Everyone who lives or works in targeted areas within Nuneaton should take a COVID-19 PCR test. Working in partnership with the local authority, NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing in the Wembrook and Abbey wards. It follows the identification of confirmed cases of the variant first identified in India (B.1.617.2).

The confirmed cases have been told to self-isolate and their contacts are being identified. Everyone who lives or works in the targeted areas, including all children over the age of 2, are strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern (VOC). This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period to determine the route of transmission.

By using PCR testing, positive results can be sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, helping us to identify VOC cases and their spread.

If you have symptoms you should book a free test online or by phone, so you can be tested at a testing site or have a testing kit sent to your home. If you have no symptoms, you should visit the Warwickshire Council website for more information.

People in this area should continue using twice-weekly rapid testing alongside the PCR test as part of surge testing.

The government and its scientific experts are monitoring the evolving situation and rates of variants closely, and will not hesitate to take additional action as necessary.

Appointments for a second COVID-19 vaccine dose will be brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks for the remaining people in the top 9 priority groups who have yet to receive their second dose. This is to ensure people across the UK have the strongest possible protection from the virus at an earlier opportunity.

The move follows updated advice from the independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has considered the latest available evidence and has recommended reducing the dosing interval.

Over the last few years, the site, which is near Winchester in Hampshire, has undergone a £300-million transformation process to become a training centre for military logisticians, police officers and administrators from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Relocating military functions and personnel from Princess Royal Barracks, HMS Raleigh and RAF Halton allows the easy sharing of expertise and facilities across all three services.

The programme has seen the construction of 27 new buildings including accommodation, teaching spaces, medical and dental centre, Regimental Headquarters and facilities for catering, retail and leisure including sports pitches and a gym. The construction work was led by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) with Skanska as the principal contractors and AECOM as project managers.

Her Royal Highness was shown around the site by Brigadier Caldicott CBE and the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq. She signed the Visitor’s Book, met VIPs and revealed a commemorative plaque. The tour included two realistic working environments for the Royal Navy, a replica ship’s galley and an area for logisticians to practise loading supplies. This environment is designed to replicate the parts of a Royal Navy ship, so trainees can practise loading supplies from a replica quayside, over a gangway and onto an area representing a flight deck, before bringing it inside the ‘ship’ down ladders.

Her Royal Highness was also shown the ‘Village’ which was created by Sodexo and brings catering, retail and leisure together in one place for trainees. This facility helps to build community, create connections and improve the quality of life for trainees and staff.

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps and newly announced Royal Patron of The RLC Museum, Her Royal Highness also formally opened the brand-new purpose-built museum. She met museum donors and was taken on a tour of a new exhibition that tells the story of how the British Army was moved, equipped and supplied during its campaigns from the Battle of Agincourt to Afghanistan.

Her Royal Highness was shown a wide range of exhibits including a replica of the Marlborough Cart which was the world’s first purpose-built military logistics vehicle, the Rolls-Royce Field Marshall Montgomery was driven in when he landed in France shortly after D-Day and Napoleon’s field bakery captured at the Battle of Waterloo. She also saw a large collection of horse-drawn and motorised military logistics vehicles, including a WW1 horse ambulance, bomb disposal vehicles and equipment, weapons, uniforms and the world-class Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport medal collection, which features several Victoria Crosses and medals won at the Battle of Waterloo,

The museum opens to the public on 18 May 2021, following COVID-19 guidance, and offers free admission, excellent on-site facilities, guided tours, a research room and library, a brand-new museum shop, on-site café and plenty of free parking.

Brigadier Caldicott CBE, Commandant Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration, said:

The DCLPA is honoured that HRH The Princess Royal has formally opened the DCLPA here at Worthy Down. The opening marks the culmination of Project WELLESLEY, which has seen all three Services combine logistics, policing and administration training under one College. The project is a great example of effective cooperation between the military, DIO and contractors for the benefit of the Armed Forces. The brilliant facilities here at Worthy Down are truly world-class and have helped create a training centre of excellence that is second to none.

Matthew Richardson, DIO’s project manager for the DCLPA, said:

A project of this size takes some time to see through from inception to completion and I’m thrilled we’re now at the end of what has been a large and important piece of work for DIO. The huge range of new facilities we’ve provided will really benefit everyone working and training at Worthy Down and the museum is an appropriate tribute to the vital work of The Royal Logistic Corps.

