Tag Archives: HM Government

Ofqual has published a guide for employers detailing the way in which we, as the statutory regulator of qualifications, approach the external quality assurance of end-point assessments. Today’s publication adds to a suite of information and guidance that we have previously published in relation to our role.

We have also published a speech and associated slides by Phil Beach, Executive Director for Vocational and Technical Qualifications, from our recent employer engagement event.

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IPO and industry partners have joined together to raise awareness of the risks involved in using illicit streaming devices.

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Just in time for Christmas, the Department for International Trade (DIT) has partnered with marketplace giant Newegg to launch its first B2C advertising campaign, showcasing the best of British tech goods to US consumers.

Newegg, the leading tech-focused e-retailer in North America, garners millions of avid tech enthusiasts and e-commerce shoppers annually. Founded in 2001, the tech-giant has 32 million registered users globally.

On 1 December, in collaboration with Newegg, DIT is launching a pilot campaign which promotes UK tech products on the e-commerce site. The campaign will target US tech consumers to increase their propensity to explore UK goods on the site.

Minister for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Rona Fairhead said:

Online marketplaces are making it much easier for small businesses to sell their goods and services to customers overseas.

At the Department for International Trade, we are committed to supporting businesses by opening doors for exciting British tech innovators to sell their products on new platforms. This partnership with Newegg and other e-retailers forms an important part of our E-Exporting programme.

I’d encourage small businesses to take a look.

DIT’s E-Exporting Programme supports UK businesses by working with overseas marketplaces to deliver online promotions, raising awareness for British exporters selling their products on these platforms. The programme also provides access to the Selling Online Overseas Tool, a free-to-use, online service that allows businesses to click, connect, prepare and sell on global marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Tmall and Newegg. The tool provides access to discounts and benefits, including waived commissions and special marketing packages.

More than 20 British businesses have already registered to participate in DIT’s Newegg campaign, including innovative Hampshire-based company Blue Maestro.

Founded in 2013, Blue Maestro are pioneers in digital health and environment monitoring solutions. Specialising in the development and manufacture of Bluetooth sensor and time-stamping data logger technologies, the company has a range of products from baby monitors, consumer mini weather stations through to iBeacons and tracking devices.

Already exporting to a number of markets across the world, Blue Maestro has their sights firmly fixed on establishing themselves in the US. Joining DIT’s E-Exporting programme, the company have listed 3 of their products on the Newegg site, with the aim of increasing visibility and brand awareness to American consumers.

Kristin Hancock, Co-founder, Blue Maestro said:

Newegg is a platform which has been really easy to be involved with and we’re excited at the prospect of expanding into the US market.

The support from DIT has made the process easy and we’re already seeing more traction as a result of the advertising.

Last year, the company were the recipients of the Peer to Peer award at Innovate UK and were selected by Time magazine as a top 10 innovator at the Consumer Electronics Show 2015.

Another innovative tech company participating in the DIT’s Newegg campaign is London-based drone company Extreme Fliers.

Extreme Fliers specialises in the creation of small, advanced, personal Micro Drones which can be flown by anyone – not just experienced pilots. Their latest product, the Micro Drone 3.0 (that raised $3.5 million with crowdfunding on Indiegogo) includes a live streaming camera, giving the user an eye-in-sky perspective when combined with a virtual reality headset, for an immersive flying experience.

Vernon Kerswell founded the company in 2011 and now has a team of 10 inventors, designers and engineers. In 2016, Extreme Fliers were the recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Innovation. Looking to break into the US market, Extreme Fliers registered with the Department for International Trade’s E-Exporting programme.

Vernon Kerswell, CEO, Extreme Fliers said:

Out of our small design studio in South London, we have built one of the UK’s leading Drone technology companies. By combining the best high tech engineering with global supply chains, we are able to develop products and scale very fast.

With DIT’s E-Exporting programme our products can quickly reach exciting new markets and customers around the world.

Sophia Tsao, Vice President, Global Marketplace Head at Newegg Inc., said:

We very much look forward to promoting innovative UK tech products to our customers as part of the campaign, launching this December.

