9082posts
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Direct consumer enforcement: one year on
How we’ve used our new powers to protect consumers in the first year, and what to expect next.
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Shaping the future of healthcare
A new era for healthcare Artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in a new era, with the potential to reshape the world as we know it. In healthcare, it’s already starting to have an impact. AI can support earlier diagnosis and …
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Do no harm – how to keep colleagues safe in research
If we want to design ethical, inclusive services that truly meet people’s needs, we also need to think about the emotional impact of research on the teams delivering it. Transforming government digital services requires adaptability. Researchers engage with a wide range …
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How trade marks and licensing protect the Olympic and Paralympic brand
From the Olympic rings to official mascots and merchandise, trade marks and licensing play a critical role in protecting the Olympic and Paralympic brand. Drawing on first‑hand experience at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, this blog explores how IP underpins one of the world’s most valuable global brands and what businesses can learn from …
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From the Border Mires to Bodmin Moor: restoring England's most vital landscapes
Today, I’m pleased to announce we’re extending the scheme for a further year until April 2027 – so existing projects from the North York Moors to the Somerset Levels can continue to deliver valuable work on the ground. Read this post to delve in further.
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GDS Local: building the foundations for digital collaboration
GDS Local shares the latest developments on how the initiative is supporting digital transformation in councils.
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Extract: unlocking England’s planning data
England's planning system holds decades of valuable data locked in scanned PDFs and digital documents. Extract, an AI tool developed by MHCLG in partnership with the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, converts historic planning maps and documents into standardised, usable data - so local authorities can make their data available and power digital planning services.
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Councils backed with millions to tackle rogue landlords - news coverage
Positive coverages features across press this week after MHCLG announced new funding worth over £41 million to support councils across England, as they prepare for their new enforcement duties in the Renters’ Rights Act from 1 May 2026. With the …
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Inside the working life of a Maritime and Coastguard Agency investigator
Paul Atkins spent 30 years in the police before joining the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's investigation team in 2018.
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Delivering a better service for Merchant Navy Medal applicants
A collaborative effort between MCA teams to redesign the Merchant Navy Medals digital service for applicants.
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Dear sir... The email that launched the first fully electric Thames ferry
A reflection of the certification process that led to the launch of Orbit Clipper.
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OFSI Strategy 2026-29
This year marks ten years since the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) was established. Over the last ten years, OFSI has built stronger capability and confidence, enhancing licensing, enforcement and intelligence, deepening international partnerships, and supporting firms to navigate increasingly complex sanctions …
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How do you know if a regulation worked?
Why post implementation reviews need more regression analysis
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Living and working in Edinburgh: Life at Queen Elizabeth House
Read about what it is like to work in Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh, one of DBT's most dynamic digital hubs.
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Abbotts Hall: Where Natural England’s New Strategy Comes to Life on the Ground
By Anna Oliveri, Senior Landscape Officer, Natural England Abbotts Hall Farm on the Essex coast is quietly becoming one of England's most compelling examples of landscape-scale nature recovery in action. In this post, Senior Landscape Officer Anna Oliveri shares …
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Why wildlife licensing matters
At Natural England we help balance economic growth with nature protection. Wildlife licensing is a vital tool to enable this. Our licences are broad ranging and allow development and other activities to proceed, while safeguarding protected species and their habitats. Every …
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Equipment and technology funding: deadline reminder
FETF 2026 offers funding to support investment in equipment and technology across productivity, animal health and welfare, and slurry management. The window to apply closes at midday on 28 April 2026.
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Launching the Management and Leadership Code for Health and Social Care
As we launch the Management and Leadership Code for Health and Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse – Adult Social Care, discusses what this means for leaders and managers across health and social care.
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Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships: helping new solutions reach farms
Through the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition, 12 projects are expected to secure more than £40 million in private investment to help bring agri-tech innovations to market. A further competition will open next month.
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Publishing a common architectural model for local government
There could be huge benefits to councils in adopting a common technical architecture, and to achieve this the digital centre has published a shared model.
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Wild Again: A new chapter for England's species
The Government has set statutory targets to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and to reduce species extinction risk by 2042 against 2022 levels, as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan. That’s why the Government has made a record investment in nature. In this post, we’ll talk you through the recent news and campaign for species recovery.
