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The government’s priorities for UKHSA were set out in the agency’s first remit letter.
UKHSA’s top priority is taking forward the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensuring that we are prepared against other future external health threats.
In order to deliver this, the government has confirmed that, to support part of its remit, the agency will have increased genomic sequencing and surveillance capabilities.
UKHSA will plan for the next phases of the pandemic, ensuring COVID-19 related activities are operating effectively to manage the transmission and impact of the virus. The agency will also help support wider key lessons learned from the pandemic to keep our nation safe, both now and in the future.
Science and research will be at the core of UKHSA. It will bring together world-leading public health science, cutting-edge capabilities in data analytics and genomic surveillance, and at-scale testing and contact tracing to respond appropriately to all potential health hazards.
The organisation will play a crucial role in global health security, providing public health leadership at international, national and local levels, and working to reduce health inequalities.
Key strands of work will include:
developing surveillance and modelling capabilities to inform action at national and local levels to protect the country’s health
increasing the country’s world-leading genomic capabilities to respond rapidly to emerging threats through establishment of a New Variant Assessment Platform (NVAP)
supporting and delivering clinical guidance and communications tailored to the needs of different populations and areas
providing agile testing services at scale with rapid and effective contact tracing services, working in partnership with local authorities
Dr Jenny Harries, CEO of UKHSA, said:
The country’s new health security agency will learn the scientific insights from COVID-19 and continuously be preparing for future health threats.
We will also have a key role in helping the government identify and implement lessons learned from the management of this pandemic, both during the remaining stages and beyond.
UKHSA will be a global leader, innovating to help stop a wide array of potential health hazards. The agency will contribute to a post-pandemic health system that is built back better, fairer and more resilient, both for the UK and globally.
Domestic work will include:
immunisations: supporting current and future Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) vaccines strategies
antimicrobial resistance (AMR): supporting the government’s goal to slow the growth of AMR both at home and abroad through delivery of the UK action plan for AMR 2019 to 2024
sexual health: providing scientific expertise to inform the development of the government’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and support the commitment to eliminate HIV transmission by 2030
environmental harms: supporting the cross-government Clean Air Strategy by leading a national programme of evidence collation and communications work
The agency will continue its existing infrastructural programmes of scientific work. It will be key in contributing to the ‘levelling up’ agenda through a rigorous focus on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease and health threats, targeting action towards disproportionately affected groups.
In addition, UKHSA will be a leading voice on the global stage to protect the public’s health from all external threats.
Like millions of people across this country I woke up this morning sad and rueful, but also filled with pride and hope and with thanks to Gareth Southgate and the whole England squad for the best campaign by any England team in any tournament that I can remember.
They made history. They lifted our spirits – and they brought joy to this country and I know that they will continue to do so.
And to those who have been directing racist abuse at some of the players, I say shame one you, and I hope you will crawl back under the rock from which you emerged.
Because the entire team played like heroes and I’m sure that this is just the beginning of their achievements. I say bring on Qatar next year, and let’s also dare to start to hope that together with Ireland our United Kingdom can host the World Cup in 2030.
Turning now to step four of our roadmap, we’ve come to a stage in the pandemic when there is no easy answer or obvious date for unlocking. We have cases rising significantly – with more than 30,000 per day. And we can see what is happening across Europe as the Delta variant takes hold among our friends.
We know we’re going to see more hospitalisations and more deaths from Covid. But we also know that this wave was clearly foreseen by our scientists when we first set out that roadmap in February.
And if anything, so far, we are in the middle range of their projections for infections and at the lower end of their projections for mortality.
And we also know that if we were now to delay this 4th step – for instance to September or later – then we would be re-opening as the weather gets colder and as the virus acquires a greater natural advantage and when schools are back.
And so we think now is the right moment to proceed, when we have the natural firebreak of the school holidays in the next few days. And Chris and Patrick will set out, in just a minute, how we are meeting the four tests for step 4 in England.
But it is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution. And I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough. This pandemic is not over. This disease coronavirus continues to carry risks for you and for your family.
We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday 19th July to life as it was before Covid.
We will stick to our plan to lift legal restrictions and to lift social distancing, but we expect and recommend that people wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with those you don’t normally meet, such as on public transport.
We’re removing the Government instruction to work from home where you can but we don’t expect that the whole country will return to their as one desks from Monday. And we’re setting out guidance for business for a gradual return to work over the summer.
And as a matter of social responsibility we’re urging nightclubs and other venues with large crowds to make use of the NHS Covid Pass – which shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or natural immunity – as a means of entry.
We’re updating our guidance for the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable on how they can keep themselves safe and I generally urge everyone to keep thinking of others and to consider the risks.
We’ll keep our tough border policy, including quarantine for those arriving from red list countries.
And we’ll keep the test, trace and isolate system in place.
