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LEP Area | Contact details | Chair and Board Recognition Details |
|---|---|---|
| Black Country | Sarah Middleton 01384 471102 sarah_middleton@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk |
Board recognised: 28/1/2011 Chair: Stewart Towe CBE |
| Buckinghamshire Thames Valley | Rupert Waters |
Chair: Alex Pratt |
| Mr Aidan Manley 01606 734181 aidan.manley@candwlep.co.uk |
Board recognised: 24/3/2011 Chair: Christine Gaskell | |
| Coast to Capital | Ron Crank |
Board recognised: Chair: John Peel |
Mel Richardson |
Board recognised: 27/7/2011 Chair: Chris Pomfret | |
Roger Dowthwaite |
Board recognised: 3/3/2011 Chair: Denys Shortt | |
Suzanne Caldwell |
Board recognised: 24/3/2011 Chair: George Beveridge | |
| Derby Derbyshire Nottingham and Nottinghamshire | localenterprisepartnership@nottinghamcity.gov.uk | Board recognised: 7/10/2011 Chair: Colin Walton |
| Dorset | David Walsh |
Chair: Gordon Page |
| Enterprise M3 | Diane Hayward |
Board recognised: 29/6/2011 Chair: Geoff French |
| Gloucestershire | David Owen 01452 328300 David.owen@glosfirst.co.uk |
Board recognised: 4/11/2011 Chair: Diane Savory |
| Mark Barrow 0121 303 4915 mark.barrow@birmingham.gov.uk |
Chair: Andy Street | |
| info@yourlocalenterprisepartnership.co.uk | Board recognised: Chair: Neville Reyner | |
| Greater Lincolnshire | Ruth Carver |
Board recognised: 28/1/2011 Chair: Ursula Lidbetter |
| Karen Tierney 0161 234 3278 k.tierney@agma.gov.uk |
Board recognised: Chair: Mike Blackburn | |
| Heart of the South West | Jeremy Filmer-Bennett M. 07801 597302 filmer.bennett@btinternet.com |
Board recognised: 14/9/2011 Chair: Tim Jones |
| Hertfordshire | Jo Morris |
Board recognised: Interim Chair: John Gourd |
| Humber | Richard Kendall |
Board recognised on 15/12/2011 Chair: Lord Christopher Haskins |
| Lancashire | Mr Martin Kelly |
Chair: Edwin Booth |
Mr Robert Norreys |
Board recognised: 30/3/2011 Chair: Neil McLean | |
Mr Mandip Rai |
Board recognised: 26/10/2011 Chair: Andrew Bacon | |
| Liverpool City Region | Ged Fitzgerald |
|
| London | Jamie Izzard |
Co-chairs: |
| The Marches – Shropshire and Herefordshire | Jacqui Casey |
Board recognised: 20/10/2011 Chair: Dr Geoffrey Davies OBE |
| New Anglia | Mr Chris Starkie |
Board recognised: 16/6/2011 Chair: Dr. Andy Wood |
| Northamptonshire | Sajeeda Rose |
Chair: Paul Southworth |
| North Eastern | Mr Peter O'Brien |
Board recognised: 27/7/2011 Chair: Paul Woolsten |
General enquiries |
Board recognised: 4/3/2011 | |
Sylvia Yates |
Board recognised: 9/5/2011 Chair: James Newman | |
| Solent | Anne-Marie Mountfield |
Chair: Doug Morrison |
| South East | Mr Simon Neilson |
Chair: John Spence |
| South East Midlands | info@semlep.com |
Board recognised: 26/10/2011 Chair: Dr Ann Limb OBE |
Ms Jenny Greer |
Board recognised: 4/3/2011 Chair: Maitland Hyslop | |
| Swindon and Wiltshire | Steve Richards M. 07748 658230 c2r@sdrichards.demon.co.uk |
Chair: Paul Johnson |
Tees Valley |
Linda Edworthy 01642 527092 linda.edworthy@teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk |
Board recognised: 21/9/2011 Chair: Sandy Anderson |
Deborah Wharton |
Chair: Steve Lamb | |
Mr Peter Jackson |
Board recognised: Chair: Colin Skellett | |
| Worcestershire | Gary Woodman 0845 641 1641 ext 218 garyw@hwchamber.co.uk |
Board recognised: 24/6/2011 Chair: Peter Pawsey |
| York and North Yorkshire | James Farrar |
Board recognised: 7/7/2011 Chair: Barry Dodd OBE |
The National Cyber Security Programme sets out a clear role for BIS to lead private sector engagement, raise business awareness of cyber security and to realise the significant potential for growth of the UK cyber security sector.
Cyberspace is an important enabler for economic growth through more efficient and effective business processes in traditional sectors but also by creating a platform for new businesses to emerge. The introduction of cloud computing, smart-grids and the growth of mobile working each show that the pace of change will not let up; cyberspace will become increasingly valuable and important to the UK.
To realise that growth potential, companies need to ensure their information and that of their customers is adequately protected.
Business is the largest economic victim of threats in cyberspace. Estimates are still developing but the annual impact to the UK economy is suggested to be in the order of £27bn. This includes actual losses from direct fraud or theft, as well as estimates on missed opportunities (not winning contracts, losing out on price negotiations, or lower returns on R&D investment).
Only by working in partnership with the private sector will Government be able to gain a better understanding of cyber threats and ensure our economy and security are protected.
The Cyber Security team is responsible for taking forward the actions for BIS in the Government programme on cyber security.
In particular, the team will enable the UK cyber security industry to thrive and expand, supporting them in accessing overseas markets; develop a better understanding of the cyber security sector and barriers to growth; encourage the development and use of more secure technologies; support the application of research, working with Government Office Science and others to build innovative cyber security solutions; and conduct research and planning on how to significantly improve education, including higher education and post graduate level.
Contact: cybersecurity@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Since 22 May 2007, the work of the UK NCP has been overseen by a Steering Board in accordance with the Steering Board's terms of reference.
The Steering Board includes representatives from five Government Departments (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS); the Department for International Development (DFID); the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); and the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD); and four external members. The current four external members represent UK businesses, trades unions and non-governmental organisations.
On 10 December 2008, the Steering Board reviewed its operation.
Since 22 May 2007, the Steering Board has been meeting on a quarterly basis.
See the review procedure for dealing with complaints brought under the OECD Guidelines to the UK NCP, and the reviews of the UK NCP's statements carried out by the Steering Board so far.
For any queries on, or complaints under the OECD Guidelines, or if you wish to be included in the UK NCP's keep in touch mailing list, please email uk.ncp@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Further UK NCP contact details are listed below:
Steven Murdoch
Tel: +44 (0)20 7215 0395
Fax: +44 (0)20 7215 6767
email: steven.murdoch@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Danish Chopra
Tel: +44 (0)20 7215 5679
Fax: +44 (0)20 7215 6767
email: danish.chopra@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Requests for a review (for information on the review process see the UK NCP's page on the complaint procedures) should be sent to:
UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
3rd Floor - Victoria Zone 3
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H OET
United Kingdom
email: uk.ncp@bis.gsi.gov.uk
The occupation variable in the LFS was updated in the first quarter (January-March) of 2011. This change will affect some outputs in the 2012 Trade Union Membership publication, which is due for release on Wednesday 25 April.
The update has resulted in a change to two of the broad occupation groups. 'Managers and senior officials'' has been replaced by 'Managers, directors and senior officials' and 'Personal service occupations' has been replaced by 'Caring, leisure and other service occupations'.
The specific outputs in the publication which will be affected are as follows:
The latest trade union membership publication contains annual estimates of trade union densities for employees and all workers from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the fourth quarter of 2010.
Estimates are presented for the proportion of people in employment who are trade union members in both the United Kingdom and Great Britain, and for employees whose pay and conditions are affected by collective agreements. We also provide trade union densities by age, sex, ethnicity, income, full and part-time employment, sector, nation and region.
The 2010 publication includes the following information
The tables in this publication are also presented as an Excel spreadsheet which includes longer time series data at : BIS - trade union membership statistics 2010 - Excel
Previous trade union membership articles may also be downloaded from the links below.
BIS (formerly the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and ONS carried out a Quality Review of trade union membership and labour disputes statistics.
Information on National Statistics, the Labour Market as well as relevant data can be obtained from the ONS website.
The Coalition Agreement committed the Government to “create a fairer and more balanced economy, where we are not so dependent on a narrow range of economic sectors, and where new businesses and economic opportunities are more evenly shared between regions and industries.”
On 29 June, the Deputy Prime Minister launched a £1 billion Regional Growth Fund to provide support for projects that offer significant potential for sustainable economic growth and can create new private sector employment. The fund will particularly help areas and communities currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to private sector led growth and prosperity.
To help design the Fund, the Government asked the public to provide responses to a number of questions posed in an informal consultation, which was opened on 23 July 2010. The consultation closed on 6 Sep 2010 and the Government response was published on 28 Oct 2010
Key points of the Government’s response are:
At the 2011 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced a further £1 billion for the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), which will be extended into 2014-15. The RGF is now worth £2.4 billion over four years from 2011-12 to 2014-15. It is intended to promote the private sector in areas in England most at risk to public sector cuts.
Announcing the successful bids, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:
”I was bowled over by the quality of the bids. This money will now help create and safeguard jobs in some of the communities worst hit by the economic downturn.
“[This] is a step towards rebalancing our economy away from an unhealthy overreliance on a small number of industries and a few areas. We need to spread opportunity across the whole country, drawing on our many talents.”
The Government allocated the first £450 million of funding to 50 bids on 12 April 2011. We have published a full list of successful bids. So far 27 contracts have been signed, giving applicants access to their RGF and 50% of projects have started.
The Government allocated a further £950 million of funding to 126 bids in the autumn of 2011 following the second round of bidding. We have published a list of 119 of these bids while the due diligence process proceeds. A full list will be available when contracts are signed. So far 21 contracts have been signed, giving applicants access to their RGF and over 20% of projects have started.
In order for a project to be awarded RGF money, they must successfully complete the RGF process. This process is overseen by an Independent Advisory panel of business leaders and chaired by Lord Heseltine. The Independent Advisory Panel make recommendations to a Ministerial Panel, led by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, which will make the final decisions as to which bids should receive funding.
"Notices to Exporters" is an email notification service provided by the Export Control Organisation.
The notices provide updates on legislation and sanctions, notification of Open General Licence revocations and other export control related issues. We issue approximately 30 notices annually about legislative updates and other changes.
To automatically receive any new Notices when issued, you can choose to subscribe in various ways. Find out more about how to subscribe via email. Alternatively subscribe via either the ECO's RSS or Twitter feeds.
This provides a listing of all current published Notices in grouped by subject and then in date order (latest first).
You can read details of export control offences on our pages on Export Control Prosecutions Notices and Compound Penalty Cases.
The ECO also publishes newsletters which update exporters about export control licensing, compliance and enforcement issues and advertising the ECO's training and awareness programme. You can download the latest versions here:
This is a list of entities or organisations in Iran which is made publically available to exporters by the ECO
It is intended to help you judge which exports might potentially be of concern on End-Use Control grounds, based on previous licensing decisions.
For further details about exporting to Iran, see the published information on Current Arms Embargoes on the export control pages of the Businesslink website.
The ECO periodically archives Notices that are out of date due to subsequent legislative or licence amendments.
Access Archived Notices published in 2009 and 2010. You can also access copies of any archived Notices either via the UK Government Web Archive provided by the National Archives or by contacting the ECO Helpline (see details of how to Contact the Export Control Organisation).
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 1 March 2012
Private sector organisations are eligible to bid either individually, or in partnership with other private or public sector organisations either for a project or programme, (see glossary for definition of terms).
For the purposes of RGF, universities and charities are generally considered to be private sector.
Public sector organisations can only bid as part of a programme/consortia bid and there must be a private sector lead for that bid.
Organisations can be part of more than one bid – for example, a company may be submitting a bid of their own and be one part of a programme bid as well. Duplicate bids will not be accepted – each project should only have one bid associated with it.
Each bid must be for a value of over £1 million
The project or programme must be based in England.
The Regional Growth Fund will provide a mixture of direct support for private sector investments and private public partnerships. All projects should lever private sector investment for long term growth and private sector employment. The criteria for bids are as follows:
Round 3 funding is available until 2015, the end of the current spending review – all potential bids should take into account that they will need to draw down the funding by 31 March 2015.
Guidance – we strongly recommend that you refer to the guidance when completing the application form
Additionality - this is the net rather than gross impact of the project or programme, after making allowances for what would have happened in the absence of RGF support. For more information, you should refer to Treasury guidance on the additionality.
Applicant or bidder – business or partnership which has submitted a bid for RGF
Assessment – the process of determining which bids are successful. This is done by officials appraising bids and providing information to the Independent Advisory Panel (IAP). The IAP reviews all bids and makes recommendations to Ministers about which to accept. Ministers then review the recommendations and make final decisions about which bids will be awarded RGF, subject to successful completion of due diligence.
Assisted areas – State aid granted to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union is considered compatible with the common market by the European Commission. Assisted area status can indicate that a community is dependent on the public sector – the location of proposed projects and programmes will be taken into account when assessing bids.
Bidding round – the set timeframe in which applicants can draft and submit their proposal for funding.
Charity – third / charitable sector / not for profit organisation. Due to the diversity within civil society organisations (such as voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprise), it is not possible to be definitive about whether a particular organisation is classed as either private or public sector; ultimately that is a matter for each organisation.
If uncertain you should refer to Treasury guidance on the private/public split
Civil Society organisation – third / charitable sector / not for profit organisation. This is a term used by Government to refer to voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprise. If uncertain you should refer to Treasury guidance on the private/public definition
Conditional Offer Letter – a signed document between the applicant and Department which sets out the outline of the project and the scope of the Due Diligence.
Direct jobs - jobs that are directly created or safeguarded by a project or programme partner – i.e. they are jobs upon which it would be reasonable to make RGF funding conditional.
Due Diligence – the process of confirming that the bidder and the project are accurately represented and quality assured. This will in most cases be carried out by an independent practitioner on behalf of the bidder, normally at their own cost. This takes place once the Conditional Offer letter has been signed by the applicant and the Department; this part of the process can take on average 3-6 weeks to complete.
We understand that the average cost to bidders for due diligence during Rounds 1 and 2 came to around 1-2% of the value of the bid.
Expression of Interest meeting or EOI – a one-to-one meeting with officials to discuss the concept of a bid and how best to complete the application form. Bidders will usually come to these meetings with a partially completed Round 3 application form or their unsuccessful Round 2 application form.
Final Offer Letter – a signed document between the applicant and Department which confirms the detail of the project and the progress monitoring arrangements
Independent Advisory Panel – chaired by Lord Heseltine, this Panel makes recommendations to the Ministerial panel. Membership of the panel can be found here
Indirect jobs - employment impacts resulting from the supply chain of the project and jobs created as a result of the activity unlocked by the investment – this will particularly be the case for infrastructure bids and some programme bids.
Ministerial Group – chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, this Group makes the final decisions as to which bids are successful.
Package – a group of companies that have come together in order to meet the minimum threshold of £1m. (This was only available in Rounds 1 & 2 of RGF).
Private sector (inc. universities) – the business sector – profit-making organisations; all non-state organisations, encompassing private business, social enterprises and charities. To clarify, refer to Treasury guidance at Annex
Private sector leverage – the amount of private sector funding that will be made available to the project or programme if the RGF bid is successful.
Programme – a type of RGF bid for funding to be awarded to an intermediary who will then use it to do any combination of the following:
Project – a type of RGF bid for funding to be awarded to a final beneficiary for projects which meet RGF objectives - to directly create jobs through private sector enterprise and growth; for activity to enable or unlock future private sector jobs growth.
Public sector – government lead and funded organisations; refer to Treasury guidance at Annex A
Recipient/ approved bidder – applicant who has signed a Final Offer Letter, enabling them access to RGF funds
RGF – Regional Growth Fund
RGF recipient or accountable body – for RGF, Government defines the most common options for identifying the legal status of recipients as:
While not exhaustive, the list captures the common options for identifying the legal status of recipients, which would include the legal status of many charities and social enterprises.
SME (small or medium sized enterprise) – the definition of a small business used for RGF comes from the EU State aid guidance which can be viewed at Annex 1
Social enterprise – a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community. They can take on a variety of legal forms, including: unincorporated associations, trusts, limited companies, Community Interest Companies or charitable incorporated organisations; refer to the businesslink website for more detail
State aid – is to ensure that government interventions do not distort competition and trade inside the EU. State aid is defined as an advantage in any form whatsoever conferred on a selective basis to undertakings by national public authorities. There is more information on the EU website
Successful bidder – applicant or bidder who has received a conditional allocation of money
Below are just a few examples of the great projects that the Regional Growth Fund has been able to support so far:
A project to develop and manufacture less carbon intensive car tyres at current site in Carlisle. The project will develop a new range of tyres which will reduce the CO2 emissions of the vehicles they are on.
Alan Wilson at Pirelli Tyres Ltd said:
"We had very little knowledge of the Regional Growth Fund process at first having not bid for funding in this way before. But the help and support we have had, and continue to receive from the Department for Business and UK Trade and Investment has been excellent."
A partnership between Newcastle University and the City Council – got support for its plans to transform the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery site in Newcastle city centre into a state-of-the-art science development where University scientists will work alongside business to create spin-out firms and attract new investment into the area.
Richard Dale, Executive Director of Finance at Newcastle University said: “Securing support from the RGF has helped us to progress our ambitions for Science Central with planning consent now granted to prepare the 24-acre city centre site for development. The due diligence process has not delayed this progress.”
A further application to progress coal extraction on the site will be made at the end of February. To create a permanently stable platform for all future buildings, around 40,000 tonnes of near-surface coal will be removed from Science Central and will then be replaced with surplus materials already present on the site; paving the way for the ‘Gateway’ Building. This will include an incubation centre, a range of spaces to attract new and established knowledge-based businesses and office accommodation for commercial companies.
Will be able to install new operational capability at their Seal Sands site in the North East of England. The programme will generate new employment, secure existing employment within the company and increase their international trade. Fine Industries is a group of companies covering chemical manufacture, contract research, environmental services, facilities management and software solutions.
