Business & Growth

Government funds creation of jobs: A pharmaceuticals research and manufacturing company in Nottingham is to benefit from £1.6 million of government funding, creating 62 jobs.

Speech on Industrial Strategy: Business Secretary Vince Cable delivered a speech on industrial strategy at Policy Exchange.

Job creation in Stoke-On-Trent: A project to save the last working Victorian pottery in the UK and create more than 100 new jobs in Stoke-on-Trent has secured commitments to receive £5 million of government and private funding.

Growth Opportunities in Construction: Grasping the opportunities for growth presented by a sustainable construction and property sector will be the main priority for the new Green Construction Board, which has held its first meeting.

Higher Education

Part-time study repayment: From 2012 eligible part-time students will be able to borrow the full cost of their tuition fees for the first time. Changes will see students becoming eligible to start making repayments over four years after commencing study, up from three years as previously planned.

UCAS application figures: Universities and Science Minister David Willetts has commented on the early 2012 UCAS applications data.

Skills & Apprenticeships

Rise in apprenticeship numbers:  Vince Cable welcomed figures indicating that apprenticeship starts for academic year 2010/11 have risen by more than 50 per cent compared with final figures from 2009-10.

Manufacturing & Aerospace

Call to champions of manufacturing: A call has gone out to Britain’s business community asking them to champion UK manufacturing and show the best of British industry throughout 2012.

Aerospace industry showcased at Westminster: A full-size helicopter, models of the world’s latest passenger aircraft, an experimental unmanned aircraft, and a hybrid airship have been attracting attention and showcasing the very best of the British aerospace industry for the last two weeks in the heart of Westminster, just yards from the Houses of Parliament.

Intellectual Property & Trade

UK & Mexico agreement: A landmark agreement to support the growth of UK businesses operating in Mexico has been signed by The UK Intellectual Property Office and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property.

UK & China education agreement: Senior representatives from China and the UK’s education sectors have developed and agreed a new three year action plan to forge stronger links in higher education, vocational education and skills training, schools and language teaching.

Get Involved

BIS currently has 8 consultations open for comment, including:

• Financial Reporting Council Reform
• Executive remuneration discussion paper
• Audit exemptions and change of accounting framework