The Australian and New Zealand tech sector showed its expansion ambition through its record participation in this year’s London Tech Week (LTW) trade mission. Now in its eighth year, London Tech Week is Europe’s largest technology festival and sees groups participating in virtual evening sessions led by a range of sector experts in the UK (20-29 September).

Alongside the London Tech Week 2021 programme, the UK Government’s Department for International Trade has selected specific companies to attend a virtual trade mission to the UK. Those selected to join the mission are actively considering expansion to the UK and represent a wide variety of tech subsectors, including:

• 42 x Future technology (AI, cyber, blockchain/distributed ledger, IoT, robotics, big data, space)
• 30 x Impact technology (companies making a positive social or environmental impact)
• 25 x Edtech
• 23 x Digital health and wellness technology
• 21 x Creative technology (AR/VR/MR, gamification, adtech, media, eCommerce, sportstech, marketing tech)

The trade mission has been organised and managed by teams from DIT with the support of Australia’s state governments, including NSW, QLD, WA and VIC. The programme has been specifically curated for Australian and New Zealand tech scale-ups to provide them with bespoke advice and support as they consider their expansion into the UK, including:

• Visas and immigration with Gately Legal
• Recruiting a virtual team with Propel Recruitment
• Building Brand Awareness with Think & Grow
• Lead Generation with Think & Grow
• Unbiased hiring – the UK’s step change in creating a diverse workplace with Applied
• Resilience and mental health for tech entrepreneurs with Tribe Global, Blow Your Own Mind and Virtual Psychologist
• Raising capital in the UK – Getting the pitch right with raising finance, Cooper Parry, Octopus Ventures and Seatfrog

British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific (Australia and New Zealand), Louise Cantillon said:

I am delighted we have a strong delegation of 140 Australian and New Zealand tech companies covering such diverse and dynamic subsectors of technology for London Tech Week. As the UK looks to finalise trade agreements with both Australia and New Zealand, and with the launch of our APAC Digital Trade Network, our trade and investment relationships are stronger than ever.

The UK remains a top destination for tech scaleups. The UK tech sector has shown both remarkable resilience and growth in 2020 in spite of unprecedented challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent reports highlight that venture capital investment in the UK has soared, with tech VC investment hitting a record in 2020 of USD$15 billion – behind only the USA and China.

Dr Vikram Sharma, Founder and CEO of QuintessenceLabs said:

At QuintessenceLabs we have, since our founding, seen the UK as a very important destination and have been planning for the establishment of an in-country presence with the support of the UK DIT. Given the UK’s storied history in the field of cybersecurity and early adoption of advanced technology, it represents an ideal location for our EMEA headquarters.

We are developing several important strategic partnerships with UK institutions and the recently announced AUKUS partnership is providing favourable tailwinds. We look forward to having an on-ground presence in the UK during the first half of 2022.

James Cooper-Jones, CEO, Simply said:

The shared values and similar business culture between Australia and UK has made the United Kingdom an attractive scale up target market for Simply’s diversity technology. However, it has been daunting at times, particularly during the pandemic, to piece together the steps to launch into the UK.

Being selected as part of the UK’s Department for International Trade mission to London Tech Week 2021 has been invaluable to me and my team in making connections and find resources to assist us with ‘road mapping’ Simply’s set up and commercial release into the UK.

Peter Rose, Chief Revenue Officer, Forbury:

In Forbury’s ‘space’ the UK represents the third largest market in the world hence the UK focus. Our UK entry kicked off in the middle of the pandemic with no ability to meet the team, customers and/or partners face to face. Yet Covid-19 lockdowns did not change the old adage that building and developing mutually beneficial relationships offers exponential value.

These 1+1=3 relationships have all been identified and built from relevant connection. [DIT]’s mission offers relevant connections, content and learning. One initiative, contact or lesson leads to other opportunities that create other avenues, to compound value.

