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Strategy has strong economic growth in its sights

January 7, 2010

Growth strategy wordle image

A new strategy to boost strong, sustainable, long-term economic growth in the UK has been announced today by Lord Mandelson.

The strategy, Going for Growth, outlines seven key areas where the Government will build on the foundations of New Industry New Jobs. They include:

Supporting enterprise and entrepreneurial activity
Fostering knowledge creation and its innovative application
Helping people develop the skills and capabilities to reach their personal and economic potential
Investing in the infrastructure to support a low carbon modern economy
Ensuring open and competitive markets allowing business to grow
Building on our industrial strengths in sectors where we have expertise and investing to foster new comparative advantage
Understanding and employing the right strategic role for government in markets enabling us to capitalise on new opportunities.

Visit the Going for Growth page here to read the strategy and view related announcements, video and links.

News Releases:
Government sets out strategy to get Britain Going for Growth
£70m boost for UK Manufacturing

Next Generation Fund launched: £1 billion investment in super-fast broadband

January 7, 2010

Browser address bar Rural communities and hard to reach areas who do not have access to next generation broadband will benefit from a share of £1 billion of Government investment said Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson today.

The investment will upgrade the UK’s digital infrastructure to bring super-fast broadband to 90% of the country, essential if the UK is to remain globally competitive as estimates suggest that private investment will only reach up to 70% of the population by 2017.

The Next Generation Fund will provide the UK with a world class communications network to bolster innovation and services in digital content.

The Government is now consulting on the most effective way to deploy the investment – read the consultation document.

The Treasury is also consulting on how the fund will be raised through a new Landline Duty.

Extra Bank holiday to mark Queen’s Diamond Jubileee

January 5, 2010

Lord Mandelson and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have announced a special Diamond Jubilee weekend – moving the late May Bank Holiday to Monday 4th June and adding an extra Bank Holiday on Tuesday 5th June.

2012 will be a landmark year for Her Majesty, Britain and the Commonwealth. Queen Victoria is the only British Monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee previously.

New team to blitz wage evasion

December 31, 2009

Man talking to group The New Year will see a new team taking up the fight against rogue employers who refuse to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage.

HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) new Dynamic Response Team will work on the most high profile and complicated National Minimum Wage cases faced by HMRC, particularly in areas where employers are using migrant labour to undercut competitors by paying below the minimum wage.

The team is funded from a £70 million Government fund, paid for by a levy on migrant workers, to support those communities that are feeling the impact of migration most strongly.

New Year, New Opportunities For Graduates

December 29, 2009

Graduates photo A new guide for parents of recent graduates written by award winning career coach Denise Taylor was launched today by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.