A successful project which helps to develop innovative new policies by linking up government officials with universities across the UK, is to be extended for another three years.

The Open Innovation Team was set up in 2016 to help government departments work more closely with academics to develop analysis and ideas in key policy areas.

The initial trial saw government officials connect with more than 500 academics and deliver almost 30 projects, covering some of the government’s key policy priorities. This included white papers on mental health and online harms, as well as projects on economic growth and gender equality.

Thanks to a funding deal worth more than £1million, the project will now be extended to 2022, with the latest round of funding coming from Brunel University, Essex University, Lancaster University and York University.

The Minister for Implementation, Oliver Dowden, said:

Working with academics in this way has brought expertise and fresh thinking into how government officials are approaching some of the most challenging policy issues.

I am delighted to see the project extended for another three years and look forward to what we can achieve through these new partnerships.

The extension of the programmes will see academics work with government officials on a wide range of topics, including areas such as digital transformation, economic growth and preventative healthcare.

The move has been welcomed by academics from across the four partner universities.

Professor Rebecca Lingwood, Provost of Brunel University London, said:

We are very excited to join the Open Innovation Partnership, and look forward to establishing sustained and productive connections between our academics and policy makers, and involving our students in real policy work. Matching up Brunel’s academic rigour with the policy and project needs of government will help us deliver true economic, social and cultural impact.

Professor Christine Raines, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Essex, said:

As a leading, dual-intensive university with a strong link between transformative education and research, our research is making a difference to people’s lives and we look forward to this new partnership bringing our research into public policy through joint projects with the Cabinet Office and Whitehall departments.

Dr Giles Carden, Chief of Staff & Director of Strategic Projects , Lancaster University said:

Staff and students at Lancaster have reaped many benefits from our involvement in the pilot phase of the scheme, and we very much look forward to further enhancing our links with the Government and Whitehall during the next phase.

Professor Matthew Festenstein, Director of the Research Centre for Social Sciences at the University of York, said:

This is an important initiative to help bring government closer to the latest world-class research in a wide range of areas, and the University of York is delighted to be part of it.

To mark the extension of the project, an official signing ceremony was held at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, June 18.

The universities of Bath, Lancaster, Southampton and Warwick funded the pilot project, which ran from 2016 to 2018.

The resting place of Corporal (Cpl) Robert Owen Davies, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, has been identified more than a 100 years after he lost his life during World War 1. To mark his sacrifice a rededication service was held yesterday (Tuesday 18 June) at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) London Cemetery and Extension, on the Somme, in France. The service, which was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), part of Defence Business Services, was conducted by the Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh. Members of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, the antecedent regiment to The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, were also present at the service.

The final resting place of Llandrillo-born Cpl Davies came to light after a researcher submitted evidence that suggested he had been found. Further research by the MOD’s JCCC and the National Army Museum was undertaken to corroborate the evidence and the identification of the ‘unknown soldier’ grave was later confirmed by the JCCC.

Jean Wearing, the great niece of Cpl Davies said:

I am deeply grateful to JCCC for finding my great uncle and giving him this honour. I have been researching the family history for many years and to find him has given me peace.

Rosie Barron, JCCC said:

It has been an honour to organise this rededication service and to join The Royal Welsh in remembering their fallen comrade. Cpl Davies gave his life in the service of his country and that we might live in peace and freedom today. It is vital that the memories of such men are kept alive.

Having enlisted into The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Cpl Davies was a member of the 10th Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was on the Western Front by July 1916.

On 19 July 10th Battalion were ordered to attack at Delville Wood on the Somme. The battalion moved into Delville Wood where they encountered rifle and machine gun fire. At 3.45am on 20 July the attack commenced despite the heavy resistance already experienced and was ultimately unsuccessful. It was during this attack that Corporal Davies was killed. He was 27 years old.

Cpl Davies body remained in Delville Wood until 1935 when he was recovered and buried in London Cemetery and Extension as an ‘Unknown Corporal of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers’. As his grave was unidentified, he was commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Julian Blake, CWGC Horticulture Sector Supervisor said:

We are honoured to be able to mark the recently identified grave of Corporal Robert Owen Davies with a headstone bearing his name. It is a privilege for the Commission to reflect his heritage by engraving the personal inscription chosen by his family in his native Welsh language. We will ensure that his grave, together with all of those who served and fell, is cared for in perpetuity.

