Experienced international trade and structured finance professional Diego Folino has joined as Country Head to improve awareness of the organisation in the market and support trade relations between the UK and Mexico.

UKEF is strategically placed to provide competitive and innovative finance to companies in Mexico looking to do business with the UK. The British government is committed to improving its trading relationship with Mexico, and to support this UKEF has over £4 billion available for UK companies exporting to Mexico as well as Mexican buyers of UK goods and services. It can also provide loan guarantees in Mexican Pesos – allowing buyers of goods and services from the UK the flexibility to “buy British and pay local”.

Country Head Diego Folino has taken up office at the British Embassy in Mexico City and will work closely with the Department for International Trade and other UK government departments to deliver on this trading potential.

Diego has over 25 years of experience within the International Financial Sector. He led the launch of the Bank of China’s operations in Mexico and prior to that, successfully led institutions including Bank of New York Mellon Mexico and Standard Chartered as President and Country CEO for several years. Most recently as founder and CEO of Tinto Capital, he successfully advised companies and senior executives of corporate and financial institutions on strategy, business development and investment banking activities.

Diego Folino said “I am excited about this role and about creating stronger trading links between Mexico and the UK. The UK has a global reputation for excellence across a wide a range of sectors, and I look forward to bringing the benefits of that expertise to Mexico’s rapidly growing economy.”

Commenting on the appointment, Richard Simon Lewis, Head of Origination, Client Coverage, Marketing and Communications at UK Export Finance said “UKEF is committed to expanding the global reach of the UK’s companies into Mexico and across the wider Latin American region. Diego’s appointment represents the strength of that commitment and I look forward to working together to forge strong links into this key market as UKEF builds out its overseas network.”

Notes to Editors:

About UKEF

Established in 1919, UKEF is the UK Government’s Export Credit Agency, helping buyers around the world trade with UK suppliers by offering attractive financing options. Alongside long repayment terms, UKEF has the ability to support a wide range of financing structures and offers one of the most flexible local content requirements of any credit agency in the world. Full details of its products and services are available on its website.

Today the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Chief Executive announced investment of £3.2m in a new research project to explore the latest vehicle technologies to boost the performance of UK Future Ground Combat Vehicles.

The project, led by QinetiQ, will focus on innovative solutions for ground vehicle mobility, exploiting the potential provided by electric drive systems.

The aim of this project is to assess which of the latest technologies can be applied to future ground combat vehicles, and how those technologies would integrate with current systems. This enables UK Defence to invest into the right technology in a focused and assured way, reducing the risk and saving potentially millions of pounds.

Gary Aitkenhead, Dstl Chief Executive, said

Technology changes the way we do things in every aspect of our daily lives. This is never truer than adapting the way we work, even on the battlefield. We are working in partnership with QinetiQ to deliver a three-year programme, which will move from concept studies to prototype testing in a real-world environment. This project will help ensure we have the best ground fleet ever.

In particular, the project will investigate advanced running gear solutions for wheeled manned and autonomous vehicles to close the gap between the mobility of wheeled and tracked vehicles. The running gear will integrate with QinetiQ’s world-leading, in-wheel electric hub drive technology and the two combined will deliver significant benefits in armoured vehicle design. The solutions will enable platforms with significant increases in operational and tactical mobility along with survivability and fuel efficiency benefits.

A spokesperson from QinetiQ said:

QinetiQ has supported UK Defence for decades – channelling the expertise of our engineers, scientists and many employees who have, themselves, served on the front line.

This knowledge has enabled us to develop solutions, such as our electric hub drive technology, which can truly change the way we operate on the battlefield and enable the use of power-demanding payloads, bringing added benefits to capability and the wider mission.

In addition, the studies will explore controls for active suspension – looking at electric and hydraulic options; advanced tyre technologies, benefits for vehicle design, terrain scanning and sensing, use of optical and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) with other sensor systems – such as RADAR – with an integrated control system, using advanced data processing/fusion techniques coupled with the application of novel materials.