Every week that goes by we are getting hundreds of thousands more jabs into arms and our delay to the road map that we announced last month has enabled us to get 7 million more jabs in the last 4 weeks alone.
By next Monday, two-thirds of adults will have received a second dose and every adult will have been offered a first dose.
And it is the single most crucial thing now that you get that jab. A jab that could protect you and your family – and allow you, for instance, to go on holiday.
And it is of course only thanks to the vaccine programme that we are able to take these cautious steps now. But to take these steps we must be cautious and we must be vaccinated.
So please get that jab.
Students, teachers and school leaders from across the North East have received national recognition for their achievements and stand-out contributions to their local communities over the last year.
Introduced by the Department for Education in 2012, in memory of former Education Secretary and Newcastle MP Ted Short, the Lord Glenamara prize allows top talent from across the North East to take centre stage.
It recognises the students achieving academic and vocational excellence and teachers inspiring their pupils, while making a profound difference to their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schools Minister Baroness Berridge presented the awards at the virtual prize giving ceremony, with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson appearing via video message to celebrate this year’s winners and congratulate them on their outstanding achievements.
Josita Kavitha Thirumalai from Sunderland was this year’s winner of the Pupil Academic Lord Glenamara Memorial Prize. She was one of 33 young people shortlisted for the prize, and was today hailed by Baroness Berridge as ‘an example for all students and adults alike’ for her achievements both academically and within her local community. She has been a ‘young leader’ at her school and during the pandemic and sang for residents in care homes, appearing over Zoom to help tackle boredom and loneliness during lockdown.
Kavitha said:
It is an enormous honour to win this prestigious award. I’m extremely grateful to have had such opportunities to develop my confidence to enrich my education and embrace new experiences.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
This year’s Lord Glenamara prize winners have gone above and beyond to help their community during such a challenging year and should be immensely proud of their exceptional achievements.
The students are testament to the enormous potential that exists in the North East. The teachers are incredible leaders, inspiring the pupils they work with and ensuring young people receive the support they need to fulfil their ambitions.
As our Opportunity North East programme comes towards a close next year, I am sure all the young people, teachers and schools nominated and winning awards will be at the forefront of the North East’s recovery from the pandemic.
Baroness Berridge also congratulated this year’s Pupil Technical Award winner, Sophia Williams from Sunderland, for her outstanding achievement in her Level 3 Technical Diploma in Animal Management. Sophia, who aims to become a zoologist, has been praised by her teachers for her dedication to her studies. Sophia also volunteered with the homelessness charity Crisis during the pandemic, creating 300 Christmas hampers for members of her local community who were unable to be with their families.
Sophia said:
This award means more than an award to me on so many levels. I will never forget the belief my head of year and tutors had in me to achieve success. That belief gave me a renewed confidence and made me more determined than ever to push forward, work hard and achieve my goals.
Other prizes awarded this year include:
The Lord Glenamara Prize is part of the Government’s commitment to level up and raise aspirations for children in the North East through the Opportunity North East (ONE) programme. The programme was launched in October 2018 and is entering its final year of delivery from September, with over half of the region’s secondary schools now actively involved in the programme. The Department for Education has committed to improving the educational and employment outcomes of students in the area by addressing five challenges:
We are looking for lively, cheerful, engaging and real team players to work with us at the British Pavilion in Expo Prado.
-Good English skills
-Proven experience in customer service
-Proactive and energetic
-Enthusiastic in environment related matters
-Team player
-To be the public face of the UK Pavilion displaying excellent customer service at all times
-Greet and welcome visitors, ensuring they have a positive and fun experience
-Provide information on the main topic of the Pavilion: Climate Change, Waste management, UK companies offer, etc. (A manual will be provided with key messages that you will be expected to learn).
-Inform visitors of additional online activities available in our virtual pavilion
-Encourage people in to visit the pavilion and its virtual counterpart
-Assist in event coordination: i.e British breed prizes, conferences, etc
-Collaborate in promoting UK Culture and Brands to visitors
-Ensure pavilion is in clean condition, that sanitary protocols are followed, and that music is working
-Record the number of visitors to the pavilion (so that we can comply with protocols)
-Ensure the rest and office areas of the Pavilion are kept neat and tidy
-Liaise with British Pavilion Project Manager for early resolution of issues such as: Technical, structural, security, etc.
2 shifts AM or PM:
Monday – Friday: From 09:30- 15:30 / From 14:30 to 20:30
Saturday – Sunday: From 09:00 – 15:00 / From 15:00 – 21:00
-You will be formally employed by ARU.
-You will have time for lunch and for a break.
Note: Selected candidates will be required to present the Good Conduct Certificate provided by the Ministry of the Interior before signing the working contract.
Please send your CV (1 page max), cover letter in English (1 page max), and shift preference to: expo.prado@fco.gov.uk before Sunday 18 July, indicating your last name in the subject.