Glasgow employer launches Graduate Apprenticeship Programme

The Student Loans Company (SLC), which employs 1,700 people in Glasgow, has six opportunities for graduate apprentices who will gain a degree in software development and learn on the job as they work as part of the SLC team.

Based in the organisation’s technology group, the apprentices will help to develop the systems and software SLC uses to effectively deliver student finance across the UK. They will split their week between work and study, undertaking a degree programme at the University of Glasgow which has been designed with input from SLC.

Lyndsey Gaja, SLC’s Organisational Design and Development Manager said: “The Graduate Apprenticeship programme is an exciting development for SLC and demonstrates our commitment to investing in colleagues to help them develop and grow. The roles are in key areas of the business and are part of our strategy to create the knowledge and ability we need for the future.

“The programme builds on our successful internship and Modern Apprenticeship programmes and we continue to work towards identifying even more opportunities to develop talent within our workforce.”

The closing date for applications is 20 August.Candidates should have a keen interest in software development and can find out more about the roles and the entrance requirements at https://www.apprenticeships.scot/vacancy-details/?refCode=124645.



Eid el-Adha truce in Libya: P3+2 statement

Statement from the governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States:

The governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America welcome the announcement of a truce in Libya on the occasion of Eid el-Adha in response to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General with the support of the Security Council, and invite all parties to effectively cease hostilities across Libya. We stand ready to assist the UN Mission in monitoring the observance of the truce and address any attempt to break it.

As proposed by the SRSG and reaffirmed yesterday by the Security Council, this truce should be accompanied by confidence-building measures between the parties that can pave the way for a sustainable ceasefire and a return to a constructive, inclusive dialogue.

We recall the obligation under international law for all UN Member States to abide by the arms embargo, in line with all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

We call on all parties to start working without delay on a ceasefire agreement and resume efforts, under the auspices of the Special Representative of the United Nations, to build a lasting political solution, based the principles agreed upon in Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi.

We reaffirm their strong commitment to a quick and peaceful resolution of the Libyan crisis. We reiterate that there can be no military option in Libya and we urge all parties to protect civilians, safeguard Libya’s oil resources and protect its infrastructure.

We condemn in the strongest terms the attack that targeted a UN convoy in Benghazi on Saturday. The circumstances of this vicious act must be established without delay and those who were behind it must be identified and held accountable. We reiterate our full support to the essential work of the UN Mission in Libya.



Call for bids for the Modern Slavery Fund Albania programme

947 Albanian nationals were referred to the UK’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2018, making Albania the second highest source country of potential victims to the UK. In October 2018 the Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability announced that the UK would spend at least £2m in Albania up to March 2021 to tackle modern slavery. The UK government (the Authority) is looking for a consortium of organisations to collaborate in Albania to deliver this programme.

Objective

The successful consortium will deliver a programme of work to tackle modern slavery from Albania by providing capacity building for local criminal justice officials, targeted strategic communications campaigns, and support for victims and individuals at risk of being trafficked.

Summary of requirements

The programme will cover the following areas:

  • victim support packages. For example: focusing on long term reintegration, helping victims into education and employment to reduce vulnerabilities
  • support for individuals at risk of being trafficked. For example: education and employment support to prevent these individuals from being trafficked in the first place
  • evidence-based and targeted strategic communications and prevention campaigns. For example: research to further identify target communities and vulnerabilities, followed by pilot communications activity to reduce the risk of trafficking
  • capacity building for local criminal justice officials. For example: training for local criminal justice officials (judges, lawyers, prosecutors) to support them to handle these cases effectively

Programme management and delivery

The programme will be delivered by a consortium, led by a multilateral organisation, a coalition under which several partners work together under a consortium arrangement. A multilateral organisation will be the ‘lead partner’, and will sign the grant agreement with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and act as the lead of the consortium, while other partners take part in the implementation as ‘implementing partners’. The lead partner may also implement part of the programme.