London Tech Week:

LTW is Europe’s largest technology festival. The annual event brings together the world’s most inspirational founders, global leaders, senior investors and rising talent. In 2020 the festival was held as a virtual event for the first time, attracting over 20,000 attendees from across the globe. The festival hosted over 700 sessions across 11 days, featuring more than 750 leading speakers and innovators.

Further information:

• There are currently 100 UK tech companies valued at US$1 billion or more
• The UK joins China and the US as the only nations to have triple-digit unicorns
• In 2021, 13 companies in the UK have achieved unicorn status (compared to 7 in 2020). This is an increase of by 127% since 2017
• The UK has 100 tech unicorns which have raised almost €28.9 billion (US$32 billion) in VC investment, as venture capital reached record highs in the first half of this year
• The UK has more tech unicorns than Germany (42), France (22) and the Netherlands (18) combined, and is the first country in Europe to reach 100 unicorns
• The UK is the most attractive destination for FDI in Europe and 3rd highest for VC investment behind the US and China too

About the UK’s Department for International Trade:

The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT):

• helps businesses export
• drives inward and outward investment
• negotiates market access and trade deals
• champions free trade

Find out more about DIT.

• Rugby stars urge young people to get their COVID-19 vaccine in new short film

• Sam Underhill, Alex Goode and Dan Robson among players sharing personal experiences of COVID-19

• Film can be downloaded here

Some of the country’s top rugby players have today (Tuesday 28 September) encouraged young people to get their COVID-19 vaccine as they discuss their personal experiences of the pandemic.

Ahead of Round 3 of the Premiership Rugby this weekend, a new film has been released featuring key players Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Nathan Earle (Newcastle Falcons), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish), Marland Yarde (Sale Sharks) and Dan Robson (Wasps) who discuss the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and the impact the virus has had on them in the past year.

The players also share their thoughts on who to look out for this season. While their player predictions might be different, they all agree that the most important thing everyone can do this season is to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The film will be played out at stadiums across the country from this weekend (1 -3 October) and comes as more than 82% of over-16s in the UK have now received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier this month, the booster programme was also rolled out, with those eligible being invited to book their jab as soon as possible in order to keep the virus under control for the long term and protect the most vulnerable through the winter months.

The latest data (23rd September 2021) also shows that in particular, younger men have been more reluctant than younger women to take up both doses of the jab – in those aged 18-49, 70% of men are double vaccinated vs 76% of women in this group.

In the film, the players discuss how the pandemic has directly affected their lives. Sam Underhill talks about how his dad was hospitalised with COVID-19, and Nathan Earle’s partner had their first child in the pandemic, meaning he wasn’t able to be in the hospital to support her through the birth.

The film is part of a wider partnership with the Premiership Rugby League, and follows the “Every Vaccination Gives Us Hope” campaign launched earlier in the year to encourage the public to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Over 48.7 million people have now received a first dose of a vaccine – over 89.7% of the UK over-16s population – with 44.7 million receiving their second dose. This means over 82.4% of over-16s in the UK have now received both doses of a vaccine, with 93.5 million vaccines administered overall.

Phil Winstanley, the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby, said:

It’s been so fantastic to have sports fans back in stadiums all over the country, and this couldn’t have been done without the COVID-19 vaccine programme. It’s been so instrumental in getting us back to normal, and as we get going with this year’s season, we need to make sure all our fans are as safe as they can possibly be – and that includes making sure they get the vaccine to protect themselves and those around them.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid said:

It is fantastic to have these rugby legends come out and back the life-saving jabs. A massive thank you to Sam, Alex, Nathan, Ollie, Marland and Dan.

It is thanks to the wall of defence built up by the vaccines that fans of all sports can get back to seeing their favourite players at the grounds.

Please get your jab as soon as possible, to protect yourself, your family and your loved ones.

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said:

The vaccine’s impact in giving us protection against COVID-19 has allowed us to return to doing the things we love – whether that’s going out for dinner with friends, taking a trip abroad or watching your favourite sports players live in the stadium.

It’s brilliant to see so many famous faces pledge their support for the vaccination programme – and we continue to urge all those who haven’t yet had theirs to come forward for the life-saving jab as soon as possible.

