8867posts
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Designing public services that work for everyone
Find out how we’re breaking down digital barriers to help everyone benefit from public services, wherever they are.
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Buncefield: 20 years since the incident that changed how we regulate
In the early hours of Sunday 11 December 2005, a dense fog formed around the Buncefield fuel depot on the edge of Hemel Hempstead. A large petrol storage tank was overfilling, and vapours spread across and beyond the site.
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Understanding residents' experiences of housing safety and quality
What does a safe housing system look like when it works for residents? Learn how our System Design team’s research is informing thinking on a new regulator designed to protect residents and improve safety and quality across the built environment.
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Defra group transformation: mapping the whole service landscape
Lucy Hartley, Head of Service Strategy, Ownership and Performance, and Katie Dickerson, Senior Service Designer at TPXimpact agency, reflect on working together to map Defra group services.
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Combinable crop contracts: have your say
From the food on our plates to fuel in our tanks, combinable crops are part of all our lives. A public consultation, open now, seeks views on fairness and transparency in contracts across the combinable crops sector.
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How GOV.UK Pay grew to processing £8 billion in transactions
Since launching in 2016 GOV.UK Pay has now processed £8 billion in card payments online and over the phone. Here we look at how we’ve used data to grow the product to this milestone.
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MMO publishes bass authorisation review report
The review looked at commercial authorisations for bass. Recommendations have been made in this newly published report.
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Hear from the Science Council on why now’s the perfect time to get registered
For day 2 of the Professional Recognition Week, we have a guest blog from one of our partner institutions, the Science Council, showcasing the benefits of registration, myth busting common misconceptions about professional recognition, and some upcoming opportunities for Government Science and Engineering (GSE) members! Please visit the Science Council’s website if you’re interested in reading through case studies of scientists who …
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Coastal Planners corner
Our Coastal Planners have been working with partners, attending key events, and supporting projects that strengthen collaboration and ensure England’s seas are managed sustainably. North East In between developing the Heritage Assets and Employment policies for the revised East Marine …
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Project VERITAS: Pioneering Offline Voice-to-Voice Interpretation for NATO and UK Operations
Imagine being able to speak to someone in their own language, even without internet or translators. Project VERITAS is an innovative initiative set to transform communication in austere and environments where electronic signals must be limited. Led by jHubMed - the …
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Changes to booking system – understanding views and how these inform the planned changes
We have published the full results of our consultation on improving the rules for booking a driving test.
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Appreciating woodland ecosystems through winter birdwatching
Emily Robinson, Content Officer at the Forestry Commission, reveals the birds you can expect to see in our woodlands in winter, and how they contribute to a healthy, woodland ecosystem.
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Bringing together international public designers in Amsterdam, Berlin and Brussels
Recapping the International Design in Government Community activities this year from a conference in Amsterdam to getting together in Berlin. And sharing what is planned for the community in 2026.
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Serious games to support organisation design
Policy Lab has been exploring how serious games can help civil servants make more intentional decisions about organisation design. This post shares what we learned from designing and testing a new game with OD&D professionals across government.
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Collaborative multi-year strategy for the king scallop fishery
The king scallop multi-year strategy will shape the future of UK-EU management collaboration. Catch up with the progress to date and what’s next.
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What Professional Recognition can do for you!
This week we’re celebrating all things Professional Recognition, each day focusing on different aspects of the process, including case studies and testimonies from Government Science and Engineering (GSE) members who have benefitted from the process. Today we’re covering the basics – what Professional Recognition is, how it can benefit you as an individual, and how …
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A User Centred approach to helping colleagues collaborate by improving DBT’s People Finder
How DBT's Employee Experience team combined user research, design and delivery expertise to improve the department's intranet.
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The Architecture Decision Record (ADR) Framework: making better technology decisions across the public sector
We’ve introduced the Architecture Decision Record (ADR) framework to help teams across government make and record technology decisions consistently.
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Glimpse a Geminid meteor this weekend
The peak of the Geminid meteor shower occurs this weekend and with the Moon out of the way you’ve got a great opportunity to spot shooting stars.
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New draft guidance published to support faster and clearer local plan-making
Read about the details of a new plan-making system for England. It will ensure local plans, which are created by councils to shape development in their area, are simpler, faster to prepare, and more accessible for everyone. Learn about new user-tested digital guidance and tools published in draft to help plan-makers deliver local plans faster.
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Consultation opens on evidence relating to population screening for Type 2 diabetes in adults
The UK NSC has opened a public consultation on evidence relating to population screening for Type 2 Diabetes in adults.
