The DBS Conference

DBS Conference Graphic

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is hosting a conference which aims to shine a light on the challenges and dilemmas of protecting vulnerable groups including children, in both workplace and voluntary sector settings.

The conference will explore how safeguarding partners can contribute to safer recruitment practices before, during and post recruitment, and will focus on the necessary responses when abuse is suspected and disclosed.

The DBS Conference is aimed at professionals that work with or for vulnerable groups including children, such as HR professionals and safeguarding partners from:

  • the NHS and other healthcare settings
  • the sports industry
  • the care sector
  • universities/colleges and education
  • charities
  • Local Authorities

The conference will involve a number of expert workshops, including:

  • Safe and Fair Recruitment
  • Working through the maze of eligibility, regulated activity and DBS referrals
  • Safeguarding in Sport – Good practice and how apply it
  • Volunteers and Charities – A focus on safeguarding
  • Safeguarding in Care Settings – Good practice and how apply it
  • Safeguarding in Education – A focus on safeguarding

Registration for the conference is now open. To secure your place, or for more information about the conference including pricing, please visit the conference website here.

Published 16 October 2019
Last updated 15 November 2019 + show all updates

  1. Registration for the conference is now open.
  2. First published.


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British Embassy outreach events in Luxembourg

If you are unclear about current residency requirements in Luxembourg, or how the UK’s exit from the EU might affect you, come along to one of our upcoming events to ask the questions that most concern you. These events are free, open to the public and require pre-registration.

Upcoming outreach events

This information evening will be hosted by British Ambassador to Luxembourg, John Marshall, who will be joined by colleagues from our Embassy in Brussels.

For the latest updates on issues and information events in your area:

Past outreach events

21 October 2019
20 March 2019
8 November 2018
22 February 2018
27 September 2018


UK fisheries agreement signed with the Faroe Islands

UK and Faroese governments have signed an agreement to ensure UK fishermen can continue to access and catch fish in Faroese waters after the UK leaves the EU on 31 October.

Currently the UK fleet fishes in Faroese waters under the EU-Faroe Islands fisheries agreement. When the UK leaves the EU and becomes an independent coastal state this current agreement will cease, however the new agreement, signed yesterday (15 October), ensures that the existing arrangements between the two countries remain in place until the end of 2019.

The UK is committed to continuing to work together the Faroe Islands, providing certainty for respective industries and managing shared fish stocks sustainably.

These arrangement will:

  • honour the existing access arrangements agreed, in as far as they concern the UK and the Faroe Islands
  • ensure that appropriate licencing, control and enforcement provisions are in place, following the model agreed by the EU and Faroe Islands, to enable fishing opportunities to continue to be enjoyed by both the UK and Faroe Islands for the remainder of 2019
  • honour the existing quota exchanges for 2019, and existing access arrangements between the UK and the Faroe Islands

This complements a separate agreement signed on the 30 September 2019 between the UK government and Norway to ensure similar continuity arrangements.

In further preparation for exit day, a new licensing authority – the Single Issuing Authority (SIA) – has also been set up jointly by the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland administrations. This will ensure fishermen have the correct licences to fish legally after leaving the EU.

The SIA is calling on vessels owners in the over 12 meter fleet to ensure their vessel has an IMO number, which will be needed to fish outside UK waters when we leave the EU.

Owners of vessels are urged to register now for an IMO number from the International Maritime Organisation to enable the timely processing of the subsequent licensing documentation.



UK and Indonesia announce new Joint Trade Review

The UK and Indonesia have today (Wednesday 16 October) agreed to begin a round of exploratory trade talks.

Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Natalie Black, has today signed the terms of reference that will see both countries hold a Joint Trade Review.

Indonesia’s Director General of International Trade Negotiation, Mr. Iman Pambagyo, signed the terms of reference alongside Ms Black in Tangerang.

UK and Indonesian trade officials will meet in London in December to begin the review.

Trade reviews allow countries to explore opportunities to increase trade and investment in each other’s countries. They help to identify priority sectors to advance our trading relationship, as well as how trade barriers can be lowered or eliminated.

The UK has already held trade reviews with India and Brazil, and a trade review with China is ongoing.

Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, a member of the G20 and the largest economy in South East Asia. It is also the fourth most populous country in the world and is predicted to be one of the top five economies globally by 2050.

The UK’s total trade with Indonesia was worth £2.7 billion in the twelve months to March 2019.

Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Asia Pacific, Natalie Black said:

I am delighted to launch the Joint Trade Review with Indonesia today with the aim of identifying tangible opportunities to strengthen our bilateral trade and investment in the future. Indonesia is a key partner for the UK and we look forward to deepening our collaboration across a range of sectors, from financial services and technology to renewable energy and infrastructure.