10193posts
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How can collaboration across user-centred design teams support complex digital delivery?
People do not experience justice services as fragmented products or user flows. While we have to create artificial product boundaries and team divides to deliver a service, the experience of the end user does not mirror these divides. In real …
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From the classroom to code - Why it is never too late to be curious
National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Day 2026 takes place on 8th November and the focus is on innovation—challenging us to ask questions, solve problems, and build something new. For Lauren, curiosity and the willingness to try something completely …
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Inside our AI and Data accelerator: what we are learning from test and learn work in Barnsley
As government interest in AI grows, using it in local public services is still very new. Discover key lessons from the Test, Learn and Grow project in Barnsley—including why building strong relationships early matters, how to adapt when plans change, and why AI must fit into existing council processes.
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UK providing specialist care to aid worker with Ebola
A British person has been diagnosed with Ebola after helping with the outbreak response in the DRC and has been brought to the UK for specialist treatment.
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Misleading reporting on the Overnight Visitor Levy
This week the government introduced the Visitor Levy Bill in Parliament, bringing local leaders a step closer to new powers to invest in the high streets, cultural sites and attractions that make communities great places to live, work and visit. …
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One year as Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector
In this post, the Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector reflects on his first year in the role. He shares how his role supports the whole tenant farming sector, what he’s heard and how it informs policy, and his priorities for the year ahead.
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Prepare for gear changes
The UK and EU have agreed a package of additional technical fisheries measures for 2026 to support the recovery of severely depleted fish stocks in the Celtic Sea, Channel and Irish Sea. These measures respond to scientific advice indicating critical …
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Protecting England's seahorses, stalked jellyfish and the seagrass meadows they depend on
England’s seas support some of our most important and sensitive marine habitats and species, many of which are protected within marine protected areas (MPAs). This includes seagrass, an important habitat for some of our most fascinating marine species, the seahorse …
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Enhancing public protection and helping probation staff focus on what matters most
Probation staff play a vital role in supervising people released into the community, managing risk and protecting the public. They work closely with people on probation to support compliance with licence conditions and reduce the potential for reoffending. For some …
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One year of accelerators, in their own words
Our accelerator teams share in their own words insights from their work over the past year and tell us about some of their highlights along the way.
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Getting out of the building: Learning from our colleagues
How well do you understand how people really use your service? Step beyond meetings and see what changes when digital teams observe work first-hand.
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Human health: the UK's hidden economic cost of climate change
When considering the costs of climate change, attention often focuses on physical damage. Less visible, but potentially significant, are the impacts on human health and their consequences for the economy and public finances. Read our latest blog.
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What is a support-first approach to school attendance?
Support starts with understanding why Going to school regularly helps children learn, spend time with friends and be part of their school community. That is why children should be in school every day they can. When a child is struggling …
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Beyond the floodwater: the lasting impact of flooding and coastal change
When we think about flooding and coastal erosion, it is often the physical impacts that come to mind: flooded homes, damaged businesses, disrupted infrastructure and changing coastlines. However, the effects can go much further.
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Supporting fairer agricultural supply chains: our second annual report
In this guest post, Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) Richard Thompson introduces his second annual report. He explains how his office is working with the dairy and pig sectors to help producers and processors understand the rules and raise concerns.
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AI in Action: practical AI workshops for local government
One Big Thing is an annual Civil Service programme bringing civil servants together to focus on a shared area of learning. Its 2026 theme, ‘AI in Action’, is about putting AI into practice. This year, Local AI is making the One Big Thing workshop materials developed for colleagues in MHCLG available to local government teams.
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Express an interest in new actions available through CSHT single-focus agreements
Single-focus agreements for traditional orchards and wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl are now available under Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). This post explains how to express an interest in funding.
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Power of Attorney Stories: Tracey
[English] - [Cymraeg] A lasting power of attorney, also known as an LPA, is a legal document. It allows you to nominate someone you trust to step in and make decisions about your health and welfare and property and finance …
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Shining a light on Campylobacter: a bright idea for safer food
This One Health Day, we shine a light on Campylobacter and explore how innovative research could protect our food, animals and people from harmful bacteria.
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Creating tools for scaling generated content
The GOV.UK AI team shares their experimental work on curating content for users to create personalised experiences. They share how they've been using tools to measure the quality of scaled generated content.
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Behind the Food Hygiene Rating: The people making the scheme work
Interview with Una Campbell, a Senior Adviser (Hygiene) to celebrate 10 years of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in Norther Ireland.
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Farming and Food Partnership Board: Turning collaboration into action
At its fourth meeting, the FFPB discussed easing barriers to building on-farm reservoirs. Board members also discussed how the planning system can better support poultry sector infrastructure, and streamlining audits and improving research and development in horticulture.
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The Representation of the People Bill – Lords committee stage
The Representation of the People Bill has now entered Lords Committee Stage in Parliament, where its measures will be examined in detail. This is the next major step in changing the law to make these improvements. This stage of the …
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Self-Care Week: Turning Health Awareness into Health Action
by Helen Donovan, M.Ed. BSc. RN, RHV, Queen’s Nurse, FRSPH. Self-Care Forum Chair. Independent nurse consultant and immunisation specialist nurse. Public health campaigns have shaped the UK's health for nearly two centuries. From Victorian sanitation reforms to modern NHS initiatives, they …
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Helping young people explore STEM careers at Defra
Michelle Mackay shares how a hands-on challenge helped pupils explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Defra and recognise the value of their own skills.
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Architecture is for everyone: designing better public services together
Architecture is for everyone. Whether you're a developer, service designer, policymaker or architect by profession, the decisions you make help shape how public services work. By bringing people together across disciplines, we can share expertise, challenge assumptions and build the foundations for better, more joined-up public services.
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Building major infrastructure that leaves nature better off
From today, developers of nationally significant infrastructure projects in England must ensure their project delivers at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity.
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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 …
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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.
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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What can we learn from Europe about regulatory scrutiny?
RPC Chair's reflections from attending the annual conference of the European Regulatory Scrutiny Board.
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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 …