The Planning Inspectorate has launched a recruitment campaign to take on 20 additional planning inspectors at the most senior levels.

The need to reduce UK carbon emissions has created new industries and opportunities. This is outlined in the 2016 Industrial Strategy Automotive Sector Deal, designed to ensure that the UK benefits from the transition to ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles by continuing to build the innovative and competitive supply chain needed to secure international investment.

£25 million is available through an Innovate UK and Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) competition to support pre-production projects that can enhance the UK’s long-term capabilities and supply chain in zero-emission vehicles.

Developing the zero-emission supply chain

The APC 13 competition is seeking collaborative R&D projects that can support the long-term development and supply chain of zero-emission vehicles.

Eligible projects must either speed up the development of low- and zero-emission vehicles or demonstrate a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. This can involve improving production and competitiveness in design, build and manufacturing across technologies such as:

• alternative propulsion systems
• electric machines and power electronics
• energy storage and management
• lightweight vehicles and powertrain structures
• thermal propulsion systems

Projects that will make a positive impact on the UK supply chain will be prioritised. This can include:

• creating new supply chains in zero-emission vehicles and electrification
• delivering a UK-centric high value manufacturing and sourcing footprint
• lowering the overall cost of goods sold to customers
• attracting new companies not traditionally serving the automotive sector

Competition information

• the competition opens on 13 May 2019 and the deadline for registration is at midday on 10 July 2019
• organisations must be based in the UK and work with at least 1 micro-, small- or medium-sized business
• total eligible costs must be 50% match funded and between £5-40 million
• a briefing event will be held on 14 May 2019

The resting place of Private (Pte) Frederick Foskett was honoured on Thursday 2 May during a rededication service held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Belgium.

The service, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), part of Defence Business Services (DBS), was conducted by the Reverend Stuart Richards CF Chaplain, 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and attended by 8 members of Pte Foskett’s family who travelled to attend the moving ceremony.

Louise Dorr, JCCC said:

It has been a pleasure to organise this rededication service for Pte Frederick Foskett and spend time with his family. Being able to confirm Pte Foskett’s identity has brought closure and it has been rewarding to know that he now has been found and that his family are now able to visit his final resting place.

The Reverend Stuart Richards said:

It has been humbling and moving to see the reaction of Pte Foskett’s family and to share this emotional day with them has been the upmost privilege.

Pte Foskett was buried with full military honours as an unknown soldier in April 2015 alongside his commrades. Despite extensive research and DNA testing at this time no identities were confirmed. This case was revisited last year by the JCCC and additional candidates serving with the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action on 18 October 1914, were identified and their families contacted. A positive DNA result has meant JCCC were able to confirm the identity of Pte Foskett and the rededication ceremony was arranged.

Frederick was born in 1888 in London and was aged 27 when he was killed in action during the first few months of the Great War. Frederick’s Battalion’s Operational Orders confirm they were ordered to attack and hold Le Touquet before advancing towards Gheer in Belgium. Six men are known to have been killed by the concussion of a bursting shell whilst sheltering under the culvert of a level crossing; Frederick was one of these brave men.

The new headstone bearing the name of Pte Frederick Foskett has been provided by the CWGC and bears a personal inscription chosen by his family.

David Avery, CWGC Commemorations Officer said:

The Commission has commemorated Private Foskett by name on the Ploegsteert Memorial since its’ unveiling in 1931. It is very moving to be able to rededicate his grave today, which is now marked with a new headstone bearing his name. The Commission is committed to caring for his grave, and his memory in perpetuity.

Scotland’s myriad landscapes are among the most defining aspects of the country. Access to attractive and accessible countryside can make a significant contribution to peoples’ quality of life and wellbeing, and tourism in the Scottish countryside is worth £420 million per year.

However, landscape damage and other changes can result in the loss of local distinctiveness and wildlife diversity, and erode the quality of nearby towns and cities.

Datasets are useful in informing decisions around land management. £250,000 is available through an Innovate UK Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition for projects that can demonstrate how datasets can be used to support the local environment. Funding for the competition forms part of the GovTech Catalyst for Scottish National Heritage (SNH)

O Caledonia! stern and wild

The competition is looking for projects which will investigate how technology can deliver better targeted information and advice to users – including land owners, developers and local authorities – to support proposals that limit, damage or benefit conservation efforts.

Projects should:

• detail how Scottish National Heritage can use new and current datasets in proposals to limit damage or enhance their environmental impact
• explore how data can be shared in non-digital formats, such as maps
• help users identify organisations involved in the development or approval of proposals where SNH is not the authorising body
• be compatible with other public sector organisations

A 2-phase competition

The competition is made up of 2 phases.

A total of £250,000 including VAT has been allocated to phase 1. Around 5 research and development contracts are expected to be awarded, with projects starting on 1 October 2019 and lasting up to 3 months.

Phase 2 will be subject to outcomes of phase 1 and is expected to award 2 R&D contracts from successful phase 1 applicants. Up to £500,000 including VAT will be allocated to each contract to develop a prototype and conduct field testing. Phase 2 projects can last up to 12 months.

Competition information

• the competition opens on 13 May 2019 and the deadline for registration is at midday on 19 June 2019
• organisations of any size are eligible to apply
• up to £50,000 including VAT is available for each organisation
• a briefing event will be held in Edinburgh on 21 May 2019

It’s estimated that the UK’s immersive industry generates £660 million in sales every year, and that as many as half a million people are employed by companies participating in the immersive economy. Despite this, there is currently a gap in angel and early-seed investment into immersive businesses – a critical point of a new business’s growth.

To help businesses overcome this barrier and boost the UK economy, Innovate UK is working with 11 investor partners to offer simultaneous grant funding and venture capital investment in early-stage projects led by UK companies.

Up to £2 million is available in grant funding, alongside equity investment from the following investor partners:

• Creative England
• GC Angels (GC Business Finance)
• HTC Europe (Vive X)
• London Venture Partners LLP
• Mercia Technologies PLC
• Northstar Ventures Ltd
• Oxford Sciences Innovation PLC
• R/GA
• Station 12
• Techstart Ventures LLP
• Warner Music UK

Helping innovative businesses succeed

This competition aims to support early stage immersive companies by:

• encouraging early-stage private investment in small and medium sized immersive businesses
• removing the need to find match funding
• giving companies direct access to investment partners’ commercial skills, knowledge and market opportunities

Grant funding is provided through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’s audience of the future programme, delivered by UK Research and Innovation. By bringing together creative businesses, researchers and technology experts to adopt, exploit and develop immersive technologies, the challenge is growing the UK’s leading market position in creative content.

Transforming audience experiences

This competition is open to companies engaged in producing immersive content, delivering new immersive products, services or platforms, or developing novel immersive software, hardware or devices.

Projects can focus on one or more of the following:

• enhancing, extending or transforming the immersive audience experience
• new immersive content production tools, software and systems
• VR, AR and other digital technologies to deepen and enrich the immersive experience

Innovate UK will fund up to 70% of projects for micro or small businesses, and up to 60% for medium-sized businesses. The remaining project costs need to come from one of this competition’s investor partners.

Competition information

• the competition will open on 20 May 2019
• the competition will close on 3 July 2019
• up to £2 million including VAT in grant funding is available
• your project’s total eligible costs must be between £150,000 and £300,000
• you must be a UK-based micro, small or medium-sized enterprise working in immersive technology, and carry out your project in the UK
• applicants must commit to co-investment from one of the investor partners