Ambassador Cowell meets PM Mikati

World news story

I committed to continuing the UK’s support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and to the most vulnerable living in Lebanon.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell met with Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail today.

Ambassador Cowell said after the meeting:

I had a good first meeting with Prime Minister Designate Najib Makati. Our discussion underlined the importance of strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between our countries.

I committed to continuing the UK’s support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and to the most vulnerable living in Lebanon.

The UK wants to see stability, prosperity and security in Lebanon. This is why I urge authorities to deliver urgent reforms in order to secure a much-needed IMF deal.

This is essential:

To put Lebanon on the path to recovery,
to regain business and investor confidence and
to address the many and very serious difficulties the Lebanese people are facing.

The UK will support Lebanon in this regard.

Published 16 August 2022

Change of British High Commissioner to Mozambique

Press release

Ms Helen Lewis has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Mozambique in succession to Ms Nne Nne Iwuji-Eme.

Ms Helen Lewis has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Mozambique in succession to Ms Nne Nne Iwuji-Eme. Ms Lewis will take up her appointment during October 2022.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Helen Lewis

Year	Role
2019 to 2021	Juba, Development Director South Sudan
2017 to 2019	Cabinet Office, Deputy Director Gulf-Iran, National Security Secretariat
2016 to 2017	Department for International Development, Gulf Team Leader, Middle East and North Africa Department
2014 to 2016	Islamabad, Head, Rule of Law Team
2013 to 2014	Islamabad, Senior Conflict Adviser
2013	Department for International Development, Senior Conflict Adviser, Conflict Humanitarian and Security Department (CHASE)
2011 to 2013	Juba, Stabilisation Adviser, UK Stabilisation Unit
2010 to 2011	Sana’a/Doha, Regional Conflict Adviser
2008 to 2010	Department for International Development, Conflict Adviser, Conflict Humanitarian and Security Department (CHASE)
2003 to 2008	Peace and security sector roles including: Policy Coordinator at Ulster University’s International Conflict Research Centre, Programme Associate at Search for Common Ground, Washington DC
2002 to 2003	Fulbright Scholar, School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC

Published 16 August 2022

Would you like to be the British High Commissioner to India for a day?

To celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, the British High Commission is offering women from across India a unique opportunity to experience a day in the life of the UK’s top diplomat in the country. The competition is open to women aged 18-23 and the deadline to apply is 2 September 2022.

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said:

The UK and India are doing big things together, from combating climate change to agreeing a free trade deal. But, celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child together with a wonderful young Indian applicant each year is without a doubt one of my favourite things to do as High Commissioner.

I am delighted to launch the sixth edition of our High Commissioner for a Day competition, particularly during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Empowering women and girls is one of the UK’s top priorities globally, as it is for Prime Minister Modi as well. This is an excellent opportunity for young women to show their full potential. I look forward to seeing entries from every corner of this great country.

The winner of this pan-India initiative gets a unique opportunity to head the diplomatic mission for a day – overseeing the UK’s largest overseas network, chairing meetings with diverse stakeholders, and a chance to experience the UK-India partnership in action.

To apply to be the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’, participants must record and upload a one-minute video answering ‘which woman in public life inspires you the most and why?’ The video must be shared on either Twitter, Facebook or Instagram by tagging ‘@UKinIndia’ and using the hashtag ‘#DayoftheGirl’.

Further information

The British High Commission has organised the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition annually since 2017. The theme for this year’s competition is ‘Women in Leadership’.

Last year’s winner was 20-year-old Aditi Maheshwari from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, whose day as the High Commissioner included observing the India-UK Energy for Growth Dialogue, meeting with beneficiaries of the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, interacting with climate experts from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and meeting young leaders from the not-for-profit Global Youth.

Terms and Conditions:

A jury at the British High Commission (BHC) will select the winner, who will be announced on @UKinIndia social media channels. Only one entry per participant will be accepted. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The High Commission’s decision is final and no correspondence relating to the above will be possible.
By applying to the competition, participants transfer the copyright ownership of their videos to the BHC New Delhi. BHC may use these videos to produce content for future communication on its social media channels.
Participants are reminded not to share personal details in their video, post or tweet. The BHC is not responsible for the data that participants make public on these platforms.
The High Commissioner for a Day programme will take place in-person in Delhi (unless Covid-19 advice changes). In case the winner is not from Delhi/NCR, we will fund travel or accommodation to Delhi as part of the competition.

For media queries, please contact:

David Russell, Head of Communications
Press and Communications, British High Commission,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. Tel: 24192100

Media queries: BHCMediaDelhi@fco.gov.uk

Scottish Secretary responds to August Labour Market Statistics

News story

As new figures from the ONS show Scottish unemployment at a record low, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack says the UK Government is continuing to help create and support jobs through investment in communities.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

Today’s labour market figures show positive signs for Scotland. Unemployment has fallen over the last year to a historic low and there are more people on the payroll.

The best way to continue growing our economy in the long-term is to get even more people into well-paid, highly-skilled jobs as we know that people are better off in work than on benefits. However, we also know people are worried right now about the rising cost of living and that’s why we’re providing the most vulnerable households with an extra £1200 of direct support through our £37bn package of support, while continuing to help all households with their bills.

Alongside this, the UK Government continues to drive forward investment in communities to create and support jobs, helping level up opportunity from our biggest towns and cities to our most remote villages.

Background

Figures from the ONS show unemployment at 3.2 per cent in Scotland, down 1.1 p.p. since the same time last year. Scotland’s employment rate is at 75.4 per cent, an increase of 1.2 p.p. over the last year.

Published 16 August 2022

DataConnect22 starts soon!

Taking place on 26-30 September, DataConnect is back! Register now for the free online conference that’s for everyone working in the public sector and is all about Data.

DataConnect22 brings together people and data stories from across the public sector. Join us for presentations, workshops, show and tells, and “community meet-ups” to share stories about data, connect with other colleagues working with data across government, and inspire collaboration to create better data and increase data skills across the public sector.

Last year thousands of colleagues from across the country registered for DataConnect21. Together, we covered topics from data standards to data science, from maturity to metadata, and everything in between… We were educated and enlightened by participants and speakers from all over the public and third sector, including:

Department for Work and Pensions
Office for National Statistics
Central Digital and Data Office
Department for International Trade
Scottish Government
Environment Agency
Open Data Institute
HM Revenue & Customs
DAMA UK

About DataConnect22

DataConnect22 is a fully online, free conference to celebrate data in the UK public sector. It is jointly organised by the Government Data Quality Hub and the Central Digital and Data Office.

You’ll find a variety of session formats from presentations, to interactive workshops and roundtables, to networking events led by colleagues from across the public sector. Sessions already cover a huge range of topics, such as applications of Natural Language Processing for policy delivery, aligning the Government Data Maturity Model with strategic drivers, and opportunities to network informally at a Coffee Connect session.

Can I organise my own DataConnect22 session?

Want to tell your own data story? There’s still time to bring your own session!

Find our more detailed information for speakers on the DataConnect22 website. Then sign up to our mailing list to get all the information about attending this year’s conference, and to express your interest to host a session.

Any questions?

Email us at dataconnect@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk or join one of our lunchtime drop in sessions which will be held from 12:00-13:00 on Tuesdays.