9512posts
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Food Fact Check: What are food additives and are they safe?
Food Fact Check: Adam Hardgrave, Head of Food Additives, Flavourings and Contact Materials answers questions about Food Additives.
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Driving skills: what's changed on the Ready to Pass? website and why
We've updated the Ready to Pass? campaign website so it focuses on the broader skills of driving, not just focusing on passing a driving test.
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From coat hangers to hazardous chemicals, no two days are the same for the Cargoes, Safety and Pollution Prevention team
To mark National Dangerous Goods Awareness Day, which falls during Maritime Safety Week, we're shining a light on the team working to ensure the safe and legal carriage of cargo, including dangerous goods, to and from the UK.
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CVO - Defra's vision for a thriving veterinary sector
As Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss discusses the release of Defra's White Paper Today, the government has published its White Paper, Our vision for a thriving veterinary sector, setting out proposals for the most significant reform of veterinary regulation in …
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How ARB Covers turned a studio frustration into a protected business
ARB Covers designs bespoke quilted covers for professional audio equipment, recording studios and high-end hi-fi systems. What started as a personal need has grown into a specialist business built on innovation, quality and intellectual property.
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Shaping the future of open data: the new Open Data Communities service
Open data plays a vital role in supporting transparency, accountability and innovation across the public sector. Find out about the recent changes we have made to our Open Data Communities platform, which helps inform better decision-making, support the development of new services and helps users better understand their areas.
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Putting the wiggle back into the River Kemp
By Denise Latham, Senior Officer, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Natural England What happens when a routine farm visit grows into something far more ambitious? Senior Officer Denise Latham shares the story of the Walcot Wiggle, how a conversation on a Shropshire …
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A maturing market: digital identity sectoral analysis 2026
Today we published our second annual sectoral analysis of the UK digital identity market...
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Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant – applications now open
We are now receiving applications for the Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant as announced in New funding boost to protect England's iconic peatlands - GOV.UK Up to £36 million is available to install infrastructure that will allow applicants to better manage water for lowland peat areas. Follow this link for more details and how to …
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A new cyber profession for government
Chief Information Security Officer, Greg Dakin, explores the impact that the new Cyber profession will have on DBT and its users.
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Plan technology for your school: get help using the right digital and technology infrastructure
Hattie Barham-Colwell, of the Department for Education's Safe and Reliable Technology team, explains how the plan technology for your school service can help you meet government digital and technology standards. In today’s fast-changing education landscape, technology plays a vital role …
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Every day, everyone: Making maritime safety second nature
Delegates met in Bermuda for the annual Red Ensign Group (REG) Conference.
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Opening Doors for Young People
As we celebrate 'Youth Employment Week', it’s a great opportunity to show how GFiE is helping young people take their first steps into meaningful careers. Across the Civil Service, a variety of tailored GFiE pathways from 'Supported Internships' for young …
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Marine Licensing Top Tips: Improving Clarity, Communication and Efficiency
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), working alongside the ports sector, has launched new Marine Licensing Top Tips, as well as practical tools to make the licensing process clearer and more efficient. Developed under the Ports Sandbox initiative with the UK …
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Opportunities to join the UK National Screening Committee
The UK NSC is looking to appoint 4 new members to support its work advising ministers and the NHS in the 4 UK countries about all aspects of screening.
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Innovation in action: how funding is supporting farmers
Listen to the latest Defra Farming Podcast to hear how innovation funding is helping farmers turn new ideas into practical solutions. Two guests share how research, collaboration and on-farm trials are helping them improve productivity, reduce costs and build more resilient businesses.
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New driving test booking service: progress report and getting ready for a trial
Read the latest updates on the new driving test booking system and find out more about our trial to put it to the test.
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Assessing the Health of the River Wye Catchment: An Update
By Emma Johnson, Midlands Deputy Director, Natural England Natural England has completed a detailed condition assessment of the River Lugg SSSI, part of the nationally protected River Wye catchment. This blog sets out the findings of that assessment, explaining the …
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Introducing the Cloud Challenge Book 2026
We've published the Cloud Challenge Book 2026 - setting out five national-scale challenges and inviting industry to innovate and invest with us.
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Standing together for inclusive, anti-racist social care leadership
Last Autumn, together with Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, we restated the values that underpin social care - Reaffirming Our Values in Adult Social Care – Social care. Those values persist and remain fundamental. But in the …
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Fit for purpose: qualification design needs to start with 'why?'
When we think about qualifications it’s tempting to focus on what they contain: the subjects, the assessments, the grades. But before that, do we really understand what the qualification is for? New research from Ofqual examines this question and sets out a detailed framework for what we call 'purpose analysis'.
