Teach First Funding

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook has been monitoring progress in Government policy relating to higher education for a major feature in the next edition on further and higher education

Education Secretary Michael Gove announced earlier this month that the Government will provide further funding to accelerate the expansion of Teach First – the successful charity which recruits top graduates to work in the most challenging schools.

The charity Teach First is a powerful movement founded to directly address the problem of educational disadvantage. Founded in 2002, Teach First has already changed the lives of thousands of young people.

Teach First harnesses the energy, enthusiasm and drive of exceptional graduates to provide leadership, motivation and, above all, inspirational teaching in schools in challenging circumstances across England.

Since its founding in 2002, Teach First has placed over 2,520 teachers in schools in challenging circumstances to work with students to raise their achievement, access and aspirations. It has also been voted 7th in the The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers, positioning it as the highest ranking charity in the history of the survey.

The Prime Minister said of the charity

"Teach First is a programme that recognises our shared responsibility for raising standards in schools, combining business, the voluntary sector and schools themselves. Fast tracking exceptional graduates into challenging inner city schools is a great idea and one that should be expanded nationwide."

This month’s announcement means that tens of thousands of children across England will benefit from a £32.4million Government investment in the programme next year – an increase of more than £3million. The majority of this funding goes to Teach First’s 14 university training partners.

The funding will help the charity train 1,250 top graduates, from 70 different universities, next year before they go on to join schools in the most challenging circumstances – double the number who took part in the charity’s Leadership Development Programme in 2010.

The Government has also announced its support of Teach First’s goal to train 1,500 participants in 2014/15 – triple the number who took part in the Leadership Development Programme in 2010.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said:

“The countries which give their children the best education in the world are those which value their teachers most highly and where the profession attracts the brightest graduates.

“Our priority is to deliver robust standards and high quality teaching to all pupils, whatever their background.
To do this we must attract highly talented people into education because the quality of teachers has a greater influence on children's achievement than any other aspect of their education.

“By expanding Teach First, the Government is delivering on this commitment.

“Teach First works in primary and secondary schools where more than half of pupils come from the poorest 30 per cent of families in the UK.

“This expansion will mean that Teach First would be able to reach 90 per cent of eligible schools by 2016, boosting the Government’s commitment to recruit more top teachers across England.

“It will also make Teach First the largest graduate recruiter in the country. It recruits exceptional graduates – those having at least a 2.1 degree – who go through a thorough assessment process and intensive two-year training programme.”

The announcement comes as part of the Coalition Government’s drive to raise standards in our schools, by making it a highly attractive career for top graduates.

Welcoming the additional Government support, Brett Wigdortz, CEO and Founder of Teach First, said:

“I’m delighted that in our 10th anniversary year the Coalition Government has confirmed this significant contribution to support the growth of Teach First.

“We have always been extremely grateful for the cross party support Teach First has received from governments over the past decade, as well as the support of our other partners, including schools, universities and businesses, who collectively ensure that we can achieve our goals.

“This decision will help us to get one step closer to our ambitious aim to ensure that no child's educational success is limited by their socio-economic background.”

The additional Government grant, which accounts for a significant amount of Teach First’s overall funding, will help them to expand into two new regions – Kent & Medway in 2012 and the South West in 2013.

It will also help support the growth of its Teach On programme, which accelerates Teach First teachers to become senior leaders and head teachers.

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook will continue to report on the progress of the Teach First and Teach On programmes as we go through the months ahead.

£56 Million To Help Cultural Organisations Build Endowments

In these times of austerity, the Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently following closely the arrangements for the funding of arts and heritage organisations for a  major feature  in the next edition

In July last year Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the creation of a new £55 million scheme, chaired by former Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo, to help arts and heritage organisations secure their future financial stability by building endowment funds.

Organisations will be able to bid for grants of up to £5 million to support endowment fundraising from the Endowment Fund, which will be available to match funds raised from private donors. Bids will be reviewed by an independent advisory panel chaired by Michael Portillo. Around 50 organisations were expected to benefit from the grants which start at £500,000.

Endowments are typically large funds held in perpetuity by organisations, helping to provide long term financial security by contributing to annual running costs through the interest earned by the fund. They are often used in the United States by large cultural organisations but are currently less common in the UK.

Then last week it was announced that 34 arts and heritage organisations across England, after successfully applying for a share of the new £56 million scheme, are set to get a £162 million funding boost. The successful projects are expected to attract an additional £106 million from private and corporate donors as a result of the scheme.

The Catalyst: Endowments programme is a joint initiative between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The successful organisations will use the grants of between £500,000 and £5 million to attract money from private philanthropic sources.

Applications were assessed by an independent panel chaired by Michael Portillo, and final awards made by the National Council of Arts Council England and the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Many of the successful applicants have already secured pledges from donors or are in productive discussions with prospective corporate and individual sponsors.

Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt said:

“Long term financial stability is an essential part of a successful cultural sector. With these grants, and the additional money they are bringing in, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to get a significant number of organisations on the road to long-lasting and sustainable endowments which will continue to support their work for years to come.”

