Once again there have been oodles of positive news stories coming in from across the UK this week (20th – 26th September 2021).
The Mini Moke is coming home, investment is flooding onto British shores, British lamb is back on American menus and London has retained the European top spot in the latest Financial Centre Index…
Here are our best read news stories from the last seven days. Good things are happening.
10. Blackstone to invest £850m and create 2,700 jobs in the UK
American company Blackstone, owned by BioMed Realty plans to announce a £850m investment in the UK creating over 2,700 jobs. Whilst in the US, Prime Minister Boris Johnson met representatives from a number of American companies about investing in the UK, including Blackstone. A. Schwarzman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blackstone said: “The UK is one of the best places in the world to do business, and we see meaningful opportunity for long term investment. That includes today’s announcement in the life sciences sector, where we want to help cement the UK’s place as a global leader in life sciences and technology, including vaccine development”… click here
9. Gibraltar gives RAF Freedom of the City and thanks UK for vaccines that ‘will never be forgotten and noted for future generations’
The Mayor of Gibraltar has conferred the Freedom of the City to the Royal Air Force to the Chief of the Air Staff’s representative, Air Vice Marshal Richard Maddison OBE MA RAF, during a military parade in John Mackintosh Square. The Freedom was conferred on the RAF and the parade reflected the breadth of RAF involvement with Gibraltar… click here
8. First UK manufactured rapid tests deployed across England
The first UK-manufactured rapid tests – otherwise known as lateral flow devices or LFDs – are being rolled out to universities across England. As the government continues to back companies and technologies working to help break chains of COVID-19 transmission, these new tests will bolster efforts to detect asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, and support more than 370 jobs in the Midlands. Produced by Derby manufacturer, SureScreen Diagnostics, this LFD generates a result in under 15 minutes and is officially the first British test to be validated in a laboratory by Public Health England (PHE)… click here
7. New ten-year plan to make Britain a global AI superpower
Strategy comes in the week new data shows global investors poured £13.5 billion into more than 1,400 UK private technology firms between January and June this year – more than that achieved in other large tech markets Germany, France and Israel combined. The UK today launches its first National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy to help it strengthen its position as a global science superpower and seize the potential of modern technology to improve people’s lives and solve global challenges such as climate change and public health… click here
6. UK achievements celebrated in new children’s book to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Primary school children across the United Kingdom to receive a free book next year to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The children will receive a book that celebrates the achievements of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth over the last 70 years. The book will be commissioned by the UK Government and designed to celebrate the people and places of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It will teach primary school children about recent and historical events, inspirational people, landmark innovations and inventions, and a selection of our best art, design, and culture… click here
5. Truss puts British lamb back on the menu in the USA
British lamb is back on American menus for the first time in 25 years after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss appealed to the White House to lift the US ban. The US banned British lamb in 1989 over the mad cow disease panic. However, before leaving for the US the new Foreign Secretary vowed to push for the ban to be lifted saying: “I’ll be pushing British interests hard to get this decades-old ban lifted. There’s a huge untapped opportunity with the US market. Scrapping this ban would support vital jobs and growth in our rural communities and allow our friends and allies in the US to have a taste of the world-class lamb our farmers produce”… click here
4. ‘Momentous occasion’ as first steel cut for Royal Navy Type 31 programme in Scotland
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace officially cut steel for the UK’s newest warship, during a ceremony held at Rosyth dockyard. The event marks a significant milestone in the programme for the Royal Navy, Defence and shipbuilding in Scotland, with all five vessels to be built by Babcock on the Firth of the Forth and an average production cost of £250 million per vessel. Deemed the lead programme of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the construction of the fleet will support around 1,250 highly-skilled jobs at Babcock and see the creation of an additional 150 apprenticeships. A further 1,250 roles in the UK supply chain are also expected to be supported by the programme… click here
3. Boris and Macron agree to intensify cooperation on small boats crossing the Channel
The Prime Minister spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron this week, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. They reaffirmed the importance of the UK-France relationship and agreed to continue working closely together around the world on our shared agenda, through NATO and bilaterally. The leaders noted in particular the strategic significance of our long-standing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and in Africa, including through the joint mission in Mali. On the subject of small boat crossings in the Channel, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s position that we need to break the business model of people smugglers who put lives at risk… click here
2. Great British automotive icon MOKE is coming home!
British car brand Moke has announced full production of its models will return to the UK in a big post-Brexit blow for France. Since the marque was revived in 2017, Moke International’s production operations have been based between the Midlands and France, with initial cars engineered in Nuneaton and assembly taking place in Cerizay France. The complete move back to the UK has been made possible by UK government grant funding from the Niche Vehicle Network. Moke said there was “strong demand” for the vehicle… click here
1. London retains European financial crown despite Brexit
London retained the European top spot in the latest Financial Centre Index (GFCI) and came second only to New York in the global rankings. New York came out on top in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, while London held on to second place as Chinese cities slipped according to a report published today (Friday) by the Z/Yen Group. The index, in partnership with think-tank China Development Institute, is being celebrated in London especially after Brexit as Britain forged its own way ahead in financial markets across the world since last December… click here
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