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Celebrating the Nature and Archaeology Near You
By Ian Marshman, Senior Officer - Historic Environment National Delivery at Natural England. In this blog, Ian Marshman reflects on An Evening With Natural England’s Archaeologists held on 24th June and looks forward to this summer’s Festival of Archaeology. This year …
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Yeomadon Farm: a growing success from livestock to trees
Jo Garlick, Regional Promotion and Engagement Manager at the Forestry Commission, shares how Woodland Ambassadors Rob and Catherine Moore successfully diversified their farm business through woodland creation at Yeomadon Farm.
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Why senior service ownership matters at Defra... and why now
Senior service ownership could help Defra become more service-led, efficient and user-focused. Laura Churchill shares what her team learned while testing the concept, why plans had to change, and how they’re building the right conditions for more joined-up, accountable services.
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Coverage of tough new rules to crack down on foreign money in UK elections
There has been widespread national coverage of the government’s announcement of new measures to strengthen political finance rules, protect British democracy and prevent foreign money influencing UK elections. The package, announced as part of the government’s response to the Rycroft …
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From apartheid to aspiration: Jess’s journey of purpose and leadership
Jess Pather talks about how lived experience, strong role models, and a commitment to service shaped her leadership.
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Watch: how to apply for vet visit funding
Together with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), we've created a series of step-by-step guides to help livestock keepers apply for the Annual Health and Welfare Review, a funded annual vet visit, and the endemic disease follow-up visit.
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Campylobacter: a silent risk in our farm animals, wildlife and the wider environment
Campylobacter lurks across farms, linking animals, environment, and people; APHA’s science and surveillance reveal risks, guiding hygiene and biosecurity to prevent its silent spread effectively.
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Updating the UK Standard Skills Classification: a simpler, shared system for describing skills needs, by Frank Bowley
Skills England recently launched an updated first full version of a ground-breaking tool to help everyone speak the same language about skills. Developed in partnership with the Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER), the University of Sheffield, and Omnifolio, the …
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Family trusts and your home: what you need to know
Thinking of setting up a family trust? Read our guide to understand the potential impact on land registration before making any decisions.
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Strategic Renewables Unit Update: Supporting Sustainable Offshore Wind Development
The Strategic Renewables Unit (SRU) has been progressing work on a range of cross-cutting offshore wind issues, including underwater noise management, environmental compensation, and decommissioning. The SRU also presented at the East Marine Ecosystems Conference in Lincoln and will be …
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The Paludiculture and Wetter Farming Fund – strengthening the case for farming on wetter peat soils
Kim Owen and Steph Britton - Climate change, Environmental Improvement Plan, Farming, Food, Land use, Land Use Framework, Peat, Water Lowland Peat soils are vital to England’s food system, producing roughly 40% of all domestically grown vegetables, yet drainage-based agriculture …
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UK NSC and NHS England seminar on evaluating the impacts of newborn screening for SCID
The UK NSC's most recent online seminar presented research on the impacts of newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
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SFI26 update: 50% of Window 1 budget now allocated
We can confirm that around 50% of the Window 1 budget for SFI26 has been allocated, based on applications received to date.
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East Marine Plan Engagement Events Bring Together More Than 160 Participants
Stakeholders from across England joined two online events to hear the latest updates on the East Marine Plan and help shape future engagement activities. As part of ongoing engagement on the development of the East Marine Plan, the Marine Planning …
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Working with nature across the government estate
Restoring nature across the government estate – and beyond During London Climate Action Week, Defra published the Government Estate Nature Plan (GENP), the first plan of its kind globally, setting out how nature will be restored across government-owned land in England. In this …
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Shining a spotlight on social security towards the end of working life
For as long as I can remember, and probably a long time before that, ‘our ageing society’ has been a ubiquitous phrase. Despite recent wobbles, life expectancy is far higher than it was a couple of generations ago, and more …
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Hot weather and your child's school: what you need to know
With higher temperatures, we know parents and carers can have questions about how schools are managing the heat and what it means for their child's day. Schools are generally expected to remain fully open, with sensible adjustments made to reflect local conditions and the unique …
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Coverage of pubs staying open to show England's next World Cup match
There has been widespread national and regional coverage of the government extending licensing hours until 5am to allow football fans to watch England’s match against Mexico down the pub. The Guardian (p1 & 16, Helena Horton and Peter Walker), The …
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Measuring the World’s Winds: UK Expertise Supports Europe’s Aeolus‑2 Mission
The UK will play a key role in the Aeolus 2 mission, with Airbus Defence and Space UK given authorisation to proceed with the build of the spacecraft, developed by the European Space Agency in partnership with EUMETSAT.