3528posts
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Dragons’ Den Episode 12, Series 18
This week we saw some fiercely passionate entrepreneurs fighting for their businesses despite some tough questioning from the Dragons. From recyclable shoes to a finalist in MasterChef: The Professionals, I was on the edge of my seat...but who managed to secure an investment?
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What do PTAs do and why should you join one? PTA members answer your questions
This week is Parentkind’s National PTA Week. To mark the week we put your questions to the chair and secretary of a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) from a school in Gloucestershire to find out more about what they do, why …
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Coverage of Defra and Natural England’s announcement on protected landscapes
In today’s blog, we look at the coverage for our ambitious proposals to create and improve protected landscapes across England.
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Using research to design policies and services
Watch this short film of people who work in a multidisciplinary team talk about how they use research to make public policies and services.
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Building for the future at HMCTS
Since returning to the Ministry of Justice as Permanent Secretary earlier this year, I have been struck by the great progress HMCTS has made, both in both keeping justice moving throughout the past year, and also on its reform journey this past decade.
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Farming in Protected Landscapes opens in July
Last week, I wrote a post about the importance of England’s Protected Landscapes – our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Today, I’m pleased to tell you about the new Defra-funded Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, which will be open for applications from next month.
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Transforming Accommodation Services for our Armed Forces families
David Brewer’s recent blog set out DIO’s new approach – through the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) programme - to delivering efficient and effective hard facilities management services across the Built Estate, as existing contracts come to an end. That journey …
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Opportunities expand for teaching partnerships
Teaching partnerships, to improve placement opportunities and the quality of learning and development students experience on placement, have been a great success. So much so, government funding, channeled through the Department of Education and the Department for Health and Social Care, is now being expanded.
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We’re hiring interaction and service designers!
In Cabinet Office, we are looking for designers to join us and work on services that matter and are genuinely user-centred.
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How we drive uptake of DIT's products with our users
Hear from the publishers behind Digital Trade on their top tips for DDaT professionals
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Knowledge Assets Launch Event
The Knowledge Assets team recently held a digital launch event to introduce their ambitious programme of work to a cross-Whitehall audience. We welcomed a host of expert speakers, including: Minister Solloway, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Dr Andrew Mackintosh, …
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Horizon Europe: Civil Security for Society €1.6 billion funding available
I am pleased to announce the availability to UK innovators, working in academia, industry, research organisations and public bodies, a €1.6 billion funding opportunity through the EU Commission’s Horizon Europe Civil Security for Society Work Programme (Cluster 3).
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Trainee teachers have really gone above and beyond this year
From supporting the teaching of classes or bubbles to delivering remote education - this year’s trainee teachers have shown creativity, versatility and resilience. We asked trainees from Teach North/Outwood Institute of Education to tell us about some of their standout moments from the last year.
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Might oaks from little acorns grow…?
A year in the life of Bella Murfin and Naomi Matthiessen, job share Directors for the Nature for Climate Fund Tree Programme in Defra.
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Public service: A duty worth celebrating
Today, 23 June, is Public Service Day. To mark this important day, inspectors Menaka Sahai, Heidi Cruickshank and Richard Schofield share their thoughts on why they became an inspector and how the public service that they deliver is important for the nation.
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Inclusive Innovation: looking forward to the next normal
Recent events have shaken the world, bringing significant changes to our society and economy. In particular, the disproportionate impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have brought inequality into sharp focus. It cannot be ignored.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Plastic-Free July
Get involved with Plastic-Free July! Find out how to give your unwanted items another life or clean up your neighbourhood with a litter pick. Events organised by CSL NW Environment Network.
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Increasing our pace from the start
Our Early Engagement Team plays an important role in promoting the benefits of our Local Land Charges service and accelerating the number and pace of local authority migrations. Team leader Jamie Winch explains how they're building working relationships with councils across England and Wales.
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GSE Role Modelling: It's OK not to be OK
This post discusses how it’s ‘OK not to be OK’ as a role model. Being a ‘positive’ role model does not mean you must only be positive when something is not right. Inspire and empower others by speaking up and challenging when the need arises, or when support and help is required.
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The road to Royal Air Force Reserves
When I was 23, I walked into a military camp for the first time in my life to be interviewed for a job as an admin assistant at the Headquarters of the Surgeon General. I was met by a large, tattooed Scottish Army Major who shook my hand and welcomed me at the start of my career ‘behind the wire’.
