7680posts
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Helping people put down roots with woodland creation
Bella Murfin and Naomi Matthiessen, job share Directors for the Nature for Climate Fund Tree Programme in Defra, reflect on the last 6 months of the programme.
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Reflecting on a year responding to COVID-19
At this time of year many of us stop to reflect. The past two years have been hard on us all, the world as we know it changed forever. Like the vast majority of people, physical and social isolation were …
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A message of thanks from Health Secretary Sajid Javid to all NHS staff
Health Secretary Sajid Javid gives his support and thanks to all colleagues working in health and social care this Christmas.
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Experimenting with the Service Communities model through the Prison Leavers Project
How have we adapted the Service Communities model to form new cross-system multidisciplinary teams that are focusing on policy design, systems change and improvements to service delivery?
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Why we’re making data returns less burdensome for Local Government
A big part of the work of organisations that deliver local services is submitting data about their activities to central government, so that existing policies can be monitored and new policies can be made. There’s an official list of these …
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Long read: winter vaccination for inclusion health groups
This blog has been produced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI). It highlights the unequal impact of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu) on people from …
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Floods and dredging: explaining the Environment Agency’s approach
What is dredging and desilting? Dredging and desilting are methods that we use to remove an accumulation of silt material, such as fine gravels or soils that have been washed into rivers from surrounding land in the catchment, from the …
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Introducing the Faker Takers
Recent reports from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) show that fake goods trading is on the increase. Dan Anthony looks at the reasons behind this rise and what is being done to combat these illegal practices. In …
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"I want this Christmas to be a happy one for all our children": Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi on the benefits of Breakfast and Holiday Activities and Food clubs
Over 600,000 children attended free, government-funded Holiday Activities and Food clubs this summer, including over 495,000 eligible for free school meals - and new data shows the impact Breakfast Clubs have had on children around the country.
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Staying safe over the festive period
Christmas and New Year are special times when people come together. This blog looks at ways we can stay safe over the festive period.
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G7 Principal Chemicals Advisor- The Office of Product Safety and Standards
G7 Principal Chemicals Advisor- The Office of Product Safety and Standards The Office of Product Safety and Standards is recruiting for a Principal Chemicals Advisor into the Science Team. The Science Team provides access to robust and relevant scientific advice …
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G7 Technical Policy Lead- The Office of Product Safety and Standards
G7 Technical Policy Lead- The Office of Product Safety and Standards The Office of Product Safety and Standards is recruiting for a Technical Policy Lead into the Research, Evidence and Dissemination (RED) team. The RED team is responsible for the …
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SEO Senior Research Strategy Adviser- The Office of Product Safety and Standards
SEO Senior Research Strategy Adviser- The Office of Product Safety and Standards The Office of Product Safety and Standards is recruiting for a Technical Policy Lead into the Research, Evidence and Dissemination (RED) team. The RED team is responsible for …
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A response to queries raised by facilitators on the 2022 round of Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund
As announced on 13 December 2021, the latest round of the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund is now open for applications. Following this announcement, we have received queries from the facilitators of existing groups about how long they have to submit …
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Podcast – Think digital, act human: a spotlight on Shafiqa Gunton
In this festive bonus episode, Shaf Gunton talks to Adaobi Ifeachor about her role as a programme delivery manager in the Get help with technology service. She has advice for people interested in joining this digital profession, and tells us why she set up an engineering academy in Scarborough.
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Business Analysis: an Evolving Practice
When I first started my career in ‘IT’ as a manual system tester, Business Analysis seemed like an unwieldy beast. Waterfall was the name of the game and if you didn't know it upfront, it was too late. Business Analysis …
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Heavy vehicle testing review – our latest progress
In the second of a series of blog posts, Neil Barlow, Head of Vehicle Policy and Engineering, gives an update on our work to implement the recommendations from the Heavy Vehicle Testing Review.
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The past, the present, and the future of clinical trials transparency in the UK
The UK has been leading the way in supporting and promoting transparency of clinical trials. Following our exit from the EU, the MHRA has been monitoring compliance with registration of trials of medicines in World Health Organisation recognised public databases, …
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New chair sought for UK’s expert screening committee
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is looking for a new chair to contribute to its ongoing development.
