Iain Wright

Our expectation is that interest in acquiring a stake in the Green Investment Bank will come from sophisticated, large scale institutional investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. Detailed matters like employee share schemes will need to be considered as part of the transaction and will depend in part on the views of investors.

Our expectation is that interest in acquiring a stake in the Green Investment Bank will come from sophisticated, large scale institutional investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. We do not currently anticipate shares in the company being offered to individuals.

We will explore all options for a sale. Decisions will reflect the outcome we believe maximises value for the UK taxpayer. Our expectation is that interest in acquiring a stake in the Green Investment Bank will come from sophisticated, large scale institutional investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds.

Timing of a sale is dependent on the outcome of discussions with potential investors. We are keen to make progress but would not want to commit to a particular timetable at this stage. We need the flexibility to do a deal when we are satisfied the time and the terms are right. We will only proceed once satisfied we are able to achieve best value for money for the taxpayer.

Decisions on this will depend on the outcome of discussions with potential investors and will be driven by what best achieves value for money for the UK taxpayer. Our aim is that a majority of shares in UK Green Investment Bank plc would come to be held by private investors.

I appreciate there is widespread interest in the future of UK Green Investment Bank plc. Both the Government and the company will continue to be as transparent as possible about plans for the company’s future.

Our aim is that bringing private ownership in to UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) should free the company from Government control with decisions about operational and strategic matters being a matter for the company, its board and its shareholders. As we move towards introducing private investors, we will be exploring how to ensure GIB continues to invest in accordance with its green principles.

The UK has a thriving space sector worth £11.3b to the economy and satellites have been acknowledged as one of the UK’s Eight Great technologies, fundamental to our future economy. The UK’s Civil Space Strategy, 2012 to 2016, will continue to guide policy in line with the goal of space contributing £40 billion a year to the UK economy by 2030.

As part of the Deregulation Bill, reforms to the existing Outer Space Act will come into force in October - reducing the burden on satellite operators, making the UK more competitive globally, particularly building on our expertise in small satellites. This continued growth is enabled by balanced investment in national and European space programmes.

At the European Space Agency’s Council of Ministers in December 2014, we committed additional investment of more than £200 million in Europe’s space programme, enabling the UK to further collaborate with Europe and develop world leading technologies, services and science missions. While individual opportunities will continue to be evaluated on their own merit, our broad policy goals remain: economic growth, scientific excellence and maximum benefit to citizens.

Working across government is central to achieving these aims. For example, the UK Space Agency jointly published the National Space Security Policy in April 2014 with the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office, to set out a coherent approach to the UK’s space security interests, and the publication of a National Space Policy later this year will spell out the principles which underpin the UK approach to space.

Our manifesto committed to support the long-term economic plan by fostering research, innovation and jobs in the life science industry. We will therefore continue to invest in growing the life sciences sector, to help people compete and win in the intense global race for high value, high knowledge jobs, to unleash the potential of innovation, and to drive investment and growth in the UK economy. The Office of Life Sciences will continue to be an important part of that.

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will work closely with industry and businesses to understand their needs and what more the Government can do to retain the UK’s competitive position within the global economy. The biggest challenge facing the economy is improving productivity and it is important to recognise that the productivity challenge is different sector by sector. Regular dialogue and working with business, including through the sector councils, as part of our wider industrial approach, is a vital part of that.

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will work closely with industry and businesses to understand their needs and what more the Government can do to retain the UK’s competitive position within the global economy. The biggest challenge facing the economy is improving productivity and it is important to recognise that the productivity challenge is different sector by sector. Regular dialogue and working with business, including through the sector councils, as part of our wider industrial approach, is a vital part of that.

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will work closely with industry and businesses to understand their needs and what more the Government can do to retain the UK’s competitive position within the global economy. The biggest challenge facing the economy is improving productivity and it is important to recognise that the productivity challenge is different sector by sector. Regular dialogue and working with business, including through the sector councils, as part of our wider industrial approach, is a vital part of that.

The public can currently buy Royal Mail shares as they are freely traded on the stock market.

As set out in the Secretary of State’s report to Parliament laid under section 2(2) of the Postal Services Act 2011 on 8 June, the sale of shares will be subject to market conditions and sensitivities and the Government will retain flexibility over the number of shares that are sold at any given time and the exact timing and structure of each sale.

As set out in the Secretary of State’s report to Parliament laid under section 2(2) of the Postal Services Act 2011 on 8 June, the sale of shares will be subject to market conditions and sensitivities and the Government will retain flexibility over the number of shares that are sold at any given time and the exact timing and structure of each sale.

The majority of BIS’ £450m savings will be delivered through known underspends and releasing unallocated funding.