The Colonel RLC and RLC Museum trustee, Colonel Jon West ADC said:

The Corps is honoured that our Colonel in Chief HRH The Princess Royal has agreed to be the Patron for the new RLC Museum and has formally opened the Museum in its new location today, following months of hard work by the Museum team. The Museum opening sees the home of the Corps and our rich heritage firmly established at Worthy Down alongside the centre of professional logistic excellence at DCLPA. The fantastic state of the art facilities here at the new RLC Museum provide a focal point for past, present and future generations of the Corps family to and present a fascinating opportunity to showcase military logistics to the public”.

Gregor Craig, President and CEO, Skanska UK said:

I’m delighted to see the completion of this landmark programme to provide world-class facilities for our Armed Forces to live, learn and work. I’m particularly proud of the approach to combine modern methods of construction with significant sustainability and biodiversity measures that has made Worthy Down an exemplar for its green credentials, while providing the high-quality facilities our service personnel deserve.

Jim Bowden, Executive Director, Building Engineering & National Security, AECOM, said:

Today’s official opening marks the successful completion of this complex programme to deliver world-class training facilities for the Armed Forces. AECOM provided the full suite of Project Management services, working closely with our partners, DIO and Skanska. The scheme’s truly collaborative partnering approach saw all three organisations come together as one team, enabling the efficient delivery of a huge range of buildings without impacting ongoing operations. We’re proud to have contributed to these state-of-the-art facilities that are of national defence importance.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has today (18 May) issued a rallying cry to British businesses, inviting them to scale up through the government’s Help to Grow: Management scheme.

Speaking at Scaleup Week, the Business Secretary unveiled the members of the scheme’s Expert Advisory Council, including Confederation of British Industry (CBI) President Lord Karan Bilimoria, Natwest CEO Alison Rose and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Charlotte Keenan.

The council will provide expert insight to ensure the programme meets the needs of small businesses.

The Help to Grow: Management scheme is a new executive training programme delivered by the UK’s leading business schools. This 12-week course will combine a practical curriculum with 1:1 mentoring from a business expert, peer-learning sessions to give businesses the opportunity to learn from one another, and an alumni network.

By the end of the programme participants will develop a tailored business growth plan to lead their business to its full potential.

The scheme is 90% government-funded and will launch at the end of June. It will help small, enterprising businesses to seize every opportunity to grow and is an important part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, promoting opportunity and boosting employment as we recover from the pandemic.

Today, applications have opened for the first business schools. Businesses can also register their interest in the scheme now. Courses will begin from the end of June.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

After such a challenging year for British businesses, Scaleup Week is the time for shining a light on how fast-growing firms are adopting new tech and ways of working to shake up how they do things.

Helping small businesses to learn from the best will be central to building back better from the pandemic. Our new A-Team of experts will ensure 30,000 small and medium sized firms across the UK get the very best advice on how to innovate, reach new customers and boost profits so they can expand operations and create more job opportunities.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:

Growing our small businesses, upskilling our workforce and driving investment are at the very heart of our plan for jobs.

Our Help to Grow scheme will equip thousands of SMEs with the skills and technological know-how that will allow them to succeed. It’s great to have a strong line up of distinguished business leaders on board to help deliver this ambitious programme.

Help to Grow: Management aims to support 30,000 small business leaders to increase productivity, invest and grow their business, while levelling-up productivity across the UK.

By helping firms to adopt modern management techniques and business technologies, the government will unlock their potential and help to level up every part of the country.

