Please click below to download the document.

The Digital Economy Unit at the Department for Culture Media and Sport are putting on a high-level event on International Women's Day:

The issue: Women are underrepresented in the uptake of digital qualifications and in digital roles. The Tech Partnership’s 2015 Women in IT Scorecard reported that women account for only 17% of the digital workforce. This is at a time when UK productivity is impacted by digital skills shortages with a million new recruits needed in digital roles in the next decade.

Purpose of the Round Table: On International Women’s Day, Government in its convening role will rally voices from industry, government and academia, to help unpack the complex barriers preventing women from undertaking digital roles and agree concrete actions to move this agenda forward. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is leading on digital skills policy and is looking to better understand the barriers in order to take actions forward.

Event Overview: Event chair Eileen Burbidge, chair of Tech City UK and Minister for the Digital Economy, Ed Vaizey, will set out their own personal vision for this agenda and why it’s so important for us to act collectively, at pace, to 'decode the gap'.

Delegates will be invited to work in smaller groups, each with a specific focus on a different part of the digital skills pipeline, from early years through to women in the workforce. You will be asked to propose actions that will scale the activity to attract, and retain, more women in digital careers.

Groups will consider what actions are already in train to address the barriers at their particular part of the pipeline and suggest opportunities for further action and scalability, agreeing how you will work together after the event to take these forward.

Ideas from the roundtables will be put forward to a panel including Ministers, later in the year. A report of outcomes will also be produced by the DCMS Digital Economy Unit, with co-author credits for delegates taking work forward.

DEU cannot guarantee a place to all invitees so please get in touch with the event manager at DEUDecodethegap@culture.gov.uk if you would like to be considered for a place.

For more information on techUK's Women in Tech programme, get in touch with Doniya Soni. 

{bio}doniya.soni@techuk.org{/bio}

Digital Europe is holding an event on the 16 March in The Hague to discuss the key actions needed to develop the digital and key enabling technologies skills required to fuel the economy, jobs and growth in Europe.

New disruptive business models, empowered by these technologies are drivers of the so-called fourth industrial revolution. To allow companies to fully grasp the opportunities there is a need for Europe to develop new high-level skills and increase its talent pool to compete for the future.

The development of these skills in Europe is a multi-faceted challenge. It requires a comprehensive solution. Action is required at every level.

There is a need to join forces and apply a well-coordinated approach, thereby enabling Europe to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by these technologies for decades to come. Digital Europe hopes that members will be able to join and to participate at the conference.

Find more on the event, speakers and practical details on the website. 

The event will gather policy makers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, experts and young people in a format including practical demonstrations, panel discussions and networking opportunities. techUK's Head of Policy Charlotte Holloway will also be speaking at the event.

For more information on techUK's work on Skills & Talent Development, please get in touch with Doniya Soni. 

PDT Global is holding an event on Unconscious Bias at the IET Women's Network on Feb 25th.

It is a great opportunity to hear PDT's content on on Unconscious Bias, and techUK members have been given 3 free spaces at the event.

PDT's range of Unconscious Bias training programmes have been designed for all personnel, ranging from a basic introductory course through to a more intense specialist programme for your HR team.

All of their programmes can be delivered live, virtually, (great for global teams) through one of our engaging, live, interactive webinars or via face-to-face (encouraging delegate interaction) as required, either on a one to one basis or as part of a group.

PDT also offers off-the-shelf and bespoke programmes for trainers, facilitators and talent managers within your organisation who may need a slightly different approach.

For more information and to register, please get in touch with kusia.pell@pdtglobal.com

Pitch 10, the showcase of the 10 most promising start ups in UK FinTech, is set to return later this month as part of UK FinTech Week. The event, which will take at No 10 on Friday, 26 February, will celebrate the UK's status as a global FinTech hub, drawing together some of the country's most exciting early stage companies. With Pitch 10 just a little over a week away, applications must be submitted by 21:00 on Wednesday, 17 February, with selected participants being informed this coming Sunday. 