Nathan Earle of Newcastle Falcons said:

It’s been a really rough 18 months for everyone, but finally we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Having the fans back in the crowd has been incredible – it just gives you that extra boost you need on the pitch. I’d say to anyone make sure you get your jab if you haven’t already – it’s quick and easy and has meant we can get back to the game we love!’

Vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 with symptoms and are less likely to get serious COVID-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it.

The latest data from Public Health England shows that the vaccine rollout has saved more than 123,000 lives and stopped nearly quarter of a million hospital admissions.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine

More than 440 jobs are being created and safeguarded across the North-East of England in an offshore wind production boom thanks to £130 million of government and private investment announced today (Tuesday, 28 September).

Offshore wind cabling manufacturer JDR Cable Systems Ltd is receiving funding from the government’s £160 million Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme, which, together with private investment from the company, will see £130 million invested in facilities that will develop and build components for next generation wind turbines.

With the investment being used to build a new factory in Cambois, near Blyth, and protect jobs at its existing facility in Hartlepool, this will be a huge boost to local economies in the North-East of England, with more than 440 jobs being created and safeguarded. Of those jobs, 270 will be protected at JDR Cable Systems’ existing factory in Hartlepool, with a further 170 created as the company builds a new production facility in Cambois.

Stimulated through the investment announced as part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan, this brings the total investment of government and private sector investment to £675 million already this year, which is creating and protecting almost 3,600 jobs across the Humber and North-East whilst building the UK’s offshore wind capacity to deliver clean electricity generation as the country ends its reliance on coal for power by 2024.

As the UK steps up building a secure home-grown renewable energy sector and is reducing its reliance on unreliable fossil fuels and exposure to volatility in global wholesale energy prices, the capacity for using clean, domestic offshore wind to help power the country is set to accelerate in the next decade.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

The UK’s offshore wind sector is a major industrial success story, but we need to ensure local workers and manufacturers fully reap the economic benefits of this booming industry.

This major investment is a perfect example of how our transition to a low carbon economy can attract new industries, create jobs, reduce our reliance on unreliable fossil fuels and generate export opportunities as we build back greener from the pandemic.

Thanks to the £130 million investment, JDR Cable Systems’ new Blyth facility will supply its Hartlepool site with state-of-the-art cable cores and high voltage underwater cabling that will enable the UK to compete more effectively with foreign manufacturers and increase its standing in global export markets.

The creation of new ports and the development of new factories on the Humber and on Teesside is supporting government ambition to build a domestic manufacturing base while backing industry to reach its self-imposed target to ensure 60% of offshore wind farm content comes from the UK supply chain.

Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone said:

Just as the UK led the Industrial Revolution 2 centuries ago, we are now spearheading the Green Industrial Revolution and we are building a manufacturing base that reflects our position as a world leader in offshore wind technology.

The UK’s clean energy sector offers huge potential to international investors and as our workers build the next generation of wind turbines that help us meet our own climate change commitments, they will be producing the technology that can help countries all over the globe build for a greener future.

Tomasz Nowak, Chief Executive Officer at JDR, said:

As the energy transition gathers pace and the UK’s offshore wind sector continues to thrive, turbines are growing taller and farther from shore, calling for higher voltage subsea cables.

We’re delighted to build on our legacy as a leading provider of subsea cables to the offshore energy sector by investing in this new facility.

We’re also delighted to continue our investment in the North East of England, and in bringing new jobs to Cambois, Blyth and Northumberland. Our proposed facility is strategically located to capitalise on the rapidly growing and largest offshore renewable energy market in Europe.

RenewableUK CEO Dan McGrail said:

The offshore wind industry is leading the Prime Minister’s Green Industrial Revolution by creating high-quality skilled jobs throughout the country, especially in coastal areas which need new opportunities.

Developing our offshore wind industry is a great example of our global leadership on clean energy in the run-up to COP26 and the opportunities for a green recovery. Investments like today’s by JDR Cables demonstrate the industrial-scale economic benefits that decarbonisation is bringing to the UK and will help us to reach net zero emissions as fast as possible.