Michael Portillo said:

“The Advisory Panel was impressed with the calibre of the applications we saw. I believe those we recommended for approval are well-placed to secure match funding from donors, and to build endowments which should strengthen their future financial resilience.”

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said:

“The Catalyst: Endowments Programme is part of our response to helping boost private giving across the heritage sector. Alongside our plans to build the fundraising capacity of smaller groups, we expect the programme to form part of a shift in approach to philanthropic giving that will help build financial resilience and attract new money to heritage groups of every size.”

Dame Liz Forgan, Chair of Arts Council England said:

“Public funding of the arts in this country is at the heart of their success. It enables organisations to attract private investors, and gives them the confidence to continue to take the bold artistic leaps that keep audiences coming.

“Catalyst Endowments and Catalyst Arts will help support that public investment, increasing the sustainability of our world class arts organisations who bring delight to millions and play such an important part in our national economy.”

Other members of the panel, chaired by Michael Portillo, were:

Dame Liz Forgan, Chair, Arts Council England; Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair, Heritage Lottery Fund; Veronica Wadley, member of National Council for Arts Council England and Chair, London Regional Arts Council; Hilary Lade, Trustee, Heritage Lottery Fund; David Verey CBE, Chairman of the Trustees of the Art Fund and DCMS lead non-executive director; John Studzinski CBE, investor, philanthropist and senior director at private equity firm Blackstone; and Roger De Haan CBE, philanthropist and creator of Saga group of companies.

We shall be adding to the article as there are further developments and any changes to the plans will be reflected in the content. The full report will be published in print and online in the next edition of the Parliamentary Yearbook.

Women In Business

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook has been following closely the Government’s drive to increase the proportion of women in British boardrooms and will be publishing the results in the next edition

In February this year David Cameron warned that the lack of women in Britain's boardrooms is holding back the country's economic recovery. The Prime Minister said there was clear evidence to signal that ending Britain's male-dominated business culture would improve economic performance.

At present, just 15% of FTSE 100 directors are women.

In the last year, 27% of board-level appointments at FTSE 100 companies have gone to female applicants, but one in ten of Britain's biggest firms still have all-male boards.

A Government-commissioned report last year said quotas should be imposed unless top firms acted to increase the number of women on their boards to at least one in four by 2015.

Mr Cameron pledged to learn lessons from Nordic and Baltic countries as he joined eight of their leaders for a summit in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. He said:

"The drive for more women in business is not simply about equal opportunity, it's about effectiveness.

"It's about quality, not just equality. That's why one of the things we'll be discussing in Sweden is what other countries are doing to help women become entrepreneurs and take up leading positions in business.

"Women now make up nearly half the workforce across Europe and the majority of university degrees. But they are still not sufficiently represented at the senior boardroom level.

"The evidence is that there is a positive link between women in leadership and business performance, so if we fail to unlock the potential of women in the labour market, we're not only failing those individuals, we're failing our whole economy.

"We're already helping women to set up and grow their own business in the UK. But the Nordic and Baltic countries are leading the way in Europe, with female representation on boards far above the EU average.

"So I want to get ideas in Stockholm that we can take back to London to explore if they could help us get more women into British boardrooms, boosting profits and contributing to the economic growth we all urgently need".

Last November the Home Secretary announced funding to recruit and train 5,000 mentors as part of a package of support for women in business. The Department for Business revealed a further 10,000 mentors would be recruited to support both male and female entrepreneurs.

Today the Home Secretary announced the fact that thousands of successful women have joined the drive to kick-start growth by mentoring other women wanting to succeed in business.

Inspirational mentoring champions include Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins and Dawn Russell, who survived cancer and now runs her own foundation aimed at boosting self-worth in young women.

Other high-profile ambassadors promoting mentoring include Hallett Retail founder Wendy Hallett and digital business entrepreneur Penny Power.

Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Theresa May said:

“Women are vital to Britain's economic future and the support of a mentor will help even more of them fulfil their true potential.

“The Government is working hard to help women make the most of their talents, but we cannot act alone. I'm delighted by these mentors' commitment to helping budding businesswomen succeed - and to making Britain prosper.”

The Home Secretary also announced updates to a range of additional support for women in business:

• Think, Act, Report – case studies are being published today showing how adopting the principles behind the Government's voluntary approach to diversity at work has helped leading firms - including BT, Tesco and Ernst & Young - reap business rewards
• Women's Business Council - the council is today publishing the work programme for its one-year mission to identify and break down the barriers to female success
• Women and banks - the government is revealing the initial findings of its review to ensure women have equal access to the finance they need to start a business

The Home Office also published today details of a £2m programme to help female entrepreneurs in rural areas start or build their own business.

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said:

“'Britain has many talented women who will thrive as these Rural Growth Networks give them the tools they need to launch or develop their own businesses.

“Women are about half as likely as men to become entrepreneurs and we need to harness their untapped skills. Living in a rural area can also present specific challenges that these projects aim to address.”

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Year book will continue to report on the progress of the measures as we go through the months ahead.

Aung San Suu Kyi Addresses Both Houses Of Parliament

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook adds to the welcome given by Members of both houses when she addressed them yesterday

Nobel prize winner and newly elected parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi addressed members of both Houses in Westminster Hall yesterday (Thursday 21 June) at 3pm during her visit to the UK and became the first non-head of State and only the second woman to address both houses. The other is of course Her Majesty the Queen.

