7476posts
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A channel and domain strategy for adult social care content
Last week, in the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC’s) digital transformation team, we started work to create a channel and domain strategy for adult social care content linked to DHSC and NHS England. When we say digital ‘channels’ …
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Research and Development for Integrated Pest Management and how it can help you
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a whole-farm approach that uses all available methods to prevent, monitor, and control pests, weeds and diseases. Adopting IPM practices can help you reduce the risks associated with pesticides, combat pesticide resistance, and support sustainable …
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National Numeracy Day 2025: Top tips for helping children feel more confident with maths
This Wednesday 21 May marks National Numeracy Day and we're sharing practical advice to boost number confidence. Maths and numeracy are essential life and work skills, and the government are committed to ensuring they remain a core part of every young person's learning
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International Bilateral Fund to further boost global space partnerships
The UK Space Agency is making £5.5 million of funding available for new proposals under the International Bilateral Fund - a programme supporting ambitious partnerships between UK organisations and international space entities.
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Applying for Probate: Top Tips, Tools and What to Expect
In this episode, our colleagues share expert advice on how to make the probate process easier and less stressful. If you're preparing to apply or just want to understand how it works, this episode is here to help.
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How we’re providing real-time accessibility statements and issue management
In late 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) DesignOps team noticed a recurring problem across the services DfE provided to users. Many of our digital services did not have accessibility statements, or had out-of-date, or incorrect statements. This issue made …
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Wildlife licensing: enabling development while protecting Nature - annual summary 2024
By Gemma Ole's, Deputy Director, Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service At Natural England we help balance economic growth with nature protection. Wildlife licensing is a vital tool to enable this. Our licences are broad ranging and allow development and other …
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Supporting students in crisis: how we’re supporting students with their mental health and suicide prevention
We have just published the largest-ever national review into student suicides in higher education, examining over 160 cases of suspected suicide or self-harm during the 2023/24 academic year. The review was conducted by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) and aimed to understand how universities currently respond to students in urgent need of help and how to help identify areas for improvement.
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How we protect the UK from vector-borne diseases like dengue and West Nile virus
As West Nile virus is detected in mosquitoes collected in the UK for the first time, we take a look at how UKHSA is protecting the UK from vector-borne diseases
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Environment Agency tracks down waste criminals trading online
Waste Crime Engagement Specialist, Alan Dengate shares how the Environment Agency is working to prevent waste criminals trading online. Once upon a time waste crimes were committed by those working in the sector cutting a few regulatory corners, looking to …
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Coverage on new towns costs
Reports today suggest a dozen new towns in England will cost as much as £48 billion according to a WPI Strategy report, with the average cost of each development likely to be in the range of £3.5 to £4 billion. …
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Growing more than food: The benefits of nature-friendly farming
By Martin Lines, CEO, Nature Friendly Farming Network, andPeter Craven, Head of Agriculture, Natural England This week is Nature Friendly Farming Week, and with a theme of 'More than growing food' it aims to highlight the wider benefits of nature-friendly …
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The Rural Payments Agency Podcast: Episode 12
Welcome to the twelfth episode of The RPA Podcast. In our latest episode, we speak with RPA Field Officer Peter Clampett about the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024. The regulations set out the rules for protecting hedgerows on, or …
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JoeySat: two years of UK-led satellite innovation
JoeySat, developed through a pioneering collaboration between the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and OneWeb (now Eutelsat Group) has redefined what’s possible in satellite communications.
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Building blocks for better food regulation
Cymraeg Today we are hosting leaders and experts from across the food system to listen to their views on how food regulation could evolve so that it works for consumers and businesses in the future. Views gathered today will build …
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World Bee Day 2025
By the Bees Needs Team, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) As the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Bees Needs Team with responsibility for pollinators, we lead on wild pollinator public engagement activities, including our …
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To plant, or not to plant, that is the tree question
Paul Brannen is the Director of Public Affairs at the Confederation of Timber Industries and author of Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown (Agenda Publishing 2024). Here he explains the need for home-grown softwood and hardwood timber for an expanding bioeconomy.
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Rolling out digital delivery at scale in Defra
Deputy Director for Digital Delivery Richard Baines reflects on designing environments for digital delivery. Moving away from hierarchical culture and change frameworks, he outlines Defra's emerging 'outcome delivery groups' model and how it's being rolled out across the group. If …
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Flying with Co-Pilot – How AI is helping neurodiverse staff thrive in DBT
Find out how Co-Pilot is fostering inclusivity in DBT and helping neurodiverse colleagues to harness their strengths.