Officials in my department are working with the appropriate funding bodies to determine how other savings can best be achieved in line with ministers’ priorities.

Funding for apprenticeships and student maintenance will not be affected.

The underlying principles ensuring that students and young people continue to benefit from one of the best education systems in the world will continue.

Our intention is to sell the Government’s remaining stake in Royal Mail during this Parliament. As set out in the Secretary of State’s report to Parliament laid under section 2(2) of the Postal Services Act 2011 on 8 June, the sale of shares will be subject to market conditions and sensitivities and the Government will retain flexibility over the number of shares that are sold at any given time and the exact timing and structure of each sale.

One of the primary objectives of the sale will be a financial outcome that represents overall value for money.

I regret that it has not yet proved possible to publish the report. The detailed and full responses we received have led to officials making further inquiries into a number of issues. It is important that the views of interested parties are properly considered, and that we take the necessary time to do this. We will issue the report as soon as possible.

Neither my noble Friend the Minister for Intellectual Property nor I have met with any organisations to discuss this review. However, officials have met with a number of organisations which responded to our Call for Evidence on this issue including at a stakeholder event organised last year.

The Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the creative and other interested sectors in developing the UK’s vision for the Digital Economy, including representatives of film, television, music and publishing companies. The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders on the digital single market agenda to promote a single market which supports growth and enables businesses, creators and consumers to enjoy the opportunities presented by the digital economy.

No timetable has been set as no decision has been taken to provide civil injunctive powers for businesses, in respect of copycat packaging, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. We will issue a report on this subject as soon as possible.

The global pharmaceutical sector along with other industries has faced challenges in coping with the economic downturn and global squeeze on prices. Pharmaceutical global restructuring has resulted in a significant number of plant closures in Europe including in the UK due to industry-wide overcapacity in manufacturing, expiry of patents on some of the medicines manufactured in the UK and slow growth of the European pharmaceutical market over the last few years, due to budget constraints. The figures are also partly due to the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry moving from a focus on small molecules to biological products, which require different manufacturing plants and capabilities.

We are working with the sector, in particular through the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership, to respond to the opportunities and challenges it has identified. For example, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency’s Innovation office published four case studies that exemplify why the UK is a leading place to introduce new manufacturing processes. We have invested significantly in national centres such as the cell therapy and precision medicine catapults. We have also invested £55m in a Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre, £38m in the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and £28m in a National Formulation Centre. In addition, £13 million has been invested in 7 medicines manufacturing projects under the Regional Growth Fund, leveraging an £108m in private sector investment.

These initiatives will help us to develop advanced medicines manufacturing, which should enable us to build new industries in areas such as cell and gene therapies. The Life Sciences Strategy launched in December 2011 set the foundations for this renewal. We estimate that since then at least £3.5 billion inward investment into the UK has been secured, creating over 11,000 new jobs.

Recently, Glaxo SmithKline and Astra Zeneca have both made significant commitments to invest in manufacturing in the UK. In addition, non UK domiciled companies have recognised the opportunity of manufacturing in the UK, with Fujifilm Diosynth, opening a new manufacturing facility in October 2013 and Eisai opening its new packaging facility in November 2014.

As set out in the UK’s vision for the Digital Economy, the Government believes that the digital single market should make it easier for people to access and use content on fair and reasonable terms across borders. The Government will be engaging with the European Commission and stakeholders to promote targeted changes based on the best available evidence. We must ensure we have a copyright framework that supports economic growth, protects our creators, rewards creativity and responds to consumer needs.

We recognise the important role that businesses in the North East of England play in the oil and gas offshore sector supply chain. No specific assessment has been made of the effect of the recent fall in the price of oil on business in the North East of England, but the Department continues to work with its local offices to monitor the situation. I am planning to visit Newcastle shortly to gain first-hand knowledge of the issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

Since the programme was launched on 27th January 2014, 12,864 small businesses have been given advice on what support they should be seeking. Of those, (a) 9,610 have been issued with a voucher to help subsidise the cost of obtaining that advice from suppliers in the private sector and as of 28th January 2015, (b) 1,600 vouchers have been redeemed. There are currently 4,300 vouchers still in circulation with up to three months for businesses to use them.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.

A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.

The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.

The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.

The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade & Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.

The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.

The Government have an excellent record of supporting UK creative industries, for example through fiscal relief, spending and programmes for the arts and culture, education and skills, digital and communications infrastructure, research and innovation, access to finance and international trade and investment.

Following the success of UK film tax credits, which have generated billions in investment since 2010, we have introduced new corporation tax reliefs for high-end TV production, video games, animation and theatre. These targeted incentives are in addition to schemes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Voluntary Capital Trusts (VCTs).

