Call to run a project providing research and innovation support in New Anglia

Call to run a project providing research and innovation support in Thames Valley Berkshire

There are 1000 places in total available Japanese nationals in 2019. This has been split into two ballots, one in January and one in July, A total of 800 applicants were selected for the first ballot in January 2019. The second ballot in July 2019 will be opened for the remainder of places. If your application is successful you will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years.

If you would like to apply for the scheme you should send one email (only) to: JapanYMS2019.ballotrequest@fco.gov.uk between Wednesday 10 July 2019, 12:00 pm (Japan time) to Friday 12 July 2019, 12:00 pm (Japan time). The email header or subject line must contain your name, date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY) and passport number as shown in your passport. This must be written in English only. For example: ASATO Yoko – 31/01/1985 – Passport123456789.

In the main text of your email you should include the following and must be written in English:

• Name;
• Date of birth;
• Passport Number;
• Home and mobile phone number.

The email account will be open for 48 hours only and all emails received within this timeframe will be sent an automated reply confirming receipt.

When the email account has closed, the remaining amount of applicants will be chosen at random by UKVI. A second email will be sent to you on Friday 19 July if you have been chosen to apply. This email will confirm acceptance and further instructions on how to make an appointment, along with documentary evidence required to apply for your entry clearance.

Please note successful applicants must prepare on-line applications and on-line credit card payments no later than 30 September 2019. Failure to submit your payment on-line by this date will automatically remove your name from the list and your allocation will be retracted. After you have paid on-line you have 90 days to submit your paperwork for consideration.

If you are living overseas you can also apply following the instructions above, and if you are chosen to apply you will be able to do so in your country of residence. Applications cannot be submitted for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 in the UK. An email will be sent to unsuccessful customers on Monday 22 July to inform them they have not been chosen and that no further action is required.

New technologies are set to help UK farmers cut down on pollution, minimise waste and produce more food.

New technologies are set to help UK farmers cut down on pollution, minimise waste and produce more food thanks to a £22 million government investment.

Science Minister Chris Skidmore today (28 June 2019) announced the first 31 projects to benefit from the government’s dedicated Transforming Food Production Challenge, a £90 million Industrial Strategy fund to help businesses, researchers and industry to transform farming and meet the needs of a growing population.

This investment in the latest technological developments is a key part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, and commitment to boost R&D spending to 2.4% of GDP by 2027.

It will also contribute towards providing greener, cleaner processes for the agricultural sector, helping towards the government’s commitment to a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Projects will benefit from a share of £22.4 million to develop their innovative projects, with industry partners contributing a further £8.8 million. They include:

• Rootwave, in Warwickshire, who will use a £690,000 grant to use electricity instead of chemicals to kill weeds via the roots avoiding damage to crops
• Tuberscan, in Lincolnshire, who will use £391,000 to develop ground penetrating radar, underground scans and AI to monitor potato crops and identify when they are ready to harvest. This technology could increase the usable crop by an estimated 5%-10% and reduce food waste with minimal extra cost
• a project in Middlesex, who will use a £233,000 grant in its project to help cows graze without farmer supervision by placing sensors on farm gates that communicate with GPS trackers on cows to open and close gates allowing cattle to graze freely
• aiScope, a project based in Sheffield, who will use a £1 million grant to apply AI and analysis to tackle the common cereal weed, Blackgrass, potentially saving farmers £580 million a year.

Science Minister Chris Skidmore said:

The UK is a global leader in technological innovation, as well as being the first major economy to introduce plans for a legally binding target to reach net zero emissions and end the UK’s contribution to global warming entirely by 2050.

The projects announced today will ensure we lead the way in supporting our vital farming industry, delivering high quality food for consumers while reducing the wider environmental impact.

This is a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy, investing in ground-breaking projects, creating highly skilled jobs and providing a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.

Farming Minister Robert Goodwill said:

Agri-tech can help us address the biggest challenges facing the agriculture industry, such as eradicating crop pests and diseases for arable farmers without harming the wider environment.

In 2018 we saw the total value of agri-tech investment worldwide skyrocket to $17 billion – an increase of 40% on the previous year.

Today’s funding will enable more investment in new technology, helping lead to scientific breakthroughs that could transform the sustainability of global food supply chains.

UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport, said:

It is predicted that 60% more food will be needed worldwide by 2050 to feed the increasing global population. To do this we need to produce food in more resilient, sustainable and efficient ways. This means reducing emissions and pollution, minimising waste and improving our soil.

The projects announced today will help to address this challenge, delivering benefits for consumers through innovation in the food economy.

Full list of successful projects: Agri Tech projects (PDF, 141KB, 12 pages)

Transforming Food Production Challenge is part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund which aims to strengthen UK science and business innovation to take on the biggest challenges that society and industry face today.

The Challenge Fund aims to bring together our world-leading research base with Britain’s best businesses to transform how we live, work and travel.

By investing in the very best research, development and innovation, it will tackle the major industrial and societal challenges we face today and put the UK in the best position to take advantage of future market opportunities.

Notes to editors

Full list of successful projects:
Agri Tech projects
(PDF, 141KB, 12 pages)

Transforming Food Production Challenge is part of the Government’s
Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund which aims to strengthen UK science
and business innovation to take on the biggest challenges that society
and industry face today.

The Challenge Fund aims to bring together our world-leading research
base with Britain’s best businesses to transform how we live, work and
travel.

By investing in the very best research, development and innovation,
it will tackle the major industrial and societal challenges we face
today and put the UK in the best position to take advantage of future
market opportunities.

Schools and training experts invited to develop products to support Early Career Framework

The biggest teaching reform in a generation is a step closer to being rolled-out in schools.

The Early Career Framework will revolutionise the support given to new teachers and today (Friday, 28 June) schools and training providers have been invited to help develop the programme.

Education and training organisations have been invited to develop a range of products to support schools in their implementation of the programme, backed by at least £130 million a year in extra funding when fully rolled out in 2021.

The Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, will be at a school in Darlington today, with the North East one of the areas set to benefit from an early roll-out of the Early Career Framework in September 2020, along with Bradford, Doncaster and Greater Manchester.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said:

The early stages of a teacher’s career are an incredibly exciting time – but they can also be very challenging, which is why it’s so important to make sure they are properly supported.

Earlier this year I set out my plans to transform the support available to newly-qualified teachers through the centrepiece of our flagship Teacher Recruitment & Retention Strategy.

Today marks an important milestone on this journey by inviting tenders to create training and support for those starting out their careers in teaching.

Announced in the Department’s Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy earlier this year, the Early Career Framework will provide new teachers with the foundations for a successful career in the profession through a two-year package of structured training and support.

This will include a reduced timetable to allow teachers to make the most of their training, alongside high-quality materials for new teachers and their mentors that underpin each area of the Early Career Framework.

Sir Kevan Collins, Chief Executive of Education Endowment Foundation said:

We know that high-quality teaching is the thing that makes the biggest difference to young people’s educational outcomes. Yet recruiting and retaining teachers – particularly to disadvantaged schools – is challenging. If we don’t get more great teachers to join and, more importantly, stay in the profession over the next few years, it will be the poorest pupils who lose out the most.

We welcome the progress being made towards implementing the Early Career Framework, which represents a vital opportunity to support teachers to access and apply the best available evidence right from the start of their professional life. The Education Endowment Foundation has played a key role in ensuring the framework draws on the best available evidence. By evaluating the roll-out of the programme, we will learn key lessons so that that every new teacher in England gets the support they need and deserve.

Damian Hinds will be in Gateshead and Darlington today, which will benefit from early roll-out of the Early Career Framework, where some schools face real challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers.

The Education Secretary will also meet with employers in Gateshead, to see the wide ranging T-Level and vocational opportunities on offer to young people to help develop their talents, giving them the technical skills they need to be work and employer ready, as part of the department’s focus on the region through the Opportunity North East (ONE) programme.

In a summit of ONE Vision school leaders – whose schools are partnered with high performing institutions and given tailored support to help improve outcomes in their schools – Damian Hinds will discuss how the programme is continuing to raise aspirations for young people in the region and helping them learn the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their potential.

Today’s visit builds on the momentum of the ONE programme, which has pledged up to £24 million in the region, as part of the government’s drive to improve education and boost career prospects in the North of England.

Last month the Department called on North East schools, academy trusts and local authorities to pitch proposals to boost the prospects for young people by drawing on their expertise to improve transition from primary to secondary. The best proposals will be granted up to £1.8 million from the ONE funding.

Schools, academy trusts or local authorities who have submitted an expression of interest have until 19 July 2019 to submit their proposals.