Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running health and safety industry awards.

In its latest round of safety awards, RoSPA – the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – has recognised safety performance of teams and contractors working at Sellafield.

Teams in our legacy ponds have received gold awards – a seventh consecutive year for the Pile Fuel Storage Pond and the fifth consecutive year for the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond.

Both programmes received these safety awards for working hard to ensure our teams get home safely to their families at the end of every working day.

Legacy ponds environmental health and safety manager, Andrew Kelly, said:

This is a wonderful accomplishment and showcases the hard work we all do on a day to day basis to keep everyone safe.

This award can only be achieved by us all putting safety as the number one priority in any task we do. This year we have had to adapt and adhere to the new COVID-19 arrangements but this is always hand in hand with nuclear, radiological, conventional and environmental safety, not superseding it.

Teams in Remediation received a RoSPA Gold Award, their third successive gold award, for health and safety performance during 2019.

Remediation teams are responsible for a wide range of high-profile, and potentially dangerous decommissioning work across the site, including the removal of the Windscale Pile Chimney and the First Generation Reprocessing Plant stack, decommissioning of former finishing lines, as well as the demolition of facilities and buildings we no longer need.

At the same time, the department is responsible for alpha and beta gamma waste management and the operation of waste management facilities across the site.

David Connolly, remediation operating unit head, said:

I’d like to congratulate all teams who entered and picked up awards this year. I thank all our teams and supply chain colleagues for their continuing efforts towards keeping safe and secure. It’s important we all remain focused on all hazards in our workplaces to protect ourselves and others, and our environment.

Our contractors have picked up many awards, some on their first time of entry and others have built on many years of success with Order of Distinction and President’s Awards, recognising consecutive gold awards for many years.

Jacobs Field Services (JFS) is one of many contractors to pick up prestigious awards for their work at Sellafield.

Chris Thompson, health and safety lead for JFS, said:

We are delighted to have received a President’s Award. This is our 14th consecutive gold award which is an achievement the company are very proud of.

In these unpresented and challenging times, it is fantastic to see so many contractor fraternity members being recognised for their outstanding safety performance at Sellafield. JFS have numerous collaborations/JVs; positively communicating and sharing best practice helps make the site safer and stronger.

Cumbria Nuclear Solutions Ltd (CNSL) picked up their first RoSPA award – a gold.

Jack Tomlinson, CNSL HSE lead, said:

Health and safety goes to the heart of the way our business is run and shows an ambitious approach to reducing accidents and safeguarding health – it’s a strong symbol to remind us all that our primary purpose is to put people to work safely in the nuclear industry.

This year RoSPA held a virtual awards ceremony to recognise all award winners.

This is the 3rd year the Chevening Scholarship Programme has run in Greece. Applications for the new scholarship are open between 3 September and 3 November 2020, with applications to be submitted via the Chevening website.

The UK Government is continuing its collaboration with John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, within the framework of the Chevening Scholarship Programme, for the third consecutive year. In the past two years, the Chevening Scholarship Programme has given the opportunity to three Greek students to each claim a Chevening Scholarship granting full financial support to study a postgraduate course at a UK university.

The first two Chevening scholars since the reintroduction of the programme in Greece are nearing completion of their studies; Mrs. Anastasia Benekou is currently on the THE KENT MBA postgraduate course at the University of Kent and Mr. Mochament Elsaer is on the MA War Studies course at King’s College London. In addition, the announcement of the third Greek Chevening Scholar is expected in the next few days, the selection process for which has been completed.

This year, the UK Government and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation are again offering a Chevening Scholarship to a Greek student, for the academic year 2021/2022. Interested candidates can apply for a postgraduate program in an extended range of subjects: International Development, Public Policy, Social Policy, Law Studies, Medical Studies, Engineering and Technology, Biological Sciences and Computer Sciences. Apart from the postgraduate programme, the Chevening Scholar will also have access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

Applications open on Thursday 3 September and close on Tuesday 3 November 2020. Go to the Chevening website to submit your application.

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have strong academic backgrounds. Since the programme began in 1983, 50,000 outstanding professionals from over 160 countries and territories have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening. The Chevening Programme is now 37 years old, with Chevening Alumni making positive contributions to their countries or in their professional sectors since the programme began.

In Greece, in particular, from 1984 until 2002, the Chevening Scholarship was awarded to 112 top performing Greek students, all now excelling in their professional fields. In 2019, the Chevening Scholarship Programme was reinstated in Greece, with the first two, new, Greek Scholars approaching the end of their studies this month.