Commons Speaker, John Bercow MP, gave a welcome address introducing Aung San Suu Kyi’s speech. Mr Bercow said:

“This Hall has hosted many events over the past 900 years. In recent times only a few international figures - Charles de Gaulle, Nelson Mandela, Pope Benedict XVI and Barack Obama - have spoken here. Today Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will become the first figure other than a Head of State, the first woman from abroad and the first citizen of Asia to do so.

“This is not a break from precedent without a purpose. The courage of our guest is legendary. She has withstood the unimaginable suffering of separation from her family and her people with a dignity, fortitude and resolve which most of us can barely conceive. Her connections with the United Kingdom, reinforced in Oxford yesterday, are intimate. She has been the symbol of resistance to a regime which even in an imperfect world has been exceptional in its barbarity. As the UN has documented, and from three trips to Burma's borders I can myself attest, this is a cabal guilty of rape as a weapon of war, extra-judicial killings, compulsory relocation, forced labour, deployment of child soldiers, use of human minesweepers, incarceration of opponents in unspeakable conditions, destruction of villages, obstruction of aid and excruciating torture. Burma has become a beautiful but benighted land where fear runs through society like blood flowing through veins. One woman has now defied a dictatorship of such depravity for two decades. That is why Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader and a stateswoman, is here with us this afternoon.

“However, there is room for cautious optimism. The recent election to Parliament of our guest, accompanied by 42 of her colleagues, and the release of many political prisoners are welcome signs of reform. We earnestly hope that further, and fundamental, reform will ultimately lead to the freedom, democracy and rule of law which we have so long enjoyed and the people of Burma have too long been denied. There is an Asian saying that a journey of a thousand miles must start with a single step. We are proud that one such step will be taken in this Parliament today.

“Parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to welcome the conscience of a country and a heroine for humanity, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”

In her address she said it was important to empower the people of Burma, and now was her country's time of greatest need. Ms Suu Kyi said:

"I am here in part to ask for practical help, help as a friend and an equal, in support of the reforms which can bring better lives, greater opportunities, to the people of Burma who have been for so long deprived of their rights and their place in the world.

"My country today stands at the start of a journey towards, I hope, a better future. So many hills remain to be climbed, chasms to be bridged, obstacles to be breached.

"Our own determination can get us so far. The support of the people of Britain and of peoples around the world can get us so much further."

She stressed that it had been less than 100 days since she was on the campaign trail in Burma and went on to have the electoral success that that has made her opposition leader in parliament.

This remarkable personal transition encourages her in her belief that "before too long" Burma will become a truly democratic society.”

But she warns that Burma's transition will be tough - "the most difficult road we have ever walked", she said in the address.

Vital, in her view, is help in building Burma's democratic institutions and education, and developing a "clean and efficient" civil service.

Ms Suu Kyi concluded her speech by saying there was a lot more work to be done before reform in Burma was complete.

She said: "I would ask that our friends, both here in Britain and beyond, participate in and support Burma's efforts towards the establishment of a truly democratic and just society.”

Lord Speaker, Baroness D’Souza, gave a valedictory address thanking Aung San Suu Kyi following her speech. She said:

“On behalf of the House of Lords, and everyone here today, may I express our collective and heartfelt thanks for your inspiring words.

“We all espouse freedom and democracy but few of us are called upon to pay for and uphold these principles by spending 15 years in detention. Your presence here today is a testament to your courageous approach of steadfast non-violence and reason in the face of an oppressive, powerful and determined regime.

“Your struggle has reverberated around the world. It has forcibly reminded us that free and fair elections, a free press, an independent judiciary, and the institutions of civil society are the cornerstones of democracy and individual freedom. We take these freedoms for granted at our peril. Democracy is never won once and forever – it is a process requiring constant vigilance. Today you have reminded us of the struggle that must continue in Burma and elsewhere.

“In post-war Europe we have seen that it is possible for countries to make the transition from totalitarianism to democracy, and I trust that this will give you hope and encouragement for the journey ahead.

“Your stand against repression has been at the heart of the National League for Democracy’s struggle. I am sure that at times during your long campaign you must have felt unbearably lonely, though as you yourself have said, the Nobel Peace Prize allowed you to feel part of the international community. And indeed, through you, your people and your country were always in our minds.

“Now, together, we must use this occasion of your address to fellow parliamentarians to renew our own determination to be part of the struggle for liberty whenever and wherever it arises.”

The proprietors and staff of the Parliamentary Year book add to those good wishes and will follow closely Burma’s transition to a true democracy.

Sustainable Event Standard

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the impact of the London Olympics for publication in the next edition

London 2012 has contributed to the development of a new global sustainability standard that helps event organisers reduce carbon emissions and waste, manage the biodiversity of venues and achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Launched this month, in response to a global demand, ISO 20121, the international standard on sustainability in event management will potentially be part of a very influential global legacy.