Keith Hanson, CEO and Chairman, said: “The Company is very grateful to both the UK government for the award of the grant and the regional team in the North East for support in making the process both easy and efficient.”
Has put forward a two-part proposal. The first part will create business units and studios with services to support enterprise skills development, early stage business funding and mentoring, in a location that uses a heritage cell block building. The second part is an International Boatbuilding Training College with apprenticeships and training for young people in the wider marine, conservation and environmental sectors.
A spokesperson for the company said: "This innovative initiative of BIS will provide real opportunities for many young people to develop their fledgling business and for others to access some of the best training of its type available in the UK. This would not have been possible without RGF funding; a relatively straightforward process with people at BIS ready and willing to help applicants drive through the red tape."
We recognise and value the commitment UK employers demonstrate towards training their workforce, it is estimated that in 2010 they invested £49bn in staff training. Working closely with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills we are reforming the skills system to support employer investment and co-investment in skills and training.
Key policies include a £250 million fund to give employers more power over skills training; increasing demand and improving access to leadership and management training and breaking down barriers some groups of employers face towards training to encourage wider participation.
The Government plans to use the 2012 Games as a catalyst to create sustainable job opportunities in all sectors and regions. In London alone, the aim is to bring 70,000 people into sustainable employment, including 20,000 in the 5 host boroughs.
The games offer a great chance to stimulate the number of people entering work and increasing their skills across the UK.
For more information please visit www.london2012.com
Access a list of export control related website links:
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 24 October 2011
The Export Control Organisation's system of Open General Licences (OGLs) are at the heart of export and trade controls for so-called "strategic" goods. This includes a wide range of products, technology and software of a military and dual-use (in other words, both civilian and military use).
OGLs are export licences which are available in the public domain. They remove the need for an exporter to apply for a Standard Invividual Export Licence (also issued by the ECO) for individual consignments. As a result OGLs are of practical relevance and could potentially save you - an exporter - time and money in by allowing for immediate export and planning reliability.
OGLs allow for the export of specified controlled items by any exporter provided the shipment and destinations are eligible.
Use of OGLs comes with certain conditions. Exporters must adhere with all specified conditions, including keeping appropriate records and registering via SPIRE. It is the exporter's responsibility to comply and check the licence requirements before use and to keep updated with any changes.
Exporters using these licences will be subject to regular compliance audits by the Export Control Organisation.
You can find out further background details about Open General Licences by reading our guidance for exporters which is published on the export control pages on the Businesslink website.
For more information see guidance onEuropean Union General Export Authorisations (EU GEAs) published on the Businesslink website.
You should be aware that from time to time export licences are amended.
The main reasons why licences are amended are because either:
Download a spreadsheet which provides a summary list of revoked open general licences.
If you need to access a revoked Open General Licence then please contact the ECO Business Awareness Unit by email at web.comments@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Before using an OGL, you need to decide whether you are able to use the licence for your export activities by carefullyreading all the terms and conditions of the OGL.
You might find it helpful to use the OGEL Checker website (registration required) which is an online tool designed to help you check the terms and conditions of OGLs and whether you might be able to use one for your export purposes. The title of each licence usually gives an indication as to its purpose.
If you are unsure of the "rating" codes referred to in the required OGEL, you are recommended to check the Control Lists or use the Goods Checker website (registration required).
Exportersmustregister with the ECO before they make use ofmostOGELs and the CGEA. You can register via the ECO's export licensing database, called SPIRE.
NOTE:There are a few Open General Transhipment Licences for which registration is not required.
All shipments exported using OGLs do not require the physical presentation of the licence document to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). However exporters must state the exact licence name IN FULL on any accompanying commercial documentation.
You should be aware that there are frequent updates to licences. Notifications of any amendments to OGLs can be found in the ECO's Notices to Exporters. If you are registered for OGLs you are recommended to sign up to receive the ECO's notices via email. Find out how to subscribe to the ECO "Notices to Exporters" mailing list.
All Open General Licences remain in force until they are revoked.
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 24 February 2012
As of March 2010, practical guidance information about export controls is published on the export control pages of the Businesslink website which covers:
You can access links to current published versions of all Open General Licences. You can also find out from here how to access revoked OGLs.
Further background details about Open General Licences are published on the export control pages of the Businesslink website.
For further background guidance about the UK Strategic Export Control Lists is available on the export control pages on the Businesslink website. This includes guidance on "How to determine if you need an export licence".
For further background guidance about end-user undertakings and end-use controls you need to read the guidance available on the export control pages on the Businesslink website about "End-User and Consignee Undertakings for SIELs and OIELs".
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 2 February 2012
"Notices to Exporters" is an email notification service provided by the Export Control Organisation. Via this service you will be automatically emailed any new Notices when they are issued by us. Find out more about how to subscribe.
The notices provide updates on legislation and sanctions, notification of Open General Licence revocations and other export control related issues. We issue approximately 30 notices annually about legislative updates and other changes.
This provides a listing of older Notices to Exporters published in 2009 and 2010. The Notices are grouped by subject and then in date order (latest first).
The ECO periodically archives Notices that are out of date due to subsequent legislative or licence amendments.
You can also access copies of any archived Notices either via the UK Government Web Archive provided by the National Archives or by contacting the ECO Helpline (see details of how to Contact the Export Control Organisation).
You are advised to keep copies of Notices to Exporters for your own compliance records.
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 18 November 2011
You can select to join the Export Control Organisation's email list by contacting us by email on web.comments@bis.gsi.gov.uk
To register by email you need to provide us with:
Alternatively you can choose to subscribe via either the ECO's RSS or Twitter feeds.
Find out more about What is RSS? and view the Department for Business's Twitter Policy.
The Notices email subscription list will be handled in accordance with Department for Business departmental instructions for handing protect and commercial in confidence material.
You should note that this mailing list is separate to the contact details you need to provide to register or apply for licences on the SPIRE export licensing database.
It is also separate to any other central Department for Business or Businesslink registration or mailing list functions.
Export Control Organisation
Update: 6 June 2011
Implementing the EU Services Directive – April update for Local Authorities
The UK's Point of Single Contact on www.businesslink.gov.uk was successfully launched by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills at the Federation of Small Businesses’ Annual Conference in Aberdeen on 19th March 2010. In addition, most of the major business organisations have agreed to send information about the new features on BusinessLink to their members.
Read more about the launch on the FSB website: http://www.fsb.org.uk/. The FSB have also produced this useful short guide for businesses on the Services Directive.
Businesses will now expect to be able to make applications online and those authorities that are not in a position to fulfil their legal obligations will become more visible and potentially exposed to legal challenge.
Things you can do NOW:
The following tasks are ones you can be getting on with now regardless of any delays/issues around technical issues such as those relating to payment and are entirely within your control:
Prepare authority website content (Task 14)
You are legally required to provide certain information on your authority’s website plus a direct link to the Point of Single Contact.
More information is available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal - in particular please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents”:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67
Provide BIS with a list of Registers (Task 11)
You must provide BIS with a list of public registers held by your authority. You should make this list available on your authority’s website and send the relevant URL to sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk. More information is available Task 11 on the ELMS portal.
Register for the IMI System (Task 12)
Should your authority receive a request on the IMI (Internal Market Information) system, you are required to respond via the IMI and to do so within the time specified by the requesting authority. Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. Further information is available under Task 12 on the ELMS portal.
Deploy “free” formalities
In advance of testing (or acquiring) your e-payment engine, you can deploy those formalities which do not have any fees. (You can also localise content for formalities that do have a fee and hold off deploying them until your e-payment engine is set up.)
To ensure that your authority is fully compliant, please use the Compliance Checklists available on the ELMS portal: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/128
SOCITM Survey
1. Please note that the Survey of local authority websites to gauge whether they have complied with the Directive, regardless of whether an authority is using ELMS or its own electronic forms, will start on 19th April 2010.
BIS has now agreed with the Audit Commission that this Survey will also include a number of questions that will help them to assess how effectively individual authorities support businesses. (The Survey results will be shared with local authorities, LACORS, the Audit Commission, and others that have an interest in supporting business, better regulation, and e-government.)
ELMS Update
2. All Administrators received an email from the ELMS team on the 24th March providing information about system updates, enhancements and changes to ELMS that may affect authority formalities. The update can be found at the following link: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/news/show/27
ELMS Solution Centre
3. The ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use the system. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users, and you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form available on the ELMS portal so that we can prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
ELMS Training: video tutorials
4. These are a step-by-step visual guide to a range of tasks, including: localising formalities for the first time, setting up departments and downloading submitted applications.
The video tutorials and a range of other useful material is available on ELMS Training: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/page/elmstraining
Task 5: Checking of links supplied to Local Directgov
5. Some of the links to authority websites and forms do not direct to the appropriate pages. In most cases, this is due to the wrong information being added to the Local Directgov spreadsheet (completed by authorities in Task 5).
6. To avoid this, please ensure that after you localise and deploy each formality, you test that the link works by undertaking the user journey on UK Welcomes. Please refer to the testing steps now available on the ELMS portal:
• If you are using online forms hosted on ELMS, you will find a guide on how to complete testing under Task 17.
• If you are using forms developed by your authority and hosted on your authority’s website, you will find a guide on how to complete testing under Task 5.
• If you currently link to forms hosted by your authority that do NOT allow online payments you should use the ELMS forms as an interim solution.
Please note that a copy of the URL Collection Spreadsheets are now available at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 12: IMI Registration as a Legal Requirement
7. Now that the IMI system has transferred from the 'pilot' stage to the 'live' version, authorities are sending 'real' requests for information concerning service providers operating across borders. Should your authority receive a request you are legally required to respond via the IMI system within the time specified by the requesting authority.
8. If your authority is not registered on the IMI system and an authority in another Member State wishes to send your authority a request, it will be directed through the National Liaison Point (NLP) located in BIS. As the time frames will still apply, you will have to register and become acquainted with the system before responding.
We therefore recommend that you register now to ensure your authority is adequately prepared.
Further information about the IMI system, including details of privacy statements and registers, is available on the BIS IMI webpages or contact: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Task 14: Authority Web Content
9. Tacit Consent: please note that you must state clearly for each licence whether or not Tacit Consent will apply plus the target timescale for processing the application.
(note: Tacit Consent also applies to applications received by post.)
10. EUGO branding: we strongly recommend that you include the EUGO logo on your authority’s licence information pages as a recognisable brand that will reassure businesses visiting your website that it is genuine. You can find details of the EUGO brand guidelines on the ELMS portal under Task 14:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/71.
11. Defunct Licences: authorities must ensure that any forms and/or website content that relate to licence regimes or authorisation schemes issued under legislation that has been repealed are removed.
Examples that have come to our attention include: Game Dealers (over 50 authorities retain on their website a form/guidance that state you need a licence); and pre Licensing Act 2003 regulation of entertainment, late night refreshment etc
Task 17: Localising Formalities
12. Customising ELMS forms under the Licensing Act 2003: as notified previously, local authorities must not change the default titles, fees or any legal declarations on forms issued under the Licensing Act 2003. These are statutory forms and, as such, their content must not be amended. Similarly, licensing fees are decided centrally (as set out in the prescribed Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005) and must not be amended.
13. Paper Forms: if your authority continues to host “paper forms” on your website, please note that they must also be compliant with the Provision of Services Regulations 2009. In particular, that Tacit Consent also applies to any applications submitted by post.
Legacy Guidance
14. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' is available on the National Archive website.
(Note: this link is different to that provided in the March Update following recent changes to the BIS website)
Local Authorities to return an updated Progress Report
15. Please ensure you return a Task Status Report regardless of how far along you are with implementation. This will enable us to log progress more effectively and ensure any reporting and dealing with individual authorities is based on the most up to date information.
The Task Status Report form is available on the ELMS portal:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/48
Please send all returns to:
servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk
with the subject title “Progress Report”
(please do not amend the form but complete as directed as it has been designed specifically to automate inputting returns into our database.)
Implementing the EU Services Directive – Update for Local Authorities May 2010
Things you should do NOW:
You can action the following tasks immediately, regardless of any delays/issues around technical issues such as those relating to payment:
Prepare authority website content (Task 14)
You are legally required to provide certain information on your authority’s website plus a direct link to the Point of Single Contact. More information is available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal
Provide BIS with a list of Registers (Task 11)
You must provide BIS with a list of public registers held by your authority. You should make this list available on your website and send the relevant URL to sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk. More information is available under Task 11 on the ELMS portal
Register for the IMI System (Task 12)
Should your authority receive a request on the IMI (Internal Market Information) system, you are required to respond via the IMI within the time specified. Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. Further information is available under Task 12 on the ELMS portal
Deploy “free” formalities (Task 17)
In advance of testing (or acquiring) your e-payment engine, you can deploy those formalities that do not have any fees. (You can also localise content for formalities that do have a fee and hold off deploying them until your e-payment engine is set up.) Further information is available under Task 17 on the ELMS portal.
To ensure that your authority is fully compliant, please use the Compliance Checklists available on the ELMS portal:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/128
ELMS Solution Centre
1. Remember, the ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use it. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users, and you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form on the ELMS portal to help us prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
ELMS Training
2. Video Tutorials: are step-by-step visual guides to a range of tasks, including: localising formalities for the first time, setting up departments and downloading submitted applications. The video tutorials and a range of other useful material is available on ELMS Training: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/page/elmstraining
Webinars: we are also organising web seminars (webinars) to help people deploy formalities – if you are interested in making use of this facility, please indicate your interest by emailing elms@businesslink.gov.uk who will arrange for you to be included in the next available webinar.
One to One deployment sessions: BIS is also talking authorities through the deployment process over the ‘phone so if you think this would suit you better, please indicate your interest by emailing: servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Digital Signatures
3. The ELMS forms now support the use of digital signatures if service providers have one and wish to use it when submitting an application. This is an opportunity for your authority to make the application process easier for those service providers that have a digital signature i.e. they do not need to provide as much supporting evidence re identification.
4. However, whilst digital signatures should ease the burden on service providers, please be aware that authorities will still be required to check that any digital signatures provided are valid, further advice and guidance is set out in the Digital Signatures Guidance Document that can be found under Training - related links - training documentation at:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/page/trainingdocs
Note: whilst local authorities may encourage the use of digital signatures, you should avoid requiring them as a matter of course: i) they are not the equivalent of a written signature and ii) the requirement to have one could be seen as imposing an additional and unnecessary burden on business.
Primary Liaison Point (PLP): new role post-implementation
5. As we move from implementation into business as usual, a number of authorities have queried the ongoing need for a PLP. Whilst we recognise that the role will change depending on what stage an authority has reached, we have identified that there will be a continuing need for BIS and the ELMS Technical Support Team to have a key contact within each authority. We have therefore produced a description of the PLP role post-implementation, which can be found under related links at: ELMS roles
6. You may therefore wish to consider whether now is an appropriate time for you to change your PLP. Please email any changes and new contact details to: servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk
New Features on ELMS available in May & June:
7. A new release of ELMS is planned for the 26th May and this will introduce the following new features:
• Payment Reconciliation Report – Authorities will be able to access and download payment reconciliation reports showing payments made on ELMS for the previous month.
• Payment Test Button – Due to a number of issues and queries that Authorities have with configuring their payment engines, a feature allowing authorities to test their payment configuration will be implemented. This will allow authorities to confirm that their payment engines are configured properly before they deploy formalities.
8. BIS also plans to complete the release of formalities and forms for local authorities that use the ELMS forms service in early June. Key features will include:
• Two new formalities - for projections across roads (Highways Act 1980, Section 176-180) and leaflet distribution - will be made available for England and Wales
• A changed sex shop/sex establishment form will be available for regulation of Sexual Entertainment Venues under the Policing and Crime Act 2009
• A revised HMO form (for England)
• Licensing Act 2003 forms pointing to Statutory guidance on the DCMS website (for England)
• Certificates of Fitness for pre-1945 housing will be available for Northern Ireland formalities
• The form for name changes for the Licensing Act (Scotland) 2005 will be available
• Change of circumstance, renewal, extension and payment-only forms will be activated across the range of local authority transactions
• The facility to create formalities for two-tier authorities in England and Wales that regulate the opposite way around to "standard", for example, to allow district councils to regulate highway projections
When changes like those listed above are made to ELMS, local authorities will generally need to redeploy their formalities. The June release is the start of a quarterly release cycle that will bring all of these changes in at the same time, allowing you to redeploy everything in one "hit".
Using your own electronic forms (Mode 1) or using ELMS (Mode 3)
9. A number of authorities have previously indicated they would be using their own online forms i.e. going Mode 1; however, we are aware that some software suppliers are experiencing delays in delivering their new electronic forms. If this applies to your authority, you should switch to using the ELMS forms until such time as your supplier is in a position to deliver their new forms. In order to do this, you will need to submit a revised Task 5 LDG spreadsheet (see para 10 below) and ensure that you are able to accept payments when using ELMS (see para 11 below re Task 10).
Task 5: Checking of links supplied to Local Directgov
10. Some of the links to authority websites and forms do not direct to the appropriate pages. In most cases, this is due to the wrong information being added to the Local Directgov spreadsheet (completed by authorities in Task 5).
To avoid this, please ensure that after you localise and deploy each formality, you test that the link works by undertaking the user journey on UK Welcomes. Please refer to the testing steps now available on the ELMS portal:
• If you are using online forms hosted on ELMS, you will find a guide on how to complete testing under Task 17.
• If you are using forms developed by your authority and hosted on your authority’s website, you will find a guide on how to complete testing under Task 5.
• If you currently link to forms hosted by your authority that do NOT allow online payments you should use the ELMS forms as an interim solution.
Please note that copies of the URL Collection Spreadsheets are now available at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 10: Accepting Electronic Payments
11. If you accept fees, you must also be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS, then you will need to have an account with one of the 4 payment providers ELMS will be supporting (Civica, Capita, Worldpay and Northgate). If you intend to use your own online forms then you are free to choose whichever payment provider you wish, including any of the 4 mentioned.
12. Further advice and guidance on ELMS and Payments can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice, that can be accessed in “Related Links” under Task 10 at:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/11
Internal Market Information (IMI) system
Task 11: Registers
13. In order to reduce the administrative and time burdens placed upon authorities and increase the ease with which information concerning service providers can be accessed, the IMI system will hold a 'Register of Registers' for all authorities across all Member States. Under 'article 28' of the Directive, any registers of service providers that are currently available to UK authorities should be made available to authorities in other Member States. This will include public registers, and any registers which are not publicly available but are shared with other UK authorities. If any 'non-public' registers are not available online, authorities from other Member States should be informed how and where they can be accessed.