Further details can be found here.

On Friday 12th January the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) hosted a webcast to inform suppliers of the work and progress of the DCPP and to give more information about the Cyber Essentials Scheme (CES). 

The slides from the webcast are available to download from the bottom of this webpage.

Below is a recording of the webcast, including the Q&A. 

Money20/20 Europe is the Eurocentric catalyst for the growth and development of the Payments & Financial Services Ecosystem.

With 2,000+ attendees, including 250 CEOs, from over 1,000 companies and 50+ countries, Money20/20’s Copenhagen launch is critical to realizing the vision of disruptive ways in which consumers and businesses manage, spend and borrow money in Europe. This essential, must-attend industry gathering will take place from April 4-7 2016 at the Bella Centre, Copenhagen.

For more information please contact Veronica@Money2020.com or visit the event website.

Welcome to the February edition of the techUK Defence Newsletter.

As many of you will be aware 2016 has started with a very active January and February for techUK. We have led on engagement with ISS and particularly the Defence as a Platform (DaaP) briefings and worked with other trade associations to bring networking and direct customer engagement opportunities to SMEs.

We also launched our Innovation Challenge with Army HQ Information Systems in January. Health and fitness monitoring and reporting for Defence is the focus of the first Challenge and we would encourage you engage with this Challenge if you feel your company can provide innovations to this area. Read more about the first Challenge.

The Chair of the Defence & Security Board, Tim Gibson has written to Defence Programme members with a draft schedule of future ISS engagements for the coming year. If you have not received this letter directly you can view the draft calendar of events here. More information about these events will be shared in the coming weeks and months.

The techUK Defence Commercial Special Interest Group has also been progressing discussions with senior leadership within ISS Commercial. If your company has not yet shared the name of your Commercial Director we would urge you to do so. Throughout 2016 the Group will be engaging with senior ISS leadership on a range of commercial issues, from delving into 'contracting for outcomes' to how MOD can contract more directly with SMEs in the information space.

Finally, During Q2/Q3 of 2016 we will run the elections for company positions on the Defence & Security Board. This is an ideal opportunity to help lead the D&S programmes within techUK, and to stand out as an influential voice for UK technology in our industries. More details about how to stand for election will follow in the coming months via this newsletter.

Kind regards

Andy Johnston
Defence Programme Manager
T 020 7331 2059 | E Andy.Johnston@techUK.org

________________________________________

News

UKCeB Maritime Innovation Challenge

The UKCeB (www.ukceb.net), working with its trade body members, techUK and ADS, is facilitating an Innovation Challenge on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence Navy Command and our industry sponsor Babcock International Group. The Innovation Challenge is open to all SMEs (including those in Defence and non-Defence sectors) that have high-readiness technologies (Technology Readiness Level 4 or higher) that could offer innovation to the Maritime and the wider Defence sector.

The Challenge has been split into 3 Challenge Categories, the solutions to which should aid predictive, near-real time and evidence-based decision making in order to:

a. Improve asset performance (availability, capability and readiness)
b. Maintain safety levels at sea
c. Reduce through-life costs

Please see our website for full details and extensive supporting document.

Desider – February Issue

Ministry of Defence Implementation of Cyber Essentials Scheme

As of 01 January 2016 the Ministry of Defence will require suppliers to have obtained a Cyber Essentials certificate by the contract start date. MOD states: "For all new requirements advertised from 01 January 2016 which entail the transfer of MOD identifitable information from customer to supplier or the generation of information by a supplier specifically in support of the MOD contract, MOD will require suppliers to have a Cyber Essentials certificate by the contract start date at the latest, and for it to be renewed annually. This requirement must be flowed down the supply chain."

Please see our website for more information and the official MOD letter.

Defence Cyber Protection Partnership: overview and cyber risk profile requirements, evidence and guidance.

