GOV.UK blogs

Introducing the DSP's Regional Coordinators: James Wilkinson, South East

Earlier this year, a new Local Digital Skills Partnerships was launched in the South East. In this blog post, we hear from Regional Coordinator James Wilkinson on the journey of the South East DSP thus far and their Digital Skills Survey.

e-learning for sonographers in first trimester screening

We have just refreshed and updated our e-learning resource for ultrasound practitioners involved in first trimester screening. It is mandatory training for all ultrasound practitioners involved in screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome in pregnancy. The course …

Finding solutions

Rikhil, a Finance Fast Streamer, answers some questions about his experience on the Fast Stream and tells us about how he is finding solutions.

Agent Update – Brexit Edition

We have published a Brexit edition of Agent Update containing a range of information and support to help you and your clients get ready for Brexit.

How we’re giving driving instructors better tools to help their pupils

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is updating and improving tools for driving instructors to help them prepare new drivers for a lifetime of safe driving. Find out what's being updated and when.

The Fast Stream makes me feel empowered

Heather, a Generalist Fast Streamer, answers some questions about her experience on the Fast Stream and tells us why it makes her feel empowered.

Supply chain security: part 1 - introduction

Theft of medicines increases risk to public health - a look at what can be done to improve distribution security standards.

Higher education and the year ahead

Today’s Education in the Media blog focuses on higher education. Office for Students Today, Monday 16 September, the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson sent a letter to the Office for Students (OfS), outlining what he sees as key collaborative priorities for …

Find out more about the Government Digital Service

Join us in Bristol, Exeter, Mold or Cardiff for this interactive session about the Government Digital Service

Induction event in Exeter

We are holding an induction event for new entrants, who have joined the Civil Service in the past 2 years in the Exeter travel to work area...

Why we’re taking part in the reception baseline assessment pilot

Headteacher, Neil Tarchetti, explains why his school is taking part in the pilot and how they are communicating the changes to parents.

Updated laboratory handbook for FASP

The NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP) handbook for laboratories is the ‘all you need to know’ guide for screening laboratories for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndrome. The updated lab handbook is now available.

My Social Mobility Story

To celebrate National Inclusion Week, we want to champion the diversity in our project delivery profession. Our very own Suzanne Newton, Head of Profession in the Home Office talks about her background and all she has learnt along the way.

Defining the Service Owner role for MHCLG

Alice talks about how we've defined the Service Owner role for MHCLG - a role we're currently recruiting for.

How we created a new service at DataJam 2018

DWP Digital data scientist Aleks Bobrowska explains how an idea for a digital service generated at last year's DataJam event has developed into the Skills Recommendation Engine prototype.

New facilities taking shape at Worthy Down

We’re working hard to get the facilities at the new Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration, a £300 million tri-service facility in Worthy Down, ready to welcome military personnel and their families.

Communication Officer Discovery Session

This is an opportunity to find out more about what a Communications Officer does.

Response to ‘latte levy’ lobbying claims

Our response to the Independent's report that Britain’s largest café chain, Costa Coffee, ‘obstructively lobbied’ the government against introducing a charge for single-use coffee cups.

Home Office in the media: Monday 16 September

Today's Home Office media stories include county lines gangs, migrant crossings and predictive policing. County lines gangs The Guardian reports that the number of children being exploited by county lines gangs has risen. The paper reports that 8,650 assessments by children’s services …

The benefits of being a volunteer service assessor

Most of the time Jessie Ferguson is a senior user researcher but she also volunteers to assess services built by government teams. Jessie explains the benefits of being a service assessor and what this volunteering opportunity entails.

New e-learning module on screening incidents

Find out more about our new e-learning module on managing safety incidents in NHS screening programmes.

Are you ready for Brexit?

No, Elton John hasn’t updated another of his songs to reflect a significant moment in the life of our nation, but if he did, when it comes to our departure from the EU, he’d want to be very confident our amazing care providers are all still standing.

Electech: Enabling the digital future

For the first time we have a sector-wide view of those enabling technologies in the UK collectively called Electech. Our report maps the breadth of the sector’s capabilities and cross-cutting application potential.

It puts forward a vision for the Electech sector and highlights key pathways to realise it.

Dragons’ Den Series 17: Episode 6

There were some fantastic pitches in tonight’s Dragons’ Den. The three that spoke to me on a personal level centred around sleep, biscuits and festivals.

Digital Skills and Diversity at South Bank Engineering UTC

Year 12 Student, Sanmi Famakinwa, sheds light on how his school, the South Bank Engineering University Technical College, is seeking to promote diversity in the digital industry and help students equip themselves with necessary digital skills for their future careers.

Cervical Screening Saves Lives – highlights from the national campaign

In March 2019, Public Health England launched the first ever national cervical screening campaign, Cervical Screening Saves Lives. With an evaluation under way, now is a good time to share some of the highlights from the campaign, along with some early signs of its impact.

How a spreadsheet can make usability analysis faster and easier

In this post Crispin explains how to use rainbow spreadsheet method to make usability testing analysis faster and easier with your team.

NHSX welcomes new health data research hubs

NHSX CDO Tara Donnelly and Director of Tech and Data Policy Katie Farrington explain how research partnerships can save and improve lives as long as they are underpinned by robust and ethical frameworks that will maintain public trust in rapidly developing technologies.

New hack event for managers - how you can volunteer

Do you want to meet managers from other Civil Service departments to find solutions to common problems? Then sign-up for our new hack event, Empowering Line Managers.

Could you make the LEEP to help schoolchildren achieve?

Do you want to be part of an exciting new partnership that will help schoolchildren become more confident and get valuable work experience?

First Aid in First Year

To coincide with World First Aid Day on Saturday 14 September, today there has been coverage of our new health education curriculum, which will be compulsory in all schools from September 2020.

Creating Codepossible and CodeandStuff

It’s National Coding Week 16-22 September - find out how our Fey created Codepossible and CodeandStuff.

Alok Sharma announces grants boost for small international development charities

This article by International Development Secretary Alok Sharma appeared in the Eastern Eye on 11 September 2019.

Environment Secretary backs Sainsbury's pledge to halve plastic packaging and CCWater 'Water Water Everywhere' report

Today's blog looks at Sainsbury’s commitment to slash use of plastic packaging by 50 per cent by 2025 and the latest Consumer Council for Water report.

Reopening the British Embassy following the liberation of Paris

On 13 September 1944 a Dakota aircraft, with an escort of 45 Spitfires, flew across the English Channel towards Paris. The plane carried the new British Ambassador to France, Alfred ‘Duff’ Cooper, with the mission to re-establish a British presence in the newly liberated French capital.

Leading the industry strand of the national surveillance camera strategy

The industry strand of the national surveillance camera strategy involves those who manufacture, plan, design, install maintain and monitor of surveillance camera systems. Read about what's happening on this work strand.

The travels of a GCS intern

Imogen tells us about the important work she's been doing for the second month of her internship.

Five big challenges for government innovation

Chris Webber reflects on some key points from recent conferences in Birmingham and Seoul.

Home Office in the media: Friday 13 September

Today's Home Office media stories include coverage on the EU Settlement Scheme, domestic abuse and migrants crossing the Channel.

GVS Opportunities: BEVA and BCVA Congresses and London Vet Show 2019

This blog post is a collection of events and learning for people working in Government Veterinary Services.