14. Prior to a request being submitted on the IMI system, authorities are required to consult with the list of registers and establish whether the information that is being sought is already available and therefore a request need not be submitted.
The easiest way to ensure compliance with the Directive will be to make a list of registers available on your authority website, with links to these registers or details of how to access them. Informing authorities from other Member States of your registers in this way will cut down on the number of information requests they send to you. The URL of the page holding the registers should be sent to:
sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk.
Task 12: IMI ‘Live’ Version
15. The ‘live’ version of the IMI system has been available to authorities since January 2010 and a number of UK authorities have taken advantage of this facility. If you wish to register your authority or have any questions about the IMI system please contact sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk
16. Should your authority receive a request you are legally required to respond to it via the IMI within the time specified by the requesting authority. If your authority is not registered and you receive a request this will be submitted through the National Liaison Point (NLP) within BIS who will contact you.
Further information about the IMI system, including training materials, guidance notes, details of privacy statements and registers, is available on the BIS IMI webpages or contact: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk .
Task 14: Authority Web Content
17. All local authorities are legally required to make certain information available on their website. Further details are available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal. In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents”: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 that sets out what information is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal.
Tacit Consent: please note that you must state clearly for each licence whether or not Tacit Consent will apply plus the target timescale for processing the application.
EUGO branding: we strongly recommend that you include the EUGO logo on your authority’s licence information pages as a recognisable brand that will reassure businesses visiting your website that it is genuine. You can find details of the EUGO brand guidelines on the ELMS portal under Task 14:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/71.
Defunct Licences: authorities must ensure that any forms and/or website content that relate to licence regimes or authorisation schemes issued under legislation that has been repealed are removed.
Examples include: Game Dealers (over 50 authorities retain on their website a form/guidance that state you need a licence); and pre Licensing Act 2003 regulation of entertainment, late night refreshment etc
Task 17: Localising Formalities
18. Customising ELMS forms under the Licensing Act 2003: local authorities must not change the default titles, fees or any legal declarations on forms issued under the Licensing Act 2003. These are statutory forms and, as such, their content must not be amended. Similarly, licensing fees are decided centrally (as set out in the prescribed Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005) and must not be amended.
Paper Forms: if your authority continues to host “paper forms” on your website, please note that they must also be compliant with the Provision of Services Regulations 2009. Note: Tacit Consent also applies to any applications submitted by post.
SOCITM Survey
19. The Society of IT Managers (SOCITM) on behalf of BIS is now carrying out its review of all UK local authority websites to see whether they comply with the Services Directive and if service providers really can apply online, including making any payment. We expect to have the results in June and will let you know the results. The results will also be communicated to the Audit Commission to help inform – where appropriate - their CAA processes.
Legacy Guidance
20. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' is available on the National Archive website.
Local Authorities to return an updated Progress Report
21. Please return an updated Task Status Report regardless of how far along you are with implementation. This will enable us to log progress more effectively and ensure any reporting and dealing with individual authorities is based on the most up to date information. The Task Status Report form is available on the ELMS portal:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/48
Please send all returns to: servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk with the subject title “Progress Report”
(please do not amend the form but complete as directed as it has been designed specifically to automate inputting returns into our database.)
1. Since April 2009, the Services Directive implementation team has had considerable contact with authorities to explain the Directive’s requirements and given detailed, individual and specialist help. This level of support is now ending and, with the implementation phase of the project now coming to a close, the technical support within BusinessLink will be your only practical source of help for implementation.
2. However, we recognise that some authorities will still need some dedicated help, so BIS in partnership with BusinessLink/Serco and SOCITM, has designed a “Fast Track to compliance implementation package”, comprising a status review and an optional fast track implementation. To help authorities take advantage of this, BIS will subsidise the first 50 status reviews by paying half the cost (£900).
3. The fast track implementation package, as well as making you compliant and thus minimising the possible risks (judicial review, serious reputational damage, and possible involvement in recovering fines imposed by the Commission) will lead you to having a FREE (if using ELMS) online application channel for formalities in scope of the Directive. It will also present your authority as a business enabler and an effective LEP partner. In addition, the fast track to compliance will improve your rating in any future SOCITM (and other) surveys.
4. The team has already contacted a number of authorities that are having difficulties and we would strongly encourage you to take advantage of this additional support, which is also in itself a mitigation of the risks outlined above. Those authorities that have declined may want to reconsider in light of the risks and the limited support now available. Please note that this offer will operate on a strict “first come, first served” basis. (If we have not contacted you directly, you may still be able to take advantage of the fast track facilities – please contact us to discuss further.)
To learn more about the implementation package please call Pierre MOREL, Engagement Manager on 07802 573180
5. We are aware that a number of authorities authorise activities under local acts, bye laws etc that may be in scope of the Directive, for example, auctions and second hand dealers, but which do not appear to have been reported to us in accordance with the screening guidance issued last year (see screening flowcharts for local authorities).
6. I should therefore be grateful if you would check/ensure that, where necessary, your authority has screened and reported its own authorisation schemes to BIS. (Please contact Laura Danilaviciute on laura.danilaviciute@bis.gsi.gov.uk if you have any additional queries about screening.) This should be done by no later than 30th September.
7. Remember, the ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use it. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users and, for a quicker service, you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
8. If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form on the ELMS portal to help us prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
9.
We have received very positive feedback on all of these so please do use them!
10. In order to ensure that all IMI users are aware of any future system updates and have the opportunity to provide feedback, BIS has decided to issue a regular IMI newsletter - the first issue went out in August and is available here.
11. We would like to encourage all users to have a look and to contact us at: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk if there is anything that you would like us to include. All newsletters will be available on the BIS IMI webpage and linked from the ELMS portal.
12. Please continue to return an updated Task Status Report regardless of how far along you are with implementation. This will enable us to log progress more effectively and ensure any reporting and dealing with individual authorities is based on the most up to date information. The Task Status Report form is available on the ELMS portal: Task Status Report
Please send all returns to: servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk with the subject title “Progress Report”
(please do not amend the form but complete as directed as it has been designed specifically to automate inputting returns into our database.)
For Immediate Action:
You can action the following tasks immediately, regardless of any delays/issues around technical issues such as those relating to payment:
You are legally required to provide certain information on your authority’s website plus a direct link to the Point of Single Contact. More information is available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal
You must provide BIS with a list of public registers held by your authority. You should make this list available on your website and send the relevant URL to sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk. More information is available under Task 11 on the ELMS portal
Should your authority receive a request on the IMI (Internal Market Information) system, you are required to respond via the IMI within the time specified. Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. Further information is available under Task 12 on the ELMS portal
In advance of testing (or acquiring) your e-payment engine, you can deploy those formalities that do not have any fees. (You can also localise content for formalities that do have a fee and hold off deploying them until your e-payment engine is set up.) Further information is available under Task 17 on the ELMS portal.
To ensure that your authority is fully compliant, please use the Compliance Checklists available on the ELMS portal:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/128
1. This year’s Annual Survey will now include a number of questions from the “Better connected for business: implementation of the EU Services Directive in the UK in 2010” report published in June this year. I know a number of authorities were unhappy at their rating so, in order to maintain or improve your rating in the Annual Survey, you may wish to take on board some of the recommendations and best practice pointers outlined in June’s report.
2. The Localism Bill was published on Monday 13th December and includes the legal powers to enable HMG to recover fines that result from infraction proceedings i.e. that are a consequence of not implementing EU legislation correctly or on time, from the bodies responsible. For the Services Directive, this will include all UK local authorities and other competent authorities. (The Bill can be found at: Localism Bill )
(Note: fines are based on a % of GDP and attract daily interest charges until the issue is resolved i.e. we are therefore talking about £millions rather than £hundreds.)
3. We are now approaching a full year since the Services Directive came into force. The EUGO Network of Member States, which includes the UK, will undertake a benchmarking exercise early in 2011, which aims to report to the Commission in September. This will include Member States running through a number of scenarios using each other’s PSCs. Not only will this help spread best practice but it will also flag up areas of non-compliance – to each other and to the Commission.
I will keep you informed of progress!
4. BIS announced the creation of 24 new Local Enterprise Partnerships on 28th October 2010 and 3 more on Monday 13th December (see: BIS Press Notice - new LEPs). LEPs will tackle issues such as housing; planning; local transport and infrastructure priorities; employment and enterprise and the transition to the low carbon economy.
5. If your authority is part of a new LEP (or is planning to be), then putting your licences online is an easy way to demonstrate your authority’s commitment to providing practical support for local business. We will be working with LEPs to ensure they are aware of the importance of the Directive, and its implications for business and local authorities.
6. On 1st November, the UK formally joined the Commission’s large scale pilot project SPOCS (SPOCS = Simplified Procedures Online across Borders!). This project is looking at ways to develop the PSC network, and includes looking at issues such as electronic ID, documents and signatures plus interoperability and sustainability. I don’t want to bore/frighten you with the details but the SPOCS project, together with the other large scale pilots underway, demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to developing and taking forward the PSC network and building on the work done in implementing the Services Directive.
More information about SPOCS can be found at: www.eu-spocs.eu
Again, I will keep you informed of progress and the implications it has for UK authorities and businesses.
7. Since April 2009, the Services Directive implementation team has had considerable contact with authorities to explain the Directive’s requirements and given detailed, individual and specialist help. The implementation phase of the project has now come to an end and the self service option on the ELMS portal is your only practical source of help for implementation.
8. However, we recognise that some authorities will still need some dedicated help, so BIS in partnership with BusinessLink/Serco is proposing to hold a number of free surgeries. The surgeries will include:
The benefits of the free surgery format are:
9. The implementation package, as well as making you compliant and thus minimising the possible risks (judicial review, serious reputational damage, and possible involvement in recovering fines imposed by the Commission) will lead you to having a FREE (if using ELMS) online application channel for formalities in scope of the Directive. It will also present your authority as a business enabler and an effective LEP partner. In addition, the fast track to compliance will improve your rating in future SOCITM (and other) surveys.
10. The team has already contacted a number of authorities that are having difficulties and we would strongly encourage you to take advantage of this additional support, which is also in itself a mitigation of the risks outlined above. We are looking to hold surgeries across the UK. If you are able and willing to host a surgery in your part of the country, please let Pierre know on the number below:
To learn more about the implementation package please call Pierre MOREL, Engagement Manager on 07802 573180
11. We have received very positive feedback on all of the following so please do use them!
12. In order to help authorities deploy formalities on the ELMS system, the BusinessLink ELMS Team will continue to host live webinar tutorials each week on a Thursday morning from 10:00 to 12:00.
13. Email the ELMS Team (elms@businesslink.gsi.gov.uk) with the text “Webinar” in the subject field to register your interest to participate no later than 12:00 on the Tuesday prior to the webinar you wish to attend. If the session is already full, you will have priority for the following week’s session.
14. Remember, the ELMS solution centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use it. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users, and you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
15. If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form on the ELMS portal to help us prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
17. To fully comply with the requirements of the Services Directive, you must ensure that your authority’s website information is both correct and complete and that you also have an online application form available, using either your own forms or ELMS. However, your hard work will be undermined if you have not filled in the LocalDirectGov spreadsheet or data using LDGAdmin correctly. (Note: there is a short video tutorial on this that you might find useful!)
18. Please carry out the following checks to ensure that this task has been completed correctly:
19. If you do not regulate a specific formality, you may use "N" in the relevant LGIL 0. However, best practice would be to create a page explaining that you do not regulate some activities (e.g. hairdressers) and use the web address in the relevant LGIL 8 to point to that page: this would remove any doubt in the applicant’s mind as to whether you regulate discretionary formalities or not.
If you have any questions regarding Task 5, please contact: localdirectgov@communities.gsi.gov.uk. Further detailed advice and guidance on task 5 can be found on the ELMS portal at: Task 5
20. If you accept fees, you must be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS, then you will need to have an account with one of the payment providers ELMS will be supporting. Further advice and guidance can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice that can be accessed in “Related Links” under: Task 10
21. All local authorities are required to make certain information available on their website. Further details are available under Task 14 . In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents” that sets out what is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal.
22. Note: DCMS’s forms on its website cannot be completed online and submitted to an authority, nor can an applicant pay online via the DCMS site. An authority must therefore either provide its own online forms or use ELMS to be compliant.
23. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' is available on the BIS website: Legacy Guidance
24. Please return an updated Task Status Report regardless of how far along you are with implementation. This will enable us to log progress more effectively and ensure any reporting and dealing with individual authorities is based on the most up to date information. The form is available under “related documents” at: Task Status Report
Please send all returns to: servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk with the subject title “Progress Report”
(please do not amend the form but complete as directed as it has been designed specifically to automate inputting returns into our database.)
For Immediate Action:
You can action the following tasks immediately, regardless of any delays/issues around technical issues such as those relating to payment:
You are legally required to provide certain information on your authority’s website plus a direct link to the Point of Single Contact. More information is available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal
You must provide BIS with a list of public registers held by your authority. You should make this list available on your website and send the relevant URL to sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk. More information is available under Task 11 on the ELMS portal
Should your authority receive a request on the IMI (Internal Market Information) system, you are required to respond via the IMI within the time specified. Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. Further information is available under Task 12 on the ELMS portal
In advance of testing (or acquiring) your e-payment engine, you can deploy those formalities that do not have any fees. (You can also localise content for formalities that do have a fee and hold off deploying them until your e-payment engine is set up.) Further information is available under Task 17 on the ELMS portal.
To ensure that your authority is fully compliant, please use the Compliance Checklists available on the ELMS portal:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/128
1. Since April 2009, the Services Directive implementation team has had considerable contact with authorities to explain the Directive’s requirements and given detailed, individual and specialist help. This level of support is now ending and, with the implementation phase of the project now coming to a close, the technical support within BusinessLink will be your only practical source of help for implementation.
2. However, we recognise that some authorities will still need some dedicated help, so BIS in partnership with BusinessLink/Serco and SOCITM, has designed a “Fast Track to compliance implementation package”, comprising a status review and an optional fast track implementation. To help authorities take advantage of this, BIS will subsidise the first 50 status reviews by paying half the cost (£900).
3. The fast track implementation package, as well as making you compliant and thus minimising the possible risks (judicial review, serious reputational damage, and possible involvement in recovering fines imposed by the Commission) will lead you to having a FREE (if using ELMS) online application channel for formalities in scope of the Directive. It will also present your authority as a business enabler and an effective LEP partner. In addition, the fast track to compliance will improve your rating in any future SOCITM (and other) surveys.
4. The team has already contacted a number of authorities that are having difficulties and we would strongly encourage you to take advantage of this additional support, which is also in itself a mitigation of the risks outlined above. Those authorities that have declined may want to reconsider in light of the risks and the limited support now available. Please note that this offer will operate on a strict “first come, first served” basis. (If we have not contacted you directly, you may still be able to take advantage of the fast track facilities – please contact us to discuss further.)
To learn more about the implementation package please call Pierre MOREL, Engagement Manager on 07802 573180
Please note that a significant number of authorities are already receiving a considerable number of their applications online via the PSC, it is important that ALL authorities are linked in ASAP. (Please see “Urgent Reminders” box on page 3 that explains what you need to do.)
5. Remember, the ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use it. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users and, for a quicker service, you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form on the ELMS portal to help us prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
6. In order to ensure that all IMI users are aware of any future system updates and have the opportunity to provide feedback, BIS has decided to issue a regular IMI newsletter - the first issue went out in August and is available here . We would like to encourage all users to have a look and to contact us at: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk if there is anything that you would like us to include. All newsletters will be available on the BIS IMI webpage and linked from the ELMS portal.
If not already done, please return your emails 1 & 2 asap
7. Email 1 requests information about your authority to go on the PSC and email 2 asks you to provide the relevant URL links and tacit consent information. Please note that this information is required from all authorities irrespective of whether they are using their own forms or the BIS forms service.
8. Further information about these tasks can be found on the ELMS portal at:
Task 5 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 8 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/9
Please contact servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk if you have not received emails 1 & 2 (or are not sure!)
9. If you require fees to be paid, you must also be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS (mode 3), then you will need to have an account with one of the payment providers ELMS will be supporting (Civica, Capita, Worldpay, Northgate and Bibit). If you intend to use your own forms (mode 1) then you are free to choose whichever payment provider you wish, including any of those listed.
Further advice and guidance on ELMS and Payments can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice, that can be accessed in “Related Links” under Task 10 at:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/11
10. All authorities are legally required to make certain information available on their website. Further details are available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal. In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents” on the same page: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 that sets out what information is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal.
We have also produced some "Hints & Tips" that you might find useful.
Please also consider using the EUGO logo and linking through to the Commission’s own site that contains links to other Member States’ PSCs.
11. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' explains how Departments, and any organisations or bodies which fall within their departmental remit, can ensure that any future policies and rules also comply with the Regulations. It is now available on the National Archive website.
If you intend to use the BIS forms service (mode 3) and have not yet begun the form development process, you must do so immediately. Please note that:
• The forms development process will take about 3 months to complete
• Your authority will have to meet the costs of developing any forms needed
• You must have an account with one of the payment engines ELMS will support if you collect any fees
Please consult the detailed form creation guidance available under Task 3 on the ELMS portal. If you would like BIS to create your electronic forms and have not already submitted a completed template, you must contact elms@businesslink.gsi.gov.uk immediately.
If you have already submitted a template and your form is in development, please ensure that it is progressed and finalised as soon as possible.
If you intend to use your own electronic forms (mode 1), please note that:
• You are legally required to provide a deep link directly to the UK PSC and you will therefore need to provide your website links (URLs) by responding to email 2 BIS issued in March
• If you are developing your own forms, you must tell us the “go live” date
• Please also consult the Website Toolkit Guidance document under ELMS Task 14 at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 for further details on how to link to the PSC as well as the information you are now legally required to present on your website
• You must be able to accept payments electronically if you collect any fees
If you plan to use your own electronic forms but your system is still in the early stages of development, consider using ELMS as an interim measure in order to achieve compliance more quickly.