________________________________________

techUK Activity

• techUK seeks input from members on Apprenticeship Levy
• techUK welcomes Intelligence and Security Committee report into IP Bill
• techUK welcomes Women on Boards review announcement
• Call for Expressions of Interest: Dynamic Digital Skills Map
• Government injects £20m into smart transport
• Investigatory Powers Bill could undermine UK Tech sector
• techUK responds to inquiry on the impact of the Spending Review
• DCMS launches New Scheme for Cyber Start-Ups
• Dstl search for a new Capability and Delivery Director
• Home Office assumes responsibility for Fire and Rescue Policy

________________________________________

Recent Events

• techUK Innovation Challenge Launch: Health and Fitness Monitoring and Reporting for Defence
• Defence as a Platform (Future) Industry Engagement
• Programme CORTISONE Industry Engagement Days
• Defence as a Platform Hosting Services Industry Engagement
  ________________________________________

Future Events

Commercial Exploitation of UAS – What can be achieved?
Date: 11 February 2016
Time: 16:00 - 19:30
Venue: Bird & Bird, 15 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1JP

Defence Cyber Protection Partnership: Cyber Essentials Scheme Webinar
Date: 12 February 2016
Time: 10.00 – 12.00
To watch the webcast click here.

Defence as a Platform Hosting Services Industry Engagement Day 3
Date: 14 March
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 (Registration from 09:30)
Venue: techUK offices, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
________________________________________

techUK Supported Event

Security and Defence in Europe
Diverging Interests, Fragmenting Policy
17 – 18 March 2016 | London

The UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review has recently pledged a £12 billion spending increase on equipment alongside proposals for significant reorganization to tackle the nature of threats faced both at home and abroad.

The Chatham House Security and Defence in Europe conference will examine the effects of the SDSR on the UK's strategic relationships in Europe and beyond, and the implications for bilateral and institutional security arrangements.

Expert speakers include:
• Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Minister of Defence, The Netherlands
• Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform (CER)
• Brigadier General Jo Coelmont, Senior Associate Fellow at EGMONT, The Royal Institute for the International Relations
• General Mikhail Kostarakos, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC)
View the conference agenda here.

Register now to book for this event. For more information contact Daniel Mitchelmore on +44 (0)20 7314 2785 or dmitchelmore@chathamhouse.org

The next meeting of the Financial Services Council has been scheduled for Monday, 18 April, from 15:30 to 17:00 at techUK. This meeting is by invitation only. If you would like any further information, please contact Oisin Merrins.

{bio}oisin.merrins@techuk.org{/bio}

The European Defence Agency are establishing two SME Special Advisers to champion defence-related SMEs across the EU. The EDA are calling for a Government and Industry Special Adviser. Please see below for the Terms of Reference of the role. 

Industry candidates should send their CV to Carly Paxman at DESIRG-2a1@mod.uk before Monday 22nd February and she will forward interested applications onto the EDA.

The EDA will set up a selection committee which will assess proposals against the Terms of Reference below. The short list will be submitted to the EDA’s Chief Executive for final decision.

If you require additional information please contact Marian Savu email: marian.savu@eda.europa.eu 

EDA SME SENIOR ADVISER

Terms of Reference

Background

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the EU economy in terms of job creation, growth and innovation. The role of SMEs in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) has gradually increased over time, partly as a result of greater outsourcing. SMEs are active in defence both as direct suppliers to Ministries of Defence or as subcontractors in the defence supply chain.

The 2013 December European Council highlighted SMEs as an important element in the defence supply chain, a source of innovation and key enabler for competitiveness. The role of SMEs in the defence supply chain is acknowledged also by the European Commission Communication COM (2013) 542 entitled: “Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector” and its related Implementation Roadmap.

The 2015 May Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the actions deriving from the EDA SME Action Plan and the 2015 June European Council recalled for the strengthening of Europe's defence industry, including SMEs.

In the EDA SME Action Plan, noted in March 2013 by the Steering Board, one of the indicative actions relates to promoting the role of defence-related SMEs through the establishment of a special advisor to champion defence-related SMEs, with a remit to consider specific regional issues. The special adviser within EDA, on SMEs, which is pending the review of the EDA Staff Regulations, would make a significant contribution in this particular area.

