10166posts
-
Rising from the valley: a new sustainable woodland centre takes shape at Yarner Wood
By Chris Harbut, Reserve Manager, Devon National Nature Reserves Tucked into a steep-sided Dartmoor valley, a new woodland centre is taking shape at Yarner Wood, built almost entirely from timber grown in the surrounding landscape. In this post, we share …
-
How infrastructure bodies help charities navigate today's risks
Read our blog with Liz Lowther, Chief Executive of the Association of Chairs, about the vital role infrastructure bodies play in supporting charities to navigate today's risks.
-
MOT horror stories: helping your customers keep vehicles roadworthy
A badly damaged tyre. A suspension arm almost rusted through. For MOT testers, these Halloween horror stories are a reminder of the defects you encounter and the value of your expertise. Thank you to the garages and testers who sent …
-
Radioactivity in food and the environment - our 2025 report.
In this blog, the Environment Agency’s radiological monitoring and assessment specialists Becca Williams and Rob Dean share the headlines from this year’s monitoring and assessment work and reveal how artificial radioactivity gets into the environment.
-
Helping more people off the streets: how AI is improving StreetLink
StreetLink helps members of the public share concerns about someone sleeping rough so that local outreach teams can respond. Find out about the transformative impact of a pilot project with local authorities, exploring whether AI technology could enhance the service in a practical, responsible and user-centred way.
-
What can we learn from Europe about regulatory scrutiny?
RPC Chair's reflections from attending the annual conference of the European Regulatory Scrutiny Board.
-
Part 3: From Ambition to Action: Protecting the UK’s Blue Belt
In the final blog of the series, we explore how UK Overseas Territories’ ambitions for marine protection are translating into action on the ground. Using South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands as a case study, we examine how effective Marine Protected Area (MPA) management is helping to safeguard some of the world’s most ecologically …
-
Buried Alive: A Patent Solution
It's Halloween, so the fleeting worry of being buried alive may have crossed your mind – though a few centuries ago, you would have had far greater reason to be concerned. With limited medical knowledge and no safeguards to protect the unfortunate soul, premature burial was a very real possibility.
-
Mapping the seabed together: reflections from the second leg of the CSM2026 survey
Discover how shared expertise helped maximise the value of data gathered during this year's CSM2026 survey. From collecting seabed samples to adapting to challenging weather, Elizabeth Davis, Senior Geospatial Information Specialist at the UKHO, reflects on her time aboard the cross-government UK CSM survey.
-
Telling DVLA about a health condition just got easier
Natalie Morgan, Service Designer at DVLA, explains how we’re making it easier for drivers to tell us about a health condition online, and looks at the latest improvements that mean even more customers can now use the service.
-
Modernising air quality information for the public
How do you turn complex air quality data into simple, useful advice? Steph Duits shares the story behind the Check air quality service.
-
Your guide to flu vaccination this winter
Getting your flu vaccine is a practical step towards staying well. It helps reduce your risk of serious illness and hospital treatment. Vaccinating children helps protect them and also helps reduce the spread of flu to families and people who …
-
Three days of admin down to 10 minutes: the payment switch freeing up school finance teams
Reviewing banking arrangements is one of the practical steps schools and trusts can take to ensure every pound is managed as efficiently as possible and directed towards children's education. Here is what Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust gained …
-
No limits: the people living with health conditions and disabilities shaping our justice system
This autumn, the Royal Courts of Justice will welcome Justice Without Limits, an exhibition celebrating the experiences, strengths and contributions of people who live with a medical condition, or are disabled, and who work across the justice sector. Officially launched on Tuesday 27 October, the exhibition showcases photography and personal stories from HMCTS colleagues, members …
-
Renewing the Technology Code of Practice to support better technology decisions
The Technology Code of Practice has helped guide public sector technology delivery since 2013. As technology evolves, the guidance must evolve too. We're reviewing the Code to ensure it remains relevant, practical and authoritative. Help shape its future by sharing your experiences, challenges and priorities for improvement.
-
Valuing and investing in biodiversity internationally for national security at home
Our fifth COP17 blog post explains why international support for nature has benefits at home as well as abroad.
-
New vape and nicotine rules explained
New rules on selling and promoting vaping and nicotine products take effect across the UK on 29 October 2026. They extend protections for under-18s, restrict promotional giveaways and substantial discounts, ban most vending-machine sales and give enforcement authorities additional fixed …
-
Tracking funding for nature: the 2026 Biodiversity Finance Trends Dashboard
In the fourth of our blog posts about the 17th UN Biodiversity Conference, Hasan tells us about the 2026 Biodiversity Finance Trends Dashboard.
-
Showing up together: why good health starts long before you reach a hospital
Earlier this month, national bodies including Natural England, Sport England, Arts Council England and NHS England met at the Cabinet Office to ask how they can work together to support local leaders in creating the conditions for good health. Read this post to find out more.
-
Building digital services around business needs
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology (BIST) is working with the Government Digital Service (GDS) to make interactions with government services simpler and quicker for businesses.