1. To note that information about the new release of ELMS available wef 27th May can be found at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/news/show/29. This release included the integration of the Bibit payment engine into ELMS and so those authorities that use Bibit can now deploy their formalities.
If you intend to use the BIS forms service (mode 3) and have not yet begun the form development process, you must do so immediately. Please note that:
• The forms development process will take about 3 months to complete
• Your authority will have to meet the costs of developing any forms needed
• You must have an account with one of the payment engines ELMS will support if you collect any fees
Please consult the detailed form creation guidance available under Task 3 on the ELMS portal. If you would like BIS to create your electronic forms and have not already submitted a completed template, you must contact elms@businesslink.gsi.gov.uk immediately.
If you have already submitted a template and your form is in development, please ensure that it is progressed and finalised as soon as possible.
If you intend to use your own electronic forms (mode 1), please note that:
• You are legally required to provide a deep link directly to the UK PSC and you will therefore need to provide your website links (URLs) by responding to email 2 BIS issued in March
• If you are developing your own forms, you must tell us the “go live” date
• Please also consult the Website Toolkit Guidance document under ELMS Task 14 at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 for further details on how to link to the PSC as well as the information you are now legally required to present on your website
• You must be able to accept payments electronically if you collect any fees
If you plan to use your own electronic forms but your system is still in the early stages of development, consider using ELMS as an interim measure in order to achieve compliance more quickly.
2. BIS issued email 1 on 10th March and email 2 on 18th & 19th March to those authorities that had not already provided this information. Email 1 requests information about your authority to go on the PSC and email 2 asks you to provide the relevant URL links and tacit consent information. Please note that this information is required from all authorities irrespective of whether they are using their own forms or the BIS forms service.
Further information about these tasks can be found on the ELMS portal at:
Task 5 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 8 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/9
Please contact servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk if you have not received emails 1 & 2 (or are not sure!)
3. If you accept fees, you must also be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS (mode 3), then you will need to have an account with one of the payment providers ELMS will be supporting (Civica, Capita, Worldpay, Northgate and, as from 27th May, Bibit). If you intend to use your own forms (mode 1) then you are free to choose whichever payment provider you wish, including any of those listed.
4. Further advice and guidance on ELMS and Payments can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice, that can be accessed in “Related Links” under Task 10 at:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/11
5. All authorities are legally required to make certain information available on their website.
Further details are available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal. In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents” on the same page: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 that sets out what information is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal.
We have produced some “Hints & Tips” that you might find useful, which can be found on the ELMS portal at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/245
6. Please also consider using the EUGO logo and linking through to the Commission’s own site that contains links to other Member States’ PSCs.
7. The ‘live’ version of the IMI system has been available to authorities since January 2010 and a significant number of UK authorities have taken advantage of this facility. We highly recommend that ALL authorities register NOW to ensure that you can send and respond to any requests that your authority receives. If you wish to register your authority or have any questions about the IMI system please contact sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk. Registration is very easy and only takes a few minutes after which your authority will have access to the system.
Note: Should your authority receive a request you are legally required to respond to it via the IMI within the time specified by the requesting authority. If your authority is not registered and you receive a request this will be submitted through the National Liaison Point (NLP) within BIS who will contact you.
8. The ELMS (Electronic Licence Management System) and the IMI (Internal Market Information) system are two different systems designed to ease the burdens placed upon authorities and service providers alike.
Essentially, the ELMS system is authority facing, used by service providers and competent authorities and the IMI system is used only by competent authorities.
For more information on this please see:
9. In order to reduce the administrative and time burdens placed upon authorities and increase the ease with which information concerning service providers can be accessed, the IMI system will hold a 'Register of Registers' for all authorities across all Member States. Under 'article 28' of the Directive, any registers of service providers that are currently available to UK authorities should be made available to authorities in other Member States. This will include public registers, and any registers which are not publicly available but are shared with other UK authorities. If any 'non-public' registers are not available online, authorities from other Member States should be informed how and where they can be accessed.
10. Prior to a request being submitted on the IMI system, authorities are required to consult with the list of registers and establish whether the information that is being sought is already available and therefore a request need not be submitted.
The easiest way to ensure compliance with the Directive will be to make a list of registers available on your authority website, with links to these registers or details of how to access them. Informing authorities from other Member States of your registers in this way will cut down on the number of information requests they send to you. The URL of the page holding the registers should be sent to sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk.
Further information about the IMI system, including training materials, guidance notes, details of privacy statements and registers, is available on the BIS IMI webpages or contact: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk.
11. The ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use the system. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users, and you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
12. If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form available on the ELMS portal so that we can prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
13. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' explains how Departments, and any organisations or bodies which fall within their departmental remit, can ensure that any future policies and rules also comply with the Regulations. It is now available on the National Archive website.
Implementing the EU Services Directive – April 2010 update for Competent Authorities
1. The Society of IT Managers (SOCITM) on behalf of BIS is now carrying out its review of all competent authority websites to see whether they comply with the Services Directive and if service providers really can apply online, including making any payment. We expect to have the results in June and will let you know the results.
URGENT REMINDERS:
If you are using the BIS forms service…
2. If you intend to use the BIS forms service (mode 3) and have not yet begun the form development process, you must do so immediately. Please note that:
• The forms development process will take about 3 months to complete
• Your authority will have to meet the costs of developing any forms needed
• You will have to have an account with one of the 4 payment engines ELMS will support if you collect any fees (see Task 10 information in paragraph 5 below)
Please consult the detailed form creation guidance available under Task 3 on the ELMS portal. If you would like BIS to create your electronic forms and have not already submitted a completed template, you must contact elms@businesslink.gsi.gov.uk immediately.
If you have already submitted a template and your form is in development, please ensure that it is progressed and finalised as soon as possible.
If you are hosting your own electronic forms…
3. If you intend to use your own electronic forms (mode 1), please note that:
• You are legally required to provide a deep link directly to the UK PSC and you will therefore need to provide your website links (URLs) by responding to email 2 issued on 18th & 19th March
• If you are developing your own forms, you must tell us the “go live” date
• Please also consult the Website Toolkit Guidance document under ELMS Task 14 at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 for further details on how to link to the PSC as well as the information you are now legally required to present on your website.
• You must be able to accept payments electronically if you collect any fees (see Task 10 information in paragraph 5 below).
If you plan to use your own electronic forms but your system is still in the early stages of development, consider using ELMS as an interim measure in order to achieve compliance more quickly.
Digital Signatures
4. The ELMS forms now support the use of digital signatures if service providers have one and wish to use it when submitting an application. This is an opportunity for you as a competent authority to make the application process easier for those service providers that have a digital signature i.e. they do not need to provide as much supporting evidence re identification.
5. However, whilst digital signatures should ease the burden on service providers, please be aware that authorities will still be required to check that any digital signatures provided are valid, further advice and guidance is set out in the Digital Signatures Guidance Document that can be found under Training - related links - training documentation at:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/page/trainingdocs
Please note that whilst authorities may encourage the use of digital signatures, they should avoid requiring them as a matter of course: they are not the equivalent of a written signature and the requirement to have one could be seen as imposing an additional and unnecessary burden on business.
Task 5 & Task 8: emails 1 & 2 re providing URL links and formality configuration information
6. BIS issued email 1 on 10th March and email 2 on 18th & 19th March to those authorities that had not already provided this information. Email 1 requests information about your authority to go on the PSC and email 2 asks you to provide the relevant URL links and tacit consent information. Please note that this information is required from all authorities irrespective of whether they are using their own forms or the BIS forms service.
Further information about these tasks can be found on the ELMS portal at:
Task 5 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 8 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/9
Please contact servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk if you have not received emails 1 & 2 (or are not sure!)
Task 10: Accepting Electronic Payments
7. If you accept fees, you must also be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS (mode 3), then you will need to have an account with one of the 4 payment providers ELMS will be supporting (Civica, Capita, Worldpay and Northgate). If you intend to use your own forms (mode 1) then you are free to choose whichever payment provider you wish, including any of the 4 listed.
Further advice and guidance on ELMS and Payments can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice, that can be accessed in “Related Links” under Task 10 at:
http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/11
Task 14: Preparing your Authority’s Website Content
8. All authorities are legally required to make certain information available on their website.
Further details are available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal. In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents” on the same page: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 that sets out what information is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal. Please also consider using the EUGO logo and linking through to the Commission’s own site that contains links to other PSCs.
Internal Market Information (IMI) system
Task 12: IMI ‘Live’ Version
9. The ‘live’ version of the IMI system has been available to authorities since January 2010 and a number of UK authorities have taken advantage of this facility. If you wish to register your authority or have any questions about the IMI system please contact sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Should your authority receive a request you are legally required to respond to it via the IMI within the time specified by the requesting authority. If your authority is not registered and you receive a request this will be submitted through the National Liaison Point (NLP) within BIS who will contact you.
Task 11: Registers
10. In order to reduce the administrative and time burdens placed upon authorities and increase the ease with which information concerning service providers can be accessed, the IMI system will hold a 'Register of Registers' for all authorities across all Member States. Under 'article 28' of the Directive, any registers of service providers that are currently available to UK authorities should be made available to authorities in other Member States. This will include public registers, and any registers which are not publicly available but are shared with other UK authorities. If any 'non-public' registers are not available online, authorities from other Member States should be informed how and where they can be accessed.
Prior to a request being submitted on the IMI system, authorities are required to consult with the list of registers and establish whether the information that is being sought is already available and therefore a request need not be submitted.
11. The easiest way to ensure compliance with the Directive will be to make a list of registers available on your authority website, with links to these registers or details of how to access them. Informing authorities from other Member States of your registers in this way will cut down on the number of information requests they send to you. The URL of the page holding the registers should be sent to sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk.
Further information about the IMI system, including training materials, guidance notes, details of privacy statements and registers, is available on the BIS IMI webpages or contact: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk .
ELMS Solution Centre
12. The ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use the system. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users, and you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form available on the ELMS portal so that we can prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
Legacy Guidance
13. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' explains how Departments, and any organisations or bodies which fall within their departmental remit, can ensure that any future policies and rules also comply with the Regulations. It is now available on the National Archive website.
Implementing the EU Services Directive – March 2010 update for Competent Authorities
UK Point of Single Contact launched at FSB’s Annual Conference in March
1. The UK's Point of Single Contact on www.businesslink.gov.uk was successfully launched by the Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills at the Federation of Small Businesses’ Annual Conference in Aberdeen on 19th March 2010. In addition, most of the major business organisations have agreed to send information about the new features on BusinessLink to their members.
Read more about the launch on the FSB website: http://www.fsb.org.uk/. The FSB have also produced this useful short guide for businesses on the Services Directive.
Businesses will now expect to be able to make applications online and those authorities that are not in a position to fulfil their legal obligations will become more visible and potentially exposed to legal challenge.
If you are using the BIS forms service…
2. If you have chosen to use the BIS forms service (mode 3) and have not yet begun the process of developing your forms, you must do so immediately. Please be aware that:
• The forms development process will take about 3 months to complete
• Your authority will have to meet the costs of developing any forms needed
• You will have to have an account with one of the 4 payment engines ELMS will support if you collect any fees (see Task 10 information in paragraph 5 below)
Please consult the detailed form creation guidance available under Task 3 on the ELMS portal. If you would like BIS to create your electronic forms and have not already submitted a completed template, you must contact elms@businesslink.gsi.gov.uk immediately.
If you are hosting your own electronic forms…
3. If you are intending to use your own electronic forms (mode 1), please be aware that:
• You are required to provide a deep link directly to the UK PSC and you will therefore need to provide your website links (URLs) by responding to email 2 issued on 18th & 19th March
• If you are developing your own forms, you must tell us the “go live” date
• Please also consult the Website Toolkit Guidance document under ELMS Task 14 at: http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/media/show/67 for further details on how to link to the PSC as well as the information you are required to present on your website.
• You must also be able to accept payments electronically if you collect any fees (see Task 10 information in paragraph 5 below).
If you plan to use your own electronic forms but your system is still in the early stages of development, consider using ELMS as an interim measure in order to achieve compliance more quickly.
Task 5 & Task 8: emails 1 & 2 re providing URL links and formality configuration information
4. BIS issued email 1 on 10th March and email 2 on 18th & 19th March to those authorities that had not already provided this information. Email 1 requests information about your authority to go on the PSC and email 2 asks you to provide the relevant URL links and tacit consent information. Please note that this information is required from all authorities.
Further information about these tasks can be found on the ELMS portal at:
Task 5 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 8 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/9
Task 10: Accepting Electronic Payments
5. If you accept fees, you will also have to be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS (mode 3), then you will need to have an account with one of the 4 payment providers ELMS will be supporting (Civica, Capita, Worldpay and Northgate). If you intend to use your own forms (mode 1) then you are free to choose whichever payment provider you wish, including any of the 4 listed.
Further advice and guidance on ELMS and Payments can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice, that can be accessed in “Related Links” under Task 10.
Task 14: Preparing your Authority’s Website Content
6. All authorities are legally required to make certain information available on their website.
Further details are available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal. In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents” on the same page that sets out what information is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal. Please also consider using the EUGO logo and linking through to the Commission’s own site that contains links to other PSCs.
ELMS Solution Centre
7. The ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use the system. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback form users, and you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
8. If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form available on the ELMS portal so that we can prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
Legacy Guidance
9. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' explains how Departments, and any organisations or bodies which fall within their departmental remit, can ensure that any future policies and rules also comply with the Regulations. It is now available on the National Archive website.
IMI Registration as a Legal Requirement
10. Now that the IMI system has transferred from the 'pilot' stage to the 'live' version, authorities are sending 'real' requests for information concerning service providers operating across borders. Should your authority receive a request you are legally required to respond on the IMI system within the time specified by the requesting authority.
If your authority is not registered on the IMI system and an authority in another Member State wishes to send your authority a request, it will be directed through the National Liaison Point (NLP) located in BIS. As the time frames still apply, you will have to register and become acquainted with the system before responding. We therefore strongly recommend that you register now to ensure your authority is adequately prepared.
For further information about the IMI system, including details of privacy statements and registers, please see the BIS IMI webpages or contact: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk
1. The Localism Bill was published on Monday 13th December and includes the legal powers to enable HMG to recover fines that result from infraction proceedings i.e. that are a consequence of not implementing EU legislation correctly or on time, from the bodies responsible. For the Services Directive, the definition of public bodies includes all UK local authorities and other competent authorities, including regulators, Non Departmental Public Bodies, Other Government Departments, professional bodies and private companies. (The Bill can be found at: Localism Bill )
(Note: EU fines are based on a % of GDP and attract daily interest charges until the issue is resolved i.e. we are therefore talking about £millions rather than £hundreds.)
2. We are now approaching a full year since the Services Directive came into effect. The EUGO Network of Member States, which includes the UK, will undertake a benchmarking exercise early in 2011, which aims to report to the Commission in September. This will include Member States running through a number of scenarios using each other’s PSCs. Not only will this help spread best practice but it will also flag up areas of non-compliance – to each other and to the Commission.
I will keep you informed of progress!
3. On 1st November, the UK formally joined the Commission’s large scale pilot project SPOCS (SPOCS = Simplified Procedures Online across Borders!). This project is looking at ways to develop the PSC network, and includes looking at issues such as electronic ID, documents and signatures plus interoperability and sustainability. I won’t bore/frighten you with the details but the SPOCS project, together with the other large scale pilots underway, demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to developing and taking forward the PSC network and building on the work done in implementing the Services Directive.
More information about SPOCS can be found at: www.eu-spocs.eu
Again, I will keep you informed of progress and the implications it has for UK authorities and businesses.
4. Since April 2009, the Services Directive implementation team has had considerable contact with authorities to explain the Directive’s requirements and given detailed, individual and specialist help. The implementation phase of the project has now come to an end and the self service option on the ELMS portal is your only practical source of help for implementation
5. However, we recognise that some authorities will still need some dedicated help, so BIS in partnership with BusinessLink/Serco is proposing to hold a number of free surgeries. The surgeries will include:
The benefits of the free surgery format are:
6. The implementation package, as well as making you compliant and thus minimising the possible risks (judicial review, serious reputational damage, and possible involvement in recovering fines imposed by the Commission) will lead you to having a FREE (if using ELMS) online application channel for formalities in scope of the Directive. The team has already contacted a number of authorities that are having difficulties and we would strongly encourage you to take advantage of this additional support, which is also in itself a mitigation of the risks outlined above.
7. The team also provides a more comprehensive service where a dedicated resource can carry out the implementation work for you. The typical approach is to carry out a “Status Review” first where a full evaluation of your progress to compliance is made, with an optional follow up addressing the identified compliance gaps. This service is chargeable but can be customised to best address your needs.
Please contact Pierre Morel on 07802 573180 in the first instance.
To learn more about the implementation package please call Pierre MOREL, Engagement Manager on 07802 573180
8. Remember, the ELMS Solution Centre is your first point of call if you are experiencing any problems using the live system or if you have any questions on how to use it. This information is regularly updated, based on feedback from users and, for a quicker service, you should refer to this before raising a query with the ELMS team.
9. If you wish to raise any new issues and queries with the ELMS team, please use the feedback form on the ELMS portal to help us prioritise and deal with them more effectively.
10. In order to ensure that all IMI users are aware of any future system updates and have the opportunity to provide feedback, BIS has decided to issue a regular IMI newsletter - the first issue went out in August and is available here.
11. We would like to encourage all users to have a look and to contact us at: sdimi@bis.gsi.gov.uk if there is anything that you would like us to include. All newsletters will be available on the BIS IMI webpage and linked from the ELMS portal.
12. Email 1 requests information about your authority to go on the PSC and email 2 asks you to provide the relevant URL links and tacit consent information. Please note that this information is required from all authorities irrespective of whether they are using their own forms or the BIS forms service.
Further information about these tasks can be found on the ELMS portal at:
Task 5 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/6
Task 8 - http://elmsportal.businesslink.gov.uk/authority/tasks/9
Please contact servicesdirective@bis.gsi.gov.uk if you have not received emails 1 & 2 (or are not sure!)
13. If you require fees to be paid, you must also be able to accept payments electronically. If you intend to use the BIS forms hosted on ELMS (mode 3), then you will need to have an account with one of the payment providers ELMS will be supporting (Civica, Capita, Worldpay, Northgate and Bibit). If you intend to use your own forms (mode 1) then you are free to choose whichever payment provider you wish, including any of those listed.