Until the Staff Regulations will be approved and provide the legal base for this specific category, EDA is following an intermediate way ahead agreed with Member States’ SME PoCs by nominating two EDA SME Senior Advisers, one with governmental and one with industry background (external experts following a call for interest).

Objective

The SME Senior Adviser will provide strategic advice and support to the top management of the Agency on policies and actions regarding defence-related SMEs/clusters.

Profile

The SME Senior Adviser has to be a senior level expert and would have the following appropriate background:

· High level knowledge and specialisation in defence and industry matters;

· Strong and successful experience from defence sector, either from government or industry;

· High level knowledge and specialisation in defence and industry matters;

· Strong and successful experience from defence sector, either from government or industry;

· Solid understanding of the EDTIB and European defence supply chain and issues impacting them;

· Excellent knowledge on SMEs’ (included but not limited to related policies, practices as well as challenges and opportunities impacting SMEs) issues and particularly on SMEs’ role in defence market;

· A very good knowledge of written and spoken English.

The person appointed as SME Senior Adviser would need to be someone with recognised authority and standing in the defence community.

Main tasks/activities

The SME Senior Adviser will be expected to undertake the following key tasks:

· To provide advice to EDA on the potential measures and initiatives that would be appropriate for inclusion in the European policy makers’ priorities in support of defence-related SMEs, including but not limited to measures and initiatives related access to market, information and finance, industry skills and competences;

· To provide advice to EDA on synergies and complementarities between European institutions’ actions related to defence-related SMEs;

· To propose further actions and facilitate their implementation on how to increase the openness of the defence supply chain and encourage the development and dissemination of best practices between Member States and European defence industry with a view to promote the SMEs’ access to the defence-market and to increase their competitiveness;

· To review progress on the implementation of the EDA SME Action Plan and provide feedback where appropriate;

· To provide key inputs to relevant EDA meetings and events;

· To provide recommendations on initiatives within the EDA that aim to facilitate defence-related SMEs’ access to EU instruments.

Way of working

The SME Senior Adviser shall not be part of EDA staff or organization, but shall act as an external expert providing advice and support to the Agency through:

· Regular (twice a year) and ad-hoc meetings with EDA top management and experts;

· Attending EDA SME related meetings and events with Member States or Industry, as appropriate;

· Comments to the EDA documents and proposals related to SMEs, as appropriate.

Policy Officer Industry Relations and Support - SMEs within European Synergies and Innovation Directorate will be the EDA Point of Contact with the SME Senior Adviser. Exact tasks, attendance to meeting and detailed way of working will be determined jointly by the EDA Point of Contact and the nominated SME Senior Adviser. Such meetings will be closely coordinated with EDA.

Duration and designation

The SME Senior Adviser shall be nominated to undertake the specific expert’s ad-hoc activities as mentioned in Para 5 for a period not exceeding three years. In order to have relevant expertise available both from Governmental and Industry sides, EDA considers to nominate two SME Senior Advisers.

Conflicts of interest / Confidentiality

The SME Senior Adviser has to agree to keep confidential all information that he/she receives, directly or indirectly, from EDA or any other stakeholder, as well as all documents that he/she prepares or obtains in his/her capacity. The SME Senior Adviser shall use the information and documents obtained from EDA or elsewhere when performing the tasks of SME Senior Adviser exclusively for the purpose of preparing deliverables relevant to this assignment. The confidentiality obligations shall not apply to information in the public domain.

Costs

EDA will cover the mission costs of the SME Senior Adviser (travel, accommodation and daily allowances) based on the EDA rules on the reimbursement of expenses incurred by external experts.

Moore Stephens with techUK presents

A 10 point guide to plan and launch your business digitally in the US

E-commerce is now dominating the U.S. business landscape, and frankly that of the UK and many other areas in the world. Just look at the facts...

