The Diplomatic Academy’s new theatre was named after Cicely Mayhew following a vote amongst Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff in which she was the runaway winner.

The Mayhew Theatre is an interactive learning environment that allows remote participation from across the FCO global network thanks to high-resolution, multiple cameras and microphones that work seamlessly to capture presenters and speakers in the room.

The project began in 2017 when the Diplomatic Academy, the learning and development body of the FCO, requested a facility to make learning accessible to its global network.

A space was identified in an unused internal courtyard but as the FCO is a Grade 1 listed building, simply erecting a roof over the courtyard was not feasible. Instead, the new theatre building, including its hyperbolic paraboloid roof, was lowered into place by crane.

Jon Benjamin, Director of the Diplomatic Academy, said:

The new Mayhew Theatre shows in tangible form our commitment to equip our staff all across the world in physical and virtual learning sessions, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge needed for 21st Century diplomacy.

It is an honour for us to name this new learning facility after the pioneering female British diplomat, Lady Cicely Mayhew, and to welcome her family members to its opening ceremony.

Cicely Mayhew worked at Bletchley Park, having been recruited from university by naval intelligence. In 1947 she joined the FCO as one of the first female diplomats, helping to pave the way for more women to join the Diplomatic Service, which had excluded women until 1946.

Cicely met her future husband while posted to Geneva but because of the ‘marriage bar’ in the Diplomatic Service (lifted in 1972), she was required to resign from the FCO. As compensation she was given an allowance of one month’s salary for each of the two years she had served with the diplomatic service.

Notes for Editors

The Diplomatic Academy is a centre of excellence, helping FCO staff to become part of the best diplomatic service in the world. The academy brings together knowledge and expertise across the FCO and other Whitehall departments with international responsibilities. The materials produced by the Academy reflect the requirements of modern diplomacy, covering topics such as International Policy, Security Defence & Intelligence, Economics, and Languages, amongst others.

Litter presents a serious safety risk besides being unsightly and a risk to wildlife and the environment.

Around 200,000 bags of litter are collected from the motorway network every year and that is why Highways England is taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean again this year to help encourage people to keep the country clean.

Highways England’s head of customer and operational requirements Freda Rashdi said:

Litter is an important national issue and we’re pleased to be able to support the Great British Spring Clean.

Litter is not only unsightly as well as a risk to wildlife and the environment, but it also puts our workers at risk collecting it and it diverts time and money that could be better spent on improving the network.

If people don’t drop litter in the first place it wouldn’t need to be picked up – so we’re urging people to take their litter home instead of tossing it out of their car windows.

The Great British Spring Clean campaign takes place between Friday 22 March and Tuesday 23 April. Highways England picks litter throughout the year and is having a particular purge which started on Friday 1 March.

Allison Ogden Newton, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy, said:

I’m delighted that Highways England has joined forces with us again this year to support the campaign and give our network a spring clean.

Our roadside verges are a haven for wildlife and we know that millions of small mammals are killed every year by litter that has been thrown from vehicles by thoughtless drivers.

Our army of up to 500,000 volunteers will be delighted to see that Highways England is supporting their efforts by cleaning up the places that they can’t get to – our high-speed road network and slip roads, where so much litter is tossed out of car windows.

During a similar purge last year, while also contending with ‘Beast from the East’, more than 8,000 bags of litter were collected, and Highways England expects to exceed that target this year.

But besides the usual takeaway wrappers or bottles that have been picked up, in previous years some of the more unusual items have included push bikes, fridges, settees and wallets which will also be removed if needed.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

The Prime Minister has today (4 March 2019) visited Salisbury exactly a year after a chemical weapon was used on the streets of the city to target Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

Theresa May visited local businesses and the historic cathedral to be updated on the work being done to help the city recover from the reckless attack.

She also met some of those most closely affected by last year’s incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury, including residents of Christie Miller Road – the neighbours of Sergei Skripal and where the nerve agent was deployed.

The Prime Minister’s visit followed DEFRA’s announcement on Friday that the unprecedented clean-up operation had been completed.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

This city has shown such spirit and resolve in the last 12 months.

The impact of the utterly reckless use of a nerve agent should not and will not be forgotten.

But it is incredibly heartening to see the hard work and determination of the people here to ensure this city has a positive and prosperous future, which it deserves.

The Prime Minister arrived in Salisbury this morning and was met by the city’s MP, John Glen.

She then visited the historic High Street, dropping into the Smith England hairdressers and the Casa Fina gift shop, where she chatted to staff about the challenges they have faced.

Both businesses have been assisted with government funding in the last year, part of a £13 million support package provided to help the city recover from last year’s attack.

The Prime Minister then visited the world-famous Salisbury Cathedral. She spoke to Canon Nick Papadopulos, the Dean, before meeting volunteer guides and viewing the historic Magna Carta in the Chapter House.

The Prime Minister first visited the city last March in the aftermath of the reckless use of Novichok by the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU.

The government will continue to support the area now the clean-up operation is over.

