8866posts
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Mapping the housing safety and quality system
Where we live has a huge impact on our lives. The safety, quality and sustainability of our living environment is part of a vast and complex system. Learn how MHCLG's System Design team visualised this complex system, bringing real people’s experiences to life within it as part of their work to support user-centred policy design.
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New guidance published: The Consenting Lifecycle of Marine Geological CO₂ Stores
We are pleased to share that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published a new guidance document, The Consenting Lifecycle of Marine Geological CO₂ Stores. The MMO has been closely involved in shaping this guidance, with our …
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How to avoid catching flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses this winter
As we brace ourselves for chillier days and look forward to more indoor gatherings and seasonal social events with friends and family, now is the ideal time to remind ourselves of behaviours that can reduce the spread of respiratory infections …
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Creating special educational needs provision: A primary school case study
Waterville Primary School's headteacher, Mark Nugent, talks about successfully building specialist SEN units for speech and language needs, while maintaining academic standards and supporting a diverse community of learners.
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Countdown to EU IUU Regulation Changes
Time is running out until 10 January 2026, when the new EU Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations come into effect. We’re supporting all those involved in the UK seafood supply chain, so they can prepare and adopt to …
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Publishing the Environmental Improvement Plan - turning ambition into action for nature
We have published (1 December) our revised Environmental Improvement Plan – a clear roadmap for restoring nature. The previous plan lacked the rigour and detail to turn intent into impact. This government is determined to put that right. Our revised …
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Talking farming in 2026
Over the past year, I’ve been out and about with my team talking to farmers and others across the farming sector — from agents and agronomists to academics and advisers. To help us plan for 2026, we welcome your suggestions on where we should visit.
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Landscape Recovery and growth: building the foundations for critical nature infrastructure
By Chris Davis, Natural England’s Deputy Director for Landscape Recovery and Schemes Development At a time when the UK is facing serious environmental challenges such as climate change and loss of wildlife, restoring and protecting our natural capital is one …
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Leading with kindness on digital change, engagement and adoption
When it comes to digital change - the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is making our people the priority.
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How GFIE pathways tackle the double hurdle of Conviction and Disability
The 3rd December 2025 is International Day of Disabled Persons (IDDP). This year's theme, "Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress" speaks directly to the Civil Service's commitment to creating opportunities through our Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) Pathways. Fostering …
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Consultation opens on evidence relating to screening pregnant women for anaemia
The UK NSC has opened a consultation on evidence relating to screening for iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy.
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Grief in the workplace: supporting each other during National Grief Awareness Week and beyond
Please be aware that this blog discusses bereavement and grief. Lead content designer Leyla Kee-McParlin talks about experiencing grief and supporting others through difficult times.
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Removing over 7,500 Weapons from our streets started with sistening
How the Home Office's knife surrender scheme succeeded by putting stakeholders at the heart of the campaign, and what it means for mission-led government I’m Adam Mazrani and I work in the External Affairs team in the Home Office Communications …
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Post-implementation reviews: Update on progress across government
Post-implementation reviews (PIRs) play a vital role in ensuring that regulations remain proportionate and effective. This blog provides an update on that latest position: the number of outstanding PIRs across government and the progress by the eight departments with the largest backlogs against the commitments that they made.
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DVS measures in the Data Act have come into force
The majority of the measures in Part 2 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 have come into force today, 1 December 2025.
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From Listings to Lasting Protection: Strengthening Indonesia’s Capacity to Safeguard Threatened Sharks and Rays
Indonesia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of shark and ray products. As the CITES Conference of the Parties convenes in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and governments from around the world debate and decide on proposals for new species listings, work is underway across Indonesia to translate these commitments into practice.
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Highlights from the Coastal Partnership Network Conference
Members of the Marine Planning team and the Evidence and Evaluation team from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) attended the Coastal Partnership Network (CPN) conference in Liverpool held in October. The CPN provide support for collaboration work across the UK …
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Insights from the first five months of the GOV.UK app public beta
The GOV.UK App went live in public beta in July. Find out what's been happening in the first 5 months, and what's coming next.
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8 top tips for successful woodland establishment this winter
Polly Harries, Land Use Advisor in the south west, shares 8 key considerations for successful woodland establishment this winter, and explores practical tips for planning through to planting your new woodland.
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Small batteries, big solutions: the science driving button battery safety
New research conducted by OPSS provides insights into how science and product innovation can work in tandem to protect children from product-related harm.