The collaborative partnership is led by defence and technology company, QinetiQ, and brings together a wealth of industry and academic experience, including Cranfield University, Formula 1 motorsports engineers – Williams Advanced Engineering, military vehicle suspension specialists – Horstman Defence Systems, vehicle development and safety consultants – MIRA, control systems experts – Contract Innovation and innovation and simulation leaders – Catalyst Corporation.

The first phase of the programme, one year in duration, will focus on studies, concepts and modelling; followed by a second, two-year phase of prototyping and testing on a mobile test rig, validating the benefits in a practical environment.

Published 11 September 2019

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The Redundancy Payments helpline will be closed on Monday 16 September for the Autumn Public Holiday.

Now in their 16th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships, whilst celebrating the achievements of outstanding apprentices, apprentice employers and individuals to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and champion apprenticeships across England.

The awards were open to apprentices, individuals who promote apprenticeships and employers of all sizes from all sectors. Categories were refreshed in 2018,creating additional opportunities for entrants to demonstrate the impact apprenticeships have made to individual’s lives and their workplaces. Those recognised as regional winners are apprenticeship exemplars, highlighting best practice across recruitment excellence, high quality training practices, diversity and career progression.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Huge congratulations to all of the regional winners. The National Apprenticeships Awards are a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic apprenticeship programmes available across the country and the amazing apprentices working in a range of exciting professions like hospitality, aviation and banking.

Apprenticeships change lives, improve businesses and support local communities, so it’s great to see such a diverse range of employers and apprentices being recognised for their great work.

I wish them all the best of luck for the final award ceremony in November.

Keith Smith, Director, Apprenticeships Group, ESFA said:

The National Apprenticeship Awards are important to the whole sector because they truly demonstrate how apprenticeships fire up careers, whilst recognising how apprenticeships enable employers to grow their own talent, reduce staff turnover and enhance the skills their company needs to succeed.

The regional stages of the competition is an exciting time for employers, apprentices, individuals and stakeholders who all recognise the importance of skills to help our economy to thrive and grow locally, regionally and nationally.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the regional ceremonies – the winners, those that were highly commended, sponsors and hosts. I know judges had a difficult time selecting winners – the depth and breadth of applications was astonishing and I look forward to seeing who wins across the English regions.

For more information on the National Apprenticeship Awards 2019 visit our AppAwards website.

The awards form a key part of the Department for Education’s wider ‘Fire it Up’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of the greater variety of apprenticeships on offer for people of all ages and backgrounds and ignite positive conversations around apprenticeships across England.

East of England regional ceremony

There were 17 apprentice employers and individuals recognised at the East of England regional ceremony on Wednesday 11 September at Newmarket Racecourse.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Maycast-Nokes Precision Engineering Ltd;
• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is VolkerWessels UK Limited with Flagship Housing Group highly commended;
• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with Hertfordshire County Council highly commended;
• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with Maycast-Nokes Precision Engineering Ltd highly commended.

Individual category winners are:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Joshua Reed from Milan Barbershop and Rhian Prince from Atalian Servest is highly commended;
• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Tatiana Peters from MBDA and Samuel Blinkhorne from Leonardo is highly commended;
• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Jessie Stowe from Astex Pharmaceuticals; Jasmine Jayne Studholme from Greene King PLC is highly commended.
• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Jessie Stowe from Astex Pharmaceuticals and Sally Harvey from Spire Healthcare is highly commended;
• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 is Joanna Moles from The John Henry Newman School and Ben Gaskins from Poultec Training is highly commended.

