9361posts
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Coverage of AI planning tools announcement
There is positive national coverage following a joint announcement by MHCLG and DSIT of two new AI-powered planning tools designed to speed up planning decisions and support the government's ambition to build the homes this country needs. Press Association ran …
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Government offer to resident doctors – explainer
Resident doctors are currently voting on whether to accept a significant offer from the government which would improve their pay, working conditions and career progression. The British Medical Association (BMA) is consulting its members via a referendum, and doctors have until Friday 26 …
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Driving productivity and using our success to improve further
Tom Warth (Chief Operating Officer) shares what the Planning Inspectorate has done in the last three years to make planning much more certain for the whole sector.
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Our courts and tribunals estate: a year of progress
Rupert Morgan, Property Director at HMCTS, reflects on a year of real progress from a new courthouse roof in Nottingham to a brand new tribunals centre in London and looks ahead to an ambitious programme of investment and improvement.
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Free procurement training for schools — apply now
If you work in school or trust procurement, free training is now available to help you build confidence and improve how your organisation buys. Two programmes from the Department for Education (DfE) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply …
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Join our SFI26 webinar
Following the publication of the final Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) scheme information today, we're hosting a webinar with the Farming Advice Service (FAS) on 25 June.
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Extract is here: AI-powered planning data for every council in England
Extract, a new AI-powered tool developed by MHCLG's Digital Planning Programme and i.AI, is now available for free, for every local planning authority in England. It converts planning documents into structured, usable data in minutes - cutting a process that can take officers up to two hours down to just two on average.
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Creating new wood pasture: What we’ve learned from Nature Returns
By Jessica Elias, Natural England Nature-based Solutions are increasingly recognised as an effective way to respond to climate change while restoring nature and improving people’s wellbeing. Through the Nature Returns programme, we’ve had the opportunity to see how one approach …
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What an SME safari taught us about bias and context
How meeting real business leaders on an SME safari in Manchester challenged our “common sense” narratives about what businesses think and do.
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AI skills at work: what employers can do now, by Helen Slater
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing how organisations across the UK operate. From drafting documents and analysing data to supporting customers and improving services, many employers are starting to use AI in their day-to-day work. But simply having access to AI …
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Employment Rights Act 2025 — Consultation on reforms of zero hours and similar contracts
A message from the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy
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Understanding the Caribbean seabed: a Q&A with UKHO experts on the 2026 Beyond the Reef expedition
In January 2026, the Blue Belt Programme embarked on its first expedition across the Caribbean, charting the previously unexplored waters of Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands. A team of 46 marine scientists spent six weeks …
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Precision fermented foods: getting allergen labelling right
A reminder for new businesses and early-stage innovators to consider existing allergen labelling requirements as part of the early development of food products using precision fermentation.
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What evidence supports the UK NSC to recommend screening
The UK NSC looks for strong evidence in relation to the submissions it receives via its open call for topics.
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Energy sorted: why over 1,000 schools have handed their energy buying to us
Over 1,000 schools have already signed up to the Department for Education (DfE) Energy for Schools Service. If your energy contract is up for renewal, joining is simple. Our DfE Energy Team are here to help. Here's what you need …
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Applying to register with Ofsted: common mistakes and how to avoid them
When you apply to register with Ofsted as a childcare provider you will need to fill out an application form. The form asks about the childcare you plan to provide as well as information about you, and people you will …
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Tops Day Nurseries Receives King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainability
Tops Day Nurseries are proud to be one of The King's Awards for Enterprise recipients in Sustainability this year. This recognises their ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation across its nurseries. This is the second time Tops has received this national …
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Forfusion receives a King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity
We are proud to highlight Forfusion, which has been recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity — one of the UK’s most prestigious business awards. The Award recognises Forfusion’s work in creating meaningful opportunities for veterans and …
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Getting the MenB vaccine ahead of starting university or college
The Government is introducing a free one-off, time-limited MenB (meningococcal B) vaccination programme from July 2026 for young people. You are eligible if: What is MenB? Meningococcal disease is a serious but uncommon illness caused by meningococcal bacteria. It can lead to meningitis - …
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How safeguarding and children's welfare and wellbeing underpin the September 2026 updates to early years inspections
We’re now 7 months into inspecting early years registered settings using our renewed inspection framework. What we’re hearing so far is positive – leaders have told us that the renewed approach has felt clear, collaborative and grounded in what matters …
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What you need to know about the September 2026 updates to education inspections
Today we’ve published our annual updates to the education inspection materials under the renewed education inspection framework (EIF). They cover early years settings, state-funded schools, non-association independent schools, further education (FE) and skills providers and initial teacher education (ITE) providers. …
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Who is eligible for the new one-off MenB vaccine programme?
