News story: Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport reappoints Theatres Trust Trustees

Ruth Eastwood

Currently CEO of the Grade II* Listed Matcham Grand Theatre in Blackpool, Ruth has worked in touring, presenting and producing theatres from Hull Truck to the Royal National Theatre. She has also worked as a freelance arts management and organisational development specialist. From 2006-09 she was Chief Executive of Leicester Theatre Trust and from 1997-2006 of Poole Arts Trust where she also managed large scale capital developments. Ruth Eastwood became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 7 February 2011. She has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 6 February 2020.

Dara Ó Briain

Dara is a comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting television shows such as Mock the Week, Dara Ó Briain: School of Hard Sums and The Apprentice: You’re Fired! Dara began his career by performing in comedy clubs in Ireland; he now tours both nationally and internationally. When not on tour, he works regularly as an after-dinner Speaker and awards host, having presented the Bafta Telly awards, the Bafta Video Game awards and the Empire Movie awards, amongst many others. Dara has also written a book; Tickling the English published in 2009 and has now written for most of the national papers in the UK and Ireland, including a year as sports columnist for the Guardian. Dara Ó Briain became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 1 April 2014. He has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 31 March 2020.

Peter Roberts

Peter has spent the last 55 years working in the theatre industry, he recently was the technical director and head of theatre development at Cameron Mackintosh. Peter is now a freelance theatre consultant. Peter has not only worked in theatres all over Great Britain but he has also worked on theatres internationally including, USA, Canada, Thailand, Australia, France and Germany. Peter is currently a Governor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has been a member of the Society of London Theatres for 34 years. He is also a member of the Steering Group of The British Entertainment Industry Radio Group which negotiates with Ofcom on Radio Spectrum allocation for live performances. Peter Roberts became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 1 April 2014. He has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 31 March 2020.

Ann Skippers

Ann Skippers is a chartered town planner with over twenty-five years’ experience in planning in a career which has spanned the public, private and academic sectors. Having begun her career in local government, Ann runs and is Director of Ann Skippers Planning, a consultancy which specialises in neighbourhood planning and providing training and support to a range of clients on planning matters. Ann was President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in 2010 and has been actively involved with the RTPI throughout her career holding a number of positions, but is currently a member of General Assembly. She was the Vice President (Europe) of the Commonwealth Association of Planners from 2010-2012 and Vice Chair of the Construction Industry Council from 2011-2014. In 2014 Ann was appointed to the Board of the Built Environment Professional Education Project. Ann has also been a non-salaried Planning Inspector since 2004. She is currently a Visiting Professor in the Bartlett School of Planning at University College London. Ann Skippers became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 1 April 2014. She has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 31 March 2020.

Anna Stapleton

Anna Stapleton is a Freelance Arts Professional, with over forty years’ experience of working in the arts. Previous posts include Administrative Director at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow; Drama & Dance Director at the Scottish Arts Council; Drama Director at the Arts Council of England and work with a range of producing theatres including the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; the Liverpool Everyman Theatre; Perth Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Anna Stapleton is currently is a Trustee of Horsecross Arts Ltd. and became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 12 May 2014. She has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 11 May 2020.

Trustees for the Theatres Trust are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. It is a requirement of the Code that political activity by those appointed is declared. Ruth Eastwood, Dara Ó Briain, Peter Roberts, Ann Skippers and Anna Stapleton have all declared that they have not carried out any political activity.




News story: Oscar success: UK cutting-edge music technology in the mix

La La Land – awarded Best Original Music Score – features a next-generation synthesizer, developed by ROLI with support from Innovate UK.

The Dalston-based music company’s innovative Seaboard GRAND has gained widespread attention with La La Land, dominating the film and television awards season for its soundtrack.

ROLI has revolutionised the piano keyboard by replacing white and black keys with a continuous, touch-responsive surface. Its ’keywaves’ are sensitive to initial strike force, pressure and left–right finger placement.

The instrument is used in a seminal scene with Ryan Gosling’s character, Sebastian, joining a band fronted by musician John Legend. It marks the upturn of his career as the jazz purist comes to accept that the music he loves needs to evolve to gain a broader audience and survive.

As well as the Oscar, the film won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score and British Academy Film Award for Best Film Music.

Innovate UK has a long history with ROLI. We first supported the company on research and development for the technology that underpins the Seaboard. ROLI has also received grants from Innovate UK for further projects, including proof of concepts and prototyping. We continue to work with the team today.




News story: Spotlight on the Accelerator Enduring Challenge

The Defence and Security Accelerator recently launched the Enduring Challenge.

At the event Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister for Defence Procurement launched the Innovation Initiative’s £6 million Accelerator Enduring Challenge and invited suppliers with innovative ideas to apply to our fast-track route to research funding.

Harriett Baldwin interview

Accelerator advantage

Innovation Partner, Jim Pennycook, explained how the MOD’s new Defence and Security Accelerator selects the best ideas and supports and nurtures them through to exploitation.

Our aim is to help suppliers translate their research into products which we can ultimately use to keep the UK and its Armed Forces safe and secure.

Jim Pennycook interview

Defence and Security application

We asked our military advisers what they hope the Accelerator will bring to front line services and what they want the suppliers to keep in mind when developing their new product or service.

(Military Advisers interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv3pntJ6gVE

Find out more about the Enduring Challenge.




News story: Animal medicines seizure: Johnston Agro Supplies

Johnston Agro Supplies, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The following products were seized as they are not authorised in the UK:

  • 3 packs Albex 10% (1litre)

  • 2 packs Albex 10% (2.5 litres)

  • 1 pack Albex 10% (5 litre) batch

  • 2 packs Triclaben 10% (2.5 litre)

  • 194 Endogard Plus tablets for dogs (batch)

This is an offence under Regulation 27 (Supply of an unauthorised veterinary medicinal product) of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.




News story: 2017 Clinical Excellence Awards round opens

The latest round of National Clinical Excellence Awards opened on Tuesday 28 February 2017 and will close at 5:00pm Tuesday 25 April 2017.

Applicants need to submit the completed online application form to ACCEA by the deadline. To do this, once the application is complete, click ‘submit to ACCEA’. Failure to do this means that the application will not be accepted for the 2017 national awards round. Please make sure that your contact details are up-to-date.

Clinical Excellence Awards recognise and reward NHS consultants and academic GPs who perform ‘over and above’ the standard expected of their role. They award quality and excellence, acknowledging personal contributions. The number of new national awards in the 2017 round will remain at 300 for England.

All applications, new or renewal, must be made on the online system. The Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) has published guidance for applicants, assessors, nominators and employers.

You will need to put in a renewal application if:

  • you received your current award in the 2013 round
  • your award was last renewed in 2012 (awarded in 2008, 2003, 1998)

In some cases, consultants will be renewing out of the usual cycle. Awards are reviewed earlier if there is a change in job, or a significant change in job plan.