Huge investments on British shores, new factories being built, new jobs created, world-leading innovation, global contract wins and export successes are being announced on a daily basis.
Of course most of the doom and gloom mainstream media may not be interested in featuring any positive British news stories, but we certainly are.
Here are our 20 best read and most shared positive news stories from this week (27th February – 5th March 2023):
20. Three stretches of water off English coast to get strictest possible environmental protections for wildlife
Marine habitats and wildlife are set to receive the highest levels of protection as the Environment Secretary this week announces the Government will designate the first three Highly Protected Marine Areas in English waters. Delivering on the commitments set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan, Highly Protected Marine Areas will enable nature to fully recover by removing all harmful activities including fishing, construction and dredging, increasing marine biodiversity… click here
19. Thousands of patients to benefit from quicker diagnosis and more accurate tests from ground-breaking AI research
Tens of thousands of patients across the country could benefit from quicker, earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments for a range of conditions – as the government invests nearly £16 million into pioneering artificial intelligence research (AI). Nine companies have been awarded funding through the third round of the AI in Health and Care Awards, which is accelerating the testing and deployment of the most promising AI technologies… click here
18. UK companies to provide services for future Moon missions
The UK Space Agency has announced over £50 million for UK companies to develop communication and navigation services for missions to the Moon. The new funding is part of the European Space Agency’s Moonlight programme, which aims to launch a constellation of satellites into orbit around the Moon, from 2028. This will allow future astronauts, rovers, science experiments and other equipment to communicate, share large amounts of data including high-definition video, and navigate safely across the lunar surface… click here
17. Ambitious new plans announced for stepping up Britain’s fight against fraud
Ambitious new plans for stepping up the government’s fight against fraud have been unveiled this week. The Counter Fraud Profession Strategy outlines how the new Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) will increase the skills, standards and capability of staff within government and beyond working on protecting public services from fraud. As well as investing in counter fraud investigation skills, the cornerstone of the profession, the new strategy increases the focus on skills in fraud prevention and identification… click here
16. UK’s world leading scheme stops thousands of people from getting type 2 diabetes
The NHS has stopped thousands of people from getting type 2 diabetes, thanks to the world leading NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, new research shows this week. Analysis by University of Manchester researchers shows the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was one fifth lower in people with raised blood sugars referred to the programme, compared to people not receiving NHS support. The programme has been offered to adults in England who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes… click here
15. Great British action plan to protect our biodiversity, ecosystems and economy from non-native species
A new action plan to protect Great Britain’s biodiversity, ecosystems and economy from the growing risks posed by invasive non-native species will be unveiled by Defra this week, in partnership with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. Non-native species are one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss globally with new figures showing an estimated cost to the British economy of £1.84 billion per year. There are currently around 2000 non-native species in Britain with 10-12 new species establishing themselves every year… click here
14. Jaguar Land Rover announces record 300 degree apprenticeships on offer this year in the UK
Opening up opportunities to gain a degree in a world class automotive business and develop the next generation of modern luxury vehicles, without accruing large debts, the UK-based modern luxury car manufacturer has opened up 300 places on its 2023 apprenticeship scheme. The company has also announced 150 of those will be degree apprenticeships – a 70% increase on last year – to deepen its talent pool with digital, autonomous and electrified skills… click here
13. £15 million funding boost to strengthen UK’s supply of critical minerals
A £15 million Innovate UK research and development programme will focus on creating a resilient supply chain of rare earth elements. Tonnes of rare earth elements – essential for technology such as electric vehicles, wind turbines and smart phones – could be recycled in future thanks to £15 million of government funding for cutting edge research to strengthen supply of critical materials. Rare earth elements are a family of critical minerals used in products ranging from electric vehicle motors to washing machines. They are vital to the economy, as they are used to create vital components in products ranging from laptops to aircraft… click here
12. Top British brands embark on first UK fashion and beauty sales mission to India
Top UK brands have travelled this week to India on a mission to capitalise on its rapidly growing demand for high-end fashion and beauty products. A delegation including British success stories such as Lush and luxury knitwear brand John Smedley have travelled to India Fashion Forum 2023, the nation’s leading international trade fair, in Bengaluru. The trade mission is the first of its kind and has been organised by the Department for Business and Trade to help British brands showcase their expertise in luxury, heritage and innovation to potential buyers… click here
11. 900,000 more households to benefit from £400 of government energy bill support
900,000 more households across England, Scotland and Wales will benefit from the government’s £400 help with energy bills, as an online application portal opens this week. Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes and care homes, can now apply via a secure online portal to receive the support as a one-off, non-repayable lump sum under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme… click here
10. Legal age of marriage in England and Wales rises to 18