The standard, developed by co-opted experts from 30 countries, provides a common international language for sustainability in the events industry and a practical benchmarking tool. It takes a management systems approach for running more sustainable events, which should lead to improvements in key sustainability issues such as venue selection, transport, recycling or reusing demolition waste, creating a sustainable food strategy, promoting healthy living and creating skills, employment and business legacies.

ISO 20121 is a sustainability standard created for the international event industry, by the event industry.

Since 2010, over 30 countries (including UK, North America, Japan and Sweden) have been involved in the creation of a standard based on BS 8901, the British standard for event sustainability.

Chaired by UK based Fiona Pelham from Sustainable Events Ltd, this standard is likely to change how the event industry considers their social, economic and environmental impacts. ISO 20121 is suitable for all sizes and types of events, or members of the event industry supply chain.

London 2012 has been a vital catalyst for the creation of ISO 20121 and, along with a number of their supply chain, they are committed to the immediate implementation of ISO 20121 as a demonstration of best practice in action.

In 2011, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) became the first Organising Committee to be independently certified to the British Standard 8901:
Specification for a Sustainability Management System for Events. ISO 20121 was developed following the success of BS 8901.

LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority have both successfully implemented ISO 20121 making London 2012 one of the first to adopt the standard. Other early adopters include Coca-Cola and Games venues Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and Earls Court.

David Stubbs, Head of Sustainability at LOCOG, said:

“London 2012 is proud to have been the catalyst for ISO 20121. This is a piece of legacy with the potential to transform how events around the world consider their economic, environmental and social impacts."

Howard Kerr, Chief Executive of BSI, said:

“Over the next few years as sustainability becomes an inherent factor in all businesses, this standard will provide the event industry with an opportunity to lead. We hope that future initiatives, small or large, will be inspired by the good work started by LOCOG in partnership with BSI in this important area of sustainability”.

ISO 20121:2012 specifies requirements for an event sustainability management system for any type of event or event-related activity, and provides guidance on conforming to those requirements.

ISO 20121:2012 is applicable to any organisation that wishes to:

• establish, implement, maintain and improve an event sustainability management system
• ensure that it is in conformity with its stated sustainable development policy
• demonstrate voluntary conformity with ISO 20121:2012 by
  •  first party (self-determination and self-declaration)
  • second party (confirmation of conformance by parties having an interest in the organisation, such as clients, or by other persons on their behalf)
  •  
  •  an independent third party (e.g. a certification body)
• ISO 20121:2012 has been designed to address the management of improved sustainability throughout the entire event management cycle.

ISO 20121:2012 was developed by ISO project committee, ISO/PC 250, Sustainability in event management. It is available from ISO national member institutes. It may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat, price 146 Swiss francs through the ISO Store.

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Year book will continue to report on the lasting legacy of the London Olympics as we go through the months ahead.

Employer Ownership Pilot Fund

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook has been monitoring progress in Government policy relating to apprenticeships for a major feature in the next edition on further and higher education

In February this year, the Prime Minister launched the Employer Ownership pilot prospectus inviting employers to develop bids for the pilot fund. The Employer Ownership pilot fund was announced in November as part of the Growth Review and offers all employers in England direct access to up to £250 million of public investment over the next two years to design and deliver their own training solutions. The pilot is jointly overseen by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Education and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

Funding for 2012-13 is up to £50m, with an additional £200m available in the second year, subject to evidence of high-quality proposals from employers and ongoing evaluation.

Bids need to demonstrate how public investment will leverage private investment, support apprenticeships and show a commitment to raising skills levels in their sector, supply chain or locality. Detailed guidance and application forms for the pilot were issued at the end of February and bidding closed on 26 April 2012.

Small firms (up to 50 employees) can apply for a £1,500 incentive to hire their first 16-24 year-old apprentice. The competitive fund will route public investment directly to employers and will be backed by significant resources from existing skills budgets.

An initial payment will be made two months after the individual has started their apprenticeship; the balance will be paid after the apprenticeship has been completed and the trainee has progressed into sustainable employment

The aim is to support up to 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012-13.

In the first round the Government received 269 bids from employers looking to take part in the new pilot to design and develop their own vocational training programmes. A good spread of bids was received from across the English regions and from different sectors, with a good number from the small and mid-sized business community.

Skills Minister John Hayes said:

“Skills are central to the UK economy and our long-term competitiveness and we're making excellent progress with the biggest apprenticeship programme in modern history.

“That's why the Government has put building workforce capabilities through training at the heart of our economic strategy.

“But there's always more to do and because we know the skills system must be demand driven, we're determined to put employers in the driving seat. With unprecedented focus and funding we'll match and beat competitor nations who have always valued vocational education.

“This pilot fund will give employers the space and opportunity for greater ownership of the vocational skills agenda encouraging innovation and new thinking as we provide the platform for sustainable growth.”

Testing the impact of greater employer ownership of the vocational training agenda is the key objective of the pilot. The vision of greater employer ownership has been championed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) – a non-departmental public body that provides strategic leadership on skills and employment issues.

Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and the John Lewis Partnership, said:

“The pilots are all about encouraging innovation and partnership in an area that is critical to the growth and success of our economy. I look forward to seeing what changes we can start to make as a result of these investments.”