*[JCCC[: Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre *[MOD]: Ministry of Defence

Traineeships are successfully supporting more young people into employment, an apprenticeship or further study, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton announced today (19 June).

Traineeships are a flexible education and training programme aimed at helping young people aged 16- 24 to prepare for an apprenticeship or work.

New research published today highlights how traineeships are benefiting young people and employers across the country. Findings show that 75% of trainees get a job, take up an apprenticeship or go on to further study within a year of completing their programme. Employers including global professional services firm Aon have also reported how traineeships have helped them to recruit people from a range of backgrounds, leading to more diverse workforces.

The Government has also announced today that it will introduce a new traineeship achievement rate measure for education and training providers for the academic year 2019/20. The new measure will help the Government to monitor the effectiveness of the traineeship programme and will also help young people make informed decisions about their futures.

Anne Milton, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister said:

We want people of all ages and backgrounds to have the opportunity to learn new skills and go on to have successful careers. Traineeships are a great way of doing this by giving young people the chance to gain the skills and confidence they need to progress.

I’m thrilled that this report shows how traineeships are supporting young people to start their apprenticeship journey, get their first job or go to further study.

The new measure we have launched today will also provide greater transparency and help young people make informed decisions about their next steps.

Mark Dawe, Chief Executive, Association of Employment and Learning Providers said:

This announcement represents a very positive step towards reinvigorating traineeships in terms of encouraging more young people to take advantage of a programme that has a proven track-record for progression. AELP particularly welcomes the separate measurements of achievement confirming the programme’s original objectives of progression into an apprenticeship, job or further education. In the light of this, we will be urging providers to seriously take a fresh look at traineeships with a view to increasing the number of opportunities available”.

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said:

AoC is pleased that the government continues to support pre-apprenticeship programmes such as Traineeships. It is important that we do not lose the stepping stone programmes that allow people to progress to the levels of competence that employers are seeking. These changes will help recognise the many positive outcomes from Traineeships which colleges are helping to achieve.

To encourage more young people aged 19-24 to start a traineeship, the Government is also providing £20 million through the Adult Education Budget for further education and training providers.

Traineeships form part of the Government’s work to make sure people of all ages and backgrounds can get the skills they need to progress in their careers. This includes working with leading employers to create more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities and introducing new T Levels from 2020 – the technical equivalent to A Levels.

For more information on traineeships, visit here.

The Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, with the agreement of the Prime Minister, has today announced the appointment of Tamara Finkelstein as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Tamara is currently serving as the interim Permanent Secretary at Defra and was previously the department’s Director General for EU Exit.

Welcoming Tamara’s appointment, the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, said:

Tamara has been appointed as the Permanent Secretary to continue building on the great work she is already leading at Defra. This appointment reflects not only the significant contribution she has made to the Department to date, but also the knowledge and experience she brings with her from an array of other important roles in government.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

I am delighted Tamara has been chosen as Defra’s new Permanent Secretary. She is an outstanding public servant I have very much enjoyed working with.

I know she will provide superb leadership to a great department and I am very much looking forward to working with her on our exciting agenda.

Tamara Finkelstein said:

I am truly thrilled to be leading Defra at this time, as we tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead to improve our environment, support our biodiversity with thriving rural communities and food, farming and fisheries sectors.

I look forward to building on Defra’s culture of community and inclusion, and to working with Permanent Secretaries across government and public service leaders to deliver for government and the public together.

HMCTS updated the steering group on its specific work to implement an interim solution that both met its legal obligations and provided continuity of service for charities. This work is ongoing and HMCTS reflected its continued confidence that such an arrangement would be secured, and that this would be announced to the sector as soon as possible. HMCTS agreed to keep members of the group informed of progress and will meet again for a further update at the end of next week.

The meeting also agreed the mutual determination of both HMCTS and the sector to develop a longer-term, sustainable legacy notification service, and HMCTS invited the sector bodies to nominate charity representatives to attend a joint MoJ/HMCTS workshop next month (July 2019) to help define more clearly the charity sector’s needs and requirements for such a service.

HMCTS remains grateful for the patient support and assistance provided by the sector in helping to address all these issues in the best interests of all.