Would you like to be the British High Commissioner to India for a day?

To celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, the British High Commission is offering women from across India a unique opportunity to experience a day in the life of the UK’s top diplomat in the country. The competition is open to women aged 18-23 and the deadline to apply is 2 September 2022.

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said:

The UK and India are doing big things together, from combating climate change to agreeing a free trade deal. But, celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child together with a wonderful young Indian applicant each year is without a doubt one of my favourite things to do as High Commissioner.

I am delighted to launch the sixth edition of our High Commissioner for a Day competition, particularly during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Empowering women and girls is one of the UK’s top priorities globally, as it is for Prime Minister Modi as well. This is an excellent opportunity for young women to show their full potential. I look forward to seeing entries from every corner of this great country.

The winner of this pan-India initiative gets a unique opportunity to head the diplomatic mission for a day – overseeing the UK’s largest overseas network, chairing meetings with diverse stakeholders, and a chance to experience the UK-India partnership in action.

To apply to be the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’, participants must record and upload a one-minute video answering ‘which woman in public life inspires you the most and why?’ The video must be shared on either Twitter, Facebook or Instagram by tagging ‘@UKinIndia’ and using the hashtag ‘#DayoftheGirl’.

Further information

The British High Commission has organised the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition annually since 2017. The theme for this year’s competition is ‘Women in Leadership’.

Last year’s winner was 20-year-old Aditi Maheshwari from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, whose day as the High Commissioner included observing the India-UK Energy for Growth Dialogue, meeting with beneficiaries of the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, interacting with climate experts from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and meeting young leaders from the not-for-profit Global Youth.

Terms and Conditions:

A jury at the British High Commission (BHC) will select the winner, who will be announced on @UKinIndia social media channels. Only one entry per participant will be accepted. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The High Commission’s decision is final and no correspondence relating to the above will be possible.
By applying to the competition, participants transfer the copyright ownership of their videos to the BHC New Delhi. BHC may use these videos to produce content for future communication on its social media channels.
Participants are reminded not to share personal details in their video, post or tweet. The BHC is not responsible for the data that participants make public on these platforms.
The High Commissioner for a Day programme will take place in-person in Delhi (unless Covid-19 advice changes). In case the winner is not from Delhi/NCR, we will fund travel or accommodation to Delhi as part of the competition.

For media queries, please contact:

David Russell, Head of Communications
Press and Communications, British High Commission,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. Tel: 24192100

Media queries: BHCMediaDelhi@fco.gov.uk

Scottish Secretary responds to August Labour Market Statistics

News story

As new figures from the ONS show Scottish unemployment at a record low, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack says the UK Government is continuing to help create and support jobs through investment in communities.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

Today’s labour market figures show positive signs for Scotland. Unemployment has fallen over the last year to a historic low and there are more people on the payroll.

The best way to continue growing our economy in the long-term is to get even more people into well-paid, highly-skilled jobs as we know that people are better off in work than on benefits. However, we also know people are worried right now about the rising cost of living and that’s why we’re providing the most vulnerable households with an extra £1200 of direct support through our £37bn package of support, while continuing to help all households with their bills.

Alongside this, the UK Government continues to drive forward investment in communities to create and support jobs, helping level up opportunity from our biggest towns and cities to our most remote villages.

Background

Figures from the ONS show unemployment at 3.2 per cent in Scotland, down 1.1 p.p. since the same time last year. Scotland’s employment rate is at 75.4 per cent, an increase of 1.2 p.p. over the last year.

Published 16 August 2022

DataConnect22 starts soon!

Taking place on 26-30 September, DataConnect is back! Register now for the free online conference that’s for everyone working in the public sector and is all about Data.

DataConnect22 brings together people and data stories from across the public sector. Join us for presentations, workshops, show and tells, and “community meet-ups” to share stories about data, connect with other colleagues working with data across government, and inspire collaboration to create better data and increase data skills across the public sector.

Last year thousands of colleagues from across the country registered for DataConnect21. Together, we covered topics from data standards to data science, from maturity to metadata, and everything in between… We were educated and enlightened by participants and speakers from all over the public and third sector, including:

Department for Work and Pensions
Office for National Statistics
Central Digital and Data Office
Department for International Trade
Scottish Government
Environment Agency
Open Data Institute
HM Revenue & Customs
DAMA UK

About DataConnect22

DataConnect22 is a fully online, free conference to celebrate data in the UK public sector. It is jointly organised by the Government Data Quality Hub and the Central Digital and Data Office.

You’ll find a variety of session formats from presentations, to interactive workshops and roundtables, to networking events led by colleagues from across the public sector. Sessions already cover a huge range of topics, such as applications of Natural Language Processing for policy delivery, aligning the Government Data Maturity Model with strategic drivers, and opportunities to network informally at a Coffee Connect session.

Can I organise my own DataConnect22 session?

Want to tell your own data story? There’s still time to bring your own session!

Find our more detailed information for speakers on the DataConnect22 website. Then sign up to our mailing list to get all the information about attending this year’s conference, and to express your interest to host a session.

Any questions?

Email us at dataconnect@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk or join one of our lunchtime drop in sessions which will be held from 12:00-13:00 on Tuesdays.

Independent Veterans Advisor to UK Ministers visits Veterans UK

News story

Mr David Richmond CBE, an ex-serving member of the Armed Forces himself, visited Veterans UK last week and met with staff from multiple business areas.

David Richmond talking with Veterans UK staff

Mr Richmond was given a tour of the compensation operational teams and met with staff that help administer the schemes. Mr Richmond also met with Armed Forces and Veterans Services deputy heads and the communication and engagement teams to find out about the ongoing work Veterans UK is doing to improve customer service.

Mr Richmond said:

Veterans UK has a touch point with every veteran of the UK Armed Forces and will be pivotal in delivering the government’s vision to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the team at Norcross and was struck by their deep commitment and desire to do a great job. Ministers must ensure now that they give the Vets UK team the tools they need to deliver that great service and the current digitisation programme will be vital to that.

We look forward to seeing Mr Richmond in future visits.

David Richmond talking with Veterans UK operational staff

Published 16 August 2022

Regulator opens inquiry into legal charity over concerns about the continued involvement of a disqualified trustee

Press release

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into JAFLAS (1142202), after concerns that a disqualified individual was still acting as a trustee.

JAFLAS provides free legal advice to those experiencing financial hardship.

The Commission’s engagement began when a former trustee of the charity, Dr Alan Blacker, was automatically disqualified from acting as a trustee or a senior manager. However, as of July 2022, Dr Blacker was still listed as a director of the charity and as being a person of significant control on Companies House records (the charity is a charitable company and is therefore also registered with Companies House).

The inquiry will examine the administration, governance and management of the Charity and in particular:

whether a disqualified individual has continued to play a role in the charity – acting whilst disqualified has both criminal and civil consequences
the trustees’ response to the automatic disqualification of a trustee and their decision-making regarding that individual’s continued involvement in the charity
whether the charity’s objects are being met and the charity is operating for the public benefit
the trustees’ compliance with their legal obligations for the content, preparation and submission of the charity’s accounts, and other information and or returns.

The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional issues emerge.

Notes to Editors

The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.
The Commission has not made any conclusions and the opening of the inquiry is not a finding of wrongdoing.
Individuals who are automatically disqualified from trusteeship can apply to the Commission for a waiver. Dr Blacker applied for such waiver, and was rejected. He appealed this rejection to the Charity Tribunal, and lost that appeal.
The charity does not have an official connection with HM Armed Forces.

Published 16 August 2022