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UK NSC opens consultation on draft prostate cancer screening recommendation
The UK NSC has opened a public consultation on the evidence relating to screening for prostate cancer.
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How RPA uses remote monitoring technology to monitor environmental land management agreements
If you have a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement or a Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement with RPA, you’ll be aware that we use a range of methods to monitor environmental outcomes. One of the techniques we use is referred to …
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Autumn Budget: what is the government doing to improve outcomes for children with SEND?
The government is making changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. These changes aim to improve how children with SEND receive support. It’s clear the SEND system is in dire need of reform. It is failing children and families at every turn, where outcomes for young people are nowhere near good enough.
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Improving inland bathing waters: why progress takes time
As bathing water designation has expanded to reflect the places where people now swim, paddle and enjoy the water recreationally, more inland sites are being formally recognised.
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Driving test booking service consultation – publishing the outcome and next steps
The government announced new measures aimed at stamping out the reselling of driving tests on 12 November
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Collaborating with the Insolvency Service to tackle economic crime
Find out how we're working with the Insolvency Service to fight back against people who take advantage of corporate structures to hide their crimes.
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A day in the life of a Family Help Lead Practitioner
Warrington Borough Council's Pathfinder team talks about how professionals from different backgrounds work together to support vulnerable families in children's social care.
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Strengthening and extending connectivity: what we learned from the API hub alpha
APIs are essential to modern services, but they’re often hard to find or reuse. We're developing a central API hub to make discovery, collaboration and reuse easier across government.
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A new era for nature: first co-created Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy
From lush, misty cloud forests to snow-dusted mountains, the UK Overseas Territories are spread across all seven major oceans and seas. As members of one British family, the UK government shares responsibility for supporting the conservation of their vast diversity of species, habitats and ecosystems. Today marks an important milestone in the UK’s relationship with its Overseas Territories, as we launch the new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy. Read this post to find out more.
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From Data Features to Digital Products
How do you turn powerful data insights into tools that genuinely help users? That was the question we faced when our Data Science team in Electronic Monitoring (EM) began its journey into digital delivery. Electronic Monitoring, often known as tagging, …
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Update: Progress on managing the Kidlington illegal waste site
Following our initial blog about the appalling large-scale illegal dumping of waste near Kidlington, we want to update you on the significant progress being made to protect the community and environment.
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Using pupil profiles to improve disadvantaged outcomes
Elkie Bailes shares how The Greetland Academy's pupil premium approach, using individual profiles and quality teaching, helped every disadvantaged child meet expected standards.
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Rediscovering the value of water meadows
By Edward Parrott, Senior officer - Agri-Environment Evidence team, Natural England Earlier this year I had the pleasure of joining contractors LUC and industry experts on a visit to Harnham water meadows - a rare surviving example of a centuries-old …
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From systems maps to system stories
Defra’s Policy Design Lab team show some of the design methods they use to make sense of complex evidence.
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A coordinated effort: how we’re tackling the dual threat of deer and grey squirrels
As part of National Tree Week, Anna Brown, Director of Forest Services at the Forestry Commission, and Alan Law, Chief Officer for Strategy and Reform at Natural England, reflect on the work happening across the sector to reduce the impacts of deer and squirrels on England’s woodlands.
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Copyright carols for choirs
Do you know the role that copyright plays in Christmas carols? Following on from a previous blog on copyright in choir music, here are some of our top tips for making sure that your performances remain as lawful as they are tuneful.
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Vision to verdicts: Introducing new courts and tribunals
From Blackpool's new courthouse to London's state-of-the-art City of London law courts on Fleet Street, major developments are transforming justice facilities across England and Wales, delivering accessible, modern buildings for all.
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Launching the Export Support Chatbot: Empowering small businesses to go global
How DBT's Export Support Chatbot will supply small businesses with the knowledge they need to export.
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Introducing the UK Standard Skills Classification: a new way to explore skills and occupations, by Frank Bowley
Skills England, in partnership with the University of Warwick's Institute for Employment Research (IER), has launched a groundbreaking prototype tool to help everyone speak the same language about skills. Today, we’re excited to introduce the UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC), …
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Future of food regulation – Budget announcement
Cymraeg As part of this week’s Budget announcement, the FSA has been asked by the UK Government to develop a new national system of regulation for highly compliant large food businesses in England. This request from the Government builds on …