We have worked very closely with DIT to onboard new UK companies to our platform and ensure they can benefit from this additional marketing opportunity, helping them tap into the US and global markets. We are delighted to partner with the UK government on this initiative.

The Department for International Trade has a network of experienced international trade advisers across the country as well as staff based in UK embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. They are ready to provide you with expert trade advice, market know-how and practical support to grow your business internationally.

If you’d like to apply to list your business on Newegg, or on another one of DIT’s partner sites, visit www.great.gov.uk and find out more about Selling Online Overseas. Arrange a free meeting through your local DIT office to get expert international trade advice and support, or email us at e-exporting@trade.gsi.gov.uk.

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You have to become an ADI to charge for giving driving lessons. The qualifying process involves passing 3 tests:

• ADI part 1 – a theory test
• ADI part 2 – a driving ability test
• ADI part 3 – an instructional ability test

From 23 December 2017, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will change the way that the ADI part 2 test and the ADI part 3 test work.

Better assessment of driving ability

The way that the ADI part 2 test works will change to reflect the changes being made to the car driving test on 4 December 2017.

Trainee instructors will have to demonstrate the skills they’ll be teaching to learner drivers. The changes include:

• driving independently for around 20 minutes (an increase from the current 10 minutes) while following directions from a sat nav or a series of traffic signs
• doing 2 of 4 possible reversing manoeuvres:
  • parallel park at the side of the road
  • reverse into a parking bay and drive out
  • drive into a parking bay and reverse out
  • pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic
• answering 2 vehicle safety questions while driving – for example, showing the examiner how they’d use the car’s cruise control

More realistic assessment of teaching ability

The ADI part 3 test will change to become a much more realistic assessment of a trainee instructor’s ability to teach a pupil.

In the current ADI part 3 test, trainee instructors provide training to a driving examiner role-playing the part of a pupil.

When the test changes, they’ll give a driving lesson to a real pupil while an examiner assesses their ability to tailor the training to that pupil’s learning goals and needs.

The examiner will:

• look for evidence that the trainee instructor meets the national standard for driver and rider training
• mark 17 areas of competence in 3 categories – lesson planning, risk management and teaching and learning skills

The change will bring the ADI part 3 test in line with the ADI standards check, which every ADI has to take at least once every 4 years to stay qualified.

Helping you through a lifetime of safe driving

The improvements to the qualifying tests are part of DVSA’s strategy to help everyone stay safe on Great Britain’s roads.

Jacqui Turland, ADI Registrar, said:

DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving.

To make sure that new drivers get the best possible training, we’re improving how we assess that ADIs have the knowledge, modern driving skills and understanding they need to provide successful tuition.

ADIs play a vital role in improving road safety. These changes mean they’ll be better prepared for the realities of teaching a wide range of pupils to become safe and responsible drivers.

Carly Brookfield, Chair of the National Associations Strategic Partnership of driving instructors, said:

We welcome the implementation of the new part 2 and part 3. Getting the process right for qualifying new driver trainers, and ensuring they have the most relevant skills and knowledge of driving in a modern context, is crucial in delivering the next generation of new drivers, and developing the safety of existing licence holders.

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On this thirtieth World AIDS Day, I am proud to wear the red ribbon in support of everyone living with HIV.

Since the first World AIDS Day in 1988, treatment and care for people with HIV has been transformed.

Men and women who a generation ago would have been lost are today leading happy and productive lives, and making an enormous contribution to our world.

Valued colleagues and neighbours, much-loved children, friends, and partners are a living testament to how far we have come.

And if we can succeed in making testing and treatment available to all, a final end to HIV transmission and the reality of an AIDS free generation is within our grasp.

As we continue our work towards that goal, we must also bring an end to the stigma which still blights the daily lives of many people with HIV.

This stigma leads to social isolation, lowers self-esteem, and damages mental health.

No one should have to face it – and we all have our part to play in stamping it out.

So on this World AIDS Day, as we remember all those we have lost, and redouble our efforts to end HIV transmission, let’s vow to support everyone who is living with HIV.

And together, let’s end the isolation and end the stigma for good.

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