The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Michel of Belgium had a 30 minute tete-a-tete at the UN General Assembly today.
They discussed Brexit and the Prime Minister underlined his determination to find a deal and to leave the EU on 31 October.
They also discussed foreign policy issues including Iran and the importance of deescalation in the region.
Published 23 September 2019
The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today at the UN General Assembly.
They discussed Brexit and underlined their shared commitment to agree an ambitious free trade deal after the UK leaves the EU.
They also spoke about the close bilateral relationship between our countries and the importance of our intelligence-sharing cooperation through Five Eyes.
They discussed Iran’s destabilising activity in the region and the need for dialogue and deescalation, and agreed on the importance of international cooperation to protect shipping in the Gulf.
Prime Minister Ardern thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s support on the Christchurch Call to tackle terrorist use of the internet and they welcomed the progress being made in formalising the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.
Published 23 September 2019
The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan today at the UN General Assembly in New York.
They discussed the strong bilateral relations between the UK and Pakistan, and the upcoming visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The leaders spoke about regional issues, including tensions with Iran and peace efforts in Afghanistan. They also discussed Kashmir and Prime Minister Khan underlined his concerns about the current situation.
Published 23 September 2019
The Regulator of Social Housing has issued the following statement in response to the Channel 4 Dispatches programme, ‘New Landlords from Hell’, aired on Monday 25 March.
Where tenants directly approach or are referred to the Regulator of Social Housing, it will consider whether there has been a breach of its standards, and if so, whether there has been, or is a risk of ‘serious detriment’. The programme refers to cases that the regulator is already considering. We cannot comment on current cases.
Since October 2013, RSH has published 30 Regulatory Notices against registered social housing providers for breaches of the consumer standards, and in 17 of those cases it also downgraded the organisation’s governance grading at the same time. In cases where it finds a breach of the consumer standards and serious detriment, the regulator expects the provider to resolve those issues promptly, and works directly with the provider as it develops and implements a plan to do so. Each year RSH publishes on its website a Consumer Regulation Review setting out statistics for the numbers of cases it has dealt with and highlighting specific examples.
Further information about the role of the RSH is on the About us page.
Published 23 September 2019
“Since day one I have been made to feel like a valued employee among my peers.”
This is the 3rd in our series about the opportunities offered under various placement and career development schemes at the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD). We have previously heard from people on the trainee actuary scheme and on the actuarial placement scheme. This time, we speak to Mary Gurung, who’s an apprentice in GAD’s human resources (HR) team.
Mary, who’s working towards her CIPD HR Level 3 Support Apprenticeship, has been talking about her role and what she’s learned so far…
I became interested in human resource management, while studying Business Management A-level. The opportunity to interact with colleagues and to come up with ways to help their working lives, on a case-by-case basis really interested me. So, the opportunity to continuously learn seemed unending within a career in Human Resources (HR).
After graduating with a degree in International Business, (and after an initial foray into property management), I joined GAD in January 2019 as an HR Apprentice.
The prospect of working within the government while studying to complete my HR Level 3 Support Apprenticeship for the CIPD – the organisation which sets professional standards for HR and people development. This is an internationally recognised qualification, offering me an accredited route into the HR profession.
It can be difficult to enter the HR workspace without experience or a relatable qualification. So, I was excited to be offered the opportunity to learn and earn all the while being a member of the Civil Service HR professional group.
I found out about GAD’s HR apprenticeship scheme through the Civil Service Jobs website. Now, around 9 months into my 18-month apprenticeship. I’m half way through my modules. Along the way I’ve learned invaluable HR skills that I am able to implement practically in my role. GAD is quite diverse as an organisation and since day one I have been made to feel like a valued employee among my peers.
My job is very varied; no 2 days are ever the same. Daily tasks can include co-ordinating recruitment activities (such as interviews), drafting letters concerning contractual changes and carrying out inductions for new starters. In my role I learn about new and innovative ways to operate on a regular basis. I’m gradually gaining a greater understanding of the complete employee life cycle from recruitment to their last day. I enjoy the variety of activities involved at each of these stages and being part of the visible impact that HR has in GAD.
As an apprentice I manage working and studying in tandem which was, initially, quite challenging. I’ve learned how to manage my time effectively by prioritising my work, organising responsibilities effectively and breaking down processes into manageable tasks. The online learning facility from my apprenticeship provider Avado gives me the flexibility to study anywhere and at any time. It enables me to split my time between working and learning.
I have a dedicated Learning Development Coach, who is external to the Civil Service. My coach monitors my progress and provides effective feedback to support my final assessment which concludes my apprenticeship. My line manager and the wider team provide continuous support and help me to take full advantage of my apprenticeship.
Once I’ve completed my apprenticeship, I’ll receive my CIPD certificate and become an Associate member. This will allow me to work at a higher standard as a credible HR professional. My apprenticeship means I’ve already had the opportunity to consider further HR opportunities within the Civil Service.