Global Ambassador for Human Rights French’s travel to Guatemala

World news story

Britain’s Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French will travel to Guatemala 17-18 November 2022.

Rita French visit to Guatemala

Her trip underscores the UK’s strategic commitment to fighting corruption and advancing human rights as foundational components of British foreign policy, including advocating for media freedom and judicial independence.

While in Guatemala City, Ambassador French will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss shared international human rights concerns, such as the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, and threats to freedoms in other parts of the world, including Latin America.

Additionally, the Human Rights Ambassador will discuss Guatemala’s own circumstances with the newly appointed Ombudsman, the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights, Congressional representatives, and broader civil society groups. At these meetings, Ambassador French will reinforce the UK commitment to supporting organisations that defend human rights, lobbying host governments and debating rules in international fora.

Some of the critical UK priorities include tackling discrimination especially against women and LGBTQI+ persons; enshrine freedom of religion and speech, and continue defending democracy. Finally, Ambassador French will stress the need for businesses to continue embracing human rights as a pathway to increase prosperity and wellbeing for the Guatemalan people.

Published 15 November 2022




Portishead Branch Line – MetroWest Phase 1 development consent decision announced

The application was to rebuild the disused branch line between Portishead and Pill and reintroduce passenger train services to Bristol and beyond.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by North Somerset Council on 15 November 2019 and accepted for Examination on 12 December 2019.

Following the Examination during which the public, Statutory Consultees and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 19 July 2021.

This is the 118th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and 45th transport application to have been examined by The Planning Inspectorate within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.

The Planning Inspectorate’s interim Chief Executive, Navees Rahman said:

“The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities, the local authority and other interested parties have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them.

“The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the Examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.”

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning

Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email:

Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

The Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months.




Sheffield deli boss sentenced for running business while banned

Philip John Mottram, 55, from Sheffield, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court on 10 November 2022 where he was sentenced before District Judge Redhouse to a 12-month Community Order requiring 80 hours of unpaid work in the community and up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He also had to pay costs of £2,000 and Victim Surcharge of £60.

The court heard that Mottram was the sole director of Urbandeli Ltd, which traded as a café called Urban Deli on Campo Lane in Sheffield, until the business went into liquidation in March 2017.

But liquidators discovered that Mottram had been banned as a director for a year in April 2016, after a case had been brought against him by Companies House for failing to provide a copy of the company accounts.

Disqualified directors are banned from forming, managing or promoting companies for the duration of their ban. People who breach the terms of the disqualification are committing a criminal offence and could be fined and/or go to prison for up to 2 years.

Mottram also ignored requests by Urbandeli’s liquidators to hand over company books and records – a legal requirement during a company’s liquidation.

The liquidators shared their findings with the Insolvency Service, which triggered an investigation. But Mottram failed to answer investigators’ questions about his role in the company while he was banned as a director.

Following the investigation Mottram was charged with four separate offences, but twice failed to turn up to court hearings, which led to his arrest.

He previously pleaded guilty at Sheffield Magistrates Court to failing to hand over company books to liquidators, and to being in charge of a company during his one-year ban as a director.

Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Philip Mottram had scant regard for his disqualification as a company director, didn’t cooperate with investigators and showed little respect for the courts.

This type of criminality has a huge impact on the confidence of the UK Business community. Mottram’s sentencing will be a warning to others that the Insolvency Service is committed to bringing lawbreakers to justice.

Philip John Mottram is from Sheffield and his date of birth is September 1967

Urbandeli Ltd (Company Reg no 07646148)

The sentence result was announced at Sheffield Magistrates Court by District Judge Redhouse

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

Information about investigations into insolvent companies

Information about criminal investigation

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:




Kenya: call for bids for provision of borehole maintenance services

World news story

The British High Commission Nairobi is inviting bids for the provision of borehole maintenance services.

The British High Commission (BHC) in Nairobi are seeking maintenance services rendered to the three (3) boreholes located on the High Commission’s premises, preventative and reactive maintenance services, including emergency call-out 24/7 support facility for each structure. We are seeking a suitably, qualified supplier that have the relevant professional skills, experience, mechanical equipment, technical resources and financial competence to provide comprehensive borehole maintenance service on an annual basis.

We invite competent and financially secure Suppliers to access tender documents through FCDO’s e-procurement portal Bravo Solution by navigating to the tender notice: “Provision of Borehole Maintenance Services for the British High Commission Nairobi CPG/8920/2022. ITT 5338 Project 8920.”

The Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents should be duly completed and uploaded onto https://fco.bravosolution.co.uk.

Deadlines

The tender documents should be completed and uploaded on the Bravo Solution by 17:00hrs (Kenyan Time) on 23 November 2022.

A site visit of the premises will be organised on 17 November 2022 at 09.00hrs.

Security Clearance requirements.

All visitors for the site visit will need to email Nairobiprocurement@fcdo.gov.uk no later than 14:00 on Wednesday 16 November 2022 with the following details:

  • Name of person attending the site visit (max of 2 people per company)
  • ID number of person attending
  • Vehicle registration detail

Please read the tender instructions carefully as failure to comply may invalidate your tender. If there are any questions about the tendering procedure or the information provided, please use the Bravo messaging function. Kindly note that all queries should be written in English language. The BHC reserves the right not to select any service provider and will only reply to the best-suited organisation.

The BHC will not cover any expenses incurred from preparation of your ITT documents and site visit to premises.

Published 15 November 2022




Revealed – Sellafield’s incredible contribution to jobs and economic growth in the north-west and UK

Sellafield supports 58,643 jobs, making it one of the most important drivers of jobs, skills, and business growth in the UK.

The figure, which combines those directly employed and people employed in the supply chain, was revealed in the Sellafield Jobs Map, launched this week at an event hosted by the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA).

Originally the birthplace of the nuclear industry, Sellafield is now dedicated to decommissioning and waste management.

This internationally important work supports 10,843 jobs at operator Sellafield Ltd, 80% of whom live in Cumbria. A further 5,000 are on the books of its immediate suppliers. And a total 42,800 are employed in the wider supply chain.

Sellafield Ltd plays a crucial role in the development of critical skills for the UK with a total of 1,213 people in training with the company.

That includes:

  • 973 apprentices
  • 199 graduates
  • 41 industrial placements

The company runs 16 apprenticeship schemes alone: 7 for GCSE apprentices and 9 for degree apprentices. A programme of schools and community outreach ensures hundreds of young people are recruited from local communities every year.

There are a wide range of additional career pathways available with the company actively recruiting for key roles including:

  • IT system architects
  • cyber security analysts
  • engineers
  • design engineers
  • project managers

Sellafield Ltd’s contribution to jobs, skills, and growth is underpinned by a social impact strategy – social impact, multiplied – which sees the business invest approximately £10 million a year in its local communities to achieve long-term, sustainable socio-economic outcomes.

The Sellafield Jobs Map was launched via a special webinar hosted by NIA chief executive, Tom Greatrex.

Guest speakers included: Jo Lappin, chief executive of Cumbria’s Local Enterprise Partnership, Anand Puthran, chief executive officer of Cumbria-based SME McMenon Engineering and Charlotte Chan, a Sellafield Ltd apprentice.

Gaenor Prest, Sellafield Ltd’s chief people officer, said:

We’re immensely proud of the contribution we make to jobs, skills, and business growth.

The Sellafield Jobs Map clearly demonstrates the value we create for our communities, our industry, and for the north-west and UK economies.

Sellafield is a great place to work. The diversity of jobs our work supports is incredible. You can have a challenging and rewarding career across a huge range of disciplines and our people are recognised around the world for their expertise.