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Teachers and parents: Get Boosted Now to be ready for the return to schools and colleges in January
UK Health Security Agency data shows that within 14 days of a booster vaccination your protection against symptomatic infection from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 increases by as much as 70% With many schools going back after the Christmas holidays …
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Tony Juniper: second term is a chance to strengthen partnerships for Nature’s recovery
Tony Juniper CBE, who has been reappointed as Chair of Natural England for a second term, reflects on the past three years and the opportunities that lie ahead Back in 2019 I was honoured and delighted to be selected …
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Showing what good looks like and creating a culture that enables digital transformation
In their second blog post, teams from CDDO and UK Export Finance share how a range of new collaborative formats and training have changed their culture, supporting sustainable service development.
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Proving disability is no barrier to jury service at Portsmouth Crown Court
Eve Miller discusses how we make sure our services are accessible for everyone and shares the feedback recently provided by a juror.
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Do your part to protect the water environment this Christmas
Our Area Environment Manager Rachael Caldwell looks at what we can all do to improve water quality over the festive season.
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COP26 and the power of collaboration
The Civil Service Environment Network (CSEN) is run by just 35 volunteers from across the organisation and has more than 3,000 members – we demonstrate the power of working together. Last month’s COP26 summit may be over, but its influence …
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Year in Review: looking back at 2021
To nobody’s surprise, 2021 has presented just as many challenges as 2020. Fortunately, DIO’s teams have been up to the task and have continued to work hard for our Armed Forces customers. Here are some of the highlights of the …
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Regulating fusion – preparing for future energy generation
Dr Greg Black is a senior advisor in the Advanced Nuclear Technologies team. Here he shares how the Environment Agency regulates the hottest site in the solar system and is preparing for the future of fusion in England. It is …
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How teamwork makes the dream work
Nick Walker shares what goes on when you bring (usually fierce) rivals together to work towards the same goals. Strategic partnership is a term we use when we talk about working with the private sector in government, but what makes …
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Disability and Access Ambassador: Making Heritage Accessible
The Minister for Disabled People speaks to Dr Heather Smith, Disability and Access Ambassador for Countryside and Heritage. What is a Disability and Access Ambassador? Disability and Access Ambassadors (DAA) are senior leaders who volunteer for a three year post …
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Scrutiny of Government Impact Assessments
Stephen Gibson summarises some of the trends in the impact assessments that the RPC has scrutinised over the past year.
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VI-1 certificates removed from all imports of wine to GB by January 1st
On Thursday 16th December, Food Minister Prentis signed into law legislation that removes the requirement for VI-1 certificates on all wine imported to Great Britain from 1st January 2022. This received coverage across national and trade media outlets, including The …
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Data analytics and artificial intelligence empowering internal audit
Lauren Petrie - Data Analytics Specialist Data analytics empowers us to transform our internal audit and counter fraud work. I was excited to join the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) in August 2021 as the first member of our new …
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How public support has helped small businesses throughout the pandemic
A guest blog post by the British Library. Find out how small local businesses have been able to thrive and grow throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic due to an increase in public support.
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"Today is a red-letter day for education in our country": Skills Minister Alex Burghart on new measures to help adults and young people upskill and earn more
Today we announced that adults and young people across the country will benefit from more high-quality and flexible education and training – levelling up opportunities and supporting more people into higher skilled, higher wage jobs. People looking to upskill or …
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Urban gull licensing: a review of our organisational licence trial and plans for 2022
The UK is home to a significant proportion of the world’s herring and lesser black-backed gull populations. Like all birds, they are protected by law and can only be controlled in England with a licence issued by Natural England. While …
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Rebrand vs refresh: what’s right for your project?
Does your organisation’s image need updating, but you're unsure whether a simple refresh or total rebrand is required? Explore these helpful examples that explain the difference between rebranding and brand refreshes so you can figure out the best option for your project.
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Moving from the private to the public sector as a designer
Many designers in government either began, or have had extensive careers, in the private sector before joining the Civil Service. In this blog post, they share some of the differences they observed.
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Tree Production Innovation Fund - Spotlight on successful applicants
The Tree Production Innovation Fund aims to support innovative projects to increase and diversify domestic tree production. Find out about three of the successful projects recieving funding.
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Podcast: How to start a career in tech
Three developers from the Government Digital Service discuss common misconceptions about tech careers, and how to get started.
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Time all voices were heard
"I believe social care exists to support people to live healthy, meaningful lives. This requires government commitment for the long term and sustained investment in the future we are wanting to build.", explains Think Local Act Personal's Clenton Farquharson MBE in his latest blog on social care reform.