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GOV.UK Accounts: enabling proactive, personalised and joined-up services
Our work on GOV.UK Accounts is one of the most important ways for us to implement our ambitious vision for GOV.UK, so we wanted to give an update on its role we see it playing.
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Why I’m Proud to be a Reservist
23 June is Reserves Day - a chance to recognise the remarkable contribution of civilians who give up their spare time to serve in the armed forces. Cabinet Office Civil Servant James Waller shares his pride to be a Naval …
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Future farming: what's changing
Farmers and land managers will be rewarded for doing even more to improve the environment whilst producing high quality food and other products.
This page gives an overview of the changes to farming in England.
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Becoming part of the new DWP Digital function
Next week, on 1 July, myself and my fellow BPDTS colleagues will transfer into and become part of a new digital function in DWP. Since our inception in 2016 we’ve worked alongside DWP colleagues on a day to day basis …
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International Women in Engineering Day 2021
Today is International Women in Engineering Day. It’s a day where we celebrate the amazing work of women within the engineering sector. According to the Engineering UK 2018 report, only 12% of all engineers in the UK are women. We …
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Women in Engineering Day 2021
Nishtha Chopra, Higher Radiation Protection Scientist, discusses her career in science as we look to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day on Wednesday 23 June.
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Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Double Winner!
Pi has been awarded two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, one for International Trade and the other for Innovation. Queen’s Award for Enterprise – International Trade At Pi we don’t have ‘customers’ and ‘export customers’, we just have customers. Every customer …
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New European £2.3 billion research fund for social sciences/humanities
Horizon Europe - opportunities for social scientists and humanities researchers. Funding for advancing scientific knowledge in the fields of social sciences and humanities falls under Cluster 2 – ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society.
This Cluster 2 funds collaborative, challenge-led research within the following research areas: enhancing democratic governance and citizens participation, safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage, and responding to and shaping multifaceted social, economic, technological and cultural transformations.
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Agricultural shows in 2021: come and talk to us
Agricultural shows bring people together: to network, to do business, to give the public a glimpse into farming life. We are preparing to attend 7 shows this summer, here are the details.
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Transforming our services: Appeals, applications and examinations
Stephen Read introduces the work to improve our 3 service areas and how it will make it easier for customers to do business with us.
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Pride at HMRC, Harry's Story
We celebrate Pride Month every June to recognise the progress made for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) people, as well as marking the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. In June of 1969, a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, …
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Giving nature a digital hand
Tracey Friday, a product owner in the Digital Transformation team at Natural England working on delivering digital services for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), shares her experience of being on the ‘other side’ of the customer-supplier fence.
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Expanding the Teaching Partnerships Programme: Creating the right environments for excellent practice and innovation
Read how 4 Teaching Partnerships are working to secure a steady stream of high-calibre social workers to the frontline.
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GSE Opportunities: Systems Thinking Level 7 Apprenticeship
A new two-year, blended approach apprenticeship starting in January 2022 is being delivered by the University of Exeter. The apprenticeship has been designed for the public service to improve the quality and use of evidence-based scientific advice to government, and …
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Coverage of Amazon waste allegations
On today's blog we are looking at the regulations to make sure all retailers take greater responsibility for electricals.
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Working for Companies House: Sophie's Story
Sophie has always recognised the importance of being happy in a job, which is why her career so far has come in 3 phases. Find out how she’s finally found her passion at Companies House. This is the second in a new series where employees reflect on what makes Companies House special to them.
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Care Home Open Week preview: Beacons of hope
For almost a decade, care home open days have seen care homes all over the country open their doors to families, friends and local communities. This year’s event, which takes place across a week (28 June - 4 July), has particular significance, providing an opportunity to reunite care homes with their local communities, while celebrating the incredible care colleagues who have remained on the frontline throughout the pandemic.
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Retail banking: how we’ve made switching easier
There are many benefits to switching your current account to another bank or building society. Peter Hill explains why switching can be a great idea, and the work we’ve done to make the process easier and simpler for you.
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Happy World Humanist Day
What is humanism? Humanists hold a naturalistic worldview. To mark World Humanist Day on 21 June, Liz Lutgendorff sheds light on what it means to live without following a traditional religion. Even though non-religious people make up more than half …
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Grow your career in the South West
Are you aware of the Civil Service Careers website? It contains a wealth of information on the range of departments and career opportunities in the south west for you to develop your career.