Bidders are seeking a total of around £400m of public investment in this first round of the pilot and the winners of the bids will be announced later in the year.

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Year book will continue to report on the progress of the apprenticeships schemes as we go through the months ahead.

Games4life

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the health of the Nation in this London Olympic year for publication in the next edition

As reported at the time by the Parliamentary Yearbook, In January 2009 the last Government launched the Change4Life campaign, a society-wide movement that aimed to prevent people from becoming overweight by encouraging them to eat better and move more. It was the marketing component of the Government’s response to the rise in obesity and aimed to inspire a societal movement in which everyone who has an interest in preventing obesity, be they Government, business, healthcare professionals, charities, schools, families or individuals, can play their part.

In February this year the coalition Government, in order to harness the energy and excitement of the Olympic Games this summer announced that in June Games4Life for schools would be launched as part of the ongoing Change4 Life campaign, aiming to inspire children and their families to get their active minutes every day. Games4Life set itself a challenging ambition, for these to be the first Olympics to get more people off their sofas and physically active during summer 2012 and more importantly, beyond.

Some of the opportunities Games4Life presents include:

• Co-branding existing Responsibility Deal physical activity work, or any other existing physical activity initiatives, with Games4Life this summer
• Implement Games4life activity around Euro 2012, Olympics/Paralympics, School holidays, summer outdoor play and other sporting events
• Assist with the dissemination of personalised activity plans
• Provide incentives or promotions to encourage participation in physical activity and sign up to Change4Life, e.g. Facebook, media partnership, activity pack
• Align employee programmes, co-brand employee communications and run employee events.

Then today Games4Life  was launched by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

The campaign will build on the excitement of the sporting activities taking place this summer and will encourage millions of people to get involved and get active.

This summer there will be over 1,200 hours of sport on TV, which is an average of 13 hours a day.

New research shows that 93 per cent of us will be tuning into some of this coverage during the next three months. The survey also shows that over half of us will snack on crisps, four in ten adults will drink alcohol and one in five will eat a takeaway whilst watching.

In a bid to get the nation up off the sofa, Games4Life will be encouraging everyone to fill out a simple activity check questionnaire in return for a tailored Games4Life activity pack to keep both adults and kids active during the summer months.

The innovative campaign will bring ideas and inspiration to the public’s fingertips via the Change4Life website, which is full of fun, easy and free ways for everyone to get moving. And for families, there’s a new mobile app – the Fun Generator – that will equip parents and families with over 100 indoor and outdoor activity ideas for kids of all ages.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“I’m looking forward to watching what is shaping up to be an exciting summer of sport on TV, beginning today with the first England football match in Euro 2012.

“But we know that playing sport can be as much fun as watching it and we want to help people make the most of opportunities to get active.

“That is why we are launching Games4Life: to inspire us all to get off our sofas and try some activity ourselves.”

Sally Gunnell, former British Olympic Champion and mother of three, said:

“Major sporting events on TV always inspire people to try something out but we sometimes don’t make it past the front door because we’re not sure where to start. It’s great that this campaign strikes while the iron’s hot and gives people encouragement to get active this summer.

“I’ll certainly be looking out for my Games4Life questionnaire and will be filling it out for my whole family.”

Around 2.6 million activity packs have already been distributed to 7,500 schools across the country with lesson plans for teachers and take-home activities for children to use throughout their summer holidays.

ASDA, Aldi and JJB have also pledged their support for Games4Life and will promoting the campaign through events, sports related offers and promotional material.

Local Authorities and Change4Life supporters are also getting involved in supporting Games4Life and will be distributing over four million questionnaires to local communities.

The campaign will be supported by TV, digital, press advertising and social media activity.

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Year book will continue to report on the success of the campaign as we go through the months ahead.

Apprenticeships

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook has been monitoring progress in Government policy relating to higher education for a major feature apprenticeships and further education in the next edition
The Government has recently announced a series of tougher standards to drive up the quality of apprenticeships. These include 12 month minimum durations for all apprenticeships from August 2012, except where 19+ apprentices have prior learning that means that a shorter period is possible and public funding is reduced, driving improvements in training and workplace learning.
A new report published last month shows that Britain’s apprentices are getting promoted, improving their confidence and taking on more responsibility in the workplace.
The results are taken from the Apprentice Learner Survey of 5,000 apprentices and provides fresh evidence of the real value of apprenticeships.
Key findings include:

Satisfaction amongst apprenticeships is high. Almost nine in ten apprentices (89%) were satisfied, rising to 92% amongst completers.

• One third of individuals who had finished their apprenticeship had received a promotion (32%), and of those in work, three quarters reported taking on more responsibility in their job (75%).
• Three quarters (75%) of all former apprentices in work were taking on more responsibility.
• Eight out of ten apprentices believe that their apprenticeship has improved their ability to do their job, provided them with sector-relevant skills and knowledge, and improved their career prospects.
• Apprenticeships also equip individuals with the confidence they need to fulfil their aspirations, with almost nine in ten (87%) strongly agreeing that they are more confident about their own abilities as a result of undertaking the apprenticeship.
• Nearly two thirds (62%) agreed that the course had improved their overall quality of life.
• A second survey of over 4,000 employers also shows high satisfaction rates among businesses.
• Key findings include:
• Satisfaction among employers is high. 88% employers were satisfied (with 69% being very satisfied) with the relevance of the training (just 4% were dissatisfied on this measure).
• 85% were satisfied (with 66% being very satisfied) with the quality of the training provided by their provider (only 7% were dissatisfied).
• Nearly half (47%) had already recommended apprenticeships to other employers.

