₤25 million survival equipment contract to protect UK Armed Forces

PILOTS and sailors will be equipped with vital survival equipment under a new ₤25 million contract that will also support 50 UK jobs. Birkenhead based Survitec Group will provide the Royal Air Force with life saving kit under a 5 year contract. Work will predominantly take place at the company's Birkenhead and Gosport sites, as well as further work taking place in Aberdeen and Dunmurry. The contract will see the RAF being supplied with immersion protection garments such as life rafts and life preservers, and high-G kit such as:- anti gravity trousers. Anti-G clothing will ensure pilots can cope with the high levels of acceleration they experience when flying agile fast jets, such as F35, Typhoon and Hawk aircraft. Kit for the Royal Navy will include multi person life rafts and associated spares provision, as well as a rapid turnaround life raft servicing programme which facilitates the removal and return of life rafts to the vessel within 15 days.

The contract will also ensure RAF and Navy personnel will be able to order on demand a wide range of sailor and aircrew personal protection and survival equipment as and when they need it. Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence, negotiated the new contract which offers better value for money as it combines five contracts into 1, leading to ₤5 million of efficiency savings over the life of the contract.

Director Air Support, at DE&S, Richard Murray, said:- "This new, improved contract with Survitec will ensure that high-quality, life saving equipment is available when it is most needed. The team has worked hard to ensure it delivers value for the taxpayer while providing equipment at the forefront of the latest technology. I look forward to our ongoing partnership with Survitec to continue to deliver the very best equipment to our armed forces."

Survitec CEO Aerospace and Defence, Martin Whittaker, said:- "I am delighted we have concluded this landmark agreement with DE&S to supply our armed forces with their much needed safety equipment. The Survitec Group has been a trusted supplier for the UK Armed Forces for over 30 years and is committed to providing innovation for its future requirements."

Paving the way to welcome back customers

LIVERPOOL'S cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars are being urged to make sure they have a pavement licence if they are planning to reopen, on Monday, 12 April 2021. Government guidelines are expected to be relaxed next month, allowing Hospitality venues to serve food and drink to customers sitting outside. Liverpool City Council is encouraging those businesses looking to welcome back customers by bringing tables and chairs on to the pavement outside their premises to apply as soon as possible for a pavement licence which will allow them to operate in this way. Those which currently hold a pavement licence do not need to re-apply yet, as theirs will remain valid until 30 September 2021. If there is enough outdoor space on the pavement outside the premises and the business can meet a number of conditions, including:- ensuring Covid safe measures are in place, permission is likely be given to place tables and chairs outside.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Sharon Connor, said:- "We know the Hospitality sector is eager to welcome back customers and it was a relief for many that the 12 April 2021 is a date they can aim for to get their businesses up and running again. This sector play a hugely important role in our economy and we want to do everything we can to help businesses reopen their doors. Quite simply, pavement licences are essential. Any business that does not currently have 1, but wants to offer that outdoor experience to their customers, must have 1 in place. It takes time for our team to process the applications which is why we are asking businesses to apply now and don't miss the deadline, we want to see as many of our amazing bars, restaurants cafes and pubs back in business, from the 12 April 2021."

Following the 1st Lockdown in 2020, the City Council issued more than 160 licences to venues across the City, allowing them to reopen their doors to customers once again. Due to the time taken to process the licences, any business looking to trade from the 12 April 2021 must submit an application, as soon as possible. Enforcement action could be taken against any business that places furniture on the pavement without having been issued a pavement licence.  For more information and to apply, click here.