The members of the Expert Advisory Council appointed by HM Treasury are:

• Charlotte Keenan (Chair) – Managing Director Goldman Sachs
• Alison Rose- Chief Executive NatWest Group
• Tera Allas CBE, Director of Research and Economics, McKinsey (Member of BtB Productivity Leadership Group)
• Mark Hart, Deputy Director, Enterprise Research Centre (ERC)
• Anthony Impey MBE, CEO, Be the Business (Member of BtB Productivity Leadership Group)
• Ann Francke OBE, CEO, The Chartered Management Institute
• Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL, President, Confederation of British Industry
• Byron Dixon OBE, CEO of Micro-fresh
• Karen Lynch, Non-Executive Director for Social Enterprise UK
• Nickyl Raithatha, CEO at Moonpig and Managing Director at Moonpig PhotoBox

The government is working to make the UK the best place in the world to start, scale up and grow a business. Government action to support small businesses includes:

• facilitating over £8 billion of finance through the British Business Bank, which is supporting more than 90,000 SMEs. The Start Up Loans programme, also operated by the British Business Bank, has delivered more than 80,000 loans across the UK with a value of more than £722.3 million since the programme’s launch in 2012
• an action plan to unlock over £20 billion of investment in innovative and high potential businesses. As part of this, British Patient Capital – a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank – has been given £2.5 billion to support UK businesses with high growth potential to access the long-term financing they need to scale up
• tackling late payments, including through the Small Business Commissioner and the recently relaunched Prompt Payment Code, which is setting standards and best practice in payment culture

About Scaleup Week

Scaleup Week brings together scaleup leaders from across the UK to unlock potential and accelerate growth, as part of a week-long series of debates and discussions about opportunities for UK businesses.

The event is organised by the Business Growth Fund and the ScaleUp Institute with the support of the Business Secretary.

Scaleups play a pivotal role in driving the UK’s economic growth and will be crucial to driving recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Scaleup businesses account for 20% of employment among businesses with more than 10 employees, making them a major engine in the government’s Plan for Jobs.

Other speakers at Scaleup Week include Noel Quin, Group Chief Executive of HSBC, the economist and broadcaster Linda Yueh, the founder of Gousto Timo Boldt, and the founder of The Dots Pip Jamieson. Find more details on the Scaleup Week site

Additional information

Help to Grow: Management courses at the following business schools are open for applications:

• Aston Business School – 28 June 2021 – West Midlands
• Leeds Business School (Leeds Beckett University) – 14 September 2021 – Yorkshire & Humber
• Coventry Business School – 23 August 2021 – West Midlands
• University of Bradford School of Management – 21 September 2021 – Yorkshire & Humber
• Derby Business School – 5 July 2021 – East Midlands
• Bristol Business School (University of West of England) – 6 September 2021 – South West
• Kingston Business School – 30 August 2021 – London
• University of Leicester School of Business – 13 September 2021 – East Midlands

Today (Tuesday 18 May) the Forestry Commission has welcomed a new government commitment to protect, enhance and restore nature and help meet Net Zero by 2050, using nature-based solutions to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, including new commitments for tree planting and tree health in England. This builds on the recommendations of the Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity.

Launched today during a landmark speech by the Environment Secretary George Eustice, the England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) will aim to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, reflecting England’s contribution to meeting the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this Parliament.

As the government’s expert forestry advisors and custodians of the nation’s forests, the Forestry Commission will be a key delivery partner in meeting this ambition.

Also speaking today, the Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley announced a new flagship grant scheme – the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). The new scheme for farmers and landowners will support the creation of a range of woodland types and sizes, including through natural colonisation, and especially where their location and design will provide public benefits.

The offer will be open to applications of small areas of land from 1 hectare upwards, providing greater incentives for farmers and landowners to consider tree planting as a sustainable option. The grant is due to launch soon and particularly incentivises the creation of new native woodland, especially where this extends existing priority woodlands or benefits water habitats by planting along rivers, or provides recreational access to the public.

The ETAP will provide a raft of new measures to boost tree planting and establishment including an enhanced role for private finance, improving woodland management in England, supporting a thriving green economy and bringing trees closer to people.

Supported by over £500m from the Nature for Climate Fund between 2020 and 2025, this is a once in a generation plan to help achieve this vision.

Speaking today at Delamere Forest, Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley, said:

It is crucial that we act now to ensure that we leave our environment in a better state for future generations. We need to work towards net zero emissions by 2050; to address biodiversity loss; to better connect people with nature; and to create more green jobs in doing so. Trees are central to the Government’s plans to achieve this, and it is through the ambitious programme of activity set out in the England Trees Action Plan – supported by £500m from the Nature for Climate Fund – that we can realise these huge objectives.