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England Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy
By Katherine Walsh – Senior Environmental Specialist for terrestrial mammals within the Chief Scientist Directorate at Natural England England's red squirrel is one of our most beloved native species, yet it has quietly disappeared from most of the country over …
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New school food standards: what parents need to know
Eating well at school plays an important role in children’s health, wellbeing and ability to learn. That’s why the government is consulting on plans to update the School Food Standards for the first time in over a decade, with a …
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Unlocking the National Soil Map: free and unrestricted access to England and Wales’s most comprehensive soil data
This month marks a significant milestone for soil, and in how we all can factor soils into our policy, research and decision making. The National Soil Map for England and Wales, alongside a range of additional LandIS datasets are now open.
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The planning technology projects changing the planning system
New technology is transforming how planning is delivered. 3 of the 4 finalists in this year's Planning Awards' digital technology category are funded by the Digital Planning programme, demonstrating how AI tools and technology are saving time, improving consistency and helping deliver 1.5 million homes.
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New Nature Investment Standards: A practical guide to assurance
Nature markets matter. When they are designed well, with high environmental standards at their centre, they drive real and lasting environmental change underpinned by financial returns that lock in that change for generations to come. This is where the Nature Investment Standards come in.
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The information gateway: enabling secure sharing of information held by public authorities with trusted digital verification services
Through the information gateway, registered digital verification service (DVS) providers can ask for information directly from public authorities.
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A call to serve: How community shaped my path into teaching
Haris Shafi talks about navigating racism, redesigning his setting's history curriculum, and creating a culture where every child feels proud of who they are.
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Get to an answer
The Customer Experience and Design (CX&D) team have created a new pattern called 'Get to an answer'. It makes it easy for user-centred design teams in the Department for Education (DfE) to build content that guides users to relevant information by answering a short series of questions. Where this started The project started with Support for care leavers. What support a care leaver is entitled to …
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Opening doors: How representation shapes opportunity
Shahista Zamir reflects on her journey into education — navigating cultural expectations, racism, and the challenges of balancing leadership with parenting.
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Developing climate-related health insights
GAD's new climate and health group brings together expert analysis to help public sector clients understand climate-related health risks in long-term planning.
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15 minutes from nature: how we're measuring England's access to green and blue space
In March 2026, we published the new Access to green and blue space in England Official Statistics in Development. These show that 80% of households in England have access to at least one green or blue space within a 15-minute walk. Read this post to find out more.
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Reflections on the Nature Restoration Fund Business Readiness Forum
In this blog we look back on the first Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) Business Readiness Forum, held to help developers, planners and environmental stakeholders understand how the new fund will work in practice. We explain how the NRF and Environmental …
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Expanding OTSI’s Licensing Remit
The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) will soon be expanding its licensing role. From Monday 27 April, OTSI will become responsible for licensing sanctioned goods (and associated ancillary services) for export to sanctioned destinations. This builds on OTSI’s existing responsibilities for licensing sanctioned standalone services, such as professional business services. Licensing goods and ancillary services which are subject …
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Why Global Collaboration on IP Matters
INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo talks about the importance of global collaboration on IP matters and why IP professionals should gather in London next month for the INTA 2026 Annual Meeting.
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APHA Launch the Veterinary Graduate Programme
This year the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are launching their first Veterinary Graduate Programme, marking an exciting new step in how we attract, develop and retain the next generation of veterinary professionals. From our engagement with veterinary audiences, …
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From emergency to sustainability: creating Share Homes for Ukraine data
Learn how the Homes for Ukraine Digital team in MHCLG delivered a sustainable, in-house digital service at national scale to support a humanitarian crisis, transitioning from emergency response to long-term transformation, and creating significant efficiencies, a better user experience as well as opportunities for reusability across government.
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A journey of a thousand miles
One of our senior female planning inspectors reflects on nearly nine years at the Planning Inspectorate - from trainee to Band 3, juggling family life, navigating imposter syndrome, and finding support from colleagues along the way. What does a career as a planning inspector really look like?
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Thirty Years On: How Regulation Has Transformed the Environment – A View from the Chief Regulator
Thirty years ago, the Environment Agency first opened its doors. It had a clear dual purpose: to protect the environment and support sustainable development.
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How councils are finding greener ways to manage weeds in our parks and streets
When you walk through your local park or along the pavement, you might not think much about how the weeds are kept under control. But behind the scenes, councils across the country are rethinking their approach, moving away from chemical …