Jessie Stowe from Astex will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

South East regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentice employers and individuals recognised at the South East regional ceremony held on Thursday 12 September at Mandolay Hotel, Guildford.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Invotra Limited; Darke & Taylor Ltd is highly commended;
• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is DAF Trucks Limited; PBA now part of Stantec is highly commended;
• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Specsavers Optical Superstores Limited; Royal Navy is highly commended;
• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is Royal Navy; Specsavers Optical Superstores Limited is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Ben Cornmell from Waltham Black Ltd and highly commended is Josephine Allen from Oxford Learning Institute, University of Oxford
• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Mariola Balczerowska from Arla Foods and highly commended is Kieran Barnes from Wood and Wisdom
• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Mairna Marzoug from Brighton & Hove City Council and highly Commended is Hayden Taylor from Unloc Learning Limited
• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Rebecca Godfrey from Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd and highly commended is Krishnan Patel, Hanson UK
• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Dominique Unsworth from Resource Productions and highly commended is Jason Goodchild; Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

Rebecca Godfrey from Abbott Diabetes Care will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

London regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentice employers and individuals recognised at the London regional ceremony held on Friday 13 September at Glaziers Hall, London.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Troup Bywaters + Anders; Blue Structural Engineering LLPs highly commended;
• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is London Borough of Hackney; Southwark Council is highly commended;
• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is BT; IBM UK Ltd is highly commended;
• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is London Borough of Hackney; Southwark Council is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Sophie Barrett, Royal National Theatre and highly commended is Joel Baldwin, also from Royal National Theatre
• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Maddy Morrison, Sky Sports News and highly commended is Ben Miles, Google UK Ltd
• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Charlie Headdock, ENGIE Regeneration Ltd and highly Commended is Callum Elsdon, BT
• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Shajida Akthar, Accenture and highly commended is Natalie Preston, Southwark Council
• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Helen Everett, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School and highly commended is James Mackley, BT

Shajida Akthar from Accenture Care will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

North East regional ceremony

Eighteen apprentice employers and individuals were recognised at the North East regional ceremony held on Monday 16 September at the Hilton in Newcastle:

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Intelect (UK) Limited; Tees Components Limited is highly commended;

• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Home Group Limited; County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is highly commended;

• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd; Lookers plc is highly commended;

• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is Home Group Limited; Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Julie Mills, Northumberland Community Bank and highly commended is John Dickeson, HC one

• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Ben Lumsden, Ibstock Brick Ltd and Highly Commended is Niall Bennison, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK

• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Emma Beauchamp, Gestamp and Highly Commended is Emma Coulson, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK

• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Gavin Malone, Newcastle Building Society and Highly Commended is Emily Adams, Hays Travel

• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Karen Marshall, Accenture Technology Centre and Highly Commended is Karen Hookham, Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Gavin Malone from Newcastle Building Society will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

North West regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentices, employers and individuals recognised that the award ceremony in the North West, taking place at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on 18 September.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is JLES Group Limited; Arthur Padgett Limited is highly commended;

• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is WEC Group Limited; A-Plant is highly commended;

• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Cumbria County Council; Elior UK is highly commended;

• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is Cumbria County Council; WEC Group Limited is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Michal Halamicek from acdc and highly commended is Leonni Robinson from Wirral Borough Council;

• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Paula Baron from Canal & River Trust and highly commended is Chloe Johnson from Rochdale Borough Council;

• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Aaron Oreschnick from Pizza Hut Restaurants and highly Commended is Howard Jackson from IBM UK Limited;

• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Emilia Hoyle from Heat Trace Ltd and highly commended is Samuel Cowell from Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust;

• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Sarah Herdan from Stockport Council and highly commended is Rebecca Lomax from Bentley Motors Ltd.

Emilia Hoyle from Heat Trace Ltd will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

Yorkshire and the Humber regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentices, employers and individuals recognised that the award ceremony in the Yorkshire and The Humber ceremony, taking place at the Leeds Marriot Hotel on 19 September.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Clifton Green Primary School; TT Electronics is highly commended;

• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Zenith Vehicle Contracts Limited; Covance Laboratories Limited is highly commended;

• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Lloyds Banking Group; Anchor Hanover Group is highly commended;

• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is Lloyds Banking Group; Covance Laboratories Limited is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Joe Groves from Rob Wordsworth T/A Wordsworth Interiors and highly commended is Nathan Richardson from Gold Crown Bakeries Ltd;

• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Rebecca Wright from IMG Factory 2050 and highly commended is Connor Coupland from A One+;

• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Natasha Palmer from Minster FM and highly Commended is Joshua Bray from Lloyds Banking Group;

• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Matthew Turner from Gemini Accident Repair Centres and highly commended is John Mitchell from HMRC;

• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Nina Stobart from Phillips 66 Ltd and highly commended is Alan Milner from Make It York.

