Nick was so impressed when he heard about the success of intern Vadims Seimanovs that he wanted to meet the new recruit face-to-face and see his development for himself.

During just a three-month internship, data science student Vadims developed a computer chatbot that can give people real time traffic information about any part of National Highways’ road network.

He saved the company thousands of pounds in early development costs and resourcing.

To congratulate 23-year-old Vadims personally, Nick made a surprise appearance at a meeting of the data science team held in Birmingham. He said:

It was a pleasure to learn about the chatbot which will be a real asset for people using our roads. I look forward to it going live and to seeing what more this enterprising young man has to offer.

Vadims demonstrated the talent and drive we look for in a new recruit and will be an asset to the data science team as we navigate the digital revolution which is transforming how our roads are built, designed, operated and used.

Vadims was one of three Data Science MSC students from the University of Salford who spent 12 weeks working with National Highways. They joined the data science team working on specific projects with Vadims focusing on the chatbot.

The chatbot is an online tool which is being developed to support the Customer Contact Centre offering another way to interact with National Highways, answering inquiries and providing information including latest travel news.

He trained it to understand the kind of questions people might ask to provide the right answers. The Digital Services and Operations teams are now working together with the CCC to further develop the chatbot so it can go live on the website.

Vadims said:

I was interested straightaway in developing the chatbot because it is something that helps people to navigate their journeys and makes life easier.

The internship was a good experience – I used new technology, got an insight into how National Highways works and enjoyed working with the Data Services team who were very friendly so I was really pleased to get a job here.

It was a big surprise to meet the CEO of National Highways, I was very nervous at the start but he seemed really interested in what I had done with the chatbot and we had a nice conversation.

In his new role as a data scientist, based in Manchester, Vadims will be working as part of a team producing innovative data and digital products that will make a real difference to the way National Highways works.

Chief Data Officer, Davin Crowley-Sweet, said:

The data science recruitment market is really competitive. We have to think about innovative ways to get the best possible people into National Highways and do focus on bringing in early talent.

The enthusiasm and willingness of the interns blended really well with the experienced members of the team and our supply chain partners. It has given us an excellent work dynamic.

General enquiries

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

Media enquiries

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

Key information

Dates: 10 to 12 June, 2022

Venue: Baku city circuit

Time: Race begins 3pm local time, Sunday 12 June

Entry requirements: You need a valid F1 events ticket and photographic ID

For more information, read the travel advice for Azerbaijan

Passports and visas

If you are a UK national travelling to Azerbaijan to work in connection with the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, or a fan travelling to watch Grand Prix, you will be able to obtain a visa on arrival to an international airport in Azerbaijan, from May 10 to June 15, 2022.

To be issued a visa, you will need to show one of the following:

• an accreditation card or other document confirming accreditation in accordance with the relevant rules of “Formula One Management Limited” company and International Automobile Federation, the international organisers of Formula 1 races
• an accreditation card for Baku City Circuit Operations Company
• a ticket or a document that confirms obtaining a ticket for 2022 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

See the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for further details.

Alternatively, you can get an official e-visa online or apply for a visa through the Azerbaijan Embassy-affiliated Visa Service Centre in the UK.

• your passport should be valid for a minimum of 3 months from the date your visa expires
• take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance – your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) won’t be valid in Azerbaijan, so travel and medical insurance is essential even if you’re only staying for 1 night
• if you’re visiting Azerbaijan for longer than 15 days, you must register within 15 working days of arrival. Hotels may provide this service for their guests, but visitors staying in apartments or private residences will have to register by themselves. Guidance on the process can be found on the State Migration Service’s website
• the special quarantine regime remains in effect until July 1, 2022. Proof of vaccination (a document confirming full vaccination against COVID-19 or immunity to COVID-19) is still required for those 18 and over at indoor facilities such as malls and restaurants.
• police sometimes carry out checks of identity documents. You should carry your passport at all times. Keep it secure and leave a photocopy of the details page separately in a safe place
• for more guidance, see our travel advice for Azerbaijan

Getting to/from the airport

By taxi

• it takes 25 to 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city centre. For a journey to one of the major hotels in central Baku expect to pay 20-30 AZN
• there are a variety of taxi options available in Baku including private hire, app-based and metered cabs
• some visitors have reported being severely over-charged by local taxis
• with private hire it’s best to negotiate a price before leaving – make sure any taxi you take has a yellow taxi sign or clear taxi branding on it
• if taking a metered cab ensure the taxi meter is switched on
• check that the taxi has working seatbelts

By bus

Baku Bus runs a 24/7 service from the airport to the centrally located 28 May Metro station. You can find details on departure times and route on the Aero Express website. You can also [search for a bus route](http://alo141.az/buses/index?language=en](http://alo141.az/buses/index?language=en).

The changes in bus routes/timetables will be posted before the event on the website of Baku Transport Agency, as well as relevant information will be distributed via radio, TV and online media.