The consortium must nominate one lead organisation who will be accountable to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the use of the funds and who will be responsible for the grant award arrangements with other consortium members. The lead partner carries the full legal and financial responsibility for the action and will ensure that all implementing partners respect the obligations of the grant agreement.

The consortium-lead will be responsible for the overall governance of the consortium, including financial management capacity and how the consortium manages and mitigates risks, including fiduciary risk, and safeguards and protects vulnerable people. The lead partner will nominate a partner with safeguarding expertise who can advise on the organisational people safeguarding governance arrangements. The consortium-lead will be a multilateral organisation. Other consortium members may be other types of organisations, such as non-governmental organisations.

Geographical scope

Programme activity will be focused in Tirana and the three main northern districts of origin for potential victims of trafficking identified in the UK National Referral Mechanism – Diber, Shkoder and Kukes. Where appropriate, for example when rehabilitating / reintegrating victims, activity may take place in other parts of Albania.

Assessment

Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • alignment with the above mentioned priorities and outcomes
  • outcomes are achievable within the funding period
  • clear monitoring and evaluation procedures
  • sustainability demonstrating that project benefits continue after the funding ends
  • ODA eligibility and promotion of gender equality
  • strong risk and financial management, including consideration of safeguarding risks
  • overall value for money

How to bid

If you wish to apply, please complete the attached full project proposal template and send it to erjola.foto@fco.gov.uk by 6 September 2019.

Please ensure all sections of the form are completed. Do contact us if you have questions about any aspect of the bidding process. The successful project proposal should be notified by the end of September.

Documents for downloading

Call for bids – full details (ODT, 26.6KB)

Full project bid propsal template (ODT, 12.8KB)

Activity based budget (ODS, 26.2KB)

Value for money and budgeting guidance (ODT, 14.1KB)



Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Armenia: Alan Andranik Gogbashian

2018 to 2019 Full-time Language Training (Russian) 2017 to 2018 FCO London, Head, International Human Resources, Human Resources Directorate 2014 to 2017 FCO London, Head, Caribbean, Central America and Mexico Department, Americas Directorate 2011 to 2014 Rabat, Deputy Head of Mission 2008 to 2010 FCO London, Head, Export Licensing Team, Counter-Proliferation Department 2008 Joined FCO


FCO Minister Wheeler visit to Fiji and the Pacific Island Forum

FCO Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Heather Wheeler, has chosen Fiji and the Pacific Island Forum, in Tuvalu, for her first official overseas visit since being appointed in the role.

Beginning in Fiji today (12 August), Minister Wheeler will be shown the impacts of climate change in the region and the visit some of the innovative projects that the UK and Fiji are pioneering to respond to these challenges.

While in Fiji, the Minister will also meet the Acting Prime Minister of Fiji, visit the Royal British Legion, tour the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre and speak at The University of the South Pacific.

Speaking ahead of her visit, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific Heather Wheeler said:

I am delighted to be travelling to the Pacific region for my first overseas visit as an FCO Minister. I am looking forward to discussions on the impacts of climate change in the region, and to deepen our already strong bilateral partnerships with Pacific Island Countries, many of whom are members of the Commonwealth.

As part of the UK’s recently launched Pacific Uplift Strategy, I am keen to hear direct from Pacific Island leaders about the challenges facing Pacific Island Countries and seek opportunities to work together at the Pacific Island Forum and beyond, to deliver on our shared objectives.

On Wednesday (14 August) Minister Wheeler will travel to Tuvalu to attend the Pacific Island Forum and meet Pacific Island leaders to discuss a number of important global issues, such as better cooperation on climate change and the ocean, and on upholding the rules-based international system.

As part of the Pacific Uplift Strategy, the UK is increasing engagement in the Pacific region, which will see the diplomatic network doubled. UK representation in the Pacific will exceed that of any other European state by 2019. On 23 July the UK opened the first of three new British High Commissions, in Vanuatu. UK representation in Tonga and Samoa are planned to open later this year.