U.S. retail e-commerce sales are projected to grow to 434.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2017. 75% of this growth comes from mobile and tablet devices in comparison e-commerce sales on the traditional desktop which is only growing by 10 percent year-on-year.

Forrester Research Inc. forecasts that US business-to-business e-commerce sales will reach $780 billion at the end of 2015 —more than twice the most recent figure of $304.91 billion in U.S. retail e-commerce sales released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, for 2014—and is on course to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% until it reaches $1.13 trillion in 2020.

The question in this new digital landscape is, what are the key e-Commerce ground rules for success? This Spark conference, hosted by Moore Stephens takes your business through in 10 steps, the essentials of planning and launching your products and services in the US using digital.

‘You can’t just open a web site and expect people to flood in. If you really want to succeed you need to create traffic...’ Joel Anderson, CEO Wal-Mart

AGENDA

Date: Friday 15th April 2016
Time: 0900 – 1400 GMT
Place: 150 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1

A full agenda will be published before the end of February

If you would like to register to attend, please contact Paul Hide

Notes:
Pre-booked free entry
Targeting 100+ export focused SMBs and a pre-selection of 20 (with the most potential) for the free afternoon marketing workshop (see www.sparkmag.com) and new e-Commerce articles

Mediaplanet, in association with techUK, will be launching the latest Connected Business campaign on 31st March. Going out in The Guardian and online at www.futureoftech.co.uk the report will also be distributed at UC Expo in London, IP Expo in Manchester and IoT Showcase in Paris.

For more detail, download the media pack below or contact Will Ville: 020 3642 0737; will.ville@mediaplanet.com

Latest findings on consumer attitudes to smart meters show that consumers continue to demonstrate high levels of satisfaction, and are enjoying greater control over their energy bills. With 8 out of 10 customers happy to recommend having a smart meter installed.

Smart Energy GB, which is in charge of communicating details of the smart meter rollout to the public, revealed that 85% of those with smart meters say they have a better understanding of what they are spending on energy and 81% think their energy bill is accurate, as opposed to 64% who don’t have smart meters.

The data also shows that the smart meters are impacting energy use with 80% of smart meter customers reported to taken at least one step to reduce how much energy they use.

The majority (59%) of consumers think that seeing how much energy they are using in monetary terms is the most attractive benefit of smart meters, above accurate bills (43%) and switching (12%). With 52% of people with smart meters saying their new meter is helping them save money

The results come from Smart Energy GB's third Smart Energy Outlook, the largest independent barometer of national public opinion on energy and smart meters. The research surveys more than 10,000 people around the country.

Click here for a full version of the report.

For further information contact:

Catapult Roadshow 2016

The Satellite Applications Catapult would like to invite you to join our 2016 Roadshow, providing updates on the Catapult's activities, discussing new initiatives and sharing details about our market focused programmes. The event will see delegates from industry (space and non-space companies), academia and public sector coming together to network and explore opportunities provided by the growing space sector.

Each event runs from 09:30 to 15:00. Along with the Catapult overview, you will also hear from industry experts presenting how satellite technology and data is adding real benefits to businesses.

There will be the opportunity for you to get involved in one of our roundtable discussions. These will focus on topics and market opportunities in the highlighted sector and SME support.

Attendance at our Roadshow is free and open to anyone. If you've engaged with the Catapult previously, or are new to our network, come and join us and discover how we could potentially help your business.

The schedule for all of the locations is below.

Date - Venue - Market Focus:
23.02.16 - Glasgow - Sustainable Living
24.02.16 - Newcastle - Blue Economy
02.03.16 - Manchester - Intelligent Transport Systems
03.03.16 - Leicester - Sustainable Living
08.03.16 - Oxford - Explore Technology
15.03.16 - Exeter - Sustainable Living
16.03.16 - Cardiff - Explore Technology
22.03.16 - Portsmouth - Blue Economy
23.03.16 - Norfolk - Sustainable Living
Date TBC - Belfast - Space and Cyber Security

Please click below to download the meeting notes. 