The track (Baku City Circuit)

Local information

Climate

The average temperature in June is around 28 to 30ºC during the day. Read more about local weather information

Crime and safety

• crime levels in Baku are generally low
• take sensible precautions: be vigilant, avoid carrying large sums of money and try to avoid walking alone at night
• look after your personal belongings, in particular your passport and your money
• pedestrians should be vigilant at all times when crossing roads; red traffic lights and zebra crossings don’t necessarily mean a car will stop use the underpasses where available
• when using a taxi make sure it has working seatbelts; many cars are poorly maintained and the standard of driving is erratic
• respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs

Disabled travellers

• Baku city circuit will reportedly have facilities / access for disabled travellers
• the rest of Baku has limited facilities for the disabled traveller. Pavements, even on the main roads can be difficult to use for those with disabilities

Consular assistance

• if there’s a genuine emergency during your visit to Baku (e.g. one involving accident, injury or loss/theft of your passport) call +994 12 4377878 and follow the instructions to be put through to a consular officer
• if your passport is lost or stolen, report the loss to the local police as soon as possible and get a copy of the police report. You can’t travel back to the UK without a valid travel document. You’ll need to apply to the Consular Section of the British Embassy Baku for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD)
• if you lose your wallet or purse, try to cancel your credit/debit cards as soon as possible. British consular officials can’t give you money to help you return home. You can transfer money from the UK using many of the commercial money transfer agencies in Baku, including Western Union. You can also use most major credit and debit cards to obtain money from ATMs

For more information visit the British Embassy Baku web page

Contact the British Embassy, Baku

You can also reach us via our contact form

The consular section of the British Embassy in Baku is open to the public from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. You can also check our Travel Advice for Azerbaijan

Emergency services numbers

• fire: 101
• police: 102
• ambulance: 103

We hope you enjoy the F1 race and your visit to Baku.

The annual tied tenant survey 2022 was a large-scale survey of over 600 tied tenants. It is the first such survey since 2019, after being put on hold to allow the industry to focus on the pandemic. The results provide an important benchmark for how tenants view their pub company and the PCA. The sample size having been increased by more than 50% compared with 2019, the results allow more comparisons to be made between the different pub companies.

The key findings of the survey can be found on the PCA website here. You can also find a helpful infographic showing a snapshot of the results, an executive summary of the findings, and the full survey data.

Tied Tenants’ satisfaction with their pub company relationship

For the first time tenants were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with their pub company. Most tied tenants (62%) are satisfied with that relationship. It is encouraging to see that this is even higher (67%) when looking at those who started their tenancy after the Code came into force. The percentage of tenants who are dissatisfied with their pub company relationship is also lower for those newer tenants (18%) than for the whole pool of surveyed tenants (22%). The variation across pub companies however is noted, with Admiral having the most satisfied tenants (80% with 13% dissatisfied) and Punch having the least satisfied (47% with 29% dissatisfied).

An area where tenants are generally satisfied is with their Business Development Manager. 88% of Admiral tenants and 86% of Marston’s tenants think their BDM is fair in discussions with them. Satisfaction with their handling of repairs and dilapidations is notably lower. Only 27% of Stonegate tenants think their BDM handles repairs and dilapidations well. Satisfaction with how pub companies handle a request for the Market Rent Only option was also notably low.

The PCA is pleased to be able to show the industry these comparisons between the different pub companies. The PCA will track change year on year. It is particularly good news that high numbers of tenants think their BDM is fair in discussions with them. These results will help the pub companies to see where they need to improve and inform the PCA’s priorities for future work.

Handling of repairs and dilapidations is something the PCA is focusing on as outlined in Fiona Dickie’s latest Morning Advertiser column. The PCA is already taking steps to improve tenant experience of the MRO process, having recently consulted on guidance to help remove financial barriers to tenants accessing MRO. To be notified when this guidance is published you can sign up to email alerts on the PCA website.

Experience of the Pubs Code and the Adjudicator

The survey also asked tenants about their awareness of the Code and a range of their Code rights, Turning to new tenants specifically, most of those surveyed had received the required information under the Pubs Code and had found it useful. We already know from the last statutory review of the Pubs Code that the wealth of information can be confusing for new tenants. The PCA is working with Code Compliance Officers to improve the new tenant experience. As part of this, we will be considering the use of the sustainable business plan, noting that 27% of new tenants did not find it useful in managing their tenancy.

Awareness of the Pubs Code is increasing, with 79% of tenants surveyed aware of the Code, up from 68% in 2019, although awareness of individual rights is lower. The PCA raises awareness of tenant rights through its factsheets, social media, Morning Advertiser column, and events. We are continuing to produce more tenant friendly information, expanding our collection of factsheets, and will be exploring other ways to ensure tenants are aware of the full range of rights they have under the Code.

Code Compliance Officers also play an important role in raising awareness. These are pub company employees who verify Code compliance and are a useful point of contact for tenants as they can answer queries about the Code. Awareness of the Code Compliance Officer was low amongst those surveyed and the PCA wants to support CCOs to ensure this improves. Contact details for all the Code Compliance Officers can be found on the PCA website here.

Awareness of the PCA is up from 2019 (54% of tenants were aware of the PCA compared to 47% in 2019). While the increase is pleasing to see, we want to see more tenants aware of the PCA’s role. We would also like to see more using the PCA website as it contains useful information for tenants and the wider industry. We have recently changed the way arbitration awards are displayed on the website to make them easier to access and we are currently exploring other improvements. While the results show that most tenants consider the PCA to be an independent regulator, we will also consider what more can be done to demonstrate this.

Fiona Dickie, Pubs Code Adjudicator, said:

“I am pleased to share the results of the PCA’s annual tied tenant survey and once again I thank those tenants who took part. I expect the pub companies to carefully review these results and the action they need to take. My team and I will be doing the same.

There are some clear areas of focus for the pub companies and for the PCA as regulator, including discussions around repairs and dilapidations, requests for MRO, and the usefulness of the sustainable business plan in managing the tenancy. As tenants continue to navigate these challenging times, these are clearly matters of increasing importance”.

Notes

The survey was conducted by independent research company Ipsos MORI on behalf of the PCA. You can find more information about how the survey was conducted in the technical report.