Business & growth

Unlocking EU growth: Prime Minister David Cameron warns that Europe needs to reform to drive growth, or risks falling further behind its competitors, as the Government published its new pamphlet, "Let’s Choose Growth".

Construction exhibition: An exhibition highlighting the strength of the UK construction products industry was opened at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills by Business Minster Mark Prisk. 

ACAS re-appointments: Ed Davey, Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, has re-appointed Jennifer Eady and Nicola Templeman as Council Members to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Intellectual property

Patents progress: The US and UK governments have highlighted the progress made on a joint action plan to combat the problem of patent backlogs and their effects on the economy and job creation.

IP awareness: Small businesses need to do more to protect and exploit their innovations, according to research published by the Intellectual Property Office.

Enterprise

Heart of the South West LEP: A new local enterprise partnership for part of the South West of England has been approved by Mark Prisk and Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark. The Heart of the South West local enterprise partnership covers Devon, Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Somerset.

Re-appointment of Capital for Enterprise Non-Executive Directors:  Alison Loudon, John Spence and John McCrory have been re-appointed as Non-Executive Directors of Capital for Enterprise Limited. Alison Loudon will serve until 30 June 2012, John Spence until 31 March 2013, and John McCrory until 31 March 2014.

Higher education & further education

David Willetts speech: Read Universities and Science Minister David Willetts' speech at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Annual HE in FE Conference, London.

Vocational training: Business Secretary Vince Cable responds to BIS Statistical First Release ‘Post 16 Education & Skills Learner Participation, Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification Held’.

University Participation: David Willetts has commented on university participation statistics published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
 

Get involved

The department currently has 3 consultations open. These are:

• A Competition Regime for Growth: A Consultation on Options for Reform
• Resolving workplace disputes - public consultation
• Employed students and the accommodation offset