Matthew Turner from Gemini Accident Repair Centres will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

West Midlands regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentices, employers and individuals recognised that the award ceremony in the West Midlands, taking place at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Coventry on 24 September.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Advance Appliances Limited; EPX Technical Services is highly commended;

• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Lander Automotive Ltd; KMF Group Limited is highly commended;

• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Mitchells & Butlers; Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is highly commended;

• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is KMF Group Limited; Lander Automotive Ltd is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Aiden Wakelam from Mitchells and Butlers and highly commended is Ben Webb-Rushton from Aspire Housing;

• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Thomas Lomas from JC Bamford Excavators Ltd and highly Commended is Ritik Sharma from HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd;

• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Louise Meredith from JC Bamford Excavators Ltd and highly Commended is Reece McCallister from Capgemini;

• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Alex Ingram from Lookers and highly commended is Rose Galea from Wincanton Holdings Limited;

• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Susan Gough from Lloyds Banking Group and highly commended is Claire Clarke from Marston’s.

Alex Ingram from Lookers will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

South West regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentices, employers and individuals recognised that the award ceremony in the South West, taking place at Cadbury House in Bristol on 26 September.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Thatchers Cider Company Limited; Combe Pafford School is highly commended;

• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Devon County Council; Royal National Lifeboat Institution is highly commended;

• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Royal Air Force; Wincanton Holdings Limited is highly commended;

• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is Thatchers Cider Company Limited; Royal Air Force is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Hannah Oatley from Silcoa and highly commended is Leanne Finch from South West Apprenticeship Company (Hosted by Sixways Clinic);

• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Lucy King from Airbus Operations Limited and highly Commended is Michaella McDonald from Passmore Care Services;

• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Michael Jones from Thales UK Ltd and highly Commended is Ryan Holland from Airbus Operations Limited;

• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Eleanor King from Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and highly commended is Josh Penston from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;

• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Tilly Cuttler from J.P. Morgan and highly commended is Iain Thompson from TXM Plant Limited.

Eleanor King from Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust will go into the public to vote, which will open after all regional Rising Star winners have been announced, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.

East Midlands regional ceremony

There were 18 apprentices, employers and individuals recognised that the award ceremony in the East Midlands ceremony, taking place at the Leicester Marriot Hotel on 27 September.

Apprentice employer winners include:

• The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Award for SME Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Derry Building Services; NetSupport Limited is highly commended;

• The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year 2019 winner is PepsiCo (Walkers Snack Foods Plc); Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd is highly commended;

• The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year 2019 winner is Vision Express (UK) Limited; easyJet Airline Company Limited is highly commended;

• The PeoplePlus Award for Recruitment Excellence 2019 winner is easyJet Airline Company Limited; PepsiCo (Walkers Snack Foods Plc) is highly commended.

Individual category winners include:

• The NOCN Group Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Tia Whelan from UK Gas Services Ltd and highly commended is Chantel Fry from EMH Group;

• The Royal Navy Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Ben Copperwheat from Lockheed Martin and highly commended is Andrew Tang from Derby City Council;

• The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year 2019 winner is Kat Paricos from Unilever and highly Commended is Matthew Hitchcock from Keyclad Ltd;

• The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year 2019 winner is Katie Edney from easyJet Airline Company Limited and highly commended is Luke Thoel from Imperial Commercials;

• The Royal Air Force Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2019 winner is Neilish Champaneri from Derby Homes and highly commended is Lee Sursham from Ford & Slater DAF.

Katie Edney from easyJet Airline Company Limited go into the public to vote, which will open on 4th October, to recognise the overall, national winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for the Rising Star category.