GOV.UK blogs

DVSA rider policy specialist talks about the Enhanced Rider Scheme

DVSA's rider policy team are continuously improving the Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) to make it even more customisable for riders.

In this blog post, Jody Whitfield, Rider Policy Specialist, tells you more about the success we've had in Wales with new modules and getting more people through ERS.

New law change allows more flexibility for healthcare professionals completing DVLA medical questionnaires

Dr Nick Jenkins, Senior DVLA Doctor outlines the benefits for healthcare professionals being allowed to fill in DVLA medical questionnaires.

Harry's story: How Autsome ideas are bettering our world

Harry is an Autsome Advocate. The advocates are a great bunch of neurodiverse children and young people based in North East Essex who give their views on health, education and social issues which affect their daily lives of autistic children …

Nearly 10 million people tuned into a map of a queue!

As Head of Digital Communications at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Andrew Simpson’s team came up with the livestream funeral queue tracker that drew almost 10 million views on YouTube. Interview: Lorraine McBride In a world …

Regulatory Policy Committee issues 2022 Corporate Report

Stephen Gibson, RPC Chair, highlights key points from the analysis of RPC opinions set out in our 2022 Corporate Report.

What inspires you? How to encourage your creative spark

With the pandemic changing the way we work, we asked everyone at Design102 about creativity – what motivates us, how we stay creative and where we look for inspiration. Learn our tips and tricks for keeping that creative spark alive.

Our commitment to environmental protections

Following recent media speculation on the future of farming policy in England, we know that you may have some questions about our work. We’ve published a post on Defra's media blog which sets out our response and position.

National Inclusion Week – how we’re making Sellafield Ltd more inclusive

Employees who feel able to bring their whole selves to work, better business decisions thanks to diversity of thinking, and a business better able to attract and retain talent for the long term… just some of the benefits of a more inclusive workplace.

As we celebrate the start of National Inclusion Week, here are some of the ways that we’re working to make Sellafield Ltd more inclusive and some of the people who are driving the change.

Global Data Landscape - Sharing insights with New Zealand

As data architects across government, you are interested in both enterprise and technical principles and particularly continuous improvement, so as Chief Data Officer for the Office For National Statistics (ONS), I wanted to share some, hopefully relevant and useful, insights …

Government reiterates commitment to environmental protections

There has been significant media attention this weekend, including in the Financial Times, Times, and the Telegraph, focused on comments from environmental groups such as the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, Green Alliance and Wildlife and Countryside Link. These organisations …

Thank you, Ma’am: DIO’s behind-the-scenes contributions to HM The Queen’s funeral

After the sad news of the death of HM The Queen, the eyes of the nation and the world turned to the ceremonial elements that follow the death of a monarch, culminating in a state funeral. The Armed Forces were …

How to improve the cyber security of your business

The National Cyber Security Centre – the UK’s lead authority on cyber security and part of GCHQ – provides guidance on how to protect your business and manage risks in a changing digital landscape.

Same difference: the two sides of the same internship coin

In National Inclusion Week, two young professionals, Zach Shiels and Elora Parocki, who recently spent time in Defra  through different internship schemes, reflect on their experiences and the things they learned.

A new and improved framework for hiring supply teachers and other temporary staff

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has launched a new and improved version of its agency supply framework. Tom Harper is the Supply Teachers Category Manager at CCS. In this blog post, Tom will highlight the improvements to the framework and how you can access it.

Applying for a new CPH number

At the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) we know how busy farmers and rural businesses are, and we are always looking for ways to improve access to our services to fit in with their demanding lifestyles. We have now launched a …

The National Reference Test in 2023

This week, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) will begin contacting the schools that have been selected to take part in the 2023 National Reference Test (NRT). What is the NRT and what should selected schools expect? The NRT …

Update on childcare reforms

The Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, has confirmed today that helping people access affordable childcare continues to be one of the government’s top priorities.

The Accessibility in government blog returns

The Accessibility in government blog is back and ready to introduce its two new owners. Find out more about who we are and what we plan to post about.

Splink: Fast, accurate and scalable record linkage

  A common data quality problem is to have multiple different records that refer to the same entity but no unique identifier that ties these entities together.  For example, customer data may have been entered multiple times by accident, or …

Piloting Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) in social care

Yvette Stanley, our National Director for Regulation and Social Care, discusses plans to pilot the use of serving social care practitioners as Ofsted Inspectors (OIs). As an inspectorate and a regulator, we always want to learn from and draw on …

Leader’s blog: Colin Banno-Thornton on the future of digital delivery in Defra

Colin Banno-Thornton, Director of Major Projects and Digital Delivery, explains how we made some organisational changes in our Digital data and technology organisation earlier in the year to bring together our projects and digital delivery teams into a single, digital delivery portfolio.