British Ambassador to Greece, Kate Smith CMG, said:

The UK Government Chevening Scholarship Programme is in place in Greece for the third consecutive year, thanks to the invaluable support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation. We are delighted that Chevening is making such a strong comeback in the academic environment here in Greece.

We believe in the value of Chevening globally and more specifically in the critical role it can play in the lives of the Greek students that will complete their postgraduate studies in a first-class academic environment in the UK, making use of the knowledge and experience they will accumulate in order to build their future upon their return to Greece.

Once again, I would like to sincerely thank the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation for the confidence they continue to show in this collaboration. Our goal is to select the most distinct candidate that will impress us, not only with their academic records, but more importantly with their vision.

Mrs. Eva Lianou, General Director at the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, said:

We are very pleased that our co-operation with the British Embassy on the basis of the Chevening Scholarship Programme continues for the academic year 2021/2022, giving the opportunity to a Greek student to undertake fully funded postgraduate studies at a university in the United Kingdom. This collaboration is part of the wider strategy the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation has developed to support targeted activities across all levels of education, aiming at enhancing young people’s access to education.

Chevening Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations.

Head of Scholarships at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Naomi Rayner, said:

This year more than ever, we have seen how global challenges demand innovation, strong leadership and international collaboration. Chevening seeks to build an international community of people who are committed to those values, and to driving positive change. We do this by bringing together incredible people from around the world and supporting them, through education, to achieve their goals.

In the UK we are proud of our world class universities and we know that our learning environments are enriched by the wide diversity of cultures, experiences and viewpoints represented on our campuses.

Chevening represents the very best of the UK, welcoming people from across the world to study, grow, and thrive. Being a part of the Chevening network instils a strong sense of pride and responsibility.

The second ballot for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2020 for Japanese nationals will launch this month. Unlike previous years the selection criteria has changed to a lottery based system managed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). There will no longer be the requirement to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship.

There are 1,000 places in total available to Japanese nationals in 2020. Approximately 800 applicants were selected for the first ballot earlier this year with the remaining places up for grabs in the second ballot in September. If your application is successful you will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the scheme you should send one email only to: JapanYMS2020.ballotrequest@fcdo.gov.uk between midday on Monday 21 September 2020 to midday Wednesday 23 September 2020, 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: SUZUKI Miyu – 31/01/1995 – Passport 123456789.

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

• Name:
• Date of birth:
• Passport Number:
• 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. If you have been successful a second email will be sent to you by 30 September and 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 online applications and online credit card payments no later than 30 October 2020. 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/territory of residence. Applications cannot be submitted for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2020 in the UK. An email will be sent to unsuccessful customers by 30 September to inform them they have not been chosen and that no further action is required.

Aspiring scholars can apply for a one-year master’s under the Scholarship programme by 3 November 2020 or for the short-term thematic Fellowship programmes by 19 October 2020.

The Chevening Scholarships offer full financial support for one year to candidates applying for a master’s degree at any UK university – covering nearly 12,000 courses from more than 150 universities. The Fellowships offer professional development and networking opportunities for mid-career professionals to pursue an 8 to 12 week course in journalism, science and innovation, or cyber security.

Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India, said:

Chevening offers a unique and exciting opportunity for the best minds in India to study in the UK, paid for by the British government. This programme is designed both to develop future leaders and to strengthen the UK-India Living Bridge, helping us to share the best of what our two countries have to offer. I encourage any ambitious young leader and experienced professional who wants to study in the UK to apply for this opportunity.

India is home to the largest Chevening programme in the world, supporting up to 110 fully funded scholarships and fellowships worth a total of £1.9 million. Since 1983, the programme has helped more than 3,200 scholars and fellows from across India realise their dream of pursuing a world-class education in the UK; many of whom have gone on to make remarkable contributions towards the prosperity of India. Alumni of the programme include Piyush Goyal and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (cabinet ministers), Rahul Kanwal (journalist), Jayesh Ranjan (Indian Administrative Services), Samir Saran (Observer Research Foundation), and Harish Bhat (Tata Sons) and many more.

Chevening Scholarships

Applicants must have a minimum two years of work experience and a strong academic background. Candidates can apply for any course of their choice. The deadline to apply is 3 November 2020.

Chevening Fellowships:

Applicants must have 7 to 10 years of work experience. Fellowships on offer are: South Asian Journalism Fellowship, Science and Innovation Leadership Fellowship, and the Cyber Security Fellowship. The deadline to apply is 19 October 2020.

Further details on both Chevening programmes, including how to apply, can be found here.

The application window for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowships Programme for Leadership and Excellence does not open until January 2021. The Gurukul Fellowship is currently hosted by the University of Oxford.

For media queries, please contact:

Media queries: BHCMediaDelhi@fcdo.gov.uk

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