Business Plans

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Select a department and browse the individual actions under each priority. See the status for each action.

1. Rebalance the economy across sectors

Actions

1.1 Establish a Green Investment Bank to support private investment in green infrastructure and late stage technologies

Title	Start	End	Status
1.1.i. Establish the governance arrangements and design the business and operating model of the new institution		May 2011	Completed
1.1.ii. Green Investment Bank shadow Board established		Dec 2011	Completed
1.1.iii. Design of Green Investment Bank complete and published	May 2011	Dec 2011	Completed
1.1.iv. Continue market testing for the role of the Green Investment Bank beyond incubation phase	May 2011	Dec 2011	Completed
1.1.v. Green Investment Bank operational	Sept 2012	Sept 2012	Yet to start
1.1.vi. Release first annual data on the funds in and size of investments made by the Green investment Bank	May 2013	May 2013	Yet to start

1.2 Promote industry-led developments to increase use of debt capital markets and supply chain finance

Title	Start	End	Status
1.2.i. Analysis of the funding landscape for medium sized businesses to identify any finance gaps and develop options to address them			Completed
1.2.ii. Develop and publish implementation plan to support sustainable, affordable lending to business			Completed
1.2.iii. Publish Green Paper with HM Treasury on business finance			Completed

1.3 Establish a Cabinet Banking Committee and an Independent Banking Commission to report on banking structural reform, working with HM Treasury

Title	Start	End	Status
1.3.i. Cabinet Banking Committee and Independent Banking Commission established			Completed
1.3.ii. Independent Banking Commission report published	Sept 2011	Sept 2011	Completed
1.3.iii. Prepare the Government‟s response to the Independent Commission on Banking's final report, working with HM Treasury	Sept 2011	Sept 2011	Completed

1.4 Promote competitiveness in areas of comparative advantage for the UK, to ensure that the country is not so dependent on a narrow range of economic sectors

Title	Start	End	Status
1.4.i. Framework on advanced manufacturing sectors published			Completed
1.4.ii. Review regulations to promote growth of key economic sectors, working with Infrastructure UK			Completed
1.4.iii. Publish a growth paper, with a new framework to enable broad-based economic growth, including support for innovative small companies and key growth sectors			Completed
1.4.iv. Ensure the UK has the right strategies and frameworks, and relationships internationally, for our companies to take advantage of emerging global markets in which the UK has world leading expertise		Jul 2011	Completed
1.4.v. Report published with Infrastructure UK on a common set of principles regulation including whether further cross-sectoral action is required	Jul 2011	Jul 2011	Completed
1.4.vi. Work with STEMNET to develop a plan to recruit STEM Ambassadors, who promote STEM subjects in schools, focusing on priority growth sectors, including Digital and Creative Industries		Oct 2011	Completed

1.5 Launch an enhanced Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) tailored to suit the needs of the individual business and the local economic environment

Title	Start	End	Status
1.5.i. Review options to reform the design and delivery of the programme of the MAS in consultation with industry			Completed
1.5.ii. Run procurement process to identify preferred supplier of service		Aug 2011	Overdue
1.5.iii. Prepare for launch of the new MAS		Dec 2012	Completed
1.5.iv. Launch of new enhanced MAS under a national provider	Nov 2011	Jan 2012	Completed

1.6 Promote growth in the healthcare and life sciences sector by improving access to the skilled individuals the sector needs

Title	Start	End	Status
1.6.i. First meeting of Life Sciences Advisory Board			Completed
1.6.ii. Support Cogent as it develops and publishes a plan to improve demand signalling by bringing employers and educators together		Jul 2011	Completed
1.6.iii. Work with the Technology Strategy Board to establish the 'Delivering Assisted Living Lifestyles at Scale' programme to show how assisted living technologies and services can be used to promote well-being and provide top quality health and care, enabling people to live independently	Jun 2011	Apr 2012	Completed
1.6.iv. Support the Society of Biology to work to establish an accreditation scheme to raise standards of bioscience degrees		Mar 2012	Completed
1.6.v. Support Department of Health in delivering actions to ensure improved performance in the delivery of clinical trials in the UK and proportionate regulation of health research, including the new health research regulatory agency and securing a proportional interpretation of the EU Clinical Trials Directive		Mar 2012	Completed

1.7 Remove obstacles to growth and create a business environment in which companies in the construction sector have the confidence to invest

Title	Start	End	Status
1.7.i. In conjunction with HM Treasury and Cabinet Office, publish a pan-government construction strategy and work programme that will cut the costs of construction procurement		May 2011	Completed
1.7.ii. Work with HM Treasury and with support from Department for Communities and Local Government to review construction standards and codes with industry		May 2011	Completed

1.8 Work with Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to develop measures to support thriving town centres and build on the Town Centre First Policy

Title	Start	End	Status
1.8.i. Support DCLG to review the Use Classes Order and associated permitted development rights, giving full consideration to the role the Use Classes system plays in encouraging growth		Dec 2011	Completed
1.8.ii. Provide best practice guidance, through a single portal, to local authorities and businesses on re-invigorating town centres, including information on potential benefits of Business Improvement Districts		Dec 2011	Completed

2. Rebalance the economy across regions

Actions

2.1 Empower local authorities and businesses to come together and form new local enterprise partnerships, providing support to accelerate their establishment, working with the Department for Communities and Local Government

