Press release: National Citizen Service Trust Chair Campaign

After carefully considering the field of candidates who applied through an open recruitment exercise that was launched in July 2017, the Prime Minister has taken the decision to re-run the competition to appoint the Chair of the National Citizen Service (NCS), under paragraph 3.2 of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

A new campaign will launch in due course, and will be focused towards identifying a candidate with appropriate commercial experience, or experience of setting direction and supporting an organisation to develop.

Government is committed to the continued development of the NCS programme. The new Chair will lead NCS through a period of organisational change, so it is vital that we find the right candidate for the job.



News story: South West has the potential to become the UK’s start-up hub

Technology firms developing driverless car technology and 5G mobile networks are among the companies helping to make the South West one of Britain’s start up hubs, according to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Elizabeth Truss.

Latest figures show the economy in the South West is now worth more than £127 billion and is the second fastest growing economy of UK nations and regions with year-on-year growth of more than 4%.

Meeting fast growing, high tech firms including Ultrahaptics in Bristol the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Elizabeth Truss, will say:

Technology firms, like the ones I am meeting today in Bristol, help power Britain’s future.

The government is giving enterprise the freedom it needs to succeed. From Cornwall to Christchurch, The South West is buzzing with ambition and attracting interest and investment from around the world.

The Chief Secretary is visiting Ultrahaptics and tour its facilities. The firm develops virtual reality technology and has raised more than £30 million in investment.

Among the businesses meeting the Chief Secretary are Bristol-based BluWireless which has attracted investment to help them develop and distribute 5G mobile networks through Britain.

The government is investing more than £2 billion in the Strategic Road Network in the South West which will transform the A303/A30/A358 corridor, fund construction of a new junction on the M49 and improve sections of the A30 in Cornwall into a dual carriageway.

More than £80 million is also being invested to ease congestion around key cities such as Bristol and improve roads.



Press release: HS2 reveals world-leading design firms for biggest station building programme since Victorian era

Station designs will showcase world-class architecture, ease of use and value for money that passengers and communities expect and deserve.

The following designers will be awarded contracts to help develop and refine the detailed plans for the four stations, due to open in 2026:

  • Birmingham Curzon Street – WSP UK Limited (working with Grimshaw Architects LLP)
  • Birmingham Interchange – Ove Arup & Partners International Limited (working with Arup Associates and Wilkinson Eyre Architects Limited)
  • Old Oak Common – WSP UK Limited (working with Wilkinson Eyre Architects Limited)
  • London Euston – Ove Arup & Partners International Limited (working with Grimshaw Architects LLP)

The wining teams have a track record of delivering cutting edge design and have worked on some of the largest and most complex international infrastructure projects, including Gateshead Millennium Bridge, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Biljmer Arena station in the Netherlands, and the new concourse at London’s King’s Cross station.

London and Birmingham are already planning for the arrival of HS2 which is expected to unlock opportunities for 30,000 new homes and 130,000 jobs as part of wider developments around the four stations.

Welcoming the news, HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

HS2 is a modern railway fit for Britain’s future, improving vital links between some of our country’s biggest cities, driving forward growth and significantly improving services for passengers with thousands more seats on faster trains.

Appointing these leading creative firms ensures that passengers on our world-class railway will experience modern and accessible stations. I am confident that these firms will deliver these projects at value for money, with designs that are both innovative and in keeping with their surroundings.

HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, Mark Thurston said:

Our new stations in London and Birmingham will be at the heart of the first phase of the project, increasing capacity, improving journeys and helping to unlock opportunities for tens of thousands of new jobs and homes around what will be four new landmark buildings.

That’s why I’m delighted to welcome these talented designers to the team, and we look forward to working with them to create station designs which showcase world-class architecture, ease of use and value for money that our passengers and communities expect and deserve.

The new HS2 stations will be designed with input from local communities, using best practice principles from stations around the world, and guidelines and specifications endorsed by an independent panel of leading architects and designers.