Funding innovative, local partnerships to tackle reoffending, through the Local Leadership and Integration Fund

As round two of the Local Leadership and Integration Fund goes live, here‘s a glimpse at the four new partnerships we are funding and the impact one of our partnerships is already having on individuals.

Bring your heavy goods vehicle to annual test (MOT) appropriately laden

It’s crucial to test a heavy vehicle’s brake test performance during the annual test (sometimes referred to as the MOT). In our latest blog post, Vehicle Testing and Roadworthiness Policy specialist Richard Clements, explains what is involved and why you need to present a vehicle or trailer for test laden.

Senior Analyst

This is a key role within the Strategy and Analysis Team. We are seeking an enthusiastic and passionate Senior Data Analyst to lead and develop systems for monitoring and analysing data to identify areas of concern around compliance or the …

HEO Electrical Engineer

The Role: We require an Electrical Engineer to lead on product testing in our new electrical laboratories, collaborating with other technical specialists and ensuring OPSS continues to deliver high-quality technical services. You will apply your technical expertise to undertake and …

G7 Laboratory Operations Manager

The Role: We require two Laboratory Operations Managers to lead a team of technical experts and help shape the function and vision for our new testing facilities. You will apply your strong technical expertise to manage the delivery of relevant …

Factsheet: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Bill

Why do we need the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Bill?  The UK is one of the world’s most open and most attractive places for doing business. This same openness means that the UK is exposed to criminal activities, …

What we are doing to tackle companies selling driving tests for profit

We want to update you on the measures we’ve introduced so far to help learner drivers from being exploited by people and companies selling them driving tests at an inflated price and on the impact, they are having on learners …

The death of Asta, a Natural England-tagged hen harrier

By: John Holmes, NE Strategy Director Hen harriers are currently extremely rare in England due to illegal persecution and nest disturbance, primarily in areas associated with grouse shooting. Natural England satellite-tracks hen harriers in order to investigate patterns of dispersal …

How I helped at HM Queen Elizabeth’s lying-in-state

Cabinet Office marshal Kitty Buchanan-Gregory was one of more than 600 volunteer civil servants supporting mourners queuing to see Queen Elizabeth’s lying-in-state at Westminster Hall. Below, we publish Kitty’s diary of her experiences  Shift 1 Wednesday. I’ve been posted to …

Making policy inclusive

Selvin Brown, Deputy Race Champion for the Civil Service, writes about how good policymakers clearly understand the impact of their work on the citizens they serve.

Cardiff: community, culture and creating opportunities

DDaT colleagues share what they love about living and working in and around Cardiff

Be a voice for change on our accessibility panel

Legal practitioners with accessibility needs are wanted as volunteers for a digital user research panel, writes Holly Challenger, from the Legal Aid Agency. We're recruiting these volunteers because we need their help designing digital services which are inclusive and universally …

Factsheet: Passport processing times and unprecedented levels of demand

We have seen unprecedented demand, following more than five million people delaying their application for a passport during the pandemic because of restrictions in international travel. His Majesty’s Passport Office (HM Passport Office) is processing more applications than ever before, …

Focus on mental health: how to help students navigate their education

School and college qualifications are important, whether GCSEs, A levels, Applied Generals or other vocational and technical qualifications. It is no surprise, then, that teachers and parents spend a lot of time talking to young people about the importance of …

What it’s like working as a Community Payback placement coordinator

Community Payback placement coordinators play a key role in ensuring people sentenced to Community Payback are allocated to appropriate unpaid work projects. If you have good organisational and communication skills, plus an eye for detail, read what Mia has to …

Transport and logistics - route review

Following a successful pilot of our new approach to route reviews earlier this year in the construction route, we are pleased to announce the launch of the route review for transport and logistics. The aim of the route review is …

Staying safe beyond the pandemic

Vickie Peters, Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Cygnet Health Care, explains what the healthcare company is doing to protect its service users and staff from the impact of seasonal flu and the potential resurgence of COVID-19.

Inclusivity in the Ministry of Defence Engineering Profession

“Defence Engineers build bridges under enemy fire; Defence Engineers deliver some of the most complex projects there are from computer networks to warships. It requires diverse skills and diverse thinking, drawing talent from all walks of life” – Vice Admiral …

GSE Customer Charter

The Government Science & Engineering (GSE) Profession Team sits within the Government Office for Science. Our purpose is to deliver the GSE Profession Strategy for its 10,000 strong and growing membership.  We also want to increase our reach in government, showcase science and …