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How to help young trees survive prolonged hot dry weather
Chris Watson, Forestry Commission Woodland Resilience Advisor, looks at the effects of prolonged hot and dry weather on trees and what you can do to help them survive.
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UK aims to lead an instrument on NASA mission to find habitable worlds
The UK Space Agency is taking its first step towards contributing to NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, which will search for life beyond our Solar System. The Agency is launching a call for proposals to explore the feasibility of a UK-led scientific instrument for the mission.
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Unlocking NUAR's full potential: opportunities ahead
Richard Duffield, NUAR Discovery Project Lead, shares insights on the next phase of his project, exploring expanded access to NUAR data for new user groups and use cases, aiming to unlock significant economic and social value while ensuring robust security …
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Competition to accelerate agri-tech investment: guidance out now
A new £5 million round of the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition will open on 2 June. Guidance is now available. The competition supports agri-tech businesses to fast-track the late-stage development and commercialisation of technologies that are close to market. It offers government funding alongside private investment.
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Action to restore or create at least 38,877 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat has been undertaken since January 2023
By Dr Ruth Hall, Principal specialist for habitats at Natural England Today, for the first time we can start to understand our progress towards the Environment Act habitat target, which is to restore or create at least 500,000 hectares of …
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GMP & GDP Certificates
The purpose of this blog is to describe our approach to the validity date of UK issued certificates confirming compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP). Following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declared …
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How schools are using innovative ways to support student wellbeing
School staff share their approaches to student wellbeing
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Planning reform: protecting nature while supporting growth
Nature is the bedrock of our entire way of life. We are deeply connected to nature through the beauty of our ever-changing seasons and our treasured wildlife, from puffins to hedgehogs. Healthy ecosystems make our food systems and water supplies …
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How we’re helping children and teachers with their mental health and wellbeing
Poor mental health and absence from school are impacting the education of children and in turn their futures. Government research suggests that persistently absent pupils in secondary school could earn £10,000 less at age 28 compared to pupils with near-perfect …
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Science and FMPs event summary and research projects coming up
Defra’s "Science and FMPs" event showcased the research addressing fisheries evidence gaps. Read the summary and a look to this years’ projects.
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Creating Nature Towns and Cities conference
Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust working to ensure everyone in the UK can access the benefits of nature and green spaces. We're delighted to invite you …
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Launching the AI Insights series
As AI continues to play a central role in the UK Government's agenda for economic growth and improved public services, it is crucial to address both the opportunities and the practical challenges of AI implementation in government.
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The importance of reporting marine non-native species - what can you do?
Throughout this year’s Invasive Species Week, an annual event organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (GB NNSS), we have explored the many detrimental impacts invasive non-native species can have on our ecosystems and society. Whilst prevention remains the most …
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Helping to create an environment where businesses can thrive with NFCU’s new powers
Cymraeg New powers for the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) mark a significant milestone in the team’s tenth year and coincide with the 25th anniversary of the FSA. Consumer confidence in the safety and authenticity of food remains high, which …
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Protecting one of England's rarest marine habitats: Natural England's work on maerl
By Angela Gall, Marine Senior Officer Hidden beneath the waves along the south coast of Cornwall lies an ancient marine habitat, maerl beds. These pink, twiglet-shaped rhodoliths are free-living, calcified red seaweeds forming intricate, three-dimensional structures on the seabed. They're …
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Huff Post op-ed: Deputy PM marks Mental Health Awareness Week
The Deputy Prime Minister is featured in the HuffPost marking Mental Health Awareness Week (12 – 18 May 2025) by the Mental Health Foundation. This year’s campaign focuses on the theme of ‘community’ and how it plays an important role …
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From placement to professional: my DVLA software engineering journey
For Learning at Work Week, Iestyn shares his DVLA journey from Year in Industry student to Junior Software Engineer.
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Spotting and reporting Invasive Non-Native marine species
It’s Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) week across the UK – a national effort to raise awareness of the threat invasive species pose to our environment, economy, and native wildlife. For those working on or near the water, especially fishers, you …
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Marbled Crayfish: a serious non-native threat, with potential risk of introduction through the pet trade.
Invasive non-native species, both plants and animals, threaten our native wildlife, natural ecosystems, economy, health, and interfere with activities we enjoy. Invasive Species Week is led by the GB Non Native Species Secretariat and is an annual event to raise …
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Finding requisitions on the portal has just got easier
Two new enhancements have been added to the portal, designed to save customers’ time and provide greater clarity on the progress of their applications.
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How the Environment Agency monitors and tests bathing water quality
As the weather is warming and more people are heading outside to enjoy beaches, rivers and lakes, we’re starting our regular monitoring of bathing waters. Between now and the end of September, millions of people will head to bathing waters …