Title	End	Status
2.1.i. Develop proposals for the functions, governance and responsibilities of local enterprise partnerships as part of a local growth White Paper		Completed
2.1.ii. Outline proposals for local enterprise partnerships received and considered		Completed
2.1.iii. Feedback given on outline proposals for local enterprise partnerships	Oct 2011	Completed
2.1.iv. Respond to proposals and facilitate the establishment of local enterprise partnerships, including working with those local authorities and businesses who were not immediately ready to establish their local enterprise partnership boards, to enable them to move forward with their local enterprise partnership proposals	Oct 2011	Completed
2.1.v. Work with each new local enterprise partnership to enable them to establish their roles and functions	May 2012	Completed

2.2 Put in place a Regional Growth Fund to encourage private sector enterprise and support to help places currently reliant on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector led growth, working with HM Treasury and the Department for Communities and Local Government

Title	End	Status
2.2.i. Develop proposals for a Regional Growth Fund as part of the 2010 Spending Review, publishing plans in the local growth White Paper		Completed
2.2.ii. Run first bidding round for the Regional Growth Fund, whereby private bodies and public private partnerships (including Local Enterprise Partnerships) bid for funding to invest in sustainable private sector led growth		Completed
2.2.iii. Put in place systems and funds to deliver the Regional Growth Fund		Completed
2.2.iv. Conditional offers announced for successful Regional Growth Fund bids		Completed
2.2.v. Run a second bidding round for the Regional Growth Fund and announce successful bids	Dec 2011	Completed
2.2.vi Run a third bidding round for the Regional Growth Fund if required, subject to review in Sept 2012	Apr 2013	In progress

2.3 As lead Department, work with the Department for Communities and Local Government to arrange the closure of the Regional Development Agencies and related transition process

Title	End	Status
2.3.i. Evaluate RDA functions and assets, as part of local growth White Paper		Completed
2.3.ii. Ensure transition plans are in place for individual RDAs		Completed
2.3.iii. Complete RDA projects (stand-alone ongoing major programmes) or transfer to other bodies	Apr 2012	Completed
2.3.iv. Manage out RDA functions, assets, commitments and liabilities in an orderly fashion or transfer to other bodies	Apr 2012	Completed
2.3.v. Introduce the Public Bodies Bill and the Localism Bill, working with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government		Completed

2.4 Work with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) on developing bids for Enterprise Zone status to support growth in their areas

Title	Start	End	Status
2.4.i. With the Department for Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury, work with the LEPs announced in the Plan for Growth as hosting Enterprise Zones, to help them identify the most suitable site for an Enterprise Zone that maximises growth potential in their area		Oct 2011	Completed
2.4.ii. Work with the Department for Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury to run a competition to identify a further ten Enterprise Zones, seeking to make decisions on these Zones in the summer		Sept 2011	Completed

3. Safeguard the future of Royal Mail and the Post Office

Actions

3.1 Seek to ensure an injection of private capital into Royal Mail to secure the future of the universal postal service and create a sustainable future for Royal Mail and its employees. Seek to minimise ongoing risk to the taxpayer and ensure that Royal Mail employees are engaged in the transformation of the business and are able to share in its future success

Title	Start	End	Status
3.1.i. Introduce the Postal Services Bill to introduce private sector capital, take on the bulk of Royal Mail's pension fund deficit, commit to an employee share scheme of at least 10%, and establish the appropriate regulatory regime			Completed
3.1.ii. Seek State Aid clearance from the European Commission for the Government taking on the bulk of the pension deficit	May 2011	May 2012	In progress

3.2 Help put in place measures to sustain the Post Office and its nationwide network of post offices, including ensuring that Post Offices can offer a wide range of services

Title	End	Status
3.2.i. Introduce the Postal Services Bill to allow for the legal and operational separation of Post Office Ltd from Royal Mail. The Post Office will not be for sale	Jul 2011	Completed
3.2.ii. Develop a new commercial strategy in partnership with Post Office Ltd		Completed
3.2.iii. Develop options for potential mutualisation of Post Office Ltd	Jun 2011	Completed

4. Build an internationally-competitive skills base

Actions

4.1 Develop and publish a strategy for reforming further education for building an internationally-competitive skills base including the reform of further education

4.2 Expand and improve the quality of the apprenticeships programme

Title	End	Status
4.2.i. Provide funding and a training offer to support the creation of additional 75,000 adult Apprenticeship places by 2014-15 relative to the level of spending inherited from the previous Government	Mar 2015	In progress
4.2.ii. Introduce new statutory national standards to increase the quality of Apprenticeships (Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England)		Completed
4.2.iii Gather and analyse data ahead of the first release publishing the number of new Apprenticeship places	Jan 2012	Completed
4.2.iv. Fund an additional 40,000 adult Apprenticeship places focused on the young unemployed and an additional 10,000 advanced and higher Apprenticeship places	Mar 2015	In progress
4.2.v. Develop a support fund to address the specific barriers faced by SMEs in setting up Advanced and Higher Level Apprenticeship schemes	Apr 2012	Completed
4.2.vi. Work through our partners to encourage more retail apprentices	Apr 2012	Completed
4.2.vii Develop regulations to lay before Parliament supporting our commitment to enable flexible models of delivering advanced and higher level Apprenticeships in the Digital and Creative Industries	Jul 2011	Completed

4.3 Introduce a new systems of loans for further education students, in parallel with reforms to funding of higher education, with the expectation that those adults who benefit most from training will contribute to the costs where they can afford to do so

