The Public Sector Fraud Authority saved taxpayers £311 million in its first year of operation, according to figures revealed by Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister for the Cabinet Office, at a meeting of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum this week. The figure far exceeds the original savings target of £180 million set when the authority launched last year. The £311 million figure is made up of a variety of projects led by the Public Sector Fraud Authority that help public sector organisations prevent, identify, and recover public money lost to fraud, including: the use of advanced artificial intelligence and data analytics…

Silverstone, 16 September 2024 – Ferrari held a graduation ceremony at the Ferrari Challenge UK event at Silverstone this weekend for five new Ferrari Apprentices who have completed their Apprenticeship with the Prancing Horse. The Apprentices receiving their graduation certifications were: Cameron McKean (Service Advisor) – Jardine Colchester Daniel Humphrey-Shepard (Light Vehicle Technician) – JCT600, Leeds James Matthews (Light Vehicle Technician) – Dick Lovett Swindon Alex Raven (Light Vehicle Technician) – HR Owen, London Samuel Hill (Light Vehicle Technician) – Graypaul, Nottingham The Ferrari North Europe Apprentice programme is ideal for those who have achieved at least 5 GCSEs…

Every so often, a food ‘scare/scandal’ story will appear in the media about the ingredients in foods that we buy or consume daily. For instance, a few years ago, it was about horse meat being found in burgers sold by various supermarkets. Much of the reaction to that revelation verged on repugnance that discerning palates may have unwitting consumed a piece of Dobbin. There was also the concern that there was no mention of a horse on the label. One of the questions it raised was, what’s really in our food? For instance, the British may not be fond…

EBay is marking its inaugural appearance at this year’s Silverstone Festival with The eBay Stage, taking place at the legendary British circuit from 23rd – 25th August. Those with a particular love of 1970s Minis will be able to see TV’s Wheeler Dealers’ very own Mike Brewer and Marc ‘F1 Elvis’ Priestley, who will be putting the spotlight on a 1972 Morris Mini live on The eBay Stage, together with many other stunning classics, over the weekend. As well as an enthralling schedule on The eBay Stage, festivalgoers have the opportunity to see flat-out historic racing at its…

A group of bioenergy experts have welcomed the Government’s new UK Biomass Strategy, but say urgent action is now vital to shape its ambitions into deliverable policies. Researchers at the Supergen Bioenergy Hub – led by Aston University – worked closely with government departments to provide scientific evidence to inform the strategy, which outlines the role biomass will play in supporting the UK’s transition to net zero and how this will be achieved. Professor Patricia Thornley, who leads the Hub, says: “This is a comprehensive and considered biomass strategy that, rightly, places sustainability at the heart of UK bioenergy development. The…

More than 1,000 newly qualified GPs will be recruited thanks to government action to remove red tape currently preventing surgeries from hiring doctors. Bringing back the family doctor is central to the government’s plan to rebuild the health service, and the changes being made to cut through the current rules will help more patients get access to GPs and ensure more GPs are able to find roles, so that people in communities across England will receive the timely care they deserve this year. Currently, under a scheme known as the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, primary care networks (PCNs) can claim…

Bentley’s future is being brought another step closer with the announcement that its iconic W12 engine will be succeeded by an all-new, performance-focused V8 hybrid powertrain. Producing the highest power output ever offered in a Bentley, the new powertrain will also be the most dynamic, most responsive and most efficient system in Bentley’s history, befitting a new generation of daily supercars. Christened the Ultra Performance Hybrid, the new powertrain follows Bentley’s long-standing tradition of supplementing class-leading combustion engines with technology to increase performance. Supercharging in the 1920s was the early forebear to the use of turbocharging from the 1980s to…

City of Wolverhampton Council is implementing new government guidelines designed to combat fake taxis and improve passenger safety – making it the first licensing authority in the country to take such action. From today (1 August), the council will implement the government’s best practice guidance, which requires private hire drivers not to display livery signage, such as that of a private hire vehicle operator, on their doors. This aims to prevent impersonation of private hire vehicles by anyone who prints their own imitation signage and operates as an illegal taxi. There have been incidents reported nationally of fake signs being…

In support of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s leading independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is reminding motorists they shouldn’t just be checking their tyres, brakes and oil levels before getting behind the wheel, but also checking in on themselves and others. Richard Gladman, Head of Driving and Riding Standards at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “Life can be a hard road, and sometimes we need time to put the brakes on and take some time for ourselves. We are living in extraordinary times where the need for mental health support services is definitely on the increase. It’s therefore essential…

City partners are celebrating the completion of construction on the first phase of the council’s City Learning Quarter masterplan. The new £8.1 million City of Wolverhampton College Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre on its Wellington Road campus in Bilston has been handed over by contractor Speller Metcalfe on schedule following an 11 month build. The college will now move its kit into the state of the-art training facility ready to open its doors to students in September when the new academic year starts. It will secure hundreds of jobs in the local economy and create learning opportunities for thousands of…