-
Six months since implementation of the UK’s new clinical trials regulations
How to avoid delays when submitting clinical trial application assessments The UK's new clinical trial regulations came into force on 28 April 2026, introducing a more flexible and risk-proportionate approach to clinical trial assessment. Sponsors now submit a single clinical …
-
Six months of progress under the UK’s new clinical trials regulations
Addressing common mistakes that delay clinical trial application assessments and how to avoid them The UK's new clinical trial regulations came into force on 28 April 2026, introducing a more flexible and risk-proportionate approach to clinical trial assessment. Sponsors now …
-
JCS stories: Digital tools, real results - How the CV builder helped Hugh into work.
Tens of thousands of jobseekers have already benefited from our new digital employment support tools, which help people build CVs, prepare for interviews and take the next step into work. In this blog, Recruitment Consultant Ian, explains how he helped …
-
How waste sites are monitored: who deals with odour and other types of pollution?
If you live near a waste site, recurring odour pollution or concerns about other types of pollution can quickly become a source of stress. Monitoring is a shared responsibility. Site operators must monitor and manage their sites. The Environment Agency …
-
Birds, their supporting habitats and impacts of marine recreation: Understanding the connections
The English coastline supports a remarkable diversity of bird life. Its rich network of mudflats, saltmarshes and shallow coastal waters provides food and shelter for millions of birds throughout the year. From gannets plunging into the sea at speeds of …
-
Anticipating Exploitation: Using Futures Analysis to Stay Ahead of Modern Slavery Threats
By Dr Elaine Wedlock, Head of Strategic Analysis, Office of the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Modern slavery is often described as a hidden crime, but one of its greatest challenges is that it is also constantly evolving. The Independent Anti-Slavery …
-
30by30: How the Natural History Museum turns science into action
In the third of our blog posts about the 17th UN Biodiversity Conference, Charlie tells us how the museum's analysis is helping to achieve 30by30.
-
Strengthening connections between research and regulation
OPSS reflects on how the 2026 Royal Society Pairing Scheme, supported by the Government Science & Engineering Profession, strengthened connections between research and regulation. Opening the door to collaboration When OPSS took part in the Royal Society Pairing Scheme, we …
-
What is a Good Level of Development and why does it matter?
Every year, the government publishes statistics that show how many children have reached a Good Level of Development (GLD) by the end of their Reception year. Reaching a good level of development is important because it means a child has …
-
Coverage of Good Growth funding announcement
On Sunday (25 October), the government announced it will provide local leaders with £285 million to introduce Good Growth funding. This will give Mayors and local leaders more money, more powers, and more control, letting them invest in their priorities …
-
Behind the numbers
Tom Warth (Chief Operating Officer) talks about the human element behind planning as the latest performance statistics are published. In the last couple of weeks two large solar farms were given development consent by the Government after independent examinations and …
-
How waste sites are regulated: what the Environment Agency and operators are responsible for.
The Environment Agency is the main body in England responsible for making sure waste is regulated effectively. As the population grows and the climate changes, managing waste well is more important than ever for a sustainable future. Our rules help …
-
The Apprenticeship Penalty
Once in a while, research hits a sweet spot of relevance and timeliness, in tune with the direction of governmental policy. A recent example is SSAC’s occasional paper No. 27 ‘The influence of the social security system on educational and …
-
Part 2: Beyond boundaries —How Ocean Protection Really Works
This three-part series explores what marine protected area management across the UKOTs looks like in practice. In part 2, we delve a bit deeper into the marine protected area management cycle, starting from MPA design and management to long-term monitoring and adaptation.
-
20 Years of STEREO: A conversation with Professor Richard Harrison
On 26 October 2006, NASA launched the twin STEREO spacecraft, which transformed our understanding of the Sun. To mark the anniversary, Professor Richard Harrison, a leading solar scientist and Visiting Scientist at RAL Space, shares insights into the mission.
-
Tony Juniper: COP17, From Promises to Implementation
As the 17th Convention on Biological Diversity COP gets underway in Armenia, Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, reflects on what's really at stake behind the headlines, technical reports and policy jargon: a global commitment made in 2022 to halt …
-
Growing Places: Mobilising private finance for local nature recovery
In our next COP17 blog post, Will writes about a new document to help connect private finance with the needs and opportunities of places across the UK.
-
Looking at the bigger picture: how to make your woodland work in the landscape
Robin Gray, Landscape and Woodland Design Advisor, explains how designing a woodland with landscape in mind and following the UK Forestry Standard, can result in greater efficiencies and benefits for you and the environment.
-
Quality assurance: from administration control to governance priority
Pension schemes face growing demands from regulation, digital change and automation. This blog outlines practical steps to build risk-based, member-focused quality assurance that cuts errors, meets expectations and gets benefits right first time.
-
When a nuclear power station becomes a demolition site
Calder Hall helped launch the nuclear age. Now it's helping shape the future of decommissioning. Emma Nichol explains how a pioneering risk-based approach could make projects safer, simpler and more efficient.