Title	Start	End	Status
4.3.i. Develop proposals to introduce loans for further education students			Completed
4.3.ii. Publish proposals on the introduction of loans for further education students		Mar 2011	Completed
4.3.iii. Consult on proposals and develop an implementation plan so that loans are introduced in time for the academic year 2013/14		Aug 2011	Overdue
4.3.iv. Higher Education legislation introduced, including clauses that will allow introduction of Further Education loans	May 2012	May 2012	Yet to start

4.4 Implement a new round of the Growth and Innovation Fund, for employer co-funded projects, that invest in training and skills development

4.5 Enable people to choose the learning that will help them achieve their goals, and empower and inform learners so they can hold colleges and providers to account

Title	End	Status
4.5.i. Launch an improved careers service to help people make informed choices		Completed
4.5.ii. Put in place Lifelong Learning Accounts to encourage learners to make informed choices and take up the funding they are entitled to	Sept 2011	Completed
4.5.iii.Publish initial information about providers and their performance to inform choice of learners and employers and review options to create a new information system		Completed

4.6 Set colleges free from central control, including by abolishing and radically scaling back further education quangos. Ensure public funding is fair and follows the choices of students

Title	End	Status
4.6.i. Review funding and the organisational structure of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and refocus on employer leadership and ambition		Completed
4.6.ii. Consult on removing unnecessary controls and regulation attached to further education funding, auditing and monitoring		Completed
4.6.iii. Remove controls from further education funding, auditing and monitoring to reduce bureaucracy for colleges	Nov 2011	Completed

4.7 Develop proposals for reforming informal adult and community learning and review the effectiveness of basic skills training in delivering economic and social outcomes, to support the development of the Big Society and progression to formal learning
4.8 Develop proposals to introduce a new workplace training programme to replace Train to Gain, targeted at SMEs
4.9 Work with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that Jobcentre Plus,Work Programme providers, further education colleges and other training providers collaborate so that people on active benefits have access to training to find and keep work, and progress once in work. This collaboration will include work with employers to give benefit claimants access to sector-specific training (alongside work experience and guaranteed interviews brokered by Jobcentre Plus) through sector-based work academies

4.10 Work with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UK Commission) and Sector Skills Councils to increase business investment in skills and to support employers in making more productive use of skills

Title	End	Status
4.10.i. Introduce a new remit for the UK Commission with the focus on increasing employer investment in and use of skills in support of jobs for growth	Apr 2012	Completed
4.10.ii. Appoint new Commissioners and a permanent Chief Executive	Jul 2011	Completed
4.10.iii. Introduce new funding mechanisms through an employer investment fund to change the way Sector Skills Councils encourage employers to invest in skills	Nov 2011	Completed
4.10.iv. Re-launch Investors in People by the UK Commission as a business development tool	Apr 2012	Completed

4.11 Increase employers’ investment in skills and improve the recognition of vocational skills by supporting employer proposals for professional and occupational standards

Title	Start	End	Status
4.11.i. Ensure that the relevant first round of Growth and Innovation Fund bids are submitted		Jul 2011	Completed
4.11.ii. Run a first wave of sector initiatives through the Employer Investment Fund	Aug 2011	Nov 2011	Completed
4.11.iii. Review the effectiveness of initiatives and the overall scope of the programme	Apr 2012	Jul 2012	In progress

4.12 Contribute to the cross-Government work on improving social mobility

Title Start End Status

4.12.i. Publish jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education a participation strategy for 16-24 year olds Nov 2011 Overdue

Title	Start	End	Status
4.12.i. Publish jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education a participation strategy for 16-24 year olds		Nov 2011	Overdue

5. Support universities, science and research in building a strong, innovative economy

Actions

5.1 Reform higher education to deliver a sustainable, world class system, that is open to people from all backgrounds while also expecting greater funding contributions from those who can afford to pay

Title	End	Status
5.1.i. Develop and publish the Government‟s response to the Browne Review, including support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds; support for lower income graduates; and to secure greater funding contributions from those who can afford to pay		Completed
5.1.ii. Develop and publish a White Paper on the future strategy for higher education to encourage greater choice for students, high quality teaching, a fair deal for part-time students, and wider participation for students from disadvantaged backgrounds	Mar 2011	Completed
5.1.iii. Introduce legislation so that higher education institutions, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Student Loans Company can implement new arrangements	May 2012	In progress
5.1.iv. Implement the new National Scholarship Programme to provide awards to students entering higher education in the academic year 2012/13	Jun 2011	In progress

5.2 Review options to monetise the Student Loan Book

5.3 Improve information for prospective students on different higher education institutions

Title	End	Status
5.3.i. Universities publish statements on how well courses equip students for employment	Jul 2012	In progress
5.3.ii. Ensure information is available for each university on key issues for students, including student satisfaction and post-educational outcomes for graduates from different courses and universities	Jul 2012	In progress
5.3.iii. Consult with the higher education sector on best way to make information available including through the existing Unistats website, enhancing and adding to the information already available through the website		Completed

5.4 Ensure that future investment in science and research is focussed on excellence

Title	Start	End	Status
5.4.i. Publish changes to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), including a robust method for assessing the economic impact of research			Completed
5.4.ii. Develop guidance for institutions on preparing their submissions for REF		Jul 2011	Completed
5.4.iii. Prepare and run a pilot of the REF submissions system	Jan 2012	Dec 2012	In progress
5.4.iv. Develop REF submissions system and open it to responses by institutions	Jan 2013	Nov 2013	Yet to start
5.4.v. Conduct assessment of REF submissions	Jan 2014	Dec 2014	Yet to start
5.4.vi. Reform Quality Related Research funding to further focus on research excellence, taking account of critical mass and multidisciplinary capacity		Jul 2011	Completed
5.4.vii. Develop and publish a clear policy statement on the Haldane Principle to ensure that publicly funded research projects are selected through effective peer review			Completed

5.5 Improve the efficiency of the research system

Title	Start	End	Status
5.5.i. Implement recommendations of the Wakeham taskforce on research efficiency in higher education institutions			Completed
5.5.ii. Complete migration of Research Councils back office processes to a shared service centre, including grant administration			Completed
5.5.iii. Research Councils UK undertake a process review of implementation of efficiency measures	Nov 2011	Mar 2012	Completed
5.5.iv. Allocate research organisations to efficiency groups for 2012/13 to reflect the savings they need to make	Apr 2012	Apr 2012	Completed

5.6 Enable greater private investment in research and aid the commercialisation of technology research through the creation of centres of scientific and technological excellence and stronger links between universities and industries

Title	Start	End	Status
5.6.i. Create a national network of Technology and Innovation Centres to support growth, increase UK translational capability and position the UK to take advantage of emerging global markets		Apr 2012	Completed
5.6.ii. Work with the Technology Strategy Board to run a competition for a Cell Therapy Technology and Innovation Centre to help the UK‟s healthcare and life sciences industry fulfil its potential	May 2011	Oct 2011	Completed
5.6.iii. Develop a strategy for enhancing the innovative capability of the UK economy		Nov 2011	Completed
5.6.iv. Publish first report on progress in establishing Technology and Innovation Centres, including level of resources committed	Oct 2012	Oct 2012	Yet to start
5.6.v. Reform Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) to incentivise and reward universities to increase commercial interaction between the research base and business		Jul 2011	Completed
5.6.vi. Issue final HEIF allocations for 2011-12 and conditional allocations for 2012-15	May 2011	May 2011	Completed
5.6.vii. Review universities' HEIF strategies and confirm allocations for 2012-15	Jul 2011	Nov 2011	Completed
5.6.viii. Work with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to fund the establishment of nine new Centres for Innovative Manufacturing to feed new ideas and discoveries through to business and Technology and Innovation Centres, helping to open up new industries and markets in growth areas			Completed
5.6.ix. Work with EPSRC to launch a programme of new Manufacturing Fellowships for exceptional engineers and technology specialists from business to forge links between business and the research base		Mar 2012	Completed
5.6.x. Invest an additional £100m in 2011-12 in science capital development to provide facilities for the commercialisation of research, accommodation for innovative SMEs and new research capabilities		Apr 2012	Completed
5.6.xi. Carry out a series of round table discussions with representatives from academia, industry, funders and the NHS to identify any barriers limiting geographical clustering to support entrepreneurship and business growth, building on the UK's world-class research base		Oct 2011	Completed
5.6.xii. Develop appropriate actions to remove barriers to geographical clustering which have been identified	Jul 2011	Mar 2012	Completed

5.7 Take action to promote innovation and growth of the UK space sector

Title	End	Status
5.7.i. Establish the UK Space Agency as an executive agency to formalise links between industry and researchers in a single body		Completed
5.7.ii. Undertake an impact assessment of the Outer Space Act 1986 to develop reforms which will remove restrictions which put UK operators at a competitive disadvantage	Oct 2011	Completed
5.7.iii. Provide UK industry with clearer guidance on the regulation of security aspects in export deals to create a more predictable environment for licensing space assets and services to overseas customers	Oct 2011	Completed
5.7.iv. Work with Ofcom to support international reform at the World Radio Conference of the processes used to gain access to orbit satellite slots to ensure that British industry has full and fair access to them	Feb 2012	Completed
5.7.v. Develop proposals, including agreeing parliamentary time, for a regulatory environment for space vehicles to promote space tourism	Mar 2012	Completed
5.7.vi. Accelerate the development of the International Space Innovation Centre at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus	May 2012	Completed

5.8 Implement the new Birth Cohort Facility Project as set out in Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers, the Governments’ Social Mobility Strategy

Title	Start	End	Status
5.8.i. Initiate and complete the competitive commissioning process for the new Cohort Resources Facility which will make the most of data collected from new and existing UK birth cohort studies	Jun 2011	May 2012	In progress
5.8.ii. Initial data collection phase of the Birth Cohort Study commences	May 2013	May 2013	Yet to start
5.8.iii. Release first findings from the Birth Cohort Study	Jul 2015	Jul 2015	Yet to start

6. Boost enterprise and make this the decade of the entrepreneur

Actions

6.1 Help improve the flow of credit to viable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Title	Start	End	Status
6.1.i. £200m continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee in place			Completed
6.1.ii. Develop proposals to support sustainable lending to business and improvements in service for SME customers, working with HM Treasury and industry			Completed
6.1.iii. Green Paper published with HM Treasury on business finance			Completed
6.1.iv. Government response to Green Paper on Business Finance			Completed
6.1.v. Develop policy options to address market failures in provision of bank lending and equity finance to viable SMEs, improving access to finance			Completed
6.1.vi. Simplify publicly funded venture capital funds by bringing funds together at the national level to improve value for money			Completed
6.1.vii. Help the banks set up the business growth fund as soon as possible, developing a credible investment capability and attracting other non-bank investors to support established small businesses with growth potential		Jul 2011	Completed
6.1.viii. First investment of banks' business growth fund in SMEs seeking capital to grow	Jul 2011	Jul 2011	Completed
6.1.ix. Complete the transfer of c.90 venture capital loans from RDAs to BIS		Mar 2012	Completed
6.1.x. Monitor the banks' implementation of the British Bankers Association (BBA) Business Finance Taskforce commitments		Jan 2012	Completed
6.1.xi. Analysis of SME lending data made available by the BBA by region on a quarterly basis and by postcode area on an annual basis	Nov 2012	Dec 2012	Yet to start

6.2 Make the UK one of the fastest countries in the world to start up a new business, working with Companies House and HM Revenue and Customs

Title	End	Status
6.2.i. Launch online 'Start up hub' for people looking to start up a new business, co- locating existing online transaction services offered by HMRC and Companies House	Nov 2011	Completed
6.2.ii. Publish online business information in a single place and complete the rationalisation of 'Solutions for Business' products		Completed
6.2.iii. Develop plans to align Company House and HMRC systems to create a 'one-click' registration process for new companies		Completed
6.2.iv. Agree implementation plan for a joined-up company registration service ('one click')	Aug 2011	Overdue

6.3 Rationalise and better target information and advice for businesses

Title	Start	End	Status
6.3.i. Rationalise and simplify the range of ‘Solutions for Business’ products		Apr 2011	Completed
6.3.ii. Promote the benefits of mentoring and make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to find business advice and support from mentors, working with the private and voluntary sectors			Completed
6.3.iii. Ensure those looking to start a business can access the information they need online, including about franchising, published in in an open and standardised format so that it can be re-used for free by third parties		Nov 2011	Completed
6.3.iv. British Bankers Association collate and release first annual data on the number of business mentors enrolled in business support	Dec 2011	May 2012	Completed
6.3.v. Carry out a scoping review of how online businesslink guidance on regulation can be improved	Jul 2011	Sept 2011	In progress

6.4 Ensure that the UK has world-class competition frameworks

Title	Start	End	Status
6.4.i. Review competition law and the roles of sector regulators with competition powers, including the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading			Completed
6.4.ii. Consult on competition law and the roles of sector regulators with competition powers			Completed
6.4.iii. Analyse consultation responses and develop final review of competition institutions and competition law		Jul 2011	Completed
6.4.iv. Final report published on competition law and the role of sector regulators with competition powers	Dec 2011	Dec 2011	Completed

6.5 Create a stronger entrepreneurial culture

Title	Start	End	Status
6.5.i. Support Department for Work and Pensions led trials for the New Enterprise Allowance in Merseyside by facilitating access to mentoring advice and micro-finance loans to enable unemployed people in setting up their own business (including franchises)			Completed
6.5.ii. Trials launched in Merseyside to support unemployed people hoping to set up their own business			Completed
6.5.iii. Develop a proposal for enterprise education in schools, further education and higher education, working with Department for Education			Completed

6.6 Introduce a network of Business Coaching for Growth services, targeting SMEs with the potential to achieve rapid and significant growth, and providing strategic advice at key stages in the business development cycle

Title	Start	End	Status
6.6.i. Develop the infrastructure and award service contracts to deliver the Business Coaching for Growth programme, targeting up to 10,000 businesses per year		Jan 2012	Completed
6.6.ii. Launch and roll out the Business Coaching for Growth programme across England	Jan 2012	Jun 2012	In progress

7. Stimulate exports and inward investment

Actions

7.1 Set out the Government's strategy for growth through free, fair and open markets, including trade agreements, promoting trade facilitation and cutting global red tape, working with key departments

Title Start End Status

7.1.i. Develop and publish a Trade White Paper Completed

7.1.ii. Publish a review of progress against the Trade White Paper implementation plan Dec 2012 In progress
7.2 Develop and publish a strategy setting out how UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) will deliver on key trade priorities, stimulating trade in high tech sectors, creating inward investment in regions and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises

Title	Start	End	Status
7.1.i. Develop and publish a Trade White Paper			Completed
7.1.ii. Publish a review of progress against the Trade White Paper implementation plan		Dec 2012	In progress

7.3 Improve the functioning of the EU's single market and trade agreements to increase the access of UK business to overseas markets

Title	End	Status
7.3.i. EU-India Summit held		Completed
7.3.ii. Liberalise European markets for business services by working with EU partners to deliver achieve an ambitious outcome for the European Commission's blueprint to improve trade in the EU (called "Single Market Act")	Dec 2012	In progress
7.3.iii. Make it easier to sell goods and services online in the EU	Dec 2012	In progress
7.3.iv. Work with EU partners to ensure the services directive is properly implemented to radically improve free movement of services. Estimated benefits to UK economy of £6bn per annum	Dec 2011	Completed
7.3.v. Establish a single point of contact with the largest license-issuing authorities		Completed
7.3.vi. Make trade in Europe work better through improving transparency, dispute resolution and enforcement for UK companies selling their products in major EU markets	Dec 2012	In progress

7.4 Achieve substantive progress on the Doha Development Agenda, working with international partners

7.5 Build stronger connections between UKTI and UK businesses

Title	End	Status
7.5.i. Simplify inward investment activities and connections with UK businesses	Mar 2012	Completed
7.5.ii. Improve the speed and quality of responses to business enquiries by increasing the range of online services		Completed
7.5.iii. Align UKTI's sector-based approach to identifying overseas business opportunities for UK business with the Government‟s approach to rebalancing the economy		Completed
7.5.iv. Support the defence and security industries through the Defence and Security Organisation of UKTI to maintain and improve the UK's leading position in the global market place, working with the Ministry of Defence	May 2015	In progress

7.6 Improve the effectiveness of UKTI’s overseas network in identifying export and inward investment opportunities

Title	Start	End	Status
7.6.i. Review deployment of UKTI resources overseas against demand from business for UKTI support in mature and emerging markets			Completed
7.6.ii. Launch a trial programme to develop partnerships with leading business people and organisations who will act as advocates for UK business overseas			Completed

7.7 Implement the new UKTI strategy and actions in the Plan for Growth to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy

Title	Start	End	Status
7.7.i. Announce new priority high growth and emerging markets	May 2011	May 2011	Completed
7.7.ii. Focus diplomatic resources and use Ministerial visits, along with bilateral government-to-government bodies such as Joint Economic and Trade Committees, to campaign for better market access for UK companies across all our priority markets	May 2011	May 2012	Completed
7.7.iii. Provide a bespoke service to key inward investors, providing them with speedy resolution of obstacles to investment		Oct 2011	Completed
7.7.iv. Deliver an enhanced package of support to help SMEs with an ambition to break into overseas markets		Mar 2012	Completed
7.7.v. Deliver a pipeline of high quality FDI projects and market UK infrastructure and regeneration projects to major institutional investors		Mar 2012	Completed
7.7.vi. Provide UK businesses with local intelligence on high value projects overseas and intensive support to win these deals		Mar 2012	Completed
7.7.vii. Develop a more entrepreneurial culture in UKTI which makes better use of private sector expertise and talent		Mar 2011	Completed
7.7.viii. Further pilot the contracting out the delivery of inward investment services, with the use of private sector specialists and entrepreneurs incentivised to attract investment into London‟s Tech City innovation cluster		Oct 2012	In progress
7.7.ix. Work in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to develop a marketing plan for the digital industries	May 2011	Mar 2012	Completed

7.8 Provide additional support to British businesses exporting, particularly SMEs

Title	Start	End	Status
7.8.i Extend the eligibility of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's (ECGD) short term credit insurance policy, the Export Insurance Policy, to address demand for short-term trade credit insurance			Completed
7.8.ii Make permanent the ECGD's Letter of Credit Guarantee Scheme and allow ECGD guarantees to be used to raise long-term finance in capital markets for UK exports			In progress
7.8.iii Work with banks to launch three new ECGD products: a bond support product, an export working capital product and a foreign exchange credit support scheme		May 2011	Completed
7.8.iv Commence the Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee and promote its use to SMEs	May 2011	Oct 2011	Completed
7.8.v Develop and launch a high profile industry showcase alongside the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games that will be open to a British and International public and business audience visiting London for the 2012 Games		Jul 2012	In progress

8. Create a positive business environment

Actions

8.1 Introduce ‘One-in, One-out’ so no new regulation is brought in without other regulation being cut by an equal amount. Impose ‘sunset clauses’ on regulations and regulators to ensure that the need for each regulation is regularly reviewed and apply moratorium to new domestic regulation of new start-ups and micro-businesses

Title	Start	End	Status
8.1.i. Introduce a Reducing Regulation Cabinet sub-committee to impose 'One-in, One-out'			Completed
8.1.ii. Develop and Publish Statement of Regulation			Completed
8.1.iii. Develop and publish guidance to impose “sunset clauses” on new regulations so that they automatically expire unless positive action is taken by Government to renew them			Completed
8.1.iv Publish forward regulatory programme			Completed
8.1.v. Carry out review of implementation of sunsetting regulations policy	Sept 2011	Dec 2011	Completed
8.1.vi. Launch a civil society red tape taskforce to identify ways of reducing the bureaucratic burden on social enterprises and small voluntary organisations, working with Cabinet Office and publish recommendations		May 2011	Completed
8.1.vii. Develop and publish a government response to civil society red tape task force recommendations	May 2011	Sept 2011	Completed
8.1.viii. Issue guidance to Departments on the operation of the moratorium to new domestic regulation for start-ups and micro-businesses with fewer than ten employees		May 2011	Overdue
8.1.ix. Publish progress report on work with other Government Departments and their agencies to implement the Penfold review of development consents	May 2011	May 2011	Completed

8.2 End the culture of ‘tick-box’ regulation, and instead target inspections on high-risk organisations through co-regulation and improving professional standards

Title	Start	End	Status
8.2.i. Publish White Paper on reforms to the front line delivery of regulation: introducing reviews and		Oct 2011	Completed
8.2.ii. Consult on White Paper	May 2011	Aug 2011	Overdue
8.2.iii. Develop any legislative proposals, including sunset clauses for regulators	May 2012	Mar 2012	Completed
8.2.iv Introduce legislation in the second session of Parliament to ensure better accountability for regulators, better targeted inspection and to extend the Primary Authority scheme to additional regulatory areas and a wider range of businesses	May 2012	May 2012	In progress
8.2.v Consult on a code of guidance for conducting test purchases for age-restricted sales	Jun 2012	Oct 2011	Completed
8.2.vi Publish code of guidance for conducting test purchases for age-restricted sales	Oct 2011	Nov 2011	Completed
8.2.vii Amend regulations affecting retailers to make them more outcome focused, use a checklist approach to assist SMEs in complying with these regulations and create action plan to take forward after pilot	Jul 2011	May 2012	Completed
8.2.viii. Work with the Heath and Safety Executive use the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations as a pilot for outcome focused regulation	Jul 2011	Nov 2011	Completed

8.3 Develop guidance for policy-makers in all departments to seek alternatives to regulation, supported by the Cabinet Office Behavioural Insights Team

Title Start End Status

8.3.i. Publish guidance for all departments to seek alternatives to regulation Completed

Title	Start	End	Status
8.3.i. Publish guidance for all departments to seek alternatives to regulation			Completed

8.4 Give the public and business the opportunity to challenge the worst regulations

Title	End	Status
8.4.i. Develop response to the first set of suggestions from the Your Freedom website		Completed
8.4.ii. Hold regional meetings with small and medium sized enterprises to identify regulations that they would like to amend or repeal		Completed
8.4.iii. Work with Cabinet Office and other departments to help lead the review of the stock of over 21,000 statutory instruments and regulations to free businesses and give people greater freedom and personal responsibility	Dec 2012	In progress
8.4.iv. In line with the Red Tape Challenge, bring forward proposals to reduce and reform the stock of statutory instruments and regulations for which the Department has overall responsibility	Dec 2012	In progress

8.5 Establish a rigorous approach to tackling EU regulations on their journey from inception to UK implementation in order to minimise unnecessary burdens & ensure that UK businesses are not disadvantaged relative to their European competitors

Title	End	Status
8.5.i. Review EU rules already in force or in the pipeline for future implementation		Completed
8.5.ii. Develop government policy to end gold-plating and a stronger role for the Reducing Regulation Committee and publish new guidance for Departments	Mar 2011	Completed
8.5.iii. Monitor Departments' progress in ending gold-plating, including in using copy-out, getting right timing, applying review clauses, aligning EU obligations with domestic policy and using alternatives to regulation	Dec 2012	In progress
8.5.iv. Develop Government policy to maximise UK influence in Brussels through earlier engagement	Jun 2011	Completed
8.5.v. Work with GlaxoSmithKline, Kingfisher, Balfour Beatty and Tribeka to identify European best practice in the implementation of EU rules and review where EU laws could be made more growth-friendly	Dec 2011	Completed
8.5.vi. Work with EU institutions to embed smart regulation, contributing to Commission report on overall burden reductions and exemption of micro-businesses	Dec 2012	In progress
8.5.vii. Work with EU partners to set target for reducing the overall burden of EU regulation by the end of 2014	Dec 2014	In progress

8.6 Extend the right to request flexible working and develop a new system of shared parental leave

Title	Start	End	Status
8.6.i. Work with the Prime Minister‟s Childhood and Families Taskforce to develop proposals for a new system of shared parental leave			Completed
8.6.ii. Consult with business on shared parental leave and extension of flexible working to all employees alongside equal pay measures	May 2011	Sept 2011	Completed
8.6.iii. Analyse consultation responses and developed detailed plans on shared parental leave and the extension of flexible working to all employees	Sept 2011	Mar 2012	Completed

8.7 Review BIS employment and workplace laws, for employers and employees, to ensure they maximise flexibility while protecting fairness and providing the competitive environment required for enterprise to thrive, working with other Departments

Title	Start	End	Status
8.7.i. Consult on workplace disputes and employment tribunal reform, working with the Ministry of Justice			Completed
8.7.ii. Publish the Government's response, working with the Ministry of Justice, on workplace disputes and employment tribunal reform	Dec 2011	Dec 2011	Completed
8.7.iii. Frost / Black review of sickness absence underway, publish the Government's response, working with the Department for Work and Pensions		Mar 2012	Completed
8.7.iv. Publish timetable for review of employment legislation	May 2011	May 2011	Completed
8.7.v. Publish a ministerial statement on proposals for the Government's workplace enforcement activities	Oct 2011	Oct 2011	Completed
8.7.vi. Invite the Low Pay Commission to consider the best way to give business clarity on future levels of the national minimum wage	May 2011	May 2011	Completed

8.8 Phase out the Default Retirement Age to support flexible labour markets and fairness in the workplace to support economic growth, working with the Department for Work and Pensions

Title	End	Status
8.8.i. Consult on phasing out the Default Retirement Age		Completed
8.8.ii. Develop and refine guidance for employers and individuals, working with ACAS	Sept 2011	Completed
8.8.iii. Draft regulations to remove Default Retirement Age and lay them before Parliament		Completed
8.8.iv. Regulations to remove the default retirement age come into force		Completed
8.8.v. Complete phasing out of Default Retirement Age	Oct 2011	Completed

8.9 Ensure the UK has world-class corporate governance frameworks

Title	Start	End	Status
8.9.i. Undertake a comprehensive review of corporate governance and economic short- termism, including reviewing the range of factors that can be considered when takeovers are proposed		Mar 2012	Completed
8.9.ii. Publish interim review on corporate governance and economic short-termism			Completed
8.9.iii. Develop and publish options to improve corporate accountability and transparency, including reinstatement of an Operating and Financial Review			Completed
8.9.iv. Develop and publish a strategy to increase the number of women on the boards of listed companies in the UK			Completed
8.9.v. Encourage the European Commission to include proposals to exempt medium sized companies from mandatory audit within the forthcoming Commission White Paper		Jan 2012	Completed
8.9.vi. Consult on bringing small company audit rules in line with the minimum requirements of the relevant EU Directives	Oct 2011	Feb 2012	Completed
8.9.vii. New regulations come into force on bringing small company audit rules in line with the minimum requirements of the relevant EU Directives, subject to outcome of consultation	Oct 2012	Oct 2012	Yet to start
8.9.viii. Consult on exempting unlisted companies from mandatory audits for subsidiary accounts, subject to conditions contained in 4th Directive	Oct 2011	Feb 2012	Completed
8.9.ix. New regulations come into force on exempting unlisted companies from mandatory audits for subsidiary accounts, subject to conditions contained in 4th Directive and outcome of consultation	Oct 2012	Oct 2012	Yet to start
8.9.x. Consult on materially simplified narrative reporting for quoted companies	Jul 2011	Dec 2011	Completed
8.9.xi. Publish 6 monthly report on progress in negotiating changes to European legislation to simplify reporting requirements for the smallest companies		Dec 2012	In progress
8.9.xii. Report on work by BIS and the Financial Reporting Council with the professions, businesses and users of financial information to reinforce the principle that independent regulation and enforcement should focus on risk and outcome rather than processes	Mar 2012	Mar 2012	Completed
8.9.xiii. Improve the guidance on businesslink.gov.uk to support business and social enterprise start-ups - in particular with respect to legal forms and ownership models		Jul 2011	Completed

8.10 Enhance the support that the UK's intellectual property framework gives to entrepreneurialism, economic growth and social and commercial innovation

Title	Start	End	Status
8.10.i. Appoint an independent expert to lead a review to identify how to overcome barriers to growth in the intellectual property (IP) system, and to consider the role of the intellectual property framework in supporting new business models appropriate to the digital age			Completed
8.10.ii. Consult on options to address barriers to growth in the intellectual property system			Completed
8.10.iii. Publish result of the Hargreaves Review of IP and Growth and consultation		Apr 2011	Overdue
8.10.iv. Consider the Hargreaves Review recommendations, including simplifying payments for copyright materials and freeing up orphan works, and formulate government response	May 2011	Jun 2011	Completed
8.10.v. Publish a response to the Hargreaves Review that sets out the Government's implementation plans in detail and how implementation will contribute to future growth	Jun 2011	Jun 2011	Completed
8.10.vi. Pilot launched on “peer to patent” system			Completed
8.10.vii. Run a pilot “peer to patent” system to support patent examination through community involvement, including working with the US “peer to patent” project		Apr 2012	Completed
8.10.viii. Examine the cost and complexity to small and medium-sized enterprises of accessing intellectual property services to help them to protect and exploit intellectual property			Completed

8.11 Improve the UK’s International Approach to Intellectual Property, to benefit the UK economy, improve the international intellectual property system and facilitate worldwide innovation

Title	Start	End	Status
8.11.i. Scope and agree details of IP Attaché network in key economies, including China and India, to help UK businesses operating abroad to make the most of their intellectual property		Dec 2011	Completed
8.11.ii. Establish a network of IP Attachés in key economies	Dec 2011	Mar 2013	In progress
8.11.iii. Scope and prioritise policy goals at World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) including policy on Investment and Coordination Mechanism		Oct 2011	Completed
8.11.iv. Prioritise UK efforts in the WIPO with a key focus on Patent Cooperation Treaty reform, delivering improvements in access to copyright materials for the print disabled, and a treaty on designs	Jun 2011	Dec 2015	In progress
8.11.v. Influence negotiations such that agreement is reached on EU Patent and Patent Court proposals in line with UK priorities		Mar 2016	In progress

8.12 Establish a programme to improve the private sector response to the challenges of cyber security in support of the Government's cyber security agenda
8.13 Report back to the Prime Minister on work with other Government departments to support the development of Every Business Commits by overcoming the four barriers identified at the launch of the campaign: criminal records bureau checks and the vetting and barring scheme; professional indemnity and liability insurance; competition law; and rules around work placements
8.14 Work with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to create a Public Data Corporation

9. Protect and empower consumers

Actions

9.1 Introduce reforms to empower consumers through transparency of customer data and ease of feedback, and by improving information and advice

Title	End	Status
9.1.i. Develop and publish a consumer empowerment strategy, drawing on the insights from behavioural economics and social psychology, including collective bargaining, data transparency, and customer service	Mar 2011	Completed
9.1.ii. Take forward strategy proposals to enable local people to bargain collectively to improve their purchasing power, improve the transparency of consumer data and ease of access, and enhance customer service in the public and private sectors	Dec 2011	Completed
9.1.iii. Develop proposals to transfer information and advice functions to independent consumer bodies and local authorities	Sept 2011	Completed
9.1.iv. Implement Consumer Rights Directive and simplify existing consumer legislation in a Consumer Bill of Rights	Dec 2014	In progress

9.2 Work with credit card companies so that they provide electronic statements to their customers that will allow them to compare the cost of their current deal with other companies

Title	Start	End	Status
9.2.i. Agree form and content of statements			Completed
9.2.ii. Review technical issues and announce timetable for implementation			Completed
9.2.iii. Develop and implement pilot of electronic statements		Dec 2011	Completed
9.2.iv. Electronic statements available nationally to customers of credit card companies	Dec 2011	Dec 2011	Completed

9.3 Introduce stronger consumer protections

Title	Start	End	Status
9.3.i. Undertake a consultation and publish a joint review with HM Treasury of consumer credit and personal insolvency in the UK, including reviewing regulators' powers to define and ban excessive interest rates on credit and store cards a seven-day cooling-off period for store cards		Jun 2011	Completed
9.3.ii. Develop measures to end unfair bank and financial transaction charges for consumers		Jun 2011	Completed
9.3.iii. Announce proposed package of measures on which voluntary agreement with banks will be sought	Jul 2011	Jul 2011	Completed
9.3.iv. Reach agreement with banks on a voluntary package of measures to end unfair bank and financial transaction charges for consumers	Jun 2011	Dec 2011	Completed
9.3.v. Introduce a Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill to set up the Groceries Code Adjudicator to monitor and enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice	Sept 2012	Sept 2012	Yet to start