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The Policy Connect network of groups produces an enormous amount of news, commentary, research and resources, in addition to the busy and varied events programmes that each group operates. On this page, we pick the best bits of news from across the network.

Do visit each group's own website for more news and information about about that group's activities. If you have any questions about any aspect of the Policy Connect network, don't hesitate to get in contact with us.

Future of the Skills System skills commission

NEW INQUIRY: Creating a vision for FE and skills in England: How can we build a skills system that responds to local needs and future economic and social priorities?

13th March 2019
Policy Connect, the Skills Commission and Learning and Work Institute are launching a collaborative inquiry into the Further Education and skills system in England. The inquiry, grant funded by the Further Education Trust for Leadership, aims to create a vision for the skills system by looking at what structures we need to respond to local needs and how to futureproof this.
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MPs call for bold national Plastic Packaging Plan to help consumers protect our oceans and create green UK jobs

14th February 2019
Policy Connect report says zero plastic ‘waste’ export goal is needed to boost UK investment and jobs, cut emissions, and protect marine life.
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degree apprenticeships report launch higher education commission

Degree apprenticeships are not yet delivering for small employers or disadvantaged students

1st February 2019
A featured in The Times - findings released by the Higher Education Commission which show that degree apprenticeships may be good in theory but they’re not delivering for small employers or disadvantaged students. This is despite over 99% of UK businesses being SMEs and previous government commitments to providing a ‘head start’ for young people.
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plant growing from dry ground climate change environment

Gove reveals draft of Environment Bill to which Policy Connect submitted evidence

21st December 2018
With little fanfare, the draft of the first Environment Bill in 20 years was published by the Government at 5.30pm on Wednesday evening. Policy Connect was one of the 173,000 people and organisations to submit evidence to the Environmental Principles and Governance Bill on behalf of our members and supports. The fact that this is one of the highest number of response to a public consultation that the government have ever had shows the importance of the environment to the public.
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Karin Smyth MP

Policy Connect and Health APPG meet with Simon Stevens and NHS Executive

17th December 2018
It has been confirmed that speculations were correct and that the NHS Long Term Plan will indeed not be published until the New Year. Last week we learned more about the plan from the new joint NHS Improvement and NHS England senior leadership team – the NHS Executive Group.
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Data and tech ethics inquiry call for evidence

Call for evidence: data and technology ethics in education, health, smart vehicles & policing

27th November 2018
Policy Connect and All-Party Parliamentary Group on Data Analytics launch landmark inquiry into data and technology ethics.
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A number of people's homes

Call for evidence - Future Gas Series Part 3: Consumer and Appliance

26th November 2018
Carbon Connect launches its call for evidence for its final Future Gas Series inquiry which will be exploring consumer attitudes to heat, new decarbonisation methods/equipment, and how this might impact on homes and workspaces. It will also take ethical and safety issues into consideration, specifically looking at perceptions of the use of hydrogen for heating - and how vulnerable customers can be protected during transitions.
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Bristol Robotics Laboratory

Why Local Industrial Strategies must be the driving force behind the Industrial Strategy

23rd November 2018
This weekend, our Manufacturing Policy Manager, Ben Carpenter Merritt, featured in the Sunday Telegraph’s supplement on the Industrial Strategy. In it, Ben argued that the success of the Industrial Strategy will rely heavily on the successful implementation of Local Industrial Strategies that draw on the power of manufacturing to feed local economies – improving productivity and employment by making the most of local strengths to address national challenges.
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Policy Connect members consulted on Environmental Principles and Governance after EU Exit

Policy Connects draws on its network to respond to Defra’s consultation on 'Environmental Principles and Governance after EU Exit'

30th October 2018
Recognising the opportunity opened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consultation on Environmental Principles and Governance after EU Exit, Policy Connect consulted members of the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Forum (APSRG); the Sustainable Resource Forum (SRF); the All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (APPCCG) and the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF) in order to put together a comprehensive response that would represent the views of the climate, construction, energy and waste sectors.
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Simon Kelleher Lords Intergenerational Fairness Committee

Policy Connect at Lords Select Committee hearing: Time to embrace the future with a Minister for Lifelong Learning

11th October 2018
Appearing before the Lord’s Intergenerational Committee, Policy Connect’s Head of Education and Skills – Simon Kelleher – calls for a joint minister to lead a cultural shift in our approach to education and training.
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