For more information, get in touch:

{bio}zahid.ghadialy@techuk.org{/bio}

Source: Utility Week

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph on Friday Rudd said she supports Prime Minister David Cameron's efforts to negotiate a favourable reform of the UK’s relationship with the EU, and warned that the UK risks losing influence over the outcome of energy market talks if the country opts out.

“[If you are outside of the EU] then you’re not in the room making the decisions in the same way and we’re not one of 27 influencers,” she said.

“We are probably the largest influencer in terms of setting out the plan and delivering on the energy market. So we can’t help shape it – shape it in the best way for the UK consumer and UK businesses. That would be a loss because you would be going into an area of uncertainty.

“I feel certain of the prosperity and the confidence for families as long as the UK is able to influence the outcome - which we do at the moment,” she added

Read the full article on Utility Week.

The Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) Pilot Phase II auction was held on Thursday 21 January 2016.

24 organisations across Great Britain have been awarded a total of £4.74m for a total of 37 projects to reduce demand for electricity through efficiency schemes at peak times.

The successful organisations will be required to deliver peak capacity savings totalling at least 23,307kW across the country from November to February during either 2016-17 or 2017-18. The funding is subject to state aid approval. The auction process was observed, and approved, by an independent external monitor.

See the list of successful bidders here.

For more information contact:

Eunomia’s report Investing in UK Electricity Storage was published last month providing the first forecast for battery storage deployment in the UK.

The report, which focuses on battery technologies, also provides analysis of a range of electricity storage applications as investment propositions, together with figures on the level of deployment to date in the UK.

Currently, the installed capacity of battery storage in the UK stands at 24MW, the majority of which is ‘proof of concept’ projects funded by DECC or Ofgem. However, the growing challenges brought about by increased deployment of distributed generation, coupled with changes to the way we are using electricity, is driving the need for increased flexibility within our electricity network.

Storage technologies can play a major role in meeting this need, particularly batteries which are easy to deploy and already of scale and degree of commercialisation that makes them attractive to investors. Eunomia forecasts significant growth in the sector in the next five years. Deployment looks set to take a major step forward in 2017 as National Grid’s Enhanced Frequency Response contracts, intended to help maintain grid frequency within an acceptable range, come on line. Subsequently, as technology and installation costs fall in response to greater deployment, exponential year-on-year growth is predicted, with the total installed capacity exceeding 1.6 GW in 2020.

Eunomia’s analysis suggest that ‘behind the meter’ applications, installed by energy users are the most attractive investment proposition, given growing differences between peak and off peak retail prices, coupled with increasing charges from the distribution and transmissions operators. With minor regulatory changes, however, the installation of batteries into the distribution network could also become a major contributor to increased grid flexibility, whilst also increasing capacity for more renewable generation.

But whilst electricity storage is currently being widely touted as a solution to the intermittency of renewables, integrating batteries with solar PV or wind farms is perhaps less attractive than other applications due to the relatively small differential between peak and off-peak retail prices paid for power supply.

Download the report here.

For more information contact:

Last month DECC presented to parliament its draft legislation on Energy. The new legislation is aimed at increasing competition, enabling consumers to get a good deal by keeping prices down and ensuring they are protected.

In the forward Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change commented “the draft legislation would ensure that Government is able to continue to drive the timely delivery of Smart Meters and ensure consumer protections are in place. A competitive market is reliant on engaged consumers to drive suppliers to innovate, improve their service and to seek to reduce their prices.”

Click here to view the draft legislation.

For more information contact:

On 15 February 2016, techUK hosted a roundtable looking into the delivery of complex projects in Government - in particular, focussing on three NAO reports published in late 2015. Dr Sally Howes, Executive Leader for Digital and Innovation, at the NAO presented the slides attached below at this meeting.

The slides outline the findings from:

• Review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Delivery Programme
• E-borders and successor programmes
• Digital skills gap in Government

The conclusions drawn from these reports reinforce the priciples of techUK's Three Point Plan to transform public services - better engagement, better information & more innovation.