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News story: £220 million to help motorists beat congestion

Traffic hotspots across England have been identified by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to receive millions of pounds for junction upgrades, roundabout improvements and better traffic signalling.

The schemes, worth about £110 million, will cut congestion and journey times for motorists and improve safety. They will be completed by spring 2020.

This includes 2 larger projects, worth £30 million, which will create an unbroken stretch of dual carriageway on the A69 between Hexham and Newcastle. A further £14 million will go towards creating a new junction on the M11 to provide another route into Harlow, cutting journey times as well as unlocking housing developments.

A further £110 million will be invested on improving more roads, with details revealed at a later date.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

We are making the most extensive improvements to roads in the last 40 years, investing a record £23 billion to keep our country moving and make journeys faster, better and more reliable for everyone.

We are also spending a further £1.3 billion over the course of this parliament to relieve congestion and provide important upgrades to ensure our roads are fit for the future.

These schemes announced today will provide quick relief to millions of drivers and save them from getting stuck in traffic.

Nick Harris, Highways England Operations Director, said:

This continued investment in our motorways and major roads is bringing real benefits to communities up and down the country, and we will continue working with our partners to improve journeys for everyone who uses our roads.

The funding is broken down as follows:

£90 million for the North

In the North West, Highways England has identified 4 schemes, worth £6.4 million, to tackle congestion – 2 to improve the A595/A66 junctions at Great Clifton and the Fitz Roundabout, as well as the A585 at Norcross and junction 3 of the M55. These projects will all start by winter 2018 and be completed by spring 2019. A further £21 million has been set aside to improve roads in the North West.

North West Estimated cost £millions
A595 / A66 Fitz Roundabout (Low Rd) 1
A595 / A66 Great Clifton Widening 1.6
A585 Norcross Capacity Improvement 3
M55 Junction 3 Signals 0.8
Future small schemes 21
North West total 27.4

Yorkshire and the North East will benefit from the £30 million A69 upgrades as well as £14.8 million invested in enhancing 7 congested junctions as well as a further £18.2 million on other areas to be identified shortly. Improving the A63 Garrison Road in Hull will save more than half a million hours of delays in the first year alone.

Yorkshire and North East Estimated cost £millions
A69/A68 Junction Improvements near Corbridge 15
A69/A6079 Junction Improvements near Hexham 15
A63 Garrison Road Signals and Road Improvement 6.35
M18 Junction 3 Improvements 0.25
M62 Junction 27 Widening 2.65
M62 Junction 28 Widening 2.25
A66/B6280 Morton Palms Widening 0.5
A19/ A179 Sheraton Signals 0.8
M1 Junction 36 Slip Road Improvement 2
Future small schemes 18.2
Yorkshire and North East total 63

£23 million for the Midlands

Four schemes, worth £9.9 million, will cut congestion in the Midlands, reducing queues at Old Stratford and Ogley Hay on the A5, junction 3 of the M42 and junction 27 on the M1. Details of schemes benefitting from an additional £14 million will be announced in due course.

Midlands Estimated cost £millions
A5 Old Stratford Widening 3.3
M1 Junction 27 Capacity Improvements 0.9
A5/A5195 Ogley Hay Traffic Signals 1.5
M42 Junction 3 Improvement 4.2
Future small schemes 14
Midlands total 23.9

£53 million for the South East

The South East will benefit from £11.6 million on four projects and £41.6 million for future schemes.

South East Estimated cost £millions
M27 Junction 7 Improvements 2.5
A3 Northbound Off Slip at University Interchange (Guildford) 1.6
A3 Stoke Interchange Southbound Off Slip Improvements (Guildford) 2.5
A20 Port of Dover Technology Improvements 5
Future small schemes 41.6
South East total 53.2

£32 million for the South West

M5 in the South West will see almost £20 million of improvements to ensure better journeys for motorists. About £12 million will be allocated shortly.