14. Further advice and guidance on ELMS and Payments can be found in the “Implementing Payments – ELMS Electronic License Management System” document that can be found on the Community of Practice, that can be accessed in “Related Links” under Task 10 at: Task 10 on the ELMS portal
All authorities are legally required to make certain information available on their website.
15. Further details are available under Task 14 on the ELMS portal. In particular, please refer to the Website Toolkit Guidance under “Related Documents” that sets out what information is required and why, plus details of how to link to the appropriate BusinessLink portal.
We have also produced some "Hints & Tips" that you might find useful.
16. Please also consider using the EUGO logo and linking through to the Commission’s own site that contains links to other Member States’ PSCs.
17. Guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 'What to do if your work affects service businesses' explains how Departments, and any organisations or bodies which fall within their departmental remit, can ensure that any future policies and rules also comply with the Regulations. It is available on the National Archive website.
If you are using the BIS forms service…
If you intend to use the BIS forms service (mode 3) and have not yet begun the form development process, you must do so immediately. Please note that:
Please consult the detailed form creation guidance available under Task 3 on the ELMS portal. If you would like BIS to create your electronic forms and have not already submitted a completed template, you must contact elms@businesslink.gsi.gov.uk immediately.
If you have already submitted a template and your form is in development, please ensure that it is progressed and finalised as soon as possible.
If you are hosting your own electronic forms…
If you intend to use your own electronic forms (mode 1), please note that:
If you plan to use your own electronic forms but your system is still in the early stages of development, consider using ELMS as an interim measure in order to achieve compliance more quickly.
Transparency and accountability are the most important elements of good corporate governance. This includes:
The corporate governance framework in the UK operates at a number of levels:
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, announced on 22 June 2011 that Professor John Kay had been asked to examine investment in UK equity markets and its impact on the long-term performance and governance of UK quoted companies.
The review follows on from the Department’s call for evidence ‘A long-term focus for corporate Britain’ launched in October 2010, which explored issues of economic short-termism in the UK, and a number of broader corporate governance issues surrounding takeovers and executive pay. A summary of responses to this call for evidence was published in March 2011. The responses to the call for evidence found that there was evidence of short-termism in UK equity markets and of some agency problems in the investment chain. It was these findings which prompted the Kay Review.
On 15 September 2011, Professor Kay launched the Kay Review’s call for evidence at the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), where he outlined his philosophy and objectives for the review. The call for evidence paper built on the previously published terms of reference, and set out a range of issues and questions on which we sought evidence.
Following this, on 29 February 2012 Professor John Kay published the Interim Report of his independent review. The Interim Report summarises the responses to the review’s call for evidence and presents a broad discussion of the issues raised.
All information relating to the Kay Review can be found at the Kay Review page, which includes the reviews call for evidence document, the summary of responses to the call for evidence and the Kay Review Interim Report.
This discussion paper looks at the issues surrounding executive remuneration. It builds on the evidence received in response to A long-term focus for corporate Britain (PDF, 447 Kb) , the existing body of research and conversations with business, shareholders and other stakeholders. The discussion paper can be found at the following:Executive remuneration discussion paper it closes on 25 November 2011
Responses should be sent to: executivepaydiscussionpaper@bis.gsi.gov.uk or you can write to
Executive Pay Discussion Paper
Business Environment
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
Proposals to simplify the financial and corporate reporting requirements for the smallest businesses are the subject of a discussion paper published 25 August 2011 by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).
Simpler reporting for the smallest businesses: discussion paper sets out ideas to reduce the amount of reporting micro-entities would be required to undertake. This could benefit around million businesses and result in considerable cost savings in relation to preparation of their accounts.
The paper is not intended as a statement of Government policy. It has been developed to stimulate discussion and gather evidence before the Government decides to take forward any further action in this area. The period for submitting responses has closed and are currently being reviewed.
Footnote: The attached corrigendum should be applied to all earlier versions of this document, printed prior to 23 September 2011.
On 5th April 2011 the European Commission published its Green Paper on 'The EU Corporate Governance Framework'. Details of the consultation and Green Paper can be found at the Commission website. BIS contacted stakeholders and interested parties in order to inform the government response, which was published 22 July 2011.
The Lord Davies independent review into Women on Boards was published on 24 February 2011. Further information including the review itself and press release can be found on the Women on Boards page.
On 25th October 2010 the Secretary of State for Business Vince Cable launched the first stage of a review into corporate governance and economic short-termism by issuing a call for evidence.
The document and further information can be found at http://www.bis.gov.uk/Consultations and http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm79/7915/7915.asp
The consultation has now closed. The Government will publish the next steps of its wider review of corporate governance in the summer.
The Export Control Organisation is responsible for issuing export licences for so-called "strategic" goods. This includes a wide range of items including military and dual-use goods, firearms, nuclear, chemical, biological products and much more, as well items that are controlled when transmitted electronically.
If your query is about export controls that are not within the remit of ECO's activities, then you are advised to consult the advice on the Businesslink website - Do you need an export or import licence?
The ECO's Helpline is on hand for general queries about strategic export licensing.
Export Control Organisation
3rd Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Tel: 020 7215 4594
Fax: 020 7215 2635
Email:
eco.help@bis.gsi.gov.uk
If you have a specific query about a licence application being made via our SPIRE export licensing database, you can contact the relevant case officer. View the list of Contact Details for Export Licence Application Enquiries which is published on the SPIRE website.
Remember to include your SPIRE licence application reference number in any communication with ECO.
We strongly urge you not to progress chase licence applications that are within the 20 day working target, due to high call volumes.
The ECO delivers a wide range of training and seminars to our customers via our UK Export Control Training and Skills Academy. From here you can find details on current scheduled training dates and how to book bespoke courses.
Denise Carter
Awareness Co-ordinator
Export Control Organisation
Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
Bay 360
1 Victoria Street
London, SW1H 0ET
Tel: 020 7215 4459
Fax: 020 7215 0531
E-mail : denise.carter@bis.gsi.gov.uk or web.comments@bis.gsi.gov.uk
The ECO provides an email newsletter called “Notices to Exporters”. Via this notification service you will be kept informed via email of the latest information issued by the Export Control Organisation including updates on legislation and sanctions, notification of Open General Licence revocations and other export control related issues. We issue approximately 30 notices annually about legislative updates and other changes.
You can subscribe either via email, RSS feed 
To register by email you need to provide us with:
The list will be handled in accordance with Department for Business departmental instructions for handing protect and commercial in confidence material.
You should note that this mailing list is separate to the contact details you need to provide to register or apply for licences on the SPIRE export licensing database.
It is also separate to any other central Department for Business or Businesslink registration or mailing list functions.
We welcome constructive suggestions for improving the services we provide. For comments on our website and our other services, please contact us on web.comments@bis.gsi.gov.uk
If you are dissatisfied with the service we provide, we would like to know. In the first instance, you should speak to your usual contact in the ECO, such as your case licensing officer.
If you are still not satisfied, you should write to:
Head of Compliance, Export Control Organisation, 3rd Floor, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET
We will then investigate the complaint and give you a full response.
Our commitments to customer service, including timescales for responding to complaints are published in the ECO's Service and Performance Code. Further details about our service to customers can be found on the export control pages on the Businesslink website.
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 16 February 2012
If items exported from the United Kingdom are controlled, then a licence is needed to legally export. Exporters are responsible for complying with the law, understanding the regulations and keeping informed.
All licences applications are risk assessed on a case by case basis, with regard to the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Licences are issued by the the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Businesslink is the official site for business advice and support. This site now includes all practical guidance and advice aimed at businesses, intermediaries, individuals and academics who need to be aware of export licences issued by the Export Control Organisation. The guidance includes the Control Lists, information on arms embargoes, all current OGEL licences, compliance requirements, how to apply for a licence and the required documentation, details of advisory services and much more.
On this site (the Department of Business website), we publish the following:
UK Export Control: "Promoting global security through strategic export controls, facilitating responsible exports"
Winner of the Better Regulation Award
at the The National Business Awards 2010
Export Control Organisation
Updated: January 2012
The content covered in these pages applies to England only. Higher education policy for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is covered by their respective parliaments and assemblies.
On 29 February 2012 Professor John Kay published the Interim Report of his independent review to examine investment in UK equity markets and its impact on the long-term performance and governance of UK quoted companies. The Interim Report summarises the responses to the review’s call for evidence and presents a broad discussion of the issues raised. It is available via the following link.
The comments and proposals discussed in the report signal areas of interest for the final report but do not represent its provisional conclusions. Professor Kay is not making any recommendations at this stage. He will present his final report, including recommendations for action, to the Secretary of State for Business in the summer.
Copies of the responses to the call for evidence are available via the following link:
Interested parties with additional evidence relevant to the Review can make a submission to the secretariat by email to: kayreview@bis.gsi.gov.uk. The deadline for receiving further submissions is Friday 27 April 2012.
The Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, commissioned Professor Kay to undertake the review on 22 June 2011.
In August, Professor Kay appointed three senior city figures to form an Advisory Board for the review:
• Sir John Rose, former Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce plc;
• James Anderson, Partner and Manager at Baillie Gifford; and
• Chris Hitchen, Chief Executive of the Railways Pension Trustee Company, and Chairman of the Pensions Quality Mark.
On 15 September 2011, Professor Kay launched the Kay Review’s call for evidence at the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF). Professor Kay’s speech, outlining his philosophy and objectives for the review, is available via the following link.
Professor Kay's Speech-call for evidence launch
The call for evidence paper built on the previously published terms of reference, and sets out a range of issues and questions on which we asked for evidence. A copy of the paper is available via the following link. This call for evidence closed on 18 November 2011.
Kay Review call for evidence paper
The review’s principal focus is to ask how well equity markets are achieving their core purposes: to enhance the performance of UK companies by facilitating investment and enabling effective governance and decision making in support of long-term profitability and growth; and to enable investors to benefit from this corporate activity in the form of returns from equity investment.
It is considering to what extent equity market participants are excessively focused on short-term outcomes to the detriment of these core purposes, and if so, what actions might be taken to address this. It is examining the incentives, motivations and timescales of all participants in the equity markets – from end investors, through pension funds, advisers, fund managers, and the markets, to company boards – and the relationships between them.
The review team may be contacted by post or e-mail at the following addresses, or by telephone on +44(0)20 7215 5098
The Kay Review
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Spur 1, Floor 3
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
• September 2011 - Publication of the review’s call for evidence paper.
• 18 November 2011 - Initial consultation period based on call for evidence closes.
• 29 February 2012 - Interim report providing an overview of the submissions received in response to the call for evidence and a discussion of the issues raised.
• 27 April 2012 - Deadline for submission of any additional evidence following the Interim Report.
• Summer 2012 - Final report to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, making recommendations.
The original broad terms of reference for the review, published in June 2011, are available via the following link.
The review follows on from the Department’s call for evidence ‘A long-term focus for corporate Britain’ launched in October 2010, which explored issues of economic short-termism in the UK, and a number of broader corporate governance issues surrounding takeovers and executive pay. A summary of responses to this call for evidence was published in March 2011. The responses to the call for evidence found that there was evidence of short-termism in UK equity markets and of some agency problems in the investment chain. It was these findings which prompted the Kay Review. The call for evidence document, the summary of responses and further information can be found at:
A Long-Term Focus for Corporate Britain: A Call for Evidence
The Kay Review of UK Equity Markets and Long-Term Decision Making
Open date: 15 Sep 2011
Closing date: 18 Nov 2011
This call for evidence is now closed.
On 15th September 2011, Professor Kay launched the review’s call for evidence which built on the previously published terms of reference, and set out a range of issues and questions on which we asked for evidence.
A full list of those who responded to the call for evidence can be found here:List
All responses are arranged in alphabetical order by name of respondent:
A- B
kay-review-responses-organisation-a-b
C - E
kay-review-responses-organisation-c-e
F - I
kay-review-responses-organisation-f-i
J - N
kay-review-responses-organisation-j-n
Q - S
kay-review-responses-organisation-q-s
T- U
kay-review-responses-organisation-t-u
A-J
kay-review-responses-individual-a-j
L-W
kay-review-responses-individual-l-w
Six other respondents requested that their response be kept confidential
On this page you will find out about the range of activities that the UK Government is involved with across the CR agenda.
The Office of the Third Sector was created in May 2006 when the Active Communities Directorate in the Home Office, and the Social Enterprise Unit, in the former Department for Trade and Industry, amalgamated. The decision to place the OTS at the centre of Government in the Cabinet Office was taken in recognition of the increasingly important role the third sector plays in both society and the economy.
The Office of the Third Sector supports the following projects and programmes: Charitable Giving, Youth Volunteering
The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) was created in May 2006 and takes a strategic lead across Government on:
One of our main strategic objectives is to build prosperous communities by improving the economic performance of cities, sub-regions and local areas, promoting regeneration and tackling deprivation.
As part of this, we aim to promote and engage the private sector to participate in neighbourhood renewal and regeneration projects and we work closely with Business in the Community to achieve this aim. Further information on CLG's current and recent work.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has policy responsibility for museums, galleries and libraries, the built heritage, the arts, sport, education, broadcasting and the media and tourism, as well as the creative industries and the National Lottery.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently involved in the following CR-related projects: Creative Partnerships (Schools and Creative Professionals) and Cultural Diversity Network (Broadcasting)
Contacts: email: enquiries@culture.gov.uk, telephone: +44 (0) 20 7211 6200
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) aims to give children an excellent start in education, to enable young people to equip themselves with life and work skills, and to encourage adults to achieve their full potential through learning.
Projects and Programmes: The DfES has links with CR through the following work; Business Relations Team, School Business Links
DEFRA’s aim is sustainable development, which means a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come, including:
A better environment at home and internationally, and sustainable use of natural resources
Economic prosperity through sustainable farming, fishing, food, water and other industries that meet consumers' requirements
Thriving economies and communities in rural areas and a countryside for all to enjoy
DEFRA is currently involved in the following CR-related projects:
The Department for International Development’s overall aim is to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable development. We focus our efforts on the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, but also contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development in middle-income countries, including those in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Central to our policy is a commitment to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015.
We work with government departments and development agencies to promote coherent, poverty-reducing international action on CR. We are also looking at ways of involving the private sector in poverty reduction, through their CR activity.
We support the following CR-related initiatives: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Ethical Trading Initiative, Just Pensions, Fair Trade
BIS's goal is to create the conditions for business success and help the UK to respond to the challenge of globalisation. Our work involves helping people and companies become more productive by promoting enterprise, innovation and creativity by:
The UK Sustainable Development Strategy commits all government departments to produce sustainable development action plans.
BIS Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) (PDF)
BIS has been involved in the following CR-related projects:
The Department for Transport is currently involved in the following CR-related project:
For further information on Travel Plans and other transport-related CR information, visit:
The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the Government’s welfare reform agenda. Its aim is to promote opportunity and independence for all.It delivers support and advice through a modern network of services to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children, and disabled people.
The Department for Work and Pensions has links with CR through the following work:
In addition to this, the Department for Work and Pensions is also a member of the UK OECD National Contact Point Steering Board which oversees the UK NCP and plays a key role in promoting the labour principles of the UN Global Compact.
The Environment Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. It's our job to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world. The Business section of our website details a wide range of initiative to support CR initiatives which help green business
Projects and programmes: Improving your business performance - Good environmental management goes hand in hand with good business performance. These pages contain information on our research work targeted at influencing the environmental policies of business, and specifically the finance and investment sectors. Our research work is designed to support and complement our pension fund investment strategy, supporting our belief that companies that manage and reduce their environmental risks are well run, profitable companies.
Our most recent publications in this are include:
In addition it includes our section on environmental accounting, which provides practical advice, based on our own experience of developing an environmental accounting system, on how implementing such a strategy without an organisation can deliver both financial and environmental savings.
The role of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is to co-ordinate and pursue UK policies abroad. The FCO works on CR at three levels.
Overseas, with the support of our network of Posts, we promote CR principles to governments, companies and civil society and explain the role that they can play in promoting sustainable development and preventing conflict.
Multilaterally, through the CR activities of international organisations, we help to incorporate CR action in the outcomes of international fora, such as the Africa Action Plan, which emerged from the G8 Kananaskis Summit, and through the World Summit for Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation.
In the UK, we seek to mainstream CR in the FCO and UK Trade & Investment by ensuring that international considerations are adequately reflected in the Government’s CR policies, and by using out network of UK contacts in companies and non-governmental organisations to further the Government’s CR objectives.
The UK Embassies Overseas website which includes news and events that promote the UK's policies and activities to host countries.
The FCO is currently involved in the following CR related projects and programmes: UN Global Compact, Voluntary principles on security and human rights, Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights
Together with the Department for International Development, we also promote the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive
Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees. HSE and local Government inspectors enforce the law.
HSE’s ‘A Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain to 2021 and beyond’ includes in its aims:
CR-related programmes for HSE include considering health and safety at board level, public reporting by companies on health and safety, and maintaining a health and safety performance index.
HSE Corporate Responsibility pages
HSE has produced free guidance relating to CR. On the HSE website you can also find guidance on specific health and safety issues.
Further information can be obtained from HSE’s Infoline on 0845 345 0055 or email hse.infoline@natbrit.com
HM Revenue and Customs’ aim is to ensure society’s financial wellbeing. Our main functions:
We hosted a Corporate Responsibility Summit on 24th October 2006 (PDF) at which HRH the Prince of Wales and the Chancellor of the Exchequer made key note speeches. They launched a debate about how the private, public and voluntary sectors can overcome the barriers to working together, learn from each other and have a greater impact on the issues that face our society.
Working with the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Sustainability, we co-hosted a business breakfast for leaders from large businesses, major investors and tax advisers to discuss what part responsible tax behaviour plays in Corporate Responsibility.
We are facilitating further discussion and action on this issue through our consultative forums.
We collect and administer a range of taxes, levies and duties through which the government seeks to change economic behaviour that impacts on the environment.
We administer the tax relief on donations to charities through payroll giving. This is an effective way of enhancing the monetary and social value of the link between donors and their nominated charity. Over 10% of our own staff make donations in this way.
