GOV.UK blogs

A new approach to COVID-19 testing

APHA, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, have been developing and trialling an alternative testing approach to detect COVID-19 infections in people, using saliva rather than swabs. Learn about the process and benefits to using this approach for testing in this interesting five minute read.

UK and Norway sign historic bilateral fisheries agreement

There has been widespread positive coverage of yesterday’s announcement of the historic UK-Norway Fisheries Framework Agreement, signed yesterday by Environment Secretary, George Eustice and the Norwegian Ambassador to the UK, Wegger Strømmen. National and regional coverage has appeared in the …

Coverage on financial support for zoos

Coverage focuses on claims from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) that the government’s rescue package is inaccessible for most of its members. 

New sickle cell and thalassaemia counselling resource published

New sickle cell and thalassaemia counselling knowledge and skills resource launched.

Our regulatory work during lockdown

Our National Director for Regulation and Social Care, Yvette Stanley, discusses our children’s social care regulatory work during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions.

Staying Cyber Aware: The 10 steps to cyber security – how are we doing it?

Cyber security is rarely far from the headlines these days. With so many of our people currently working from home the cyber security challenges and risks challenges are potentially greater as Brinda McDonald, Defra Senior Security Adviser, explains.

Black History Month - Contributions to Science and Engineering

This Blog post is to celebrate Black History Month with a collection of blogs from individuals across the science and engineering community.

Farewell from Ceri Witchard: Regulator of Community Interest Companies 2015 – 2020

Read our latest blog to find out our former Regulator Ceri Witchard's highlights in her role as the Regulator of Community Interest Companies as she says a fond farewell.

Grace Moronfolu MBE - My Personal Perspective on Black History Month 2020

I joined the Crown Prosecution Service in 1988 and have had a variety of roles in the service. I became chair of the National Black Crown Prosecution Association in April 2019, and Deputy Chair of the Civil Service Race Forum …

PPE for the frontline, all the time

This week, the Department of Health and Social Care, published a new PPE (personal protective equipment) strategy, which sets out how PPE will be delivered to the frontline, in both health and social care, until the end of March 2021. This is a good opportunity to firstly thank the health and care workforce for everything they do - and have done - during the exceptional circumstances we all find ourselves in.

Presenting the 'Golden Thread'! (GRID)

The Government Recruitment Information Database (GRID) is a recruitment database used to produce insights that improve Civil Service recruitment. Golden Thread uses data from GRID to produce interactive dashboards. Why is Golden Thread (GRID) significant for Government Recruitment Service (GRS)? …

Enhancing England’s urban green spaces

Jane Houghton Project Manager, Green Infrastructure Standards Project at Natural England, tells us about our latest review of research into the health benefits presented by green infrastructure. This week we have published a review of research into the health and …

Thames RFCC Natural Flood Management Opportunity and Priority Map

The Thames Region Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) have called for more Natural Flood Management (NFM) to promote adaptation to climate change. NFM aims to protect homes and businesses from flooding and benefit important habitats and wildlife. By emulating natural …

First exports of UK beef to the USA in 20 years commence

In today’s blog, we look at the announcement of the first UK beef exports to the USA in more than 20 years.

Leading GDS through the expected and unexpected

In Alison Pritchard's final blog post as Director General for GDS, she reflects on her 13-month tenure.

August release: COVID-19 repository 

One of the core building blocks of the CDEI’s COVID-19 response is our repository - a database for novel use-cases of artificial intelligence and data specifically being used to counter and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 around the world.  The …

Robotics: creating a safer world

Three years ago we launched the £93 million Robots for a Safer World challenge, part of the first wave of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). The challenge was to develop safer and more productive technologies for working in extreme environments, in industries such as Nuclear Decommissioning, Offshore Wind Energy and Space.

Find out about the highlights and about some of the business-led fast-start grants to robotics projects responding directly to the Covid-19 crisis.

Launching the Energy Performance of Buildings Register

Find out how the team launched 2 new services and what they learned inside the launch bubble.

Safety first as Inglewood Guesthouse deploys NHS Test and Trace system

Isle of Wight guesthouse using the new NHS Test and Trace system.

'We're not here to make life difficult': our further education and skills visits

Paul Joyce, Deputy Director for Further Education and Skills, discusses our further education and skills pilot visits.

