9082posts
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Testing a different way to improve complex public services
Read to find out about how the CustomerFirst Team is exploring NewCo as a way of working.
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Power of Attorney Stories: Natasha
[English] - [Cymraeg] A lasting power of attorney, also known as an LPA, is a legal document. It allows you to nominate someone you trust to step in and make decisions A Lasting Power of Attorney (also known as an LPA) is …
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The UK: a world-class home for intellectual property
As newly appointed President of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA), we were delighted when Daniel Hardman-Smart accepted our invitation to be one of our guest bloggers. In his blog, Daniel talks about the UK as a leading environment for intellectual property, particularly in relation to trade marks, and what this means in practice for businesses looking to protect and grow their brands.
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A better deal on agency supply staff: what the new Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework means for schools and trusts
Department for Education commercial strategy and innovation commercial lead Beth Lord explains the new Government Commercial Agency supply staff framework and how it aims to rebalance the market, saving schools money. Schools across England spend approximately £1.4 billion a year …
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The year ahead: public service pension administration - 2026-2027
This financial year brings major challenges for public service pension schemes, from remedy and dashboards to governance reform. This blog explores the key themes shaping the year ahead.
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How to stay compliant with aftermarket light products: vulnerable road user signs, decorative lights, and warning beacons
Many drivers fit aftermarket devices to their vehicles, often with the best intentions – particularly when it comes to protecting vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians. But your vehicle must be compliant...
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Mergers charter: one year on
A year on from the launch of the CMA’s mergers charter, we’re sharing what’s working well and what would help it to work even better.
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More time to apply for farming equipment and technology
You now have until midday on Tuesday 12 May to apply for a grant through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), giving you more time to complete an existing application or start a new one.
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Unlocking the value of your woodland: high-value markets for timber
Chris Watson, Woodland Resilience Advisor at the Forestry Commission, invites Dougal Driver, CEO of Grown in Britain, to discuss how you can grow high-quality wood, and new opportunities for UK timber.
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Our Chief Executive's speech to the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (23 April 2026)
Chief Executive Katie Petiffer joined food regulators from around the world at the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum in New Zealand, and spoke about building trust with consumers in an uncertain world.
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Digital waste tracking: What is it and why it matters
Waste crime is not new, but in recent years it has escalated into a more sophisticated, costly and damaging criminal enterprise. It costs the economy an estimated £1 billion every year, blights our communities, and causes serious harm to the environment. From vast illegal dumps to fraudulent disposal records, …
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How PropTech is transforming leasehold property management
Block Manager Technology is part of the Geovation Accelerator Programme - encouraging the innovative use of data to benefit the property market, society and the economy.
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GOV.UK One Login for HMRC: how we made it happen and what comes next
Find out how GDS and HMRC joined forces to bring GOV.UK One Login to millions and what comes next for simpler access to government services.
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Let’s talk about conflicts of interest in charities
We sat down with one of our case managers, John, to talk about conflicts of interest – what they are, why they matter, and what charity trustees often get wrong.
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Connecting our seafarers to support on World Day for Safety and Health at Work
The Merchant Navy Welfare Board provides a comprehensive online Seafarer Support directory – which has been given renewed backing by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
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Global Supply Chains Intelligence Programme: an AI-enabled big data analytical platform for government
The Global Supply Chains Intelligence Programme (GSCIP) team has won the Analysis in Government Impact Award for informing major policy decisions, improving operational outcomes and driving analytical and AI innovation while saving government millions.
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Bringing Science and Policy Together: GSE Day at the Royal Society Pairing Scheme
The Royal Society Pairing Scheme gives policymakers and research scientists an opportunity to experience each other’s worlds, building bridges between parliamentarians, civil servants and some of the best research scientists in the UK. Tuesday 17th March marked a standout moment in …
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Route B substantial modifications: find out how the pilot was received
As part of the shift towards a risk-proportionate regulatory framework, the MHRA’s Clinical Trials Unit ran a Route B substantial modifications pilot from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 to test a new process to streamline the review of …
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Route B substantial modifications pilot: the results are in
As part of the shift towards a risk-proportionate regulatory framework, the MHRA’s Clinical Trials Unit ran a Route B substantial modifications pilot from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 to test a new process to streamline the review of …
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A new business analysis course is now live on the Government Digital and Data Hub
If you have ever wondered what business analysts do in government, the Business Analysis in Government: Getting Started is your chance to learn more. As part of the governments ambition to build a modern digital government, there’s a growing need to invest in skills, talent and capability. The Government Digital …
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From data to decisions: How is epidemiology protecting animal, plant and human health?