The next stage of the energy transition needs to focus on ramping up the speed and scale of renewable power deployment. Developing new approaches to planning our future grid, integrating new radar solutions and investing in new floating wind technology are essential to achieve that.

The government is also launching a consultation today on how we can minimise the impact on local communities and the environment when offshore wind farm power cables are connected ashore in the future.

Analysis by National Grid Electricity System Operator found that a new, more coordinated approach for projects connecting from 2030 could deliver cost savings of up to £3 billion with lower bills for consumers and industry. This could also significantly reduce the cumulative environmental and social impacts, such as the damage that can sometimes occur to valuable coastal and marine ecosystems, biodiversity loss and construction-related disruption to local communities, through a reduction in the infrastructure required for offshore connections.

Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands said:

Our world-leading offshore wind sector is delivering clean energy for millions and opening huge opportunities for green growth, driving investment and creating thousands of high-quality jobs all over the UK.

We are committed to growing this even more as we meet our bold climate change targets and reduce our exposure to volatile fossil fuels. But we want to hear people’s views to ensure that connecting offshore wind farms doesn’t have a negative impact on communities and our precious coastal and marine environment.

The government is also announcing £3.8 million in funding from the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) to support 7 innovation projects that are developing technologies to ensure future offshore windfarms do not negatively impact on UK air defence systems.

If offshore wind turbines are positioned in the line of sight of radar, they could have a detrimental effect on the effectiveness of air defence surveillance, so this joint programme, between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), will enable the development of projects looking to ensure future turbine deployment does not interfere with the UK’s defence capabilities.

Additional funding is also being announced today for the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence, with £2 million being provided over 4 years to further accelerate innovation in the UK’s floating wind sector as part of commitments to deliver 1GW of floating offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support

• The finalisation of detailed agreements and grant funding amounts will only follow a satisfactory due diligence phase
• the funding is part of the £160 million announced by the Prime Minister last year to further develop the UK’s offshore wind capabilities
• the first funding from this came in March this year when the government announced up to £95 million investment to establish 2 new ports on the Humber and on Teesside to build the next generation of offshore wind projects
• the first offshore wind manufacturer to invest in the Teesside port was confirmed as GE Renewable Energy which received government backing to build a new offshore wind blade manufacturing factory, directly creating around 750 jobs
• the next round of funding saw £185 million of government and private sector investment as more than 1,000 jobs were created across the North-East by offshore wind manufacturers SeAH Wind Ltd and Smulders Projects UK
• further investment on the Humber by Siemens Gamesa and GRI Renewable Industries saw another boost for the UK’s offshore wind manufacturing industry, with over 1,340 jobs created and protected thanks to £266 million of UK government and private sector investment

Offshore Transmission Network Review enduring regime consultation

• The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy leads the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR), which enables the government to explore ways, with a wide range of stakeholders, for future connections for offshore wind to be delivered in a more coordinated fashion
• this could deliver significant consumer, environmental and social benefits compared to the current point-to-point approach of offshore connection. The Review will be seeking the right balance between delivering coordinated transmission as soon as possible and maintaining the required pace of delivery to achieve 40GW of offshore wind by 2030
• in July, Ofgem launched a consultation looking at how to mitigate the impacts of infrastructure from existing offshore wind projects, which this government consultation builds on to gather views from the public, local authorities, environmental organisations and industry for the future
• read and respond to the Offshore Transmission Network Review: Enduring Regime and Multi-Purpose Interconnectors consultation here shortly

NZIP Wind Farm Mitigation phase 2 funding

• Phase 1 of the programme ended in March 2021 and provided £2.1 million of funding to 6 projects investigating the feasibility of technologies enabling the co-existence of windfarms and radar
• the 7 projects in Phase 2 are looking at a range of technologies including radar, material, sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which indicates that the future solution to this problem may be a system of systems, rather than one technology on its own. A full list of projects receiving Phase 2 funding will be published shortly

• Limited number of military tanker drivers to be put on a state of readiness and deployed if necessary to further stabilise fuel supply chain
• Extension to ADR driver licences, permitting drivers to maximise their available capacity instead of being taken out of circulation for refresher training purposes
• Next step comes after relaxation of competition rules and package of measures to speed recruitment of HGV drivers

The UK Government has today announced further measures to help further ease supply chain pressures and spikes in localised demand for fuel, including the approval to put on standby a pool of military drivers and extension to specific HGV licences.