Working with HS2 Ltd, the winners will be tasked with delivering:

  • People-centred design, which offers high-quality customer experience including shopping, business facilities, and opportunities for art and leisure
  • Architecture which enables accessibility for all, including step-free access from street-to-seat which is simple and easy to navigate
  • ‘Timeless design’ for future-proofing and flexibility so stations accommodate changes in technology and in the population
  • Respecting and contributing to the physical and cultural legacy of the location – responding to the local built and natural environment, using local materials and ensuring local people identify with their station and have pride in it

An independent HS2 Design Panel has scrutinised HS2’s guidelines and specifications for the stations, and will continue to play a key role in reviewing the detailed designs as they develop through 2018.

Chair of the HS2 Design Panel, Sadie Morgan from DrMM architects, said:

We welcome the appointment of these world class designers and look forward to working with them and HS2 to help deliver iconic stations which set new standards in design and ease of use, and provide a legacy of great architecture of which Britain can be truly proud.

HS2 services from London and Birmingham will travel beyond the new high speed network via existing tracks to a wide range of destinations including Liverpool, The North West, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Press and media enquiries



News story: Government harnesses advances in Behavioural Insights with new framework

Government has long seen the benefits of using behavioural insights to tailor public services to citizens, and the new CCS Behavioural Insights framework offers a wider choice of suppliers including small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

The framework will support public bodies to procure the expertise of organisations that offer behavioural insights – changing the way policy is developed and public services are designed, making them more efficient and in tune with the needs and preferences of the public.

John Manzoni, Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office and Chief Executive of the Civil Service said:

Behavioural insights have been a part of policy making at the heart of government for a significant amount of time now. This new framework will enable all public sector organisations to access this expertise, helping them to design efficient, effective public services that meet the real needs of citizens.

David Skinner, Crown Commercial Service’s Director of Corporate Solutions said:

We’ve taken this opportunity to redesign our framework solution offer for Behavioural Insights, opening up the market to a wider range of expertise that can deliver greater outcomes and commercial benefit to our customers.

The agreement is expected to be worth up to £16 million over 4 years, with 6 suppliers appointed to offer their services, including 2 SMEs.

Since 2010, the government has used behavioural insights research to inform policy, with an emphasis on using a strong evidence base about human behaviour to find innovative ways of encouraging, enabling and supporting people to make better choices for themselves.

The framework is available for use by central government departments and other public sector bodies including NHS Trusts, schools, universities, colleges, local authorities and the Police and Fire Services.

CCS has developed the new framework in collaboration with partners including behavioural insights specialists across government.

To find out more about the framework, visit the CCS procurement pipeline.



News story: Civil news: reminder list to encourage prompt billing of claims

We are introducing a new process on 2 February 2018 to help ensure providers are keeping track of the billing on outstanding legal aid certificates.

What does this mean?

You will be sent a list by email every two months which details all outstanding certificates for legal aid work in your organisation.

What should we do with the list?

We recommend that providers cross-reference the list with their own records to ensure they have billed for outstanding payments.

Is this a demand for payment?

This is not a demand for payment or notice of our intention to recoup payments on account.

Do I need to respond to the email?

This is only a reminder for providers to bill outstanding claims in a timely way. You do not have to respond.

Why are you doing this?

Prompt submission of claims allows for greater financial control for all involved. It is in the interests of both the Legal Aid Agency and the provider for bills to be processed in good time.

Will the UPOA team still contact us?

Yes, the Unrecouped Payment on Account (UPOA) team will continue to contact providers when they are concerned about certificates where there has been no final claim.

If you are contacted in this way it is important to respond to requests within the specified time frame. If you do not respond outstanding payments on account will be recouped i.e. taken back by the Legal Agency.

Does this change any billing processes?

No, providers should continue to submit claims in the normal way.

What should I do if I have an enquiry?

Providers should use the usual ‘billing enquiry’ feature for CCMS cases. For paper claims you should email: contactcivil@justice.gov.uk