South West Estimated cost £millions
M5 Junction 19 Improvements 2.8
M5 Junction 17 – 18 Driver Information and Queue Protection Scheme 4.3
M5 Junction 24 – 25 Driver Information and Queue Protection Scheme 7.1
M5 Junction 23 – 24 Driver Information and Queue Protection Scheme 5.5
Future small schemes 12.4
South West total 32.1

£16 million for the East

On top of the £14 million investment in the M11 junction 7a scheme at Harlow, the East will benefit from £2.8 million of investment to ease congestion.

East Estimated cost £millions
M11 Junction 7a, Harlow, Essex 14
A11 Fiveways Roundabout, Barton Mills Signalisation 0.4
Future small schemes 2.4
East total 16.8

Map of schemes

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Press release: Huge response to join cyber security apprenticeship scheme

  • Successful recruits will be placed in jobs in energy, water and transport companies
  • Programme is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and part of the Government’s National Cyber Security Programme

Almost 1,250 people applied for 23 apprentice roles as part of a bold new pilot scheme to help protect the nation’s critical national infrastructure from cyber threats and attacks.

The apprenticeships in Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) scheme aims to help develop tomorrow’s online security professionals and tackle the risk of a future skills shortage.

The successful recruits will be employed in energy, water and transport companies which cyber criminals could target. Thirteen firms including Northern Powergrid and Network Rail are taking part in the initiative.

The scheme will see the apprentices receive around 60 days of specialist classroom and lab training alongside their on-the-job education where there will work with existing cyber security professionals. This will help them develop skills to become cyber security professionals in under two years.

Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said:

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, our cyber security apprenticeships in Critical National Infrastructure scheme will take those with the right aptitude and thirst for new technology and place them in essential industries with tough on-the-job training.

This is an important part of our National Cyber Security Programme and recent Digital Strategy to prepare Britain for the challenges it faces now and in the future.

It’s fantastic to see such a huge response to this scheme and I’m sure all the apprentices will help make these workplaces more productive, bring in fresh ideas and contribute from day one.

Training will include a three-day capture the flag cyber security workshop as well as topics including ethical hacking, network defence, malware analysis, cryptography, encryption and cyber security operations. This will be delivered by an external provider at sites across the country.

The apprentices will complete the new Cyber Security Technologist higher apprenticeship standard, which has been developed by Government working with industry. The scheme is for those aged 16 and over with a natural flair for problem solving and a passion for technology.

The programme is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and part of the Government’s National Cyber Security Programme.

Cyber security is a fast-paced and fascinating industry with strong job prospects. Recent figures from the Tech Partnership show there are already 58,000 cyber security specialists in a growing sector worth £22bn a year to the economy.

The apprenticeships in Critical National Infrastructure scheme is one of a number of cyber skills initiatives to develop a strong supply of cyber security professionals alongside the Government’s Cyber Schools Programme and Cyber Retraining Academy. The pilot will contribute to the goal of delivering up to 1,000 cyber apprenticeships by 2021.

The figures are released as part of Government’s celebration of National Apprenticeship Week. The week will also see a group of new recruits for the Government’s own Cyber Security Apprenticeship scheme tour the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) tomorrow (March 10) to meet some of the people at the forefront of the fight against cyber attacks.

Protecting the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) from hostile cyber activity by strengthening the nation’s cyber security and resilience is a major operational priority for the Government.

The NCSC was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in February and plays a pivotal part of the Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy that has committed £1.9 billion of investment into transforming the nation’s capabilities in cyber defence, deterrence and development.

Notes to editors

Media enquiries and interview requests – please contact the DCMS News and Communications team on 020 7211 2210.

DCMS is initially working with employers in the energy, water and transport sectors to support the first round of cyber apprentices for critical national infrastructure sectors.

DCMS is keen to hear from employers in the following sectors to support future rounds of cyber apprentices in energy, civil nuclear, water, transport, telecoms, finance and broadcast media.

To apply to join the Government’s own Cyber Security Apprenticeship scheme visit https://civilservicelearning.civilservice.gov.uk/cyber-security-technologist.

Further recruitment rounds in the Apprenticeships in Critical National Infrastructure Sectors scheme will be advertised here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cyber-security-cni-apprenticeships.