We work with the voluntary and community sector on many of the issues facing our society, particularly to help some of our most vulnerable and hard to reach customers.
With responsibility for so many activities that impact on the well-being of people and businesses in the UK, we must be leaders by example. Our plans for transforming our organisation into one that is fully and consistently corporately responsible (PDF).
HM Treasury is responsible for formulating and implementing the UK Government's financial and economic policy. Specific objectives include promoting UK economic prosperity and stronger economic growth, and expanding economic and employment opportunities for all.
HM Treasury has hosted occasional CR-related events. In October 2006 the department collaborated with HMRC to host a summit on responsible giving (PDF), attended by HRH Prince Charles and Prime Minister Gordon Brown (then Chancellor). The summit showcased UK collaborative best practice through exhibition stands and workshops, and brought together leaders from business, the third sector and government to share ideas on how to integrate and sustain corporate responsibility activities across individual businesses and sectors for long term benefit.
HM Treasury is currently involved in the following CR-related initiatives: Support for the Third Sector, Volunteering and charitable giving, Community Investment Tax Relief, Unclaimed assets
The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging business to contribute positively to society, in whatever form this might take. It believes that CR should be about enabling, not regulating. Businesses are encouraged to tell the Government how they could help to deliver Government objectives and Government policy areas are encouraged to think how businesses using CR could help in the delivery of these objectives.
CR impacts on all of the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives. A wide range of current Government policies promote aspects of CR in the areas of wealthier and fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter and greener. Partnerships with business can help to deliver policy objectives
The 2008/11 Programme for Government (PfG) outlines the link between the economic, environmental and social priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive. Growing a dynamic innovative economy is at the heart of the Executive’s PfG, but, Departments’ policies and strategies recognise that the development of the economy is inextricably linked to the development of society and the enhancement and protection of the local and global environment.
In line with the guiding principles of the NI Sustainable Development Strategy and the NI Biodiversity strategy the Executive recognises the importance of promoting socially and environmentally responsible practices so that in the pursuit of a dynamic, competitive economy, Northern Ireland does not lose sight of how economic growth impacts on the community and the environment.
To further this aim NI Departments have sought to work with and encourage organisations such as Business in the Community (BitC), the Princes Trust and Further Education Colleges to promote Corporate Responsibility (CR) in Northern Ireland. Businesses are encouraged to go beyond statutory obligations and voluntarily take further steps to improve the quality of life for employees, consider the interests of society and take responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, the local community and the environment. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI) works with stakeholders to improve systems for disseminating good practice examples and raising awareness of initiatives. Acknowledging that Businesses are the primary actors in CR, they are encouraged to contribute positively to improving their impact on society, in whatever form this might take.
Email: economics@detini.gov.uk
On 22 March 2006, the European Commission published a new Communication on Corporate Responsibility, and through it, launched the European Alliance for CR - an umbrella network for discussion and debate on new and existing CR initiatives by large companies, SMEs and their stakeholders.
The Alliance lays the foundations to promote CR in the future. It revolves around the following activities:
The Commission has adopted this approach as it is convinced that companies’ CR activities can contribute to a number of its policy objectives, from increasing European competitiveness to making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
The Alliance will be the hub of European activity on CR by enabling networking across a range of businesses and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge of CR practices.
It aims to mobilise the resources and capacity of businesses and their stakeholders in order to:
While the Alliance will be principally business-led and business-run, it is an opportunity to create new partnerships and develop new opportunities with other stakeholders - charities and other civil society organisations that benefit from the wealth of CR programmes businesses are engaged in.
The Alliance is addressed to individual businesses. This reflects the European Commission’s view that CR takes primarily a voluntary approach, encouraging engagement from a diversity of European businesses. The success of the Alliance and the effectiveness of its outcomes also depend on business engagement with other stakeholders, who are invited to make full use of the opportunities the Alliance offers, by working closely with businesses who would like to take part. Any business, whatever its size, can become involved.
It is an informal grouping and does not involve specific rules or requirements, a charter, signatures or heavy processes, nor will it be managed by the European Commission. It relies on the support of business organisations and the business community itself. Business organisations such as UNICE, the European business federation, will help co-ordinate matters in relation to the Alliance, keep track of developments and activities and communicate them to companies. They will generally act as an interface between Alliance companies and the EU institutions, and foster contacts between those companies. The CBI will form the link in the UK and BERR will work closely with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Business in the Community (BitC), the leading CR charity supporting business.
The Alliance will:
Businesses will be able to determine for themselves to what extent they would like to be involved. However, they are expected to:
Commitment and mutual trust will be vital to the success of this initiative. The results will need to be ambitious, concrete and measurable in order to demonstrate that the natural path for CR is within the everyday business practices of companies.
More information on the Alliance is included in the Annex of the European Commission’s Communication.
The Communication (published 22 March) states that CR can make a significant contribution to the competitiveness of the European economy and the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. The Communication aims to make Europe a ‘pole of excellence’ on CR. A new approach that inspires more enterprises to become involved in the agenda.
It proposes that the European business community should publicly demonstrate its commitment to CR, sustainable development, economic growth and more and better jobs. This includes co-operation with other stakeholders. The European Commission is keen to give greater visibility to CR, to acknowledge what European enterprises already do in this field and to encourage them to do more.
In line with this approach the Commission has announced its backing for the launch of a European Alliance on CR - an open alliance for which European enterprises of all sizes are invited to express their support and contribute to developing CR across Europe. The proposed alliance is a loose umbrella, which will encourage a climate of participation and thinking on CR.
The Government launched its 'Consumer Empowerment Strategy; Better Choices: Better Deals. Consumers Powering Growth' on 13 April 2011.
Download Better Choices: Better Deals - Consumers Powering Growth
The strategy sets out what Government and others can do to help increase consumer power in a rapidly changing and demanding economy. It aims to put consumers in charge so that they are better able to get the best deals for themselves, individually and collectively.
It also looks at ways of helping the most vulnerable and disadvantaged who may not otherwise benefit from rapid technological and social change.
An innovative non-regulatory approach, working in partnership with businesses, consumer groups and 3rd sector bodies, it will contribute to economic growth by putting information and influence into the hands of consumers.
The report is split into four sections:
A new project ‘midata’ will give consumers more control and access to their personal data.
As service providers and retailers, many businesses store purchasing information about their customers. Government wants to work with these businesses to come up with a solution that allows consumers to access this information, analyse it according to their own preferences and make better choices.
The aim is for data to be portable and safe. Consumers can choose how to share this data to take advantage of the growing number of computer and phone Apps that can tell them how to find a better deal, or provide more information about their spending habits. Consumers will not have to share or access data and Government will not see any of the data.
A working group of business, consumer and privacy groups, and computer App developers will look at how to release data in an open reusable format. They will also look at privacy, security and legal issues.
Did you know:
There are 12.7 million different phone deals to choose from, and a survey from Billmonitor shows that the average mobile phone user overspends by £200 a year. Using the personal data a phone company holds, such as whether a customer uses all their minutes or exceed their internet allowance, could help consumers to find a better deal.
Consumers are increasingly able to provide feedback on service, which can in turn affect business performance. Business will respond to this increased consumer engagement by being increasingly innovative and competitive, which will stimulate economic growth for the benefit of all.
Government will develop a quality mark for web and comparison sites that have clear and transparent consumer-feedback. This will enable consumers to know they can trust the feedback they read.
The Government will support collective purchasing – the power of the crowd to collaborate and get the best deals.
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A BIS/Co-Operatives UK Innovation Prize on collective purchasing will be launched in order to stimulate new collective purchasing deals - this has since been taken forward through the Buy Better Together Challenge. For further details as well as case studies and a discussion forum on, see the Community Buying website
Business will be integral to supporting collective purchasing:; there will be a pilot on collective purchasing in green deals to save consumers money with B&Q - now under way.
BIS will build a toolkit for community organisers and others to facilitate collective purchasing, including clear advice on insurance and legal issues - now published, see Guide for Community Buying Groups.
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Did you know:
The Government wants to ensure that everyone has access to better choices and that the most vulnerable are empowered.
Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Consumer Focus have been asked to conduct a joint review, creating a new, strategic approach to helping the most vulnerable consumers.
BIS will also be looking at a new resolution scheme for online and e-commerce disputes.The Cabinet Office, in partnership with Argos, will run a trial on the impact of providing access to consumer feedback in stores.
This is a new approach and marks a shift away from legislating to make change happen. Instead it announces new ways to help consumers help themselves and challenges business to innovate, which in turn will drive growth in the economy.
Instead, working in partnership with business, consumer, and voluntary groups the Government has rolled out new initiatives and achieved momentum faster than if it had used a more traditional approach. This includes:
This is an innovative project that encourages businesses to focus on five priorities:
Find out more about Every Business Commits
Community buying involves individuals combining their buying power to form a group to purchase goods or services together so as to get better deals from shops and other suppliers. It stimulates enterprise, promotes shared learning and can help the businesses involved to spread their overheads, which in turn leads to lower costs for consumers.
A £60,000 pot will go towards training, mentoring and seed funding for stand-out projects, including £15,000 for the overall winner. The Challenge is open to groups and organisations within the public, voluntary or business sectors, which focus on creating new or developing existing community buying schemes. Closing date for applications is 15 May, 2012.
Norman Lamb, Consumer Affairs Minister, commented at the start of the Challenge: “Community buying has a range of uses to give consumers a bigger voice – from food co-operatives to heating oil groups – and I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas later this year.”
Projects entered for the Challenge should aim to achieve one or more of the following:
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The judging criteria will include:
Applicants who make it onto the short-list in May will be asked to prepare a detailed business plan for the final stage, aided by a business mentor if they want it. The overall winner will be decided in October 2012.
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The Challenge’s seven judges are:
Tim Campbell MBE, CEO, Bright Ideas Trust, Winner of ‘The Apprentice’
Robin Murray, Industrial economist and author of Co-operatives in the Google Age
Richard Pope, Product Manager, Government Digital Service
Teresa Perchard, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Citizens Advice
Maresa Bossano, Food Cooperatives Project Officer, Sustain
Steve Clare, Director of Campaigns, Locality
Kevin Mclean, Operations & Technology Director, UK Online Centres
Go to the Community Buying website for further details, the application form for the Buy Better Together Challenge and a practical guide on how to set up and run a community buying group.
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BIS is working with leading businesses and consumer groups to give individuals more access to, and control over, the data that companies hold on them. The midata project – part of the Consumer Empowerment Strategy will allow people to view, access and use their personal and transaction data in a way that is portable and safe. This will help consumers get a greater insight into their own spending habits and improve their buying decisions. It will also let everyone take advantage of the growing number of applications that can process this type of data, helping individuals manage their finances or choose products to suit their lifestyle.
The three main objectives of midata are to:
BIS is working with a number of business sectors, including energy, telecommunications, finance and retail. We are looking at maximising interoperability, the potential for common, voluntary standards in areas such as data security, and how different kinds of consumer information might be made available.
The commercial potential for businesses in shifting their customer relationships from a unilateral data-gathering approach to a mutual trust-based sharing one is considerable. By combining data from many different sources and letting consumers add information of their own, businesses have a significant opportunity to help customers create rich, new ‘person-centric’ data assets.
If you would like to find out more about midata or if your organisation is keen to become involved in developing and piloting it, please email: midata@bis.gsi.gov.uk
General product safety is regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPS Regulations). They apply to all products (new and second-hand) used by consumers. Product-specific legislation continues to take precedence in areas where the provisions have similar objectives to the GPS Regulations.
The GPS Regulations maintain the general duty placed on producers and distributors to place on the market (or supply) only products that are safe in normal or reasonable foreseeable use. The principal responsibility for day-to-day enforcement of the Regulations lies with local authorities.
The GPS Regulations recognise certain technical standards as carrying a presumption of conformity with the general safety requirement, meaning that products that comply with them are deemed to be safe. An up-to-date list of European Standards is available on the European Commission Website
General guidance on product safety is available on Business Link - ensure your products are safe for employers and Directgov Consumer section.
The Department is responsible for regulations relating to cosmetics, lighters and other products and chemicals. For more information, visit our page on Product Regulations.
RAPEX is the EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products – with the exception of food, pharmaceutical and medical devices which are covered by other mechanisms.
It facilitates the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the Commission on measures to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers. Both measures ordered by national authorities and measures taken voluntarily by producers and distributors are reported by RAPEX.
When a product (eg a toy, childcare article or household appliance) is found to be dangerous, the competent national authority takes appropriate action to eliminate the risk. It can withdraw the product from the market, recall it, or issue warnings. The National Contact Point then informs the European Commission (Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection) about the product, the risks it poses to consumers and the measures taken by the authority to prevent risks and accidents.
The European Commission disseminates the information that it receives to the National Contact Points of all other EU countries. It publishes weekly overviews of dangerous products and the measures taken to eliminate the risks on the internet.
The National Contact Points in each EU country ensure that the authorities responsible check whether the newly notified dangerous product is present on the market. If so, the authorities take measures to eliminate the risk, either by requiring that the product be withdrawn from the market, by recalling it from consumers or by issuing warnings.
A weekly overview of the dangerous products reported by the national authorities (the RAPEX notifications) is published on the Commission Website.
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The Trading Standards Central web site contains a list of product safety notices and recalls.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product, make your concern clear to the retailer, manufacturer or local trading standards department.
If you are a producer or distributor of consumer products on sale in the European Union (EU), the attached guide gives you general advice about what you should do if you have evidence that one of your products may be unsafe. It is a voluntary guide to carrying out corrective actions for product safety, supported by the market surveillance authorities in Member States and consumer and trade organisations within the EU. Product Safety in Europe: A Guide to corrective action including recalls
Producers and distributors have a duty to notify local authorities when they become aware they have placed on the market, or distributed, an unsafe product.
To make this process simpler a business application form has been designed. There are two parts:
Guidance and the form can be accessed on the EUROPA Website.
Local authority enforcers have a duty to inform BIS of products placed on the market that either present a:
Guidance for local authorities on informing BIS about products is available by following the links below:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not provide advice on individual consumer or competition problems or complaints, nor can it interpret legislation in individual cases. Instead, you could visit the following websites:
Competition and consumer policy are both areas of vital importance for citizens, for business and for the economic growth on which we all depend. Empowered consumers and fair competition policy drive our competitive markets, which promote efficiency and innovation in business. Britain’s competition policy regime is highly regarded but we are looking at ways to improve it further.
In particular, the Coalition Government is committed to saving public money wherever possible and rationalising the number of public bodies. I want to set out here how we intend to preserve, and where possible enhance, front-line delivery of consumer and competition policy, while streamlining the landscape and saving public money.
As things stand the competition framework involves a number of specialised bodies with detailed but overlapping roles. Each of these bodies does a very good job and is highly regarded globally. But the institutional boundaries between them can impose costs and uncertainty for business and may reduce the efficiency of, in particular, the markets regime. Meanwhile, consumers are represented by a bewildering array of public, private and voluntary bodies, sometimes duplicating each other in their efforts to inform, educate and advise consumers of their rights.
My Department, working with the Treasury and other key stakeholders, has conducted a thorough review of this complex and confusing landscape. Our aim is to create a simpler structure with a single competition authority and a stronger role for front-line consumer services.
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I am minded to merge the Competition Commission and the competition and markets investigation functions of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to create a single, streamlined expert competition and markets authority. This new body would have greater effectiveness and efficiency to investigate mergers, markets, cartels and anti-competitive practices. It would also retain the function of independent market investigation and analysis, which cuts across the consumer and competition spheres...
I am also considering whether to abolish the Competition Service and transfer its functions of supporting the Competition Appeal Tribunal to the Tribunal Service. With Ken Clarke, I am reviewing the case for doing this...
In terms of consumer issues, I believe that we should have a model that strengthens the front line while cutting down the complexity, confusion and waste, which accompanies the proliferation of bodies.
Currently, enforcement of general consumer law is shared between the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Trading Standards. Consumer complaints are handled by a constellation of sector-specific bodies, by the Citizens Advice service and by the dedicated helpline Consumer Direct, which is operated by OFT. Research and advocacy work is done by OFT, Consumer Focus and in some regulated sectors there are a number of specific consumer bodies. Information and education provision is split between all of these bodies I have outlined.
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We have identified two groups to be at the centre of our plans for a better model for the consumer landscape. The first is the Citizens Advice service, which includes Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, charitable bodies consisting of a network of local bureaux supported by a central guidance, policy and social advocacy function. The second is Trading Standards, which are part of local authorities and provide the vast majority of on-the-ground enforcement of consumer law. They also undertake local education initiatives.
Both these groups have high public awareness and trust levels. I am therefore minded to shift almost all relevant central Government funding for consumer bodies towards these two groups in order to achieve the changes set out below.
In our proposed new regime, Trading Standards will be given responsibility for enforcement of almost all consumer law. Local threats to fair trading will continue to be handled at local authority level. But national and regional threats will now increasingly also be addressed through one or more dedicated, expert teams, within Trading Standards with work co-ordinated nationally for this purpose. Specific arrangements may need to be made in Scotland and Wales.
This approach chimes with the Government’s Localism agenda, should lead to significant efficiency savings and is a potential model for integrating local and national funding for regulatory enforcement in other areas.
In addition to these measures, I propose that responsibility for all non-financial consumer education, information and advice, and notably the Consumer Direct helpline, will transfer to the Citizens Advice service. I believe there is scope for other Government advice and information services also to become part of the Citizens Advice service, to reinforce a simple message to consumers – if you need information or advice, go to Citizens Advice.
I also propose to transfer most of the consumer-related research and advocacy functions, currently undertaken by OFT and Consumer Focus, to the Citizens Advice service. This would include work on strategic and forward-looking policy issues.
The statement reports on the first year and a half of operation of the One-in, One-out rule. Departments are each publishing a summary of the regulations they intend to introduce between January and June 2012. In the first statement, published in April 2011, we set out our intention to maintain a net zero (or better) cumulative cost for business from domestic regulation. This statement demonstrates that for the first six months of 2012 we have been successful in continuing to achieve that goal.
The Statement of New Regulation, combined with other measures that form part of our strategy for Reducing Regulation, is designed to reduce Whitehall’s tendency to regulate and give businesses clarity about all new regulations being introduced. It provides an overview of the net costs and benefits to business and civil society organisations and gives a regular update on the Government’s One-in, One-out policy in action. With the exception of five regulations relating to migration, carbon emissions, alcohol and localism these figures have been validated by the independent Regulatory Policy Committee.