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How the Regulatory Policy Committee uses artificial intelligence
The government is keen that all areas of the public sector understand the opportunities from using artificial intelligence (AI) and mitigate the potential risks. The RPC has been experimenting with using AI tools over the past few months to see how far these can help us with different aspects of our work.
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Spotlight on our 2025 GSE Award winners!
The Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession recently celebrated the second annual GSE Awards on 20 November recognising the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and teams across the profession. Organised by a dedicated group of volunteers from various departments, with support from the GSE Profession team and …
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Making the Planning Inspectorate a great place to work
Chief People Officer Hayley Kelly talks about the inspiration she has drawn from the recent CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition and her pride in helping make PINS a great place to work.
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Strategic Planning – there’s a lot of it about!
Compared to the process that produced marine plans published in 2021, let alone the preparation of the first marine plan (for the East) in 2014, there are now other strategic and spatial planning initiatives and projects in play. Notable examples …
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Join us for the FSA open Board meeting – 10 December
Cymraeg The FSA’s final board meeting of the year will take place next Wednesday (10 December) at Victoria Hall, Reading. This is your opportunity to hear first-hand how we’re tackling issues that affect your food. We're discussing a range of …
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From saving orangutans to tracking hornets: the unexpected world of the Operational Delivery Profession at APHA
How the Animal and Plant Health Agency saved a baby orangutan: Find out about the great work APHA does and how the Operational Delivery Profession helps connect people across government delivering on the front line.
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International Volunteer Day: making a difference in our communities
In this post, to mark International Volunteer Day, 3 of our colleagues reflect on their volunteering experience: what motivates them, how their contributions support the people and places around them, and how it connects to their professional values.
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Building a diverse digital future: how our partnership with Colorintech is inspiring the next generation
Over 3,500 people engaged with GDS at Black Tech Fest through our ColorinTech partnership. 92% left inspired to pursue digital Civil Service roles.
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Living with antimicrobial-resistant TB
In this blog post Samara shares her story of fighting antimicrobial -resistant tuberculosis, the hidden long-term consequences and the importance of getting that persistent cough checked out.
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Progress made on plans to evaluate SMA newborn screening
Update from latest partnership board meeting overseeing planning of the in-service evaluation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy.
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Cymraeg yn yr IPO - y daith hyd yn hyn
Cymraeg: Ar ôl sylweddoli, fel busnes gyda'i bencadlys yng Nghymru, y gallem fod yn gwneud mwy i roi'r dewis o wasanaethau dwyieithog Saesneg/Cymraeg i gwsmeriaid sy'n siarad Cymraeg, aeth y Swyddfa Eiddo Deallusol ati i ymgorffori defnydd o'r iaith Gymraeg yn ei gweithgareddau. Yma, rydym yn edrych ar y daith hyd yn hyn. English: After …
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Bathing Season 2025 storm overflow EDM data analysed
Following the 2025 DEFRA bathing water classifications, we are sharing an update on storm overflow performance associated with bathing waters across England for the 2025 season (15 May to 30 September). This year has seen an overall improvement: both the …
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“I imagined a concrete jungle not a nature reserve!”: Innovation at Winfrith
Recently, three new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group graduates were lucky enough to visit Winfrith, the former nuclear reactor test site now being decommissioned by Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), as part of the NDA group’s estate. Jo, Kim, and Tiffany …
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Three countries, eight designers, nine insights
Tax designers from across the globe write about developing and using design patterns.
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Farming podcast: how to build a fairer, more transparent supply chain
In this post, we share the latest podcast featuring Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator Richard Thompson with Paul Tompkins (NFU Dairy Board Chair) and Michael Masters (Barber's Farmhouse Cheesemakers). They discuss building a fairer, more transparent supply chain following new regulations. We also include a link to, and summary of, the ACSA's first annual report.
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Smarter banking: How Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust increased their annual interest income to over £1 million
David Leane, Chief Financial Officer, shares how Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust has benefited from reviewing their banking arrangements. When I joined Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust twelve years ago as a small trust of just four schools, managing our …
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Swapping spreadsheets for spades with Northumberland Wildlife Trust
To mark International Volunteer Day - 5 December - Rob Mills, an Accounting Technician in the Cabinet Office Digital Finance team, shares how swapping spreadsheets for conservation work reminded him why getting outside matters - and why you should consider …
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Supporting justice in action: how staff delivered urgent technical support for a high-profile trial
When an urgent request arrived on the eve of a major murder trial, colleagues from across HMCTS worked together to deliver a critical technical solution. They protected a witness’s identity, upheld the principle of Open Justice and made sure the trial could proceed fairly.
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Innovation in action: highlights from the Local Government Innovation Hackathon
The Local Government Innovation Hackathon brought 150 people together to design fast, data-driven solutions to homelessness and temporary accommodation.