diff --git a/.github/workflows/base_image_build.yml b/.github/workflows/base_image_build.yml
index d2f7c47..749a8a9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/base_image_build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/base_image_build.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         # Check out the repository containing the Dockerfile and other necessary files
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
         # Log in to GitHub Container Registry using the actor and a GitHub token
diff --git a/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build.yml b/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build.yml
index 760a993..cbc744a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   build_and_push:
+
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
+
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -26,11 +31,13 @@ jobs:
             runner: ubuntu-latest
           - arch: arm64
             runner: ubuntu-24.04-arm
+
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
+
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         # Check out the repository containing the Dockerfile and other necessary files
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
         # Log in to GitHub Container Registry using the actor and a GitHub token
@@ -40,11 +47,26 @@ jobs:
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
           password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        # Set up Docker Buildx for building and pushing Docker images
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4
+
       - name: Format repo slug
         # Format the repository slug to lowercase for use in the Docker image tags
         id: repo_slug
         run: echo "REPO_SLUG=$(echo ${{ github.repository }} | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')" >> $GITHUB_ENV
  
+      - name: Build and push Base Docker image
+        # Build the base Docker image using the Dockerfile in the `docker_base` directory and push it to GitHub Container Registry
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7
+        with:
+          context: ./docker_base
+          push: true
+          tags: ghcr.io/${{ env.REPO_SLUG }}/arm-mlops-docker-base:latest-${{ matrix.arch }}
+          # Use GitHub Actions cache to speed up the build process
+          cache-from: type=gha,scope=${{ matrix.arch }}
+          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max,scope=${{ matrix.arch }}
+   
       - name: Pull Base Docker image
         # Pull the arch-specific base Docker image from GitHub Container Registry
         run: docker pull ghcr.io/${{ env.REPO_SLUG }}/arm-mlops-docker-base:latest-${{ matrix.arch }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build_community.yml b/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build_community.yml
index 5c93cb6..0e3ceb3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build_community.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/licensed_image_build_community.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         # Check out the repository containing the Dockerfile and other necessary files
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
         # Log in to GitHub Container Registry using the actor and a GitHub token
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_amd64.yml b/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_amd64.yml
index e464d14..29c76f2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_amd64.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_amd64.yml
@@ -86,12 +86,9 @@ jobs:
     if: ${{ github.event_name != 'workflow_run' || github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
-    env:
-      DOCKER_IMAGE: ghcr.io/arm-software/avh-mlops/arm-mlops-docker-licensed:latest-amd64
-
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
         uses: docker/login-action@v4
@@ -100,8 +97,23 @@ jobs:
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
           password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
+      - name: Format repo slug
+        # Format the repository slug to lowercase for use in the Docker image tags
+        id: repo_slug
+        run: echo "REPO_SLUG=$(echo ${{ github.repository }} | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Define Licensed Docker image (amd64)
+        run: |
+          echo "DOCKER_IMAGE=$(echo ghcr.io/${{ env.REPO_SLUG }}/arm-mlops-docker-licensed:latest-amd64)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Show variables
+        run: |
+          echo "REPO_SLUG=${{ env.REPO_SLUG }}"
+          echo "DOCKER_IMAGE=${{ env.DOCKER_IMAGE }}"
+
       - name: Pull Licensed Docker image (amd64)
-        run: docker pull ${{ env.DOCKER_IMAGE }}
+        run: |
+          docker pull ${{ env.DOCKER_IMAGE }}
 
       - name: Start Docker container
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_arm64.yml b/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_arm64.yml
index 57b554b..7110c3c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_arm64.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_licensed_docker_image_arm64.yml
@@ -86,12 +86,9 @@ jobs:
     if: ${{ github.event_name != 'workflow_run' || github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
     runs-on:  ubuntu-24.04-arm
 
-    env:
-      DOCKER_IMAGE: ghcr.io/arm-software/avh-mlops/arm-mlops-docker-licensed:latest-arm64
-
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
         uses: docker/login-action@v4
@@ -100,8 +97,23 @@ jobs:
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
           password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
-      - name: Pull Licensed Docker image (arm64)
-        run: docker pull ${{ env.DOCKER_IMAGE }}
+      - name: Format repo slug
+        # Format the repository slug to lowercase for use in the Docker image tags
+        id: repo_slug
+        run: echo "REPO_SLUG=$(echo ${{ github.repository }} | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Define Licensed Docker image (arm64)
+        run: |
+          echo "DOCKER_IMAGE=$(echo ghcr.io/${{ env.REPO_SLUG }}/arm-mlops-docker-licensed:latest-arm64)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Show variables
+        run: |
+          echo "REPO_SLUG=${{ env.REPO_SLUG }}"
+          echo "DOCKER_IMAGE=${{ env.DOCKER_IMAGE }}"
+
+      - name: Pull Licensed Docker image (amd64)
+        run: |
+          docker pull ${{ env.DOCKER_IMAGE }}
 
       - name: Start Docker container
         run: |