Information on support for UK creative industries through specific reliefs and programmes is available from the responsible departments and public bodies.

Through industrial strategy, the whole of Government is working in partnership with industry in a range of sectors to set the long-term direction needed to give businesses the confidence to invest.

There have been representations received on the budget changes to the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) from trade associations and businesses largely in the textiles and footwear industry; and from the Sponsors Alliance, a grouping of organisations who receive payment to help UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) deliver TAP support. UKTI expenditure in 2014/15 on TAP is expected to be 35% higher than 2009/10.

Records of the value of export sales generated by companies attending overseas exhibitions through the use of the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) throughout the life of the programme are not available.

Since 1st November 2014 the Business Bank has been an operationally independent public limited company, which is wholly owned by Her Majesty’s Government.

It is conducting research, working alongside Department for Business, Innovation and Skills officials, to better understand the market for performance bonds and its impact on smaller companies.

Bonds and guarantees have been supported by the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, which is delivered by the Business Bank via participating lenders, since April 2014.

The Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter was published in April and publicly supported by members of the Construction Leadership Council.

Signing up to the Payment Charter is a voluntary commitment. We are currently consulting on a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which construction businesses signing the Charter will report on, via the Institute of Credit Management. The KPIs are being developed in order to have a framework in place to monitor the effect of the Charter.

The Aerospace Growth Partnership is helping companies to bring products to market faster and more efficiently through a range of action and support initiatives. These include the £2billion joint funding from industry and Government, supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute, for research into new product technology and manufacturing processes. Over £400m of projects have already been announced.

In addition, the £40m National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) is supporting small and medium sized businesses, through high calibre technical and management resource, to help them accelerate technology efficiently and bring products to market faster. NATEP is already supporting 68 companies.

We are also investing £120m, jointly with industry, in the Sharing in Growth initiative. This is an intensive intervention aimed at ensuring that UK supply chain companies build and maintain world class levels of competitiveness.

In 2011 we established the Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering (CORE) network, and through this network my department and other members of the Offshore Wind Industry Council are working with six local enterprise partnerships to support the offshore industry supply chain.

The six local enterprise partnerships in the CORE network are North East, Humber, New Anglia, Liverpool City Region, South East and your own local enterprise partnership area, Tees Valley. These areas are recognised as having existing port infrastructure, skills, supply chain and local government support to enable rapid growth within the offshore wind sector.

My Department also works with other local enterprise partnerships where growth opportunities are identified in other areas. The CORE network is working successfully with the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation, in UK Trade and Investment, to raise the profile of CORE areas as investment locations for major offshore wind companies and to realise the supply chain opportunities linked to these investments. The most recent CORE brochure was an excellent example of Local Enterprise Partnerships working with Government to grow local economies.

The Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) update published in July 2014 set out some of the steps being taken to maintain the UK’s competitive position through enhancements in supply chain competitiveness and manufacturing capability.

The Manufacturing Accelerator Programme (MAP) is one element of the work in the AGP to support this. The MAP proposal is being developed as part of the engagement between Government, industry and academia who are all represented at the AGP Manufacturing Working Group. As part of this effort we have already announced significant investments in expanding the capacity for aerospace projects within the High Value Manufacturing Catapult as well as further funding within the ATI programme for extensions to the SAMULET programme (Strategic Affordable Manufacturing in the UK through Leading Environmental Technologies) and other projects focussing on manufacturing.

These activities link with the work being carried out to support supply chain companies in the Sharing in Growth Programme as well as the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme. As these programmes develop we are jointly reviewing the next steps within the Manufacturing Working Group and will be looking at the MAP as part of this.

The Industrial Strategy for Construction, Construction 2025, was published in July 2013; it sets out a vision of where the industry will be in 2025 and the steps that are needed to get there. This is being taken forward in partnership with the industry through the Construction Leadership Council.

Achieving the four key ambitions of the strategy - reducing initial cost of construction and the whole-life cost of assets; reducing overall time from inception to completion; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and reducing the trade gap between total exports and total imports - will improve the efficiency and the productivity of the industry.

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is pursuing work on developing standardisation across the offshore wind industry.

Following the recommendation in Matthew Chinn’s report into opportunities and barriers facing the UK offshore wind supply chain in November 2014 to the co-chairs of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, the Offshore Wind Programme Board sub-group on Supply Chain is now investigating this topic, including best practice in other sectors. Reducing costs through standardisation needs to be balanced with the value of bringing in new innovations.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) can support exports by UK companies in the offshore wind sector.

In addition, to allow as many exporters and potential exporters as possible to be able to benefit directly from UKEF support, the Government is taking forward proposals in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill to widen UKEF’s powers so it is able to provide support to companies in the supply chains of UK exporters, as well as UK exporters themselves.