9150posts
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Avoidable requisitions are falling: let’s keep it up
Avoidable requisitions are falling: What the latest data shows, what’s changing in the next dataset and where to find support.
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Developing GOV.UK Chat: Our data science and AI engineering journey
Find out how we've used insights and evaluation to refine our experimental AI-powered chatbot ahead of opening up access more widely
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A shared picture of progress: new Defra and Natural England evidence shows 77,638 hectares of habitat target delivery
By Alice Howard, Senior Data Scientist Defra and Natural England have published the 2026 habitat target metric, showing that action has been undertaken on 77,638 hectares to create or restore wildlife-rich habitat across England since January 2023, nearly double last …
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Major shift in government evaluation as Magenta Book is updated
The 2026 update to the Magenta Book represents the most significant shift in government evaluation standards since 2020, moving the needle from "measuring what happened" to "learning how to improve in real-time." Led by the Evaluation Task Force (ETF), the …
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Answers in seconds, 24/7: GOV.UK Chat launches in the GOV.UK app
Find the information you need, quickly and easily, through the AI-powered chat system for GOV.UK.
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Watch: lessons from farmers growing herbal leys in the Derbyshire White Peak
Last summer, we visited farmers in the Derbyshire White Peak to hear what they’ve learned from growing herbal leys in improved grassland systems. Working with Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser Ben Rodgers, they have been exploring how multi-species swards can be integrated into grassland farming. In this post, we’re sharing the first films from that work.
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Food Fact Check: What is ‘lab-grown meat’?
Food Fact Check: Joshua Ravenill, Head of Cell-Cultivated Product Sandbox answers questions about cell-cultivated products (CCPs)
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Nutrient Mitigation Scheme - clarification of Natural England's role
There has been recent reporting in the media and on social media around Natural England’s role in delivering the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme. Natural England has a statutory duty to support sustainable development. We work with developers and planning authorities to …
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Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: From Awareness to Action
Introduction from Sarah McClinton This blog marks Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 with a thoughtful reflection on what it means to move beyond awareness and towards meaningful action. It explores how mental health social work can help rebalance power, place …
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Building a kinship care offer that works: a principal social worker's perspective
What does a kinship care offer look like when it's shaped by the families it serves? Louise Spragg shares lessons from the ground up.
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From stakeholder to Committee member: my early reflections on SSAC from the 'other' side
It is just a year now since I was interviewed to be a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). This means that I have now been working as a committee member for some six months or so - …
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Foster Care Fortnight: The village that raised me
No matter your background, everyone has a village. But for someone who is care-experienced, it can look very different. Amy Burns reflects on the people who made all the difference , and what that means for fostering today.
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Using single sign-on and MCP to safely connect AI to live government data
The DBT Assist team shares how they safely connected DBT’s AI tools to live customer relationship management data, overcoming a common challenge faced across government. By leveraging existing single sign-on and building an MCP server, the team has created a secure, reusable pattern that unlocks new AI capabilities and helps us use our data in …
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Criminal courts: building on progress, rising to the challenge
Craig Robb, Deputy Director and Crime Live Service Owner at HMCTS, reflects on the past year in the criminal courts – what’s been achieved, what needs to change and why he remains confident in the direction of travel.
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Shape the future of voting: Join our Elections Digital team
The Elections Digital team in MHCLG is growing and looking for a range of digital professionals to join them in providing excellent digital services which support citizens to exercise their right to vote. Find out about what the team is working on, why it matters, and the exciting opportunities on offer.
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Erasmus+: What you need to know
The UK has officially signed the legal agreement to join the Erasmus+ programme, with placements set to begin in the 2027/28 academic year. Here's everything you need to know about what the programme offers and how to get involved. What is …
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Making technology work for justice, one relationship at a time
On the busy train heading home from Birmingham, I find myself reflecting on the past few days and the many conversations I’ve managed to pack into my time there. Between bursts of mobile signal, the journey offers a rare moment to pause, …
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Schools white paper: What parents need to know about changes to the SEND system
Changes to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system have been announced, as part of the schools white paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving.