One-in, One-out: Third Statement of New Regulation (Published February 2012)
One-in, One-out: Second Statement of New Regulation (Published September 2011)
One-in, One-out: First Statement of New Regulation (Published April 2011)
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)
Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG)
Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS)
Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Department for Transport (DfT)
Department of Health (DH)
Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)
Food Standards Agency (Food SA)
HM Treasury (HMT)
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Home Office (HO) / Government Equalities Office (GEO)
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
The following Departments are not introducing regulations between January and June 2012:
Department for Education
Cabinet Office
Ministry of Justice
The application forms for the new round of the RGF are available here
To ask for a copy of any of these documents in other formats e.g. Braille, please email the team.
Please note that the PDF application forms may take a few moments to load, and if you would like to save your progress, please save it in the PDF format.
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 12 noon on 13 June 2012.
We strongly advise that you refer to the bidding guidance as you complete the application form:
The links for our most up-to-date data sources for the official statistics which will be used in assessing the locations that bids will impact are listed below
The location metrics spreadsheet collates the data which will be used in the assessment.
Taken together, this data will create a view of the current state of reliance on public sector employment for locations in England.
It will be important to consider other evidence, and bidders are asked to submit any other information they believe will help us in forming a good understanding of the relative reliance of the area the bid will cover.
All completed applications and supporting evidence should be sent to: rgfround3applications@bis.gsi.gov.uk
The closing date for the fund is 12 noon on 13 June 2012.
There will be a number of regional events and Expression of interest meetings to support potential bidders with their applications. Dates and how to book are on the regional events page.
Please note: it is not mandatory to submit an Expression of Interest or attend an event in order to bid.
If you have questions about the RGF please see our Glossary, FAQs and contact us pages.
What projects will RGF support?
RGF recipient or accountable body – for RGF, Government defines the most common options for identifying the legal status of recipients as:
While not exhaustive, the list captures the common options for identifying the legal status of recipients, which would include the legal status of many charities and social enterprises.
A: Yes. However, the same bid should not be submitted twice. The applicant will need to be sure that there is sufficient resource to manage both projects. Bids from or involving the same organisation should be cross-referenced.
A: Yes so long as they meet the objectives and criteria of the Fund.
A: Yes, The RGF continues to be available to SMEs who can apply directly to the next round of the fund, if the individual bid is for over £1m. Or they can work with other organisations to collaborate as part of a wider programme bid. For programme bids, a lead organisation will need to be indentified and will be responsible for the delivery.
A: Yes so long as they meet the objectives and criteria of the Fund.
A: There is significant diversity across civil society organisations (such as voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises). To clarify your status refer to Treasury guidance on the private/public split.
Question 3 of the application form guidance defines the most common options for identifying the legal status of recipients as:
(a) Company
(b) Sole proprietor
(c) Partnership
(d) Public corporation/nationalised body
(e) Local authority
(f) Non-profit body
While not exhaustive, the list captures the common options for identifying the legal status of recipients, which would include the legal status of many charities and social enterprises
A: That is a matter for the partners to establish and justify as part of their application. They should demonstrate in particular that the partnership is robust. Partners should also bear in mind that in the event of a successful bid, Government will need to enter into contract with a legal entity that will be responsible for the delivery of the project.
A: Projects are defined as a type of RGF bid for funding to be awarded to a final beneficiary for projects which meet RGF objectives - to directly create jobs through private sector enterprise and growth; for activity to enable or unlock future private sector jobs growth.
Programmes are defined as a type of RGF bid for funding to be awarded to an intermediary who will then use it to do any combination of the following:
A: The accountable body which is managing the programme should ensure compliance with public sector procurement rules (where relevant) and ensure fair and open competition, if awarding contracts for service delivery. Public sector procurement rules do not apply to the award of grants, but programmes should ensure the projects granted funding are value for money. This could be done through a competition if the accountable body is a private sector body. Special considerations apply to the funding of public works contracts subsidised by a contracting authority; further information about these special considerations can be found on the European Commission website.
A: This cost will normally be born by the bidder feedback from applicants from previous rounds indicate an approximate cost of 1% - 2% of the total RGF award.
A: Yes. Programmes will be required to provide a regular report on progress and delivery and any claims for payment of agreed tranches of RGF support will need to be covered by certification from an independent auditor. The accountable body running the programme will be responsible for commissioning the auditor and liable for its costs. The accountable body should also be prepared to carry out a full impact evaluation of the programme at its own cost. An evaluation plan will be required at the application stage. Advice and information on evaluation and monitoring is provided in the guidance notes available on the RGF monitoring and grant claims web page.
A: Programme will have t distribute RGF funding in a State aid compliant manner. This will involve checking that beneficiaries have not received support for the same investment and/or eligible costs.
A: As with projects, planning permission does not already need to be in place in advance of bidding. However if planning permission is not already in place, the RGF Secretariat would wish to see detail on the risks of not obtaining this permission, if permission fits in with the Local Authority's planning strategy and if planning permission has previously been rejected for the same or similar project.
A: In this case charities should consider partnering other bodies (either private or public sector) who may be able to administer the programme jointly in the local area.
A: In exceptional cases payment may be made on need where this is objectively justifiable, and a proposal on payment schedules should be included in the programme bid alongside an explanation of why this is necessary. In general, however, payment will be phased in line with capital expenditure and/or employment milestones, depending on the specific terms of the contract agreed for individual proposals.
A: All public/private partnerships should declare how they will ensure value for money for the projects which deliver the various components of a programme. This should also explain how any potential conflicts of interest would be managed.
A: Yes, a public sector organisation could manage the project or programme and provide the lead in the public / private partnership as long as the private sector involvement in the project or programme is clearly demonstrated.
A: Yes, to the extent that they meet the objectives and criteria of the Fund.
A: Yes. However, direct support to large companies for capital investment can only be given to projects that take place in the Assisted Areas. Information on Assisted Areas.
A: Proposals which include support for basic infrastructure which unlock specific business investment that leads to sustainable employment, and meet the other Fund criteria and objectives
A: No. The Fund will operate in England only.
A: The Regional Growth Fund is a challenge fund and not ring-fenced or pre-allocated in any way.
A: Bids from any part of England are eligible under the Regional Growth Fund, although bidders should have regard for the second objective of the Fund and be aware that some parts of the country, particularly where there is currently high employment, and a vibrant private sector, may struggle to demonstrate how they meet that objective.
A: Decisions on funding will be based upon an assessment of the proposals against the objectives and criteria; each bid will be considered on its merits. Given the high levels of interest in the Fund, bidders need to present realistic and competitive bids.
A: No. The geographic area affected by the project should be meaningful, realistic and provide for measurable outcomes.
A: No. But the RGF is a challenge fund and all bids are in competition with one another. We recommend focusing effort on bids that fully meet the Fund objectives and criteria and on quality as opposed to quantity. In addition bidders should consider the impact of State aid rules on cumulation.
A: No. All bids will be assessed equally against the objectives and criteria of the RGF.
A: Schemes that take place in an affluent area but which clearly benefit or create employment in a disadvantaged area should make the location of the economic impact of the project clear in the application.
A: The focus of the Regional Growth Fund is on functional economic areas rather than on formal local authority geographies. However, in order to assess reliance using official data, we need to rely upon Local Authority Districts (LADs) and Unitary Authorities (UAs) as the building blocks. The reason for using such data is that LADs and UAs are the most fine-grained geographic level at which many relevant statistics are published. This data can be flexibly aggregated to resemble the real functional geographies that the bid will cover (for example housing markets, travel to work areas or local enterprise partnerships).
In question Part 2 of the application form, bidders are invited to estimate the footprint of the project in terms of indirect and direct employment to be created. As shown in the illustrative table below, this allows bids to indicate in which LADs the jobs will be created in, recognising that impacts could occur in areas which are not near to or border the project location. The purpose of this is to establish a unique geography for each bid against which reliance on the public sector will be assessed.
| Area | Approximate proportion of employment impacts |
|---|---|
| e.g. Local Authority District A | 60% |
| e.g. Local Authority District B | 20% |
Unknown Districts |
10% |
| Outside England | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
In addition bidders should be aware that EU State aid restrictions mean that financial support for Capital Investment by large companies can only be provided if the project takes place in an Assisted Area. Information on Assisted Area status.
A: For State aid purposes, private sector leverage is defined by the eligible costs of the exemption under which you are applying (training, R&D, SME or assisted area). This is set out in Annex B of the information for Applicants document.
A: It is possible for a bid to include a commitment to private sector leverage that has not been confirmed at the time of submitting the application, if it will be in place later in the project lifespan. The bid would need to set out the reasoning behind the investment and spend profile for the projects and the risks associated with this. Bidders should also bear in mind that this is a challenge fund and bids with a lower risk spend profile and more robust private sector leverage will have a competitive edge.
A: At the present time the RGF may provide funding in the form of grants, loans and/or loan guarantees. This approach will be kept under review by the Independent Advisory Panel and Ministers.
A: No. The RGF web pages provide guidance and support to potential bidders and gives details of how to contact the RGF team for further support with their applications.
A: No.
A: No specific levels of private/public leverage are being sought. Private sector leverage is one of many factors taken into consideration in the decision making process. However, the fund is competitive and only those bids that best lever private sector investment, meet the Funds other objectives and criteria, and offer the best value for money will be supported.
A: The maximum amount of RGF support / State aid that can be provided to a private sector undertaking must be assessed on a case by case basis. Applicants are encouraged to bid for the minimum amount of support needed to unlock a project – an assessment of whether that support can be provided in a State aid compliant manner will be made as part of the appraisal process.
A: Yes. Bidders are encouraged to identify sources of match funding. There is no requirement or limit on match funding as long as it complies with State aid rules. Applicants should be particularly alert to State aid rules if ERDF is used to match-fund RGF.
A: No.
A: Where a project is eligible under both schemes’ objectives and criteria, it is possible for a project to bid to the ERDF and to the RGF. Whilst the timelines are broadly aligned for Round 3 from expressions of interest to final decision), the decision process is separate. Since the RGF is a challenge fund there is no certainty that support will be forthcoming until the bidding round has been decided.
For projects that do bid to both the ERDF and RGF and which are successful in both there will be close contact between the two funds at the contract stage, due diligence phase and monitoring. Please be aware, leverage of private sector investment is a key criteria for RGF support and ERDF funding will not be considered private sector funding in the RGF assessment process.
A: RGF and Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) have separate and different aims For example, RGF has a particular focus on stimulating growth in parts of the country most dependent on the public sector; while AMSCI has a particular interest in helping existing supply chains grow and achieve world class standards while encouraging major new suppliers to set up and manufacture here.
Potential bidders can bid for both funds the same State aid rules will apply to both funds.
A: It will have very little practical impact. It is largely an internal distinction and in any event most private sector projects comprise a mix of capital and revenue expenditure.
A: Lottery funding is not regarded as public sector funding so can be counted toward the private sector contribution to a project. However, we anticipate that alongside leverage of funding, the private sector's stake in the outcome of the project has a bearing on how likely it is that it will be economically sustainable. Lottery funding will not give the Independent Advisory Panel and Ministers much comfort that the project is economically sustainable.
A: The RGF is designed to provide the minimum amount of funding needed to enable projects to go ahead that would not otherwise have been able to do so. Projects that have started will need to demonstrate how they meet the “additionality” criteria. The test is whether the applicant has committed to carry out the project. Preparatory / scoping work that does not indicate an absolute commitment to carry out a project is fine, although very extensive work would weaken the additionality case.
A: Bids for funding to accelerate development are possible but the benefits will only be assessed as those occurring in the period between delivery and when the project would in any case have gone ahead. All projects and programmes must meet the objectives and criteria of the Fund.
A: This depends on which part of the R&D Tax Credit scheme is in question because different elements of the scheme are in a different State aid position. Further advice should be sought from the administrator of the Tax Credit scheme as to the status of the credits and whether additional support may be cumulated.
Generally if the applicant has benefited from an R&D Tax Credit which is considered to be State aid then he will need to take this into account if the eligible costs which were supported under the R&D Tax Credit are the same or overlap with those for which support under the RGF is requested.
Yes - the receipt of the grant monies must be accounted for in your accounts and thus is likely to impact on your tax position. You should consult with your accountants or tax advisors to understand the exact impact.
A: No.
A: BIS is holding a series of RGF events around the country. In addition, there will be an opportunity for potential applicants to meet officials to discuss aspects of their bid as part of an Expression of Intereset meeting. Details of how to book an EOI and what you will need to know are available on the RGF web page.
A: There is an opportunity for applicants to include administrative costs in programme bids. The RGF is, however, a competitive process and programmes should consider that these costs may make bids less competitive – administrative costs if included should be a small percentage of the programme overall and should be clearly stated in the application.
A: Detailed information contained in individual application forms will be treated as commercially confidential but could be aggregated to form a public picture of the number, value and location of bids received. Bid information will be seen by an Independent Advisory Panel chaired by Lord Heseltine and ultimately by Ministers. See the Independent Advisory Panel members page.
The information could also be requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In such circumstances the Department would need to consider whether an appropriate exemption applies (for example, there is an exemption relating to information provided as commercial in confidence) and will seek your views on disclosure, although the decision whether or not to disclose must ultimately rest with the Department.
A: Direct jobs are jobs that are created or safeguarded by a project partner – i.e. they are jobs upon which it would be reasonable to make RGF funding conditional. Indirect jobs relate to employment impacts resulting from the project, for example in the supply chain, that are not specifically associated with a project or programme and upon which it would not be reasonable to make funding dependent.
A: No. However it is in the clear interest of bidders not to leave it until the last minute to submit.
A: No. Applicants must ensure that their application forms and supporting documents are received before the deadline which for Round 3 is 12 noon on 13 June 2012.
A: Inter-related bids will have to deliver scheme specific outputs and outcomes which cannot be counted against more than one bid. We would not expect any individual project to include in section H of the application form, a risk that identifies that other bids are related and may not be supported. Inter-related bids should be fully cross-referenced.
A: Projects and programmes will be required to provide a regular report on progress and delivery. In addition any claims for payment of agreed tranches of RGF support will need to be covered by certification from an independent auditor. The contracting party will be responsible for commissioning the auditor and liable for its costs. Advice and information on evaluation and monitoring is provided in the guidance notes available on the RGF monitoring and grant claims web page.
A: Feedback from applicants from rounds 1 and 2 indicate that on average due diligence costs around 1% - 2% of the total RGF award.
A: Decisions regarding support and prioritisation are made by a Ministerial Group chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister including the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretaries of State for: Business, Innovation and Skills; Communities and Local Government; Transport; and Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The Ministerial Group is being assisted by an Independent Advisory Panel chaired by Lord Heseltine which makes recommendations on which projects and programmes best address the objectives of the Regional Growth Fund.
A: No. The employment impacts may ramp up more slowly than spend. The continued delivery of project objectives will be monitored following the final payment being made and in the event that the contracted impacts are not realised or not sustained the government may act to recover the support provided under the RGF.
A: Improvements to the application form, based on experiences from previous rounds, means we have a shorter document that still provides the relevant level of detail for the Ministerial Group to make final decisions.
A: The form does not allow bidders the opportunity to illustrate their applications with tables and graphs. However, there is an opportunity to provide supporting documents with application form.
A: No. The objectives and criteria were published in the Local Growth White paper on 28 October 2010 and have not changed since.
The English Business Survey provides Ministers and officials with information about the current economic and business conditions across England. By providing timely and robust information on a regular and geographically detailed basis, the survey will enhance officials’ understanding of business perceptions throughout England and ultimately improve policy making.
BIS selected TNS-bmrb, an independent survey provider, to conduct the survey, covering approximately 3,000 businesses across England each month. BIS are conscious of burdens on business and therefore the survey is as light-touch as possible, being both voluntary and telephone-based, requiring only 11 to 12 minutes and has been designed to not require reference to any detailed information.
The survey provides qualitative information across a range of important variables (e.g. output, capacity, employment, vacancies, prices, investment), compared with three months ago and expectations for three months ahead.
The outputs of the survey should also be useful to businesses, providing valuable intelligence about local economic and business conditions.
A detailed understanding of businesses’ perceptions and plans across England will inform the Government’s economic growth programme for rebalancing the economy.
The survey provides regional data on a monthly basis. Further, each quarter BIS will assess the feasibility of producing sub-regional data and possibly data by workplace size or broad industry sector. BIS believes that this can provide a valuable complement to other business surveys, as most surveys are primarily designed to provide timely information about the economy at the national level, rather than at the regional level. The Government needs to better understand the variation of economic and business conditions across England in order to make the best possible policy decisions.
The data will be available within a few weeks of the fieldwork finishing and this timeliness is a crucial element of the survey’s value, particularly in the current economic climate, as it will help to support dynamic policy making in response to sudden changes in economic circumstances.
This information will be valuable to the Government, policy makers, businesses, and local partners in helping to guide policy and support private sector growth in all parts of England. The information will also become more valuable over time as a time series of data develops and comparisons over time can be made.
BIS will make the survey results public as quickly as possible following quality assurance tests and are developing a tool to make the data available in a flexible format, so that local partners and private businesses can analyse the data themselves and its full value can be realised.
The first data was published on 28 February 2012 and the publication of data will be monthly from then on. We will announce publication of the data four weeks in advance but due to the experimental nature of the data, the exact date may vary.
Please note: individual businesses will not be identifiable in any of the published data from the survey.
If you have any questions about this work, or would like to check whether any contact you may have had with a research company is genuine, please contact the appropriate person listed below.
Data queries - Heather Holt |
020 7215 5103 |
|
Analytical queries - Philip O’Donnell |
0114 207 5384 |
For press queries, please visit: http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom/key-contacts
For more information about TNS-bmrb, the independent survey provider, please follow this link: http://www.ebsurvey.co.uk/about.html
For more information on the survey publication dates, please follow this link to the publication hub: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html
The Government wants to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business by cutting the costs and burden of regulation.
The Third BIS Statement of New Regulation which lists BIS measures in scope of ‘One In, One Out’ to come into force from January to June 2012 shows how BIS is removing burdens on business and that is why the regulation coming info force during the period of this statement either reduces costs or places no new costs on business.