Business Minister, Lord Henley, has been appointed Ministerial Champion for Salisbury – a single point of contact in government as work continues locally to boost business and tourism.

Providers are invited submit a tender to deliver the Immigration Telephone Advice service (ITA service) starting on 1 September 2019.

What is the ITA service?

The ITA service provides non-means tested telephone based legal advice on immigration matters to anyone detained in police custody in England and Wales.

What can providers tender for?

A single contract will be offered from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. We reserve the right to extend the contract for a maximum further 9 months.

The successful applicant will be required to deliver the telephone advice service between the hours of 7am and 12 midnight.

It needs to be available 365 days year or 366 days in a leap year. This includes bank or public holidays.

Who can tender?

The procurement process for the ITA service is open to all existing legal aid providers who are able to meet the minimum contract requirements.

We will not accept subcontracting or consortia arrangements for the delivery of the ITA service.

How do I tender?

Tenders must be submitted using the LAA’s e-Tendering system. The tender opens on 4 March 2019.

To submit a compliant tender all organisations must submit a response to the ITA service invitation to tender (ITT) by 9am on 3 April 2019.

Further information

Immigration Telephone Advice tender – to find out more and download the Information For Applicants document

e-Tendering system – to submit your tender

The next generation of engineers, project managers, designers, architects and geologists are playing their part in the construction of the new high-speed railway, as the project is on course to create 2,000 apprenticeship opportunities.

And now, to coincide with National Apprentice Week (Monday 4 to Friday 8 March), HS2 Ltd has opened up a new wave of apprentice vacancies offering an exciting career working on Europe’s largest infrastructure project, to gain skills that can be used around the globe.

Hear from some of our apprentices

With over 7,000 jobs already supported by the project and with work well underway on scores of live sites up and down Phase One of the railway, there has never been a more exciting time to jump on board.

It has also been revealed that both HS2 Ltd and its early works contractors are exceeding targets for the number of apprentices employed on the project.

Both HS2 Ltd’s CEO, Mark Thurston, and Chair, Allan Cook, began their careers as apprentices, demonstrating how apprenticeships can create the foundations for a successful career.

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd and former Transport for London apprentice, said:

Creating over 250 apprenticeship roles across the HS2 programme is a significant milestone and shows good progress to date between us and our supply chain. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the technical skills to not only help design and build HS2, but to leave a lasting skills legacy for the country.

Having started my own career as an apprentice, I absolutely know how an apprenticeship plays a crucial role in your early career development and goes a long way to give you the right skills that future employers need. I am really impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of our apprentices and I look forward to seeing them, and all our apprentices in our supply chain, develop as the project progresses.

HS2 is also attracting more women into the traditionally male dominated construction and rail sectors. As this week also marks International Women’s Day, HS2 Ltd is proud that many of the apprentices now working on the project are women.

Gaining 2 years’ experience, in addition to a qualification has helped HS2 Ltd Project Management apprentice, Clara Lenzi, build her skills to progress in the industry, an advantage she feels she has on those coming straight from university. Clara, said:

Working on HS2 has been a superb experience. Studying for a qualification while being at work has allowed me to apply the knowledge to my every day work, giving me a better understanding, alongside opportunities for further development.

At HS2 I’ve been given lots of responsibility, which has aided my progression and success as a Project Manager and allowed me to build invaluable relationships within the workplace. I am learning from some of the most experienced people in the industry. Sharing their knowledge and expertise with me has enable me to develop to the highest standard. I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone at any age, it creates new challenges for you to face every day and will give you the experience to get to where you want to be in your career.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to work on the biggest infrastructure project in Europe bought Naomi Blissett to HS2 Ltd as a Project Management apprentice. With a background in customer service and support roles, she had never studied for an apprenticeship before and went straight into the world of work after trying university and realising it wasn’t for her. At the age of 35, she is a great example of how it’s never too late to start an apprenticeship. Naomi said:

Joining HS2 as an apprentice presented the opportunity of a lifetime, and has definitely been the right choice for me. I am closer to realising my career goals and have gained valuable experience while working towards new qualifications.

As well as new project management skills, I have also developed my communication skills, being able to present to large audiences and communicate more confidently with senior colleagues.

There’s a common misconception that apprenticeships are just for school and college leavers, but they are open to everyone. I have never looked back and will always encourage others to consider an apprenticeship when weighing up options for their career, no matter what stage of life they’re at.

Many of the 250 apprentices are working with HS2’s supply chain companies. Around 2,000 companies have supported HS2 so far, with 70% of contracts going to SMEs, supporting jobs and apprenticeships right across the country. There will be 30,000 jobs at peak construction as HS2 demonstrates how it is delivering for the country – increasing capacity, rebalancing the economy and joining up Britain.

HS2 Ltd is keen to encourage a diverse range of candidates as it welcomes its next 25 apprentices into the business. The vacancies are open to everyone from school leavers to parents returning to work, or those looking for a new challenge.

To find out more about the scheme, and to apply for one of our latest apprenticeship roles visit our Future Talent page on our careers site.