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Flat owners gain new right to request faster broadband as leasehold shake‑up moves another step closer ✨
Millions of flat owners are another step closer to fairer home ownership, as desperately needed leasehold and commonhold reforms head to Parliament. Now the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill has been confirmed in the King’s Speech, plans to overhaul the outdated leasehold system are no longer drafts - they are on their way to becoming real …
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National Plant Health Week: protecting the green foundations of our lives
This week (11-17 May) is National Plant health week, and we are celebrating our plant health heroes. Read this post to find out the importance of this work and the networks which are key to plant health protection.
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Innovating for better bTB surveillance: how collaboration is shaping the future of calliper technology
Could modernising a century-old calliper transform bovine TB testing? Collaboration reveals how precision tools, digital data and smarter design could reshape accuracy, consistency and future surveillance success.
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Supporting the return of white‑tailed eagles to Exmoor
By Roxanne Gardiner, Senior Officer, Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service and Olivia Beatty, Higher Officer, Wessex Area Team Natural England has issued a licence enabling the next phase of white-tailed eagle reintroductions in southern England, permitting the release of up …
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From data gaps to decisions: Qualitative climate scenario analysis
Mind the (data) gap. Qualitative climate scenario analysis can help public sector organisations understand risks and build resilience when the data needed for robust quantification is limited.
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Farmer Collaboration Fund: webinar for potential delivery partners
On 19 May, we’re hosting a webinar for those interested in becoming delivery partners for the Farmer Collaboration Fund.
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What early language intervention taught me
Sallie Wood, at teaching assistant at Henleaze Infants School, shares how delivering the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme has become one of the most rewarding parts of her role.
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Progress stalls on post-implementation reviews
Departments need to compete new PIRs on time as well as managing the backlog.
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What you need to know about the hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch cruise ship
We are monitoring and providing public health advice about an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius. Sadly, 3 foreign nationals have died in connection with the outbreak, however, the risk to the public is very low as hantavirus is not spread through everyday social contact.
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Why the FSA is stepping up to counter food misinformation and disinformation
Katie Pettifer, Chief Executive, introduces our new campaign to tackle misinformation and disinformation about food.
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Planning your fertiliser and nutrient use
Although supply remains stable, we know higher fertiliser prices and market volatility are making it harder for you to plan and budget. In this post, we’ll share tools and tips to help you plan nutrient use with more confidence.
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ISE of newborn screening for SMA set to begin in England from October 2026
The in-service evaluation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy in NHS services in England is set to start from October 2026, the latest SMA ISE Partnership Board meeting was told.
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DBT Data Challenge 2026: From ideas to impact
How DBT colleagues with all levels of experience turned simple ideas into working prototypes within a week, demonstrating the energy and creativity within Digital, Data and Technology.
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Are you staying up to date with HM Land Registry?
Join the thousands of conveyancers and other property professionals who have signed up to HM Land Registry’s free monthly newsletters.
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Coordinating regulation for major infrastructure: Lead Environmental Regulator pilots
The LER programme is currently being tested across a small number of projects to learn what works, identify where improvements are needed and inform any longer-term implementation. This blog sets out what the Lead Environmental Regulator approach involves, introduces each EA-led pilot currently underway, and shares early reflections on what we are learning.
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Mental Health Awareness Week: how to take action
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme for this year is 'Take Action'. While raising awareness about mental health is important, this year focuses on the practical steps we can all take to support our own wellbeing and …
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International Nurses Day 2026: Celebrating Nurses in Adult Social Care
A message from the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy
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The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act: what parents need to know
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act introduces a wide variety of measures to help children and families, from the cost of living and school reform to home education to safeguarding. But how will this impact your family? Find out here. What …
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Changes to the driving test booking rules: our webinar and Q&A recap
Questions and answers from the 7 May webinar focusing on the upcoming changes to the driving test booking service on 12 May.
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Leading with heart: Rozina’s career pathway from courtrooms to classrooms
From law partner to classroom practitioner, Rozina Butt's career change was driven by a commitment to service and the power of seeing yourself reflected in leadership. She shares the challenges she encountered and the impact she has had on pupils' lives.
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Get involved with Digital Accessibility Week 2026
Digital Accessibility Week 2026 is a cross-government online event taking place from Monday 18 ending on Thursday 21 May which is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).
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New Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition now open
A new Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition is now open for applications. £5 million in government grant funding is available to attract private investment and support businesses developing near-commercial, on-farm innovations.