Skills Minister John Hayes said:

“I am delighted by these impressive survey results which show nine out of ten apprentices are satisfied with their training and a third have received a promotion as a result.

“We are succeeding in making apprenticeships a gold standard option for ambitious young people and sending a crystal clear message that technical excellence is as essential and highly valued as academic prowess.

"However, while these survey results are excellent I am relentless in my focus on improving quality and we will use these valuable results to identify areas where more work is needed.”

David Way, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said:

“We are very pleased to see high levels of satisfaction amongst employers and apprentices in these surveys.

“These findings will inform our work as we continue to raise standards and focus on ensuring that all apprenticeships offer a good experience as well as encouraging more young people and employers of all sizes and sectors to engage.”

A third report has also been published. ‘The Employer Investment in Apprenticeships and Workplace Learning’ is the first study into the net financial benefits of training to employers.

The study assesses the amount that employers themselves invest in apprenticeships. This ranges from £39,000 per apprenticeship (level 2 and 3 combined) in engineering to around £3,000-£4,000 in retail or hospitality.

The study also looks at the time it takes for an employer to recoup their investment where the apprentice is a new recruit, which averages at around one to two years.
The earlier this week it was announced that entrepreneur and founder of School for Startups, Doug Richard, is to lead an independent review into the future of apprenticeships for the Government.
The Richard Review of Apprenticeships will look at how to build upon the record success of recent years by:

• Ensuring that apprenticeships meet the needs of the changing economy
• Ensuring every apprenticeship delivers high quality training and the qualifications and skills that employers need
• Maximising the impact of Government investment.

Looking to the future, the review will examine how apprenticeships can continue to best meet the needs of employers, individuals, and the wider economy; which learners and employers can and should benefit most from apprenticeships; and what the core components of a high quality apprenticeship should be.

Mr Richard was selected by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education for his strong reputation in the spheres of both business and business education, enabling him to provide an independent analysis of the future priorities of the Government’s scheme.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“To build a prosperous economy we need a skilled workforce. The apprenticeship programme has been a real success, not only boosting chances for young people, but also helping businesses to address their skills gaps.

"However in the past vocational youngsters have been let down by weak courses and our competitors have stolen a march. I have just come back from a fact finding mission to Germany where two-thirds of young people take some form of apprenticeship by the time they are 25.

"To keep pace it is vital that we build on our initial success and continue to look at how apprenticeships can adapt to meet our future needs in the fast-evolving global economy.

“The Richard Review will do just that, establishing the core principles that will keep apprenticeships relevant to the future needs of individuals, employers and the wider economy. Doug Richard’s experience as a business mentor and setting up his School for Startups make him the perfect candidate to complete this task.”
The review should identify the best of current practice and recommend ways to extend this.

Key questions to be considered include:

• What should the core components of an apprenticeship be - to meet the needs of employers (large and small), individuals, and the wider economy?
• Who should apprenticeships be for – which types of learners and employers can benefit most from apprenticeships?
• Are there elements of apprenticeships which should be simplified or stripped back?
• Are the qualifications which are undertaken as part of an apprenticeship sufficiently rigorous, and recognised and valued by employers?
• How should delivery arrangements adequately ensure all that apprenticeships provide significant new learning and acquisition of new skills, rather than the accreditation of existing ones?
• Are there opportunities to improve the impact and value for money of public investment in apprenticeships?

The review should report in Autumn 2012.
The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Year book will continue to report on the progress of the apprenticeships schemes as we go through the months ahead.

Sustainable Transport

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the environment and transport in the next edition

In December 2010 Local Transport Minister, Norman Baker announced plans for a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The fund was structured to challenge local transport authorities outside London to develop packages of measures that support economic growth and reduce carbon in their communities as well as delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of physical activity.

It is aimed at local partnerships – local transport authorities working with their communities – to identify the right solutions for their areas which are financially robust and sustainable in the long term.

Measures could include encouraging walking and cycling, initiatives to improve integration between travel modes and end-to-end journey experiences, better public transport and improved traffic management schemes.

The Government also announced that, in line with its localism agenda, it intends to pool the centrally funded local transport grants to create fewer but larger funding streams which are largely formula based.

At the time Mr Baker said:
"It is at a local level that most can be done to change patterns of behaviour and encourage more sustainable travel, especially for short journeys.

"And in an environment of tighter budgets and greater local flexibility, the Government is determined to reduce bureaucracy and make local transport funding more efficient.

“That is why we intend to pool the myriad of centrally funded local transport grants, to create fewer but larger funding streams, largely formula based, and a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund."

The Government set aside the following LSTF funding for the following four financial years. For every £1 of DfT funding provided for these schemes, £1.19 is being contributed by local authorities and other partners.

