GOV.UK blogs

DWP Digital is improving cross-government data sharing

The Labour Market Data Trust Pilot has enabled us to explore improved data accessibility between the four government departments closest to everyday Labour Market activity. In this blogpost, Paul Lodge our Chief Data Officer, explains more.

The Public Health Data Asset (PHDA) - When Collaboration meets Innovation

The Public Health Data Asset (PHDA) was created at the start of the pandemic to bring together all relevant health data assets. The dynamic project was developed through the collaboration of various ONS teams, including Data Architecture, Data Acquisitions, Operations …

Trade in live coral: how we are developing tools to improve tracking of the most traded marine animals

It may come as a surprise to some that corals are not rocks or plants, but marine invertebrate animals made up of hundreds to thousands of tiny organisms called polyps, joined together by limestone skeletons. Corals are the building blocks …

Political impartiality guidance for schools – what you need to know

We want all pupils to finish their education with the knowledge and skills to be able to form clear opinions about issues they see in the world. That’s why it’s really important that teachers are able to help pupils decipher …

Growing awareness and use of Explore Marine Plans

What is Explore Marine Plans? Explore Marine Plans (EMP) is a digital service developed by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and is an online, interactive resource that supports the implementation of England’s marine plans. The digital service allows you to …

Our focus on literacy and numeracy – what it means in practice

In February, we announced a package of measures to level up education across the country and ensure every child is given the best start in primary school.

Electric Vehicle Charge-point Grants - Are you missing out?

Financial support is available for the up-front costs of electric vehicle charge-points. Darren Handley from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles wants to get the word out to many more people.

Use half term to make sure your family is vaccinated

This February half term, we are encouraging everyone who is eligible – including those aged 12-17 – to get a COVID-19 vaccine or make sure that they are up to date with a booster.

Environment Agency investigation into sewage treatment works

On 18 November 2021, the Environment Agency and Ofwat announced major investigations into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at sewage treatment works. This update sets out what we’re investigating, what has happened since we announced the investigation and more about what flow-to-full treatment is.

Supporting Civil Service colleagues through loss

How Civil Service colleagues support each other through loss Supporting staff experiencing bereavement and loss is a key Civil Service health and wellbeing priority.  In part seven of Adam Land’s bereavement series, Charlotte Bedford talks about the Bereavement Network she …

Co-design in 2022: reflections, plans and principles

More than 4,000 people from across the farming community in England are now working with us to design, pilot, test and trial new farming policies and schemes. In this post, we’ll explain how we’re working with the farming community. We'll also share the 7 co-design principles we’re encouraging groups to follow.

Old Admiralty Building: past, present and future workplace

How our historic office supports smart and hybrid working across the Department for International Trade (DIT)

Accessible by default at the Food Standards Agency

Setting the course to becoming a much more inclusive organisation, the Food Standards Agency’s Accessibility Lead, Samantha Merrett, discusses her approach to improving awareness of accessibility and ensuring the organisation is pioneering the way. Where it all started The Public …

Restoring and protecting Flimston Chapel for future generations

I’m Kathryn Sayner, one of DIO's Historic Building Advisors. I was recently involved in a conservation project to restore Flimston Chapel. Flimston Chapel is a notable landmark feature on Castlemartin Training Area in Pembrokeshire. The Grade II listed building dates …

Regulator’s experience of clinical trials during the Covid-19 pandemic (Part 2) – what we have learned

In part one of this series, we explored as an introduction how we initially responded to the Covid-19 pandemic to move faster in the set-up and approval of clinical trials. Now we look at the unprecedented challenges we faced in …

Telegraph coverage on water quality

Today we are looking at coverage about the issue of storm overflow spills into rivers and coastal areas.

Recruitment opportunities increase as hub locations expand to Birmingham

DWP Digital has expanded into Birmingham, with its central location, it's a great setting for our new hub and an ideal place to work.
We're recruiting now, read more about the opportunities available.

How could you make a difference to 10.2 million people?

This week Matthew Brebner tells us what it’s like answering calls and customers’ questions during the Self Assessment peak. It’s HMRC’s largest annual campaign, bringing in funds for vital public services, including the NHS. This year, 10.2 million customers completed …

HRA Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) website alpha assessment

Read the alpha assessment report for the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) website from the Health Research Authority.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Join our session for civil servants in the East/South East/London region on overcoming imposter syndrome on Friday 4 March 2022.

