News Items

Cultural organisations from across the UK are being invited to be part of the London 2012 culture programme. Ideas can now be submitted to Creative Programmers in every nation and region, and will be chosen according to clear criteria. A limited number will form part of the Cultural Olympiad in September and will be endorsed by a new ‘Inspire mark’. The Cultural Olympiad will last right through to the end of the 2012 Games. More info...

The Government has said revenue generated from the tax on air travel over the next two years will increase by 10% more than its original forecast. In his first Budget statement today, Chancellor Alistair Darling said revenue from the new ‘per-aircraft’ duty, expected to be introduced in November 2009 as a replacement to the current Air Passenger Duty, will have to rise by 10% in its second year in order to account for the forecast rise in aircraft emissions. More info...

VisitBritain has announced a comprehensive sustainable tourism marketing strategy. The new initiative will enable accredited English accommodation providers and visitor attractions get the most marketing clout from their green credentials. For those businesses not yet accredited, a groundbreaking new project has been launched. “Green Start” will enable tourism concerns take the first steps to certification with minimal bureaucracy and cost. As part of a pilot scheme, VisitBritain will waive the £25 charge for the first 500 businesses to join Green Start. More info...

YHA National Forest officially opens its doors this month, welcoming visitors of all ages to this flagship sustainable building on the Leicestershire and Derbyshire borders. Year by year, The National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest. The National Forest provides environmental and economic benefits, including landscape enhancement, creation of new wildlife habitats and major new access and leisure opportunities. It is said to be an excellent example of sustainable development – with environmental improvement providing a stimulus to economic regeneration. More info...

There are reckoned to be around 2,000 unaccredited colleges on the current Register of Education Providers. About 560 of these provide English language courses. So far, since the October 2007 announcement by the Home Office and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills that from February 2009, accreditation will be required for any college which wishes to enrol students who need a visa to enter the UK, only about 80 of these 560 have shown any interest in or progress towards gaining accreditation under the Accreditation UK scheme, the only scheme approved for English language course providers. More info...