£m	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	Total
Resource	50	100	100	100	350
Capital	30	40	60	80	210
Total	80	140	160	180	560

In the first round of bidding for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund the Department received 73 bids from across England. In the second round of bidding, the Department received 41 Expressions of Interest for Tranche 2 and 19 Initial Proposals for Large Projects. The deadline for short-listed Large Project business cases is 20 December 2011, and the deadline for Tranche 2 bids is 24 February 2012.

Then at the end of last month, 30 further carbon cutting, growth boosting local transport schemes were given the green light by Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The projects have won funding totalling £113 million as part of the second allocation from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. They are led by 29 English local authorities with many more as partners and cover eight regions. All projects are designed to create a sustainable transport package that delivers economic growth and reduces carbon emissions.

The successful schemes include a variety of measures including improving sustainable transport options for commuters, creating public transport hubs, building better cycling infrastructure and even providing a new ferry service.

Norman Baker said:
“The schemes we are funding today will benefit communities from Devon to Durham by cutting carbon emissions, reducing congestion and stimulating economic growth in these areas.

“By investing in these projects we are signalling our commitment to green growth which will help to kick-start economic activity in local areas while improving access to healthier forms of transport and addressing the problem of climate change.”

The schemes to be funded include:

• Smarter Travel Slough which will reduce congestion on main roads in the rush hour by increasing the use of walking, cycling and public transport. This will improve air quality and health while supporting business efficiency.
• Walk to School Outreach will see Durham County Council working with national charity Living Streets and eight other councils to increase the number of children walking to school in 854 primary and 182 secondary schools nationally. The project aims to reduce congestion and improve health through exercise.
• Travel Torbay Regeneration Project will deliver a new fast ferry service between Torbay and Brixham which will see journey times cut by half, a new cycle route to encourage more low carbon journeys and a supporting package of employer based travel planning to help increase use of public transport.
• Access to Jobs, Training and Services in Stafford will aim to reduce congestion at peak times in Stafford by improving access to walking, cycling and public transport. People will be encouraged to reconsider their travel habits through offers of discounted bus travel and a new mobile cycle centre providing cyclists with information and advice as well as selling reconditioned bikes.
• Sustainable Transport Access to Tourism on the Isle of Wight will improve the island’s sustainable transport network to support its bid to become a leading destination for green tourism. This will include the provision of transport hubs and easily-accessible live travel information to help visitors and local people plan their journeys. Walking and cycling routes will also receive a boost.

The May announcement relates to schemes seeking contributions from the Department of less than £5 million. Large projects which have been allocated funding of more than £5 million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund will be announced by the end of June 2012.

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook will continue to report on the success of the fund as we go through the months ahead.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information visit Parliamentary Information Office.

Her Majesty The Queen – Diamond Jubilee Celebrations And Events

To mark 60 years of The Queen's reign the Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is, in common with the whole of the country, celebrating her Diamond Jubilee. This brief report gives a flavour of the events that have taken place, events that have gripped the nation.

60 years of The Queen's reign
The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2 June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002.
The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.

Bank holiday
A special bank holiday for the Diamond Jubilee took place last weekend. The 2012 late May bank holiday was moved to Monday 4 June 2012 and an additional Jubilee bank holiday was celebrated on Tuesday 5 June 2012.

School closures
Schools in England and Wales closed on Tuesday 5 June 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Schools that were already closed on 5 June for half term or another reason were able to close on a different day.

Regional and overseas visits to mark the Diamond Jubilee
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be visiting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2012 to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

Other members of the Royal Family will also travel throughout the United Kingdom and overseas next year. Further information is on the British Monarchy website.

National events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee Pageant took place at Windsor Castle in May 2012. Buckingham Palace coordinated a programme of events over the long weekend, including:

•    Big Jubilee Lunches. The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun. Last year on Sunday 5th June the best part of two million people took part in The Big Lunch. In 2012 The Big Lunch fell on the same weekend as The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Sunday 3rd June and as announced by Buckingham Palace The Big Jubilee Lunch was a part of the main programme of events over the central weekend of the Diamond Jubilee.

•    The river pageant on the Thames. On Sunday 3rd June millions of people braved the weather to line the banks of the river Thames to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen - and to watch the 1,000 boat, seven-mile flotilla between Battersea and Tower Bridge. Lord Salisbury, Chairman of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, said: "We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Her Majesty The Queen, the other members of the Royal Family and of course all those people who braved the elements to come out to enjoy our Pageant. We hope it was a fitting tribute to 60 years of service. I would also like to pay tribute to our Pageant team. It was a triumph of their professionalism and years of hard work." The flotilla’s jewel in the crown was the Royal Barge - Spirit of Chartwell - which was decorated with over 10,000 blooms, and carried The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry

•    The concert at Buckingham Palace.  A host of stars performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of members of the royal family and thousands of fans. Opening performer Robbie Williams dropped to his knees on the stage built around the Queen Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace, and declared: "Let me entertain you." Although Prince Philip missed the festivities after being taken to hospital due to a bladder infection, other members of the royal family applauded the singer from a VIP stand adjacent to Green Park. Thousands of people waved Union flags as comedy actor Rob Brydon officially welcomed all those watching near the palace or at home on television. Performers included Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Elton John, Grace Jones and Shirley Bassey

•    At the end of the concert Her Majesty was then escorted to the stage by Prince Charles to light the last of more than 4,200 beacons - located across Britain and the Commonwealth - to mark her 60-year reign. Before the lighting, Prince Charles made an emotional speech to "Mummy" and remarked about how the weather had improved since the previous day.