Join Dr Clare Benton for a behind the scenes look at how APHA’s epidemiologists transform data into decisive action to safeguard the nation’s animals, plants and public health.
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Hacking major projects
Jess Grindlay, NISTA's Lead Data Scientist, talks about her experiences hacking creative solutions to help manage government projects In NISTA, we often say ‘Projects don’t go wrong, they start wrong’. As the home of government project data, the NISTA Data & Insight team supports …
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How we built the new Defra service manual with AI and community collaboration
How the AI capability and enablement team used agentic design to build a community-driven resource to help digital practitioners find the standards they need.
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A year of progress for public design
Design community leader, Andrew Knight, looks back on a busy year and reveals future plans.
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Consultations on Defra's final four FMPs close on 5 May
Our consultation events are over but there’s still time to have your say on the draft proposals. Help to make the plans work for fisheries now and in the future.
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Digital sustainability in government: an in-depth look at the GDSA Summit
Ned Gartside, Sustainable Design Lead for Defra, reflects on the second Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA) summit, which took place in London in February, bringing together nearly 300 digital sustainability experts to celebrate progress and focus minds on the challenges …
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The benefits system risks discouraging apprenticeships
The benefits system risks discouraging apprenticeships Different things in life evolve at different rates. That much is inevitable, but it’s still a source of trouble. Just think of all those newspaper stories about people splashing out on flash new EV …
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Data standards: Laying the groundwork for an open, faster, data-driven planning system
Regulations have been laid in Parliament requiring local planning authorities to publish plan and timetable data in a standardised format, when creating local, minerals, waste or supplementary plans under the new plan-making system. This marks a major step towards a more open, data-driven planning system.
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150 years on: the trade marks that mean the most to us
In January 2026, the IPO marked 150 years of the UK trade mark registry, the system that protects the names, logos and brands we see every day. From the first registered trade mark to more than 2.5 million today, it’s a story shaped by the marks people remember most. To mark the milestone, we asked …
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Earth Day: The Power of Earth Observation
Here are just five of the ways the UK is using Earth Observation to benefit our planet.
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Protecting students through smart regulation: introducing the Chief Regulator's Rebuke
We have issued the first Chief Regulator's Rebuke – a new enforcement tool introduced last October as part of a significant update to Ofqual's Supporting Compliance and Taking Regulatory Action policy. The rebuke has been issued to WJEC, following serious failings involving 4 of its Eduqas GCSE, AS and A level qualifications between 2019 and 2025.
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Making digital services more sustainable: introducing a 15th service standard point
Service Assessment Manager Mary McMahon and Sustainable Design Lead Ned Gartside explain how, from this month, Defra service assessments will include a new requirement with sustainability at its core. Digital services are a core part of how we deliver outcomes …
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Farming podcast: building resilience through soil and water management
In this episode, a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser speaks to two arable farmers. One farms in Norfolk and the other in Cambridgeshire. They discuss how natural processes, like soil and water management, can help farms reduce costs.
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PATH-SAFE: One year on
Marking one year since PATH‑SAFE concluded, Dr Charlotte Smith, Scientific Project Manager at the FSA, explores the programme’s achievements, impact and the way its legacy is shaping the Food Surveillance Programme.
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Flexibilities for childminders and childcare on domestic premises providers
On 1 November 2024, the Department for Education made changes to give the early years sector (in particular childminders) more flexibility. These changes introduced a new type of childminder and give existing childminders and childcare on domestic premises providers more scope in terms …
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How we’re preventing AI misinformation at DBT
At the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), we are proactively building a content lifecycle that guards against AI providing the public with incorrect government information.
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Biodiversity Net Gain: what's changing and what it means for you
Over the past two years, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has started to change the way development and nature work together, and we’ve learned a huge amount from local authorities, developers and ecologists along the way. Last week, we published a set of updates that strengthen and streamline how BNG operates across the planning system. Read …
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Modernising submissions for Protected Sites requests
By Tracey Hill, Senior Officer - Sites , Nature and People Natural England is making it easier than ever to submit requests relating to protected sites. From 20 April 2026, we are introducing Defra Forms, a new online submission portal, …
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We’re piloting NDX:Try, a new platform to help local councils test digital services before they buy
We recently launched a pilot for NDX:Try to help local councils try new and innovative digital and AI services for free before deciding whether to buy them. You can access the service here: ndx.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk The platform will provide secure, time-limited …
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Meningitis cases in Dorset: what you need to know
Three young people in Weymouth, Dorset have been confirmed to have meningitis B, known as MenB. All-three individuals have received treatment and are recovering well. These cases are not linked to the recent outbreak in Kent and this outbreak is not showing the same speed of transmission or severity of illness.