra Turner-Davis, North East
• Lucas Benson, North West
• Muhammad Khan, South East
• Michael Baller, South West
• Daniel Millington, West Midlands
• Matthew Shillings, Yorkshire and the Humber

The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for higher or degree apprentice of the year national finalists:

• Kathryn Monkcom, East Midlands
• Georgia Cresswell, East of England
• Kate Self, London
• Joe Powell, North East
• Jordan Coulton, North West
• Alisha Fordham, South East
• Luke Hiller, South West
• Michelle Blackwell, West Midlands
• Oliver Marsh, Yorkshire and the Humber

The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the year national finalists:

• Mark Lawson, East Midlands
• Jordan Nicholas, London
• David Thompson, North East
• Natalie White, North West
• Darren Ellis, South East
• Gary Shaw, South West
• Susan Gough, West Midlands

The BAE Systems Award for SME Employer of the year (for organisations with 1 to 249 employees) national finalists:

• Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors (ECY)
• Stainless Metalcraft (Chatteris) Ltd
• Troup Bywaters + Anders
• Lotte Chemical UK Ltd
• Aptus Utilities Ltd
• Invotra
• GoSkydive
• Furrows Group
• North York Moors National Park Authority

The Royal Navy Award for Large Employer of the year (for organisations with 250 to 4,999 employees) national finalists:

• Uniper
• Bespak Europe Ltd
• Channel 4 Television
• Hays Travel
• WEC Group Limited
• MBDA
• United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
• KMF Precision Sheet Metal Limited
• Syngenta

The Centrica Award for Macro Employer of the year (5,000+ employees) national finalists:

• Santander UK
• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Engie
• Lookers plc
• Rochdale Council
• Caring Homes Group
• BAE Systems plc
• Marston’s PLC
• Lloyds Banking Group

The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence national finalists:

• Santander UK
• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Rochdale Council
• WSP
• Northumberland County Council
• Caring Homes Group
• BAE Systems plc
• KMF Precision Sheet Metal Limited
• Lloyds Banking Group

Anne Milton, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills said:

Well done and huge congratulations to all the national finalists! And what a range of sectors you represent – and at all levels.

I’ve met apprentices and employers up and down the country, and one thing they all share is passion for apprenticeships and the opportunities they create to change lives. To make sure as many people as possible are aware of apprenticeships and the change they can bring, we need people like you. You should be very proud of your achievement!

I wish them all the best of luck for the award ceremony on 28 November.

Keith Smith, Director, Apprenticeships, Education and Skills Funding Agency concluded:

It is fascinating to see so many apprentices, individuals and employers from such an array of sectors make it through to the final stage of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2018.

The new categories have refreshed the awards and it’s been exciting to go out with a public vote to help select the Rising Star category winner; and also great to see new employers entering the awards and being recognised for their diverse approaches in the recruitment of apprentices.

I want to personally congratulate all finalists for making it through to the national stage and by getting this far it really does show the depth and strength of apprenticeships in England at this time.

You can keep up to date with apprenticeships news, including information on the National Apprenticeship Awards by following @Apprenticeships on Twitter and the National Apprenticeship Service on LinkedIn.