British Army tanker drivers will be brought to a state of readiness in order to be deployed if required to deliver fuel to where it is needed most and providing further reassurance that fuel supplies remain strong. The military drivers will now receive specialised training before deploying, enabling them to seamlessly work with industry to address the supply chain pressures.

The Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request was issued by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on Monday.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

While the fuel industry expects demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, it’s right that we take this sensible, precautionary step.

The UK continues to have strong supplies of fuel, however we are aware of supply chain issues at fuel station forecourts and are taking steps to ease these as a matter of priority.

If required, the deployment of military personnel will provide the supply chain with additional capacity as a temporary measure to help ease pressures caused by spikes in localised demand for fuel.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The men and women of our Armed Forces stand ready to alleviate the transport pressures where they are felt most. That is why I have authorised their increased preparedness so they are ready to respond if needed.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay said:

Thankfully, the measures we have put in place across government are working. People are beginning to return to their regular buying habits and pressure on the supply chain is easing.

To make sure that this positive trend continues, we are putting military drivers on standby to help move fuel to petrol stations around the country should it be needed. This additional capacity will help prevent any further disruption.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has authorised an extension to ADR driver licences, which allow drivers to transport goods, such as fuel.

The measure announced today will apply to licences expiring between 27 September 2021 and 31 December 2021, and extend their validity until 31 January 2022. This will provide immediate relief to the shortage of fuel drivers by permitting affected drivers to maximise their available capacity instead of being taken out of circulation for refresher training purposes.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We are starting to see panic buying moderate – with more grades of fuel now available at more petrol stations. People have been responding to the message to only fill up when they actually need fuel and in any case their cars are now fuller.

Even though the current network of tanker drivers is capable of delivering all the fuel we need – we have taken the additional step of asking the army to help plug the gap, whilst new HGV drivers come on stream thanks to all the other measures we’ve already taken.

Extending ADR licences will further help ease any pressures on fuel drivers by removing the need for refresher training courses and ensuring they can keep providing their vital service on our roads.

Today’s announcement follows a joint statement issued by the fuel industry confirming that fuel supplies at UK refineries and terminals remain high as well as encouraging the public to continue to purchase fuel as normal. Signatories include:

• BP
• Shell
• Esso Petroleum / ExxonMobil.
• Wincanton
• Certas Energy UK
• Hoyer Petrolog UK
• Greenergy
• Fuels Transport & Logistics
• Downstream Fuel
• Suckling Transport

Over the weekend the Businesses Secretary took the decision to enact the Downstream Oil Protocol to relax competition rules to make it easier for industry to share information. This will help the sector to prioritise the delivery of fuel to the parts of the country and strategic locations that are most in need.

Last week the Government announced a further package of measures to help ease supply chain pressures. These include an immediate increase in HGV testing, short term visas for HGV drivers and new skills bootcamps to train up to 3,000 more people to become HGV drivers

Notes to editors

1. Ordinarily ADR licences are valid for up to five years, with holders having to undertake refresher training and pass an exam, which takes three days, in the final year of validity as a requirement of renewal.
2. It is the latest in a series of measures the Department for Transport has taken to address the haulier shortage. In July, the DfT temporarily extended drivers’ hours to allow HGV drivers to make slightly longer journeys and earlier this month the department announced a package of measures to streamline HGV driving tests to help provide up to 50,000 more slots a year.
3. This builds on the work DVSA has already done since April 2021 to increase the number of vocational driving tests from 2,000 a week pre-pandemic to 3,000