The Future Farming Resilience Fund: an opportunity for advice providers and a call for farmer feedback

One of the ways we’re supporting farmers is through the Future Farming Resilience Fund. Through the fund, independent advisers can provide free business advice to farmers in England. In this post, I’ll share 2 new pieces of information about the fund. The first is a new opportunity for advice providers. The second is a request for farmers to give us feedback on the advice they’ve received through the fund.  

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: A Career in Science

Starting out I was told aged 13 that I should consider becoming a biology teacher by my school careers advisor. Biology was one of my favourite lessons at school and this planted the seed that I could go on to …

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announces winner of Vet of the Year Award

Collin Willson, who is the current British Veterinary Association (BVA) Welsh Branch President and has been in the profession for 49 years has been named as the FSA’s Vet of the Year for 2022. The accolade recognises the hard work …

Have we lost connection?

Who was the last person you felt really close to? The two of you just clicked. You got one another immediately, and it was all just so easy.  A real connection is a wonderful thing, it’s precious, and it’s something …

Our plans to tackle the Covid-19 backlog

No institution has felt the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic more than the NHS, writes Health Secretary, Sajid Javid. Through our plans for elective recovery, we will make sure that you have the support and investment you need, now and in the future.

Minister Pow visit to the River Wye

Today we are looking at media coverage of Minister Pow’s visit to the River Wye in Herefordshire.

National Apprenticeship Week 2022: being a chartered surveyor apprentice at DIO

My name is Sam Rix and I have been working with the DIO for over three and a half years now, including various apprenticeships. I spent the first two and a half years of my career working in the DIO’s …

Dr Alex George's five top tips for good mental health and wellbeing

To help mark Children’s Mental Health week, Dr Alex George, the Government’s Youth Mental Health Ambassador has set out his top five tips top tips for good mental health and wellbeing.

Women in Science: A Reflection

Gender equality is integral to achieving thriving nature for people and planet and addressing the twin crisis of biodiversity loss and climate change, yet fewer than 30% of the worlds scientific researchers are women (UNESCO Science Report). Despite the efforts …

Vaccinations for clinically vulnerable children and young people– your questions answered

This post was last updated on Tuesday 26 April 2022 to reflect the latest guidance. We understand that some parents and carers have concerns about COVID-19 vaccinations for children and young people. We have listened carefully to their worries and, …

Managing attendance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

"We take pride in building strong relationships with our students and our families. The concerted effort by all our staff to ensure that these relationships are maintained is the heart of our approach to attendance."

In this blog, principal Andria Singlehurst shares how her school has supported pupils and their families to maintain good levels of attendance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apprenticeships at the Planning Inspectorate

For National Apprenticeship week Recruitment Officer Duncan Phillpotts highlights how the Planning Inspectorate provides an attractive and viable employment route into planning careers and the wider Civil Service through its apprentice schemes

A career in science - past, present and future

I was told aged 13 that I should consider becoming a biology teacher by my school careers advisor. Biology was one of my favourite lessons at school and this planted the seed that I could go on to study it in higher education.

Podcast – Think digital, act human: neurodiversity is a superpower

Laura Croft and Simon Hurst give us some fascinating insight about how the wiring in their brains helps them to flourish as digital professionals.

Celebrating #WomenInScience at the FSA

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we hear from 8 of the many women in the FSA who use science every day to keep food safe, on their roles and how they got into STEM.

Celebrating our female scientists

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Learn more about the important scientific work being carried out by our female scientists in the current avian influenza outbreak in this blog and accompanying video.

Kicking plastic out of sport - Webinar

Join the Plastics and Sustainability Team to discuss how sports venues, events, community clubs and participants can reduce their avoidable plastic and carbon footprint.

Dragons' Den, Episode 6, Series 19

Tensions ran high this evening as the Dragons clashed horns and entrepreneurs fought fiercely to sell their business concepts and secure investment. But with high tension comes great products, and the first entrepreneurs to enter the Den certainly had something unique to offer.

New year, new standards for investigational medicines

New GMP requirements from 31 January 2022 Monday 31 January 2022 saw the Clinical Trial regulation (CTR) come into force in the European Union, and with it, the Commission guidelines on good manufacturing practice for investigational medicinal products for human …

How well do vaccines protect against Omicron? What the data shows

*Data presented in this blog is accurate as of Thursday, February 10, but is subject to change over time. For the latest data on vaccine effectiveness, read the UKHSA’s Vaccine Surveillance Reports, published weekly. Since the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines …