Vince Cable

The Government has delivered more than 100,000 extra apprenticeships, twice as many as expected. Figures released by the Government show that over 103,000 additional apprenticeship started in 2010-2011, bringing the total number of people on an apprenticeship scheme to 257,000.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable, said:

Business Secretary Vince Cable has today announced the appointment of Roger Witcomb as Chair of the Competition Commission (CC) on an interim basis for a term of two years. Mr Witcomb will succeed current Chair Peter Freeman, whose term ends on 6 May 2011.

Mr Witcomb will be the Chair during the Government's consultation on its proposals to merge the CC with the competition functions of the Office for Fair Trading (OFT). This consultation forms part of the Government's plan to stimulate growth by allowing the market to be dynamic and competitive, while strengthening and streamlining the competition regime.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green today launched a new cross-government focus on trade and investment to help the British economy grow.

The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Strategy and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) seven-point Charter demonstrate the Government's dedication to supporting international business, championing UK business overseas and attracting investors to the country.

This is my first speech as Business Secretary to a union annual conference. Thank you, warmly for the invitation.

About ten months ago, I was invited to speak to the TUC Congress in Manchester. But, much to my regret, that invitation was later withdrawn.

Perhaps, the TUC's invitation came too soon after the election and feelings among some union leaders were still too raw. I never knew that Bob Crow and Mark Serwotka were such sensitive souls.

The Government today underscored its commitment to the green economy with two major investments in renewable energy technology.

Business Secretary Vince Cable announced the start of a competition to form an Offshore Renewable Energy technology and innovation centre. The new centre will focus on technologies for offshore wind, wave and tidal power.

In response to the findings of the WTO Appellate Body, Business Secretary Vince Cable, said:

"I greatly welcome today's findings from the WTO Appellate Body. The WTO has finally rejected the US' main allegations of illegal EU support to Airbus, and has endorsed the principle of European Governments providing repayable loans to companies to contribute towards the development of new aircraft.

Four vanguard areas - Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and London - have named the sites of their new Enterprise Zones.

The areas were hailed today by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Business Secretary Vince Cable, who announced the launch of a scheme to identify where ten further Enterprise Zones will be created.

Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, and Minister for Skills, John Hayes, today launched a £50 million a year fund to help businesses develop the skills they need to drive growth.

The Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) will deliver targeted help for employer groups to overcome barriers to growth within their sectors and industries. The funding could deliver new training to boost innovation and productivity, enable industries to set new professional standards, or support new or extended National Skills Academies.

No small firm will have to have independently audited accounts any longer, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced today, saving 42,000 businesses £40 million per year.

One of the barriers to growth is the burden of regulation. It takes up time and stops business growing and that means our economy does not grow.

Following the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond's decision to resume the Intercity Express Programme procurement and proceed with the Agility Trains (Hitachi and John Laing) consortium's plans, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that the Government is prepared to offer conditional funding to Hitachi. This is in support of Hitachi's plans to build a manufacturing and assembly centre at Newton Aycliffe in the North East.