•    Then on Tuesday 5th June the Royal Family dined on a right royal feast of delicacies at a prestigious luncheon held at the Palace of Westminster. The Queen was joined by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, did not attend as he was being treated in hospital for a bladder infection.
The prestigious lunch was hosted by the Livery, and Her Majesty was joined by around 700 guests made up of people from around the country whose trade, craft or procession is represented by one of the many different liveries taking part in the event. This includes grocers and gunmakers to fruiterers and fishmongers. The guests dined on a selection of delicious British fare including Welsh mountain lamb, Uist Island salmon, and Isle of Wight asparagus. The Queen travelled to the lunch, staged in Westminster Hall, following a reception at Mansion House, while Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate, and Prince Harry travelled from another reception held at Guildhall. Earlier in the day they attended a service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral

•    Away from the official Jubilee celebrations, hundreds of thousands of ordinary folk both in the UK and across the Commonwealth and indeed the world celebrated with street parties and informal celebrations. The bunting and union flags were proudly displayed in streets all over the country as a nation in unison paid homage to our monarch

•    Even after the bank holiday and a hectic weekend, the Queen still showed no signs of slowing down as she attended a lunch with Commonwealth heads of state on 6th June. Looking impossibly fresh faced and elegant in purple jacket and floral dress by Stuart Parvin, the monarch displayed yet again the strength, stoicism and enduring energy that has won back the nation's affection over the past year. She was joined by more than 70 guests and leaders from across the association of nations, including Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha.

City status and Lord Mayoralty
As part of the celebrations, towns in the UK will also compete for city status and existing cities will compete for Lord Mayoralty (or Lord Provostship in Scotland). These will be granted by The Queen in her Jubilee year.

In London, Greenwich will be granted Royal Borough status in recognition of the historically close links between Greenwich and the monarchy. Like city status, Lord Mayoralty or Lord Provostship, this is a purely symbolic award and brings no extra powers, functions or funding.

Exhibitions and projects
A number of exhibitions and projects are being planned across the UK to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

Museums and galleries
In 2012 the Royal Collection will hold exhibitions at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and elsewhere in the United Kingdom to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
The National Maritime Museum will open 'Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames' in April 2012. It will explore the relationship between the Queen, the City of London and the River Thames.
The National Portrait Gallery will also stage ‘The Queen: Art and Image’, a touring exhibition of images of the Queen.

The Victoria and Albert Museum is holding an exhibition of portraits of The Queen by photographer Cecil Beaton, which will tour around the UK.

Charities
A new charitable Trust, 'The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust', has been launched. Members of the public are welcome to make contributions.

In November 2010 the Big Lottery Fund launched the Jubilee People’s Millions Competition. This will grant £3.6 million in award money to local community projects. The winning projects were announced in July 2011.

Environmental projects
The Jubilee Woods Project was launched by The Woodlands Trust in February 2011. It will create a 460-acre public wood in Leicestershire to celebrate the Jubilee and also aims to plant six million trees across the UK, creating hundreds of new woodlands. As part of this project, 60 ‘Diamond Woods’ of at least 60 acres each will be planted to mark each year of the Queen’s reign. The planting  began in autumn 2011 and runs to the end of 2012.

Fields in Trust has launched the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge to protect recreational spaces for the Diamond Jubilee.

Digital projects
The Royal Commonwealth Society has organised a special Jubilee Time Capsule, a digital archive of The Queen’s reign. You can contribute to this by picking a day and adding your memories and stories of that day. You can use photos, words or videos and talk about anything you want.

Face Britain is a project created by The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts for children and young people aged 4-16 in the UK. You will be able to create a self-portrait and see it on public display as part of the celebrations.

Official medal
An official medal has been commissioned to mark Her Majesty The Queen's 60 years on the throne.

Those in the Armed Forces, emergency services and prison service personnel, are among those eligible for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Diamond Jubilee emblem and titles
The Jubilee emblem was chosen after a national competition for children aged between 6 and 14. The winning design is 10-year-old Katherine Dewar's, from Chester.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Message
Her Majesty The Queen has thanked all those involved in her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in a televised broadcast on the final day of the Diamond Jubilee Weekend celebrations.

“The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience. It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbours and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere.

“But Prince Philip and I want to take this opportunity to offer our special thanks and appreciation to all those who have had a hand in organising these Jubilee celebrations. It has been a massive challenge, and I am sure that everyone who has enjoyed these festive occasions realises how much work has been involved.

“I hope that memories of all this year’s happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come. I will continue to treasure and draw inspiration from the countless kindnesses shown to me in this country and throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you all.”

The staff of the Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook join with the rest of the country in congratulating Her Majesty on this momentous occasion and wishing her many more years on the Throne.
This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information visit Parliamentary Information Office.