This demonstrates show that regulation is being used as a last resort in the Department. There are encouraging signs; under the One In, One Out rule, BIS is in a healthy position, currently in credit of some £30 million.
Examples of deregulatory measures include:
To help companies take advantage of the enormous opportunities for trade offered by the European Single Market, both the UK Government and the European Commission provide guidance on how to trade in Europe and information on the help that is available to those trading in Europe:
Sometimes, however, not everything goes smoothly, and occasionally UK businesses are unable to operate in certain Member States. This is often caused by lack of information or confusion about the application of EU Rules by public authorities. When this is the case and British business interests are affected, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will try to help.
BIS is keen to help businesses overcome barriers they face when trying to trade in the Single Market. It has set up an EU Market Access Team which works with authorities in other Member States to seek solutions wherever it can, either through the EU network of “SOLVIT Centres” or through its network of British Embassies and their contacts in national governments.
SOLVIT is a network of centres across European governments that work together to try and resolve, without legal proceedings, difficulties caused by the misapplication of Single Market legislation by public authorities in a Member State. The service is free to complainants and is designed to assist anyone having problems exercising their free movement rights in Europe. See Problems Trading in Europe - SOLVIT
When a trade barrier faced by a UK company is not suitable for SOLVIT, BIS will nevertheless be interested to hear about the problems and aim to find a solution.
Contact: solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 207 215 2833/3508
fax: +44 (0) 207 215 2635
In addition to the SOLVIT work, BIS has a small team that helps to address barriers to trade in the Internal Market which are outside the remit of SOLVIT. These cases generally target national legislation in another Member State that effectively works against UK business interests, but where it is not clear that the national legislation actually breaches EU law. In these instances, BIS will work closely with the affected UK companies to put together a lobbying plan which often involves representations being made by the relevant British Embassy to the lead ministry in the other EU country. This “soft diplomacy” uses the excellent contacts the UK has in other EU countries through its embassy network to enable British firms to be able to put their cases to the relevant authorities in other EU countries.
This work is at an early stage, but already the BIS team has taken forward cases involving most of the EU countries, covering business areas as diverse as pension's provision, internet gambling, pharmaceuticals, gas equipment and accountancy standards. For further information about this service, interested companies should contact BIS at solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee was launched in January 2009.
Between 14 January 2009 and 31 March 2010 a facility of £1.3 billion was in place to enable additional lending.
Between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 a facility of £700 million was in place.
Between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012 EFG will enable up to £600m of additional lending.
Borrowers have up to 6 months from date the loan is offered by the lender within which to drawn down the loans. Therefore the drawing down of loans may take place in a different quarter than the loan was offered.
| Quarter | Number of Loans Offered | Value of Loans Offered (m) | Average Size of Loan Offered (k) | Number of Loans Drawn | Value of Loans Drawn (£m) | Average Size of Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan - Mar 2009 | 1,221 | 104.25 | 85.4 | 590 | 48.94 | 83.0 |
Apr - Jun 2009 |
2,376 | 254.91 | 107.3 | 2,030 | 201.73 | 99.4 |
| Jul - Sep 2009 | 2,030 | 217.89 | 107.3 | 1,921 | 203.34 | 105.9 |
| Oct - Dec 2009 | 1,787 | 182.31 | 102.0 | 1,627 | 172.50 | 106.0 |
| Jan - Mar 2010 | 1,824 | 187.63 | 102.9 | 1,604 | 159.44 | 99.4 |
| Apr - Jun 2010 | 1,530 | 154.11 | 100.7 | 1,450 | 144.56 | 99.7 |
| Jul - Sep 2010 | 1,426 | 143.73 | 100.8 | 1,326 | 134.51 | 101.4 |
| Oct - Dec 2010 |
1,051 | 102.80 | 97.8 | 943 | 90.71 | 96.2 |
| Jan - Mar 2011 |
1,036 | 93.09 | 89.9 | 966 | 91.50 | 94.7 |
| Apr - June 2011 |
934 | 95.43 | 102.2 | 830 | 78.53 | 94.6 |
| Jul - Sep 2011 |
893 | 94.41 | 105.7 | 813 | 76.55 | 94.2 |
| Oct - Dec 2011 |
732 | 77.81 | 106.3 | 691 | 77.19 | 111.7 |
| Grand Total | 16,840 | 108.38 | 101.4 | 14,791 | 1,479.51 | 100.0 |
EFG is intended to enable additional bank lending to viable SMEs that lack collateral to secure a normal commercial loan, operating at the margins of bank lending. As such, EFG is never likely to exceed 1%-2% of UK bank lending to SMEs with a turnover of up to £25 million. Variations in the level of EFG lending reflect the level of demand for debt finance in the wider economy.
All parts of the UK benefit from EFG. However, lending within each region should be seen in the context of the number of businesses in that region. In this context, the geographic distribution of EFG lending continues to be close to the distribution of SMEs across the UK. The exceptions are London, the South East and Northern Ireland where a relatively smaller proportion of SMEs have benefited from EFG. In the case of London and the South East, the assumption is that a greater proportion of entrepreneurs have access to security in the form of equity which has accrued in domestic property and, consequently, have less need to borrow with the backing of the guarantee. In Northern Ireland, reduced EFG utilisation is believed to be due to a combination of the wider availability of grants and other assistance for SMEs as well as differences in the composition of the business stock.
| Region | Number of Loans Offered | Value of Loans Offered (m) | Ratio of | Number of Loans Drawn | Value of Loans Drawn (£m) | Ratio of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 1,271 | 13.82 | 41.4 | 1,120 | 119.65 | 36.4 |
East of England |
1,32 | 153.27 | 32.5 | 1,422 | 133.28 | 28.3 |
| London | 2,137 | 230.31 | 25.5 | 1,827 | 192.74 | 21.8 |
| North East | 614 | 55.78 | 43.9 | 540 | 48.31 | 38.6 |
| North West | 2,119 | 200.23 | 43.9 | 1,916 | 180.71 | 39.7 |
| Northern Ireland | 175 | 26.34 | 14.1 | 150 | 22.06 | 12.1 |
| Scotland | 1,164 | 162.78 | 35.9 | 1,037 | 148.40 | 32.0 |
| South East | 2,344 | 234.02 | 31.5 | 2, 039 | 198.42 | 27.4 |
| South West | 1,879 | 166.1 | 40.4 | 1,681 | 145.40 | 36.2 |
| Wales | 719 | 63.97 | 35.9 | 631 | 56.08 | 31.5 |
| West Midlands | 1,526 | 155.86 | 42.0 | 1,327 | 131.37 | 36.5 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 1,260 | 122.79 | 36.5 | 1,101 | 103.09 | 31.9 |
| Grand Total | 16,840 | 1,708.8 | 34.8 | 14,791 | 1,479.51 | 30.6 |
All the main sectors of the economy benefit from EFG including the property and construction sectors.
| Sector | Number of Loans Offered | % of | Value of Loans Offered (£m) | % of Value of Loans Offered | Number of Loans Drawn | % of | Value of Loans | % of Value of Loans Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications and IT | 711 | 4.2% | 87.75 | 5.1% | 647 | 4.37% | 78.28 | 5.3% |
Construction |
1,334 | 7.9% | 133.41 | 7.8% | 1,230 | 8.32% | 122.56 | 8.3% |
| Hotels and Catering | 2,023 | 12.0% | 184.54 | 10.8% | 1,721 | 11.64% | 155.69 | 10.5% |
| Manufacture and Production | 2,453 | 14.6% | 312.96 | 18.3% | 2,179 | 14.73% | 272.53 | 18.4% |
| Property and Business Services | 3,715 |
22.1% | 359.84 | 21.1% | 3,302 | 22.32% | 315.74 | 21.3% |
| Sport, Health and Education | 1,371 | 8.1% | 153.50 | 9.0% | 1,143 | 7.73% | 120.36 | 8.1% |
| Wholesale and Retail | 4,729 | 28.1% | 420.5 | 24.6% | 4,112 | 27.80% | 365.10 | 24.% |
| Other | 504 | 3.0% | 56.32 | 3.3% | 47 | 3.9% | 49.24 | 3.3% |
| Grand Total | 16,840 | 100% | 1,708.38 | 100% | 14,791 | 100% | 1,479.51 | 100% |
Just over 7 in 10 EFG loans offered and drawn (by number of loans) are for less than £100,000.
| Value Band of Loans | Number of Loans Offered | % of Number of Loans Offered | Value of Loans Offered (£m) | % of Value of Loans Offered | Number of Loans Drawn | % of | Value of Loans Drawn (£m) | % of Value of Loans Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 25k | 2,856 |
17.0% | 47.64 | 2.8% | 2,563 | 17.3% | 42.79 | 2.9% |
25,001 - 50k |
4,634 | 27.5% | 173.19 | 10.1% | 4,111 | 27.8% | 153.64 | 10.5% |
| 50,000 -100k | 4,597 | 27.3% | 334.57 | 19.6% | 4,035 | 27.3% | 293.95 | 19.9% |
| 100,001 - 250k | 3,443 | 20.4% | 536.97 | 31.4% | 2,969 |
20.1% | 463.85 | 314% |
| 250,001 -500k | 932 | 5.5% | 332.05 | 19.4% | 791 | 5.3% | 281.67 | 19.0% |
| 500,001 -1,000k | 378 | 2.2% | 283.95 | 16.6% | 32 | 2.2% | 243.60 | 16.5% |
| Grand Total | 16,840 | 100% | 1,708.38 | 100% | 14,791 | 100% | 1,479.51 | 100% |
Whilst established SMEs have benefited most from EFG so far, all ages of SMEs benefit from EFG including start-up and early stage businesses
Age of | Number | % of | Value | % of | Number | % of | Value | % of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 3 months | 2,905 | 17.3% | 212.78 | 12.5% | 2,497 | 16.9% | 178.97 | 12.1% |
3 months to 1 year |
1,120 | 6.7% | 84.44 | 4.9% | 1,009 | 6.8% | 74.25 | 5.0% |
| 1 - 2 years | 1,110 | 6.6% | 78.58 | 4.6% | 1,006 | 6.8% | 70.37 | 4.8% |
| 2 - 3 years | 1,117 | 6.6% | 94.38 | 5.5% | 999 | 6.8% | 81.40 | 5.5% |
| 3 - 4 years | 1,103 | 6.5% | 86.63 | 5.1% | 987 | 6.7% | 78.03 | 5.3% |
| 4 - 5 years | 1,099 | 6.5% | 101.45 | 5.9% | 967 | 6.5% | 88.90 | 6.0% |
| Over 5 years | 8,386 | 49.8% | 1,050.13 | 61.5% | 7,326 | 49.5% | 907.59 | 61.3% |
| Grand Total | 16,840 | 100% | 1,708.38 | 100% | 14,791 | 100% | 1,479.51 | 100% |
Last updated 1 March 2012
Letter from John Hayes to Chairs of FE College Corporations
22 February 2012
Letter from John Hayes to Colleges re New Challenges, New Chances
8 December 2011
Letter from John Hayes to MPs re New Further Education and Skills System Reform Plan Building a World Class Skills System
5 December 2011
Letter from John Hayes to College Principals - A level results
19 August 2011
Letter from John Hayes to College principals, Governors, Training Providers re New Challenges, New Chances consultation
16 August 2011
Letter from John Hayes on World Skills
18 Jan 2011
Letter from John Hayes to College Principals re funding; legislative programme; and skills conditionality consultation
8 December 2010
John Hayes letter
7 June 2010
The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning writes to set out the Government's approach to further education and skills.
Vince Cable and David Willetts letter to Vice Chancellors and Principals
26 May 2010
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Minister of State for Universities and Science write to the Vice Chancellors and Principals of all universities and colleges in England to set out the Government's saving plans in context.
Letter from John Hayes to colleges re boosting Apprenticeship places
February 2010
Since 1997, a fair framework of basic workplace rights has been put in place, which includes the right to:
The key challenge is to ensure that all workers – particularly vulnerable workers – benefit from these rights.
The employment strategy paper, Success at Work, published in March 2006 committed government to protecting vulnerable workers and tackling non-compliant employers.
As part of this work, a Vulnerable Worker Enforcement Forum was established in June 2007. Chaired by the Employment Relations Minister it brought together front line unions, workplace enforcement agencies, business groups and advice bodies to look at evidence about the nature and extent of abuse of workplace rights. It also considered whether abuses are being tackled effectively through existing enforcement and support mechanisms and whether improvements or new approaches were needed to raise compliance without increasing burdens for good employers.
The Forum’s final report was published on 5th August 2008. The key elements of the previous government’s response to the findings were:
Vulnerable worker enforcement forum: final report and Government conclusions (PDF, 384KB)
For the next RGF bidding round there will be a number of regional events with opportunities for companies to speak to members of the Regional Growth Fund Secretariat through Expression of Interest (EOI) meetings.
The events are designed to provide prospective bidders with more information on the RGF.
The first phase of Regional events will start on 16 March in Birmingham followed by York on 20 March and Gateshead on 22 March.
The presentation by BIS officials used at the Round 2 events is available for download.
To book a place at one of our regional events: email or call the RGF team at growthfund@bis.gsi.gov.uk or on 020 7215 6758 / 0207 215 3821 indicating which event you are interested in.
Further regional events will be confirmed in due course, please refer to the website for further detail.
The aim of the EOI meeting is to discuss the concept of the bid and provide advice on how best to complete the application form. Those who were unsuccessful in Round 2 can use the EOI meeting as an opportunity for feedback and to improve their bid if they are considering resubmitting.
To book an EOI meeting: email or call the RGF team at growthfund@bis.gsi.gov.uk or on 020 7215 6758 / 0207 215 3821 indicating your region and specifying the reason for your meeting - to discuss a new proposal or a previous application.
To discuss a new proposal please submit a draft application form - section B as a minimum should be completed. If you wish to discuss a previous bid please provide the project reference.
EOI meetings can be booked up until 31 May 2012 for Round 3 of the RGF.
PLEASE NOTE: It is not mandatory to attend a regional event or have an EOI meeting in order to bid.
Reforming the planning system is an important part of the Government’s growth agenda. In addition to the planning system, there are several consent regimes that businesses must apply for, depending on how they wish to develop or operate properties. These consents have been designed to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. However, the Penfold Review, published in July 2010, found that they could also create delay, uncertainty and costs to business.
Penfold: review of non-planning consents – interim report
Penfold: review of non-planning consents – final report
Government published its initial response to the review in November 2010. Following a progress update on implementation, a final implementation report was published in November 2011, setting out a programme to:
Carbon leakage occurs when climate change policy aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions in one country leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions in a country that is not bound by these policies. Given that climate change is a global issue, carbon leakage impacts upon the effectiveness of climate change policies. This independent study by AEA, in partnership with CE Delft and commissioned by BIS examines the cumulative impact of climate change policies on carbon leakage. The report brings together findings and analysis from a wide range of primary literature in this area and where possible, conclusions relevant to the UK are drawn.
Cumulative impacts of energy and climate change policies on carbon leakage
The transformation to a green economy will have significant impacts – providing both opportunities and challenges – across all households and all sectors in the UK. New low carbon and environmental industries will grow, with a rebalancing towards green investment and jobs, whilst other sectors will face significant challenges from increased prices of energy and other resources. BIS is working to make sure that UK business are well-prepared to meet these challenges and take advantage of the opportunities presented by a transition a green economy and delivering green growth.
In 2009/10 the global low-carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector was estimated to be worth around £3.2 trillion, after growing around 1.8% from 2008/09. The UK is currently the 6th in the world in this sector, with an estimated value of close to £117 billion (approximately 3.7% of the global market). The UK sector employed an estimated 914,000 people in 2009/10, and the market experienced growth of 4.3% from 2008/09.
The original market assessment commissioned by BIS (then BERR) on the size of UK and international LCEGS sectors can be found here along with subsequent updates of the data.
Links to additional analysis published by BIS, or commissioned from external contractors, on areas relating to the green economy are provided below.
This independent report by Ekosgen consultancy identifies key activities comprising the waste management sector, outlines key policies and regulations affecting the sector and highlights sectoral drivers and barriers to growth. It aims to develop an enhanced understanding of official statistics on waste management sector which do not fully reflect the recent evolution or diversity of the waste management sector, due to recent shifts in activity in the waste management sector for business and households.
From waste management to resource recovery: a developing sector
Please address all queries to authors of the report, Ekosgen: Sundeep.Aulakh@ekosgen.co.uk
The shift to a low carbon economy will bring significant business opportunities and this will be driven by the demand for low carbon goods and services. Businesses drive demand and influence consumer purchasing through a number of levers including: marketing, branding and the products that are available within the market. The aim of this research is to explore this relationship and the factors, which influence the successful business promotion of low carbon goods and services.
The specific objectives were to:
Business action to influence consumer demand for low carbon goods and services report
This paper sets out the economic rationale for policy intervention to support the development of a UK low-carbon economy; the evidence and conclusions from recent research on the UK’s strengths; and how UK businesses are already responding to the challenge of climate change. It then considers the pivotal role innovation, skills, finance, consumer demand and key sectors will have in developing a low carbon economy in the UK.
Towards a low carbon economy: economic analysis and evidence for a low carbon industrial strategy
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was commissioned by BERR to produce a consolidated assessment of the current status of sectoral plans and progress. The outcomes from this research work are intended to contribute to the evidence base on how different business sectors are currently performing as well highlighting areas of best practice, identifying key barriers to progress and opportunities to drive higher levels of sectoral engagement on sustainable development.
Sectoral Progress on Sustainability
The March 2009 Carbon Top3Map review was commissioned by BIS (formally BERR) in order to provide an initial view of SME capability in the UK to measure and monitor carbon foot printing in the wake of the creation of the PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 2050 on carbon footprint measurement in 2008. The results will contribute to the evidence base supporting ongoing policy development on how to ensure that UK makes the transformation to a low-carbon economic base as smoothly as possible.
Ersnt & Young was commissioned by the former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to gather evidence on the potential business opportunities for the UK economy in a move a ‘green’ or low-carbon, resource efficient economy and to inform the policy discussion about to assist businesses to make that transition. The scope of the project covered four areas:
Comparative advantage and green business (PDF, 921KB)
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