Vulnerable children across England and Wales will be better protected from the damaging impact of forced marriage as the legal age of marriage rises to 18 in England and Wales. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which gained Royal Assent in April last year, has come into force this week. It means that 16 and 17 year olds will no longer be allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership, even if they have parental consent. It is now illegal and a criminal offence to exploit vulnerable children by arranging for them to marry, under any circumstances whether or not force is used… click here
9. Foreign Secretary in India forging stronger economic and tech ties in Indo-Pacific
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is visiting India to mark a new scheme allowing young Brits and Indians to live and work in each other’s countries for up to two years, which was announced by the Home Secretary earlier this week. The Foreign Secretary met his counterpart, External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. They discussed progress on the UK-India 2030 Roadmap, which aims to bolster the two countries’ ties in defence and security, trade and investment… click here
8. MADE IN UK: £25 million to boost rollout of greener, cleaner buses across Britain
People in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampshire will soon be enjoying greener, cleaner journeys as an extra 117 buses are to be rolled out thanks to £25.3 million from government. The latest investment announced this week will support British manufacturing around the country. The new buses will be manufactured in Northern Ireland by Wrightbus and operated by FirstBus, supporting hundreds of new high-skilled jobs to encourage growth and help level up the economy… click here
7. State-of-the-art £35 million facility being constructed for Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe
Ground-breaking ceremony is latest milestone in Bentley’s £2.5 billion, ten-year investment programme to support its Beyond100 strategy. Representing an investment of £35 million, facility is integral to the brand’s preparations for future Battery-Powered Electric Vehicle production. Bentley Motors has taken the next step on its journey to become the world’s most sustainable luxury automotive manufacturer with a ground-breaking ceremony for its new Launch Quality Centre and Engineering Technical Centre… click here
6. Welsh Guards celebrate St David’s Day with their new Prince and Princess of Wales
The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards celebrated St David’s Day in Windsor this week, with the first visit of their new Royal Colonel, Prince William, Prince of Wales and his wife, The Princess of Wales. St David’s Day traditionally marks the start of Spring and this year for the Guards it is a marker of their change of role from operational to ceremonial duties. The Battalion has spent the last two years fully committed to their combat infantry role across the world. Now begins a countdown to demonstrating their ceremonial excellence in front of a global audience… click here
5. UK and US Energy Secretaries meet as Shapps pledges greater energy independence for the UK
Meeting in London for the first time, the heads of the UK and US energy departments kick-start new avenues for international collaboration. The UK and US stand united in delivering a cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy future, Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said this week. For the UK, Grant Shapps pledged this would mean ever greater energy independence – powering Britain from Britain by switching to home-grown sources including nuclear and renewables… click here
4. Eurofighter Typhoon programme progresses
Typhoon fighter jets to be fitted with the world’s most advanced radar – as part of a £2.35 billion investment and the programme continues to support more than 20,000 jobs throughout the UK. Defence Ministers from participating nations have met this week to discuss the pan-Europe Eurofighter Typhoon programme. From the UK, the Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk KC, joined the cohort in Milan to discuss on-going cooperation on the programme – a joint venture between UK, Germany, Spain and Italy, under the governance of NATO. They discussed existing Eurofighter export campaigns and ongoing investment in the aircraft to further increase its military capability in the coming years… click here
3. Essar invests billions in Britain to drive creation of leading energy transition hub in North West England
Essar Group has announced the formation of Essar Energy Transition (“EET”) to drive the creation of the UK’s leading energy transition hub in North West England. EET plans to invest a total of US$3.6 billion in developing a range of low carbon energy transition projects over the next five years, of which US$2.4 billion will be invested across its site at Stanlow, between Liverpool and Manchester… click here
2. Transgender women with male genitalia no longer to be held in mainstream women’s prisons
Transgender women with male genitalia will no longer be able to be held in mainstream women’s prisons, under new measures coming into force this week. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has also announced measures will go one step further than previously set out – by extending the rules to cover transgender women who have been convicted of violent offences. The new guidance will apply regardless of whether transgender prisoners have a Gender Recognition Certificate… click here
1. UK’s economic outlook is brightening after healthy improvement in manufacturing PMI say analysts
Latest figures show last month’s UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 49.3, driven by stronger demand and reduced supply chain disruptions. February’s increase was from a low base, but it adds to evidence that the economic outlook is brightening say analysts at Ernst & Young (EY). The sunny outlook from EY’s economic advisors also expect UK inflation to rapidly fall later this year… click here
For last week’s Top 20 Great British news stories (20th – 26th February 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
If you enjoy our positive news service please consider donating to our journalism fund so we can grow our editorial team, protect conservative journalism and keep spreading the best of British news.
The secure link to donate through Stripe is here. Thank you.
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter
To donate to the Conservative Post and support positive journalism please click here.
Main photo: Photographer Flt Lt Andy Donovan – UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022
The Conservative Post believes Sue Gray’s appointment and her legal advising barrister who showed either direct bias against the PM or apparent bias against him, means the Sue Gray report cannot now stand as an official document going forward.