Sara Lom, CEO, The Tree Council said:

2021 is a pivotal moment for trees and for our planet. The Tree Council welcomes the England Trees Action Plan as a strong roadmap for ambitious action to plant, care for and protect the trees and hedgerows which gladden our towns, cities and countryside. By trebling tree planting rates in England, this Action Plan will support trees’ vital role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises which threaten our landscapes and our livelihoods.

The Action Plan will help see an unprecedented number of trees planted, protected and managed to deliver more for society, nature, the climate and the economy, through:

• The England Woodland Creation Offer – a major new woodland creation grant to create over 10,000 hectares of new woodland over the lifetime of the grant. The grant will provide both greater financial incentives to plant and maintain trees and offer greater recognition of the benefits provided by woodland to people and nature. More guidance on eligibility and the application process will follow.
• Extending the Urban Trees Challenge Fund, providing further investment to support the planting and establishment of trees in urban areas.
• Providing additional funding as part of the Local Authority Treescape Fund to plant trees outside of woodlands for the benefit of local communities.
• Expanding the size of the nation’s forests by working with public and private land owners to create new woodlands under Forestry England’s management. 
• Creating at least three new Community Forests providing greater public access to woodlands where they are needed most.

Biosecurity is central to protecting both the Government’s significant investment in tree planting, ensuring our trees and woodlands are protected in the long term. In addition to the action plan, we will be introducing a three-year tree health pilot scheme to build the resilience of England’s trees, woods and forests and to enhance the benefits trees provide, by mitigating and minimising the impact of pests and diseases. This builds on the elements being introduced in the action plan to expand the tree health grants provided to treat or fell diseased trees and to restock following a tree health issue.

The Nature For Climate fund will help us deliver the English portion of the government’s manifesto commitment to increase tree planting to 30,000 hectares per year across the UK by 2025, alongside peatland restoration and nature recovery.

• Tony Juniper, Natural England chair, welcomes new legal targets to tackle the biodiversity crisis and commitments to tackle climate change

Natural England is set to establish a species reintroductions task force, after it was announced by the Environment Secretary today. Species reintroductions, alongside habitat restoration and greening of urban spaces, will be part of work undertaken to meet new legally binding biodiversity targets to reverse the decline of wildlife.

Natural England will be heading up the task force as secretariat, considering the reintroduction of species which have been lost to England – such as wildcat – and the introduction of declining species into new areas such as pine marten, dormice, corncrake, short-haired bumblebee and large blue butterfly. This action is being taken to help populations recover and will make up part of the Nature Recovery Network (NRN). It will bring together experts, landowners and NGOs to share knowledge, assess and prioritise species for reintroduction and to develop partnerships for delivering high quality projects.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper, speaking at the launch with the Environment Secretary, welcomed the stronger measures to protect biodiversity through legally binding targets and the proactive approach to the restoration of native species to England, contributing to nature’s recovery at scale.

Speaking today at Delamere Forest, Natural England chair, Tony Juniper, said:

A new target for Nature recovery enshrined in law will be a powerful new driver for coordinated action, as was found on cutting greenhouse gas emissions following the passage of the Climate Change Act. Meeting a stretching Nature target can be done, so long as we can join up different policy areas, such as farming, housing development and infrastructure, while also improving overall environmental quality in terms of air and water pollution.

Natural England stands ready to work across Government to help make it happen, including through the delivery of an ambitious Nature Recovery Network that will see not only the improvement of our vital protected areas, more green spaces and trees in towns and cities and the restoration of lost habitats, including woodland, wetland and heaths, but also the return of lost species.

Also launched today by the Environment Secretary, George Eustice, are the England Peat Action Plan and ‘Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme’, benefiting people and wildlife by increasing, improving and joining-up wildlife-rich places across England. This will be supported by an expected over £50 million between 2021 and 2025.

The ‘Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme’ programme, to be administered by Natural England, will offer multi-annual grants which will encourage and enable partnerships to develop much more ambitious and extensive proposals to restore the integrity and quality of peat systems across large landscape areas.

The England Peat Action Plan aims to help restore 35,000 hectares of degraded peatlands in England over the next 4 years. This will secure 9 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents cumulatively by 2050, as well as deliver a range of wider environmental and social benefits, such as cleaner water and richer wildlife.