Blue Belt team on the international stage at the 6th International Marine Conservation Congress

On 18 August, the Blue Belt Programme team and UK Overseas Territories (OTs) representatives shared their challenges and achievements at the 6th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC6). The conference – originally planned to take place in Kiel, Germany - was …

Building a Carer Inclusive Civil Service - Mina’s story

Mina Joshi, Operations Executive, Department for International Trade, shares her experience of caring for her husband during coronavirus. I have been a carer for my husband for many years and my caring role has grown as his illness has progressed. …

Podcast: The Data Standards Authority

The Data Standards Authority (DSA) launched several pieces of guidance last month. We’ve invited experts from the Government Digital Service and the Office for National Statistics to explain what data standards are, why they’re important, and what the DSA plans to do in this month’s podcast.

Diversity and Inclusion in Project Delivery

2020 is the National Year of Inclusion for the Civil Service and the role of staff networks for supporting colleagues has become even more apparent during the pandemic. Both the Civil Service LGBT+ Network and Project Delivery Profession are here to support Civil Servants and provide a voice for their members across Government.

Webinar today: new roles in mental health social work

Over the last year 18 months, Mark Trewin, our mental health social work lead, has enjoyed the privilege of chairing of the Health Education England (HEE) new roles mental health programme group for social work. HEE set up the new roles in the mental health (MH) programme to support the delivery and expansion of innovative roles, identified as having the greatest impact in mental health services. A final webinar at 10.30am this morning completes the journey of discovery.

We wear the sunflower lanyard

Wendy Hayton talks about how the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme can help people with hidden disabilities.

Resource accounting for public service pension schemes

Teams in GAD have just finished producing resource accounts for more than 20 public service pension schemes. We work with finance contacts at pension schemes, administrators and employing authorities across public service pension schemes across the UK.

Future Leaders Fellowships are open for business

The Future Leaders Fellowships (FLFs) are back for another round, to fund the most promising researchers and innovators from business and academia with up to £1.5m over four years.   We are now looking for the next cohort of talented future leaders to apply for the …

Applications open for 20/21 Digital, Data and Technology Fast Stream

Applications for the Digital, Data and Technology Fast Stream are open now. Find out about how the program has changed for 2020/21 and how to apply.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the food chain

In our latest Food for Thought seminar, Dr Edward Haynes (Fera) and Dr Erin Lewis (Food Standards Agency) explore the impact of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the agrifood chain.

Rising strong after lockdown – supporting the whole school community

Trust Leader, Matt, and Headteacher, Anna, share how their recovery programme has reduced parents’ concerns, created a welcoming environment for pupils and strengthened their community of schools.

Building a Carer Inclusive Civil Service - Tony's story

Tony Grayling, Director, Sustainable Business and Development Directorate, Environment Agency, shares his experience of being a carer during coronavirus. The situation brought by Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been challenging for all of us. We have had to adapt to new ways …

Honouring Inclusion week: How the Honours is tackling diversity and inclusion

Civil Service Local see the Honours system as a chain of inclusion between departments alongside all civil servants and would like to take this opportunity to showcase the Honours System, what is being achieved in Diversity and Inclusion and how you can nominate an individual.

A new digital function for DWP

DWP has announced today that our digital services provider, BPDTS, will move into the department next year, planned from 1 July 2021.

BPDTS Tailored Review and Our Future

The Government has announced today that following an independent review, it intends to create a single, stronger digital function for DWP.  This will bring together colleagues from BPDTS as well as from the existing DWP Digital Group to become one …

Education Secretary outlines new measures to help more people get the skills they need to get ahead

Today the Education Secretary outlines new measures to help more people get the skills they need to get ahead which supports the adult skills package as announced by the Prime Minister.

Exams and assessments in 2021

We are aware of an Open Letter published in The Times which claims exams and assessments are not fit for purpose. The Department reformed GCSEs to make them more rigorous and put them on a par with expectations in high …

Companies House: Our vision for the next 5 years

We've launched our strategy for 2020-25. Here, Louise discusses our strategic goals and explains why she's confident that we'll achieve our purpose of driving confidence in the UK economy.

Health Matters: Delivering the flu immunisation programme during the COVID-19 pandemic

The latest edition of Health Matters, PHE’s professional resource, focuses on the national flu immunisation programme and the delivery of the 2020/21 programme. This blog provides a summary of the full edition’s content.

A Focus on HMRC Life Chance Schemes - 'RISE' and 'Movement to Work'.

Continuing our look at how the Civil service supports social mobility and inclusion, this edition sees us take a look at two other schemes.