A new, time-limited MenB vaccine offer is available this summer for Year 13 students and under 25s who will be starting university as undergraduates or moving into residential further education settings for the first time in autumn 2026.
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A Friendly Place for Free Information and Support
This week is Carers Week and the theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities. To celebrate we have a guest blog from the Nearest Relatives Resources Project team. It focuses on one of the spaces that carers can find really daunting - the mental …
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Building Carer Friendly Communities: Celebrating Unpaid Carers and Young Carers During Carers Week 2026
Carers are at the heart of our communities.
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How Mavis Technologies is using intellectual property to build recognition and trust
We spoke to CEO and founder David Sikharulidze of Mavis Technology about the role intellectual property (IP) has played in protecting his innovation while also building a strong brand that people can recognise and trust.
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What does it really mean to be a designer in Justice Digital Data and Science?
The job title only tells you so much. An interaction designer or service designer might have spent years working across healthcare, financial services or local government before joining us. They bring skills, instincts and experience that a job title simply cannot capture. …
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Planning changes to safeguard schools and save youth centres
This week we launched a new consultation proposing a package of amendments to permitted development rights (PDRs). PDRs are a national grant of planning permission that allows specific building works or change of property use to happen without having to …
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What we learned from the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars programme – and how it is shaping the next phase
Find out how the first 10 months of the AI Exemplars programme has gone.
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Social Mobility Day - Why Stories Matter!
Today, 11th June, marks Social Mobility Day, a vital opportunity to reflect on how we can break down barriers to opportunity and ensure that a person’s background does not dictate their future. This year’s national theme is ‘Stories Matter’ and …
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Food Fact Check: What happens during a food recall?
Food Fact Check: Jodie Wild, Head of Incidents answers questions about food incidents and recalls.
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The SFI26 budget
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle has confirmed a £240 million budget for new Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements. In this post, we explain how the funding will be allocated, what it means for Window 1 and Window 2 applicants, and where you can find information to help you prepare for the scheme opening later this month.
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Breaking barriers: HMCTS and Social Mobility
In this episode, a Delivery Director shares their journey to senior leadership and outlines a strategy to make careers in the justice system accessible to all. Social mobility ambassadors then share their outreach experiences and the impact of this work.
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Celebrating the launch of our first National River Walk – join our webinars on how to apply to deliver our next four river walks
Rivers are at the heart of many of our towns, cities and countryside landscapes. They shape the places we live, support wildlife, and offer people somewhere to walk, wheel, cycle, volunteer, spend time with family, and connect with nature close to home. …
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Uplift to trust framework 1.0: pathways and timelines
Yesterday, we published the final release of version 1.0 of the UK digital verification services trust framework. The 1.0 version will come into force from 1 September 2026, or from the date at least one conformity assessment body (CAB) is …
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Final release of the 1.0 trust framework: what does it mean for you?
Yesterday, we published the final 1.0 version of the UK digital verification services trust framework on GOV.UK. The publication is accompanied by final versions of the 1.0 supporting documents, as well as the 1.0 supplementary codes for digital right to work, …
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InspecVision: A Double Royal Recognition for International Trade
Northern Ireland-based InspecVision, a leading manufacturer of precision 2D and 3D measurement systems, is among a select group of UK businesses to have received both a Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade (2021) and a King's Award for Enterprise …
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Bridging the Generational AI gap
DBT's Intergeneration network aims to promote the benefits of a multigenerational workplace and raise awareness of age-related issues in the workplace. This post shares insights from the "Bridging the generational AI gap" panel event
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UK NSC 2026 call for topics to open on 1 July
The UK National Screening Committee's 2026 call for new screening topics will open on 1 July and close on 30 September.
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NHSBSA Overseas Healthcare Cost Recovery Beta Reassessment
Read about the beta reassessment on overseas healthcare cost recovery from NHSBSA
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Heat, health and inequality
As the UK experiences more extreme heat events, the associated health risks are becoming more evident. Actuary Will Stobbs explores how rising temperatures interact with existing social and economic inequalities, drawing on GAD analysis to show where high heat exposure and deprivation overlap across England's neighbourhoods.