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Promoting Cruise in Wales at a Global event

SeaTrade is the cruise industry’s premier global event and is the only event guaranteed to bring together every facet of the business, including cruise lines, suppliers, travel agents and partners. With 700+ Exhibitors from all over the world, SeaTrade Cruise Global draws in visitors to meet new vendors, and source new products, ideas and solutions.

Cruise is big business for Wales and is worth nearly £3 million to the Welsh economy – 2017 will see 89 cruise calls to Wales with 37,000 passengers and 15,000 crew – an increase in calls of 33% year on year.

Previous attendance at the SeaTrade event has secured further business from new cruise lines who wish to visit Wales.

For the 2017 event, Visit Wales will be promoting the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race along with Year of the Sea in 2018. Cardiff has been chosen as the destination for the first Volvo Ocean Race transatlantic leg to the United Kingdom in 12 years when the world’s leading offshore race makes its debut visit to Wales in 2018. This around the world yacht race is held every three years and is widely regarded as one of the most challenging endurance events of its kind.

The cruise ship market is big business for Wales – and Cruise Wales and partners are working hard to grow the market. An increasing number of visitors from Germany are coming to south west Wales through cruise ships docking at Swansea, Milford Haven Port, Pembroke and Fishguard.  Following Tourism Investment Support Scheme funding for the floating pontoon at Fishguard to allow larger vessels to anchor, Fishguard calls have increased from 5 in 2015 to 31 for 2017.

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, said: 

“The cruise market has been highlighted in the tourism strategy for Wales as one way of growing the tourism industry in Wales by 10% by 2020 and Cruise is one of the fastest growing sectors year on year. We are working with many outside stakeholders and are looking at various infrastructure developments for cruise. SeaTrade gives us a great opportunity to keep Wales front of mind with cruise liners, travel agents and partners and to promote Wales as a new product.  The arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race also gives a great platform to talk about what Wales has to offer – but also to promote next year’s Cardiff stopover to an important US audience.”

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Cabinet Secretary confirms £6.5m ‘Circular Economy’ fund

The Circular Economy Capital Investment Fund will help SMEs make the transformation towards a ‘Circular Economy’; an approach that encourages keeping resources in circulation instead of being burned or ending their life in a landfill.

The £6.5m Fund, which will begin in 2019, builds on the highly successful £14m Accelerating Reprocessing Infrastructure Development (ARID) project which helped businesses create 178 new jobs, reduce, reuse or recycle 399,000 tonnes of waste and avoid 79.5 KT carbon emissions.

In a world where resource prices are rising fast, the circular economy model has the potential to provide significant cost benefits for Welsh businesses. Recent studies have found the adoption of a Circular Economy could save the Welsh economy up to £2billion and has the potential to create up to 30,000 jobs.

Wales already leads the way in the UK on recycling rates. The fund announced today will help Wales towards the milestones of 70% recycling by 2025 and 100% recycling by 2050, as set out in the Welsh Government’s waste strategy Towards Zero Waste.

Wales’ commitment to a Circular Economy is further demonstrated by our membership of CESME (Circular Economy for SMEs), an EU project, comprising ten partners from six European countries, that supports knowledge sharing and learning. Wales hosted the first ever CESME meeting last year and has played a full role in subsequent events in Aalborg, Denmark and Bologna, Italy.

During the Bologna meeting it was agreed businesses are developing circular economy solutions when there are incentives to do so. Wales’ £6.5m Circular Economy Capital Investment Fund will demonstrate to Welsh manufacturing companies the many and varied benefits of the Circular Economy model.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“The £6.5m fund I am announcing today underlines our commitment to moving towards a Circular Economy.  This will help businesses save money by becoming more resource efficient and resilient, an approach that will deliver numerous environmental benefits including less waste and reduced CO2 emissions.

“We are proud if Wales were an EU member state, we would be fourth in terms of the amount we recycle. We will continue to advocate the widespread adoption of a Circular Economy among businesses and our European partners as we aim towards the ambitious targets we have set ourselves in Towards Zero Waste.”

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