GOV.UK blogs

Job Opportunity: Inspector, Animals in Science Regulations Unit, Home Office

Find out about new role available in the Home Office as an Inspector and how to apply.

What our training offer is teaching us about the needs of local government

Earlier this year, we launched a library of online training courses to support our local government colleagues to learn and develop their digital skills while working remotely. A core part of this training offer is a selection of funded courses: …

5 reasons why it is important to map the ocean floor

James Carey outlines 5 reasons why better mapping could help us to understand the basics of our ocean ecosystem and help us protect it – and one reason why mapping could compromise our environment.

Provide CIC - delivering Care with Innovation and Compassion

In response to the latest surge in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the extreme pressures on the health and social care system, Provide CIC are again prioritising the delivery of their services to allow their teams to better support the NHS response across Essex with care, compassion and innovation.

Carers Week: my personal perspective

Lyn Romeo has just returned to her role as Chief Social Worker for Adults, alongside Fran Leddra, following time out to care for her elderly mother who sadly died recently following a long illness. On returning to the role, Lyn finds it highly fitting for her first blog, to be posted during Carers Week.

How we’re taking action to keep young people and children safe in our schools

After the Everyone’s Invited movement shone a light on worrying stories of sexual abuse in our schools, we asked Ofsted to carry out a review.

Social Care WRES: In praise of the phase!

A new beginning for racial equality in social care The social care workforce race and equality standard (SCWRES) officially launched on 1 April 2021 across 18 local authorities (LAs), the first phase of a timely and crucial programme committed to …

Remote hearings: their role in extending access to justice

When the impacts of COVID-19 first hit the UK, we had to respond quickly and ramped up the use of remote hearings, working with the judiciary and legal professionals. This meant cases continued during the height of national lockdown. From …

Silver Linings: Mind Wellbeing Index 2020/21

The CMA has been awarded a Silver rating by the mental health charity Mind in its 2020/21 Workplace Wellbeing Index! In this blog, Adam land discusses the work we've been doing to support the wellbeing and mental health of staff at the CMA and what it means to be awarded a Silver rating in Mind’s Index.

Coverage of the England Woodland Creation Offer

In today's blog we look at widespread coverage of the Forestry Commission's England Woodland Creation Offer, which provides greater financial incentives for landowners and farmers to plant and manage trees.

Coronavirus testing - how schools and colleges are encouraging participation

We are collecting and sharing examples of initiatives and strategies that have worked well for schools and colleges in delivering testing and driving up participation. We understand that the way schools and colleges operate vary significantly. This may mean that …

Disability and Diversity in Leadership

DCMS Permanent Secretary and CS Disability Champion Sarah Healey reflects on the success of this new programme. As the Civil Service Disability Champion, one of my priorities is to ensure we continue to provide opportunities for disabled colleagues to progress …

A year of Shared Channels Experience: our path to truly user-centred services

Director of Shared Channels Experience, Cheryl Stevens, looks back on the first year for her team and their ambitions to improve user experiences, create a detailed view of the user and improving security.

Our inspections of professional development for teachers – what to expect

Helen Matthews, our Specialist Adviser, Initial Teacher Education, explains Ofsted’s role in quality assuring national professional qualifications and the early career framework.

Government marks World Ocean Day with marine commitments

In today's blog we look at the government's marine commitments as the UK advances its role as a global leader in marine protection.

Launch of the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber Environment Network

Join us for the launch of the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber Environment Network and help to drive tangible changes within and outside the Civil Service.

Accelerating public sector data science and visualisation

The Data Science Accelerator mentoring programme is expanding to offer a new data visualisation branch. Applications for both open on 14 June.

New Animal Welfare Bill launched to protect pets, livestock and wild animals

In today’s blog, we look at the launch of our Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

How DIT Developers keep UK businesses up to date with tariff changes

“Working with such a complex data model has been a rewarding challenge!” Find out how changes are tracked in the UK Tariff

MOD’s Universal Soldier

Move over Van Damme, the MOD looks at the realities of Human Augmentation in a new paper. It’s all very 2000 AD At the start of the millennium, the year 2000, a video game company called Edios Interactive released an …

The Blue Belt Programme: looking back on 2020/2021

Kylie Bamford, Head of Marine Conservation for the UK Overseas Territories, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Blue Belt Programme supports delivery of the UK government’s commitment to provide long term protection and sustainable management of marine environments across the …

Public urged to Plant For Our Planet and £8m announced for international conservation projects

In today's blog we look at media coverage of the new campaign ‘Plant For Our Planet’ and announcement of over £8 million for international conservation projects.

Brucella canis in imported rescue dogs

In today’s blog, we look at coverage on cases of brucella canis in imported rescue dogs.

In conversation with a soil health pioneer

Gabe Brown is this month's podcast guest. The American soil health pioneer and agricultural influencer talks to Janet Hughes about education in farming, shortening supply chains and the six principles of soil health.

Conversations we're having

We are invited to join a number of panel discussions, Q&A sessions and webinars, hosted by external organisations. This post contains links to some recent discussions.

Your views on our plans for sustainable use of pesticides

We want to know what you think about our revised national action plan for the sustainable use of pesticides. The draft plan covers the next 5 years and aims to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively.

Freehold management companies: making decisions and managing disputes

Practical guidance for management companies on how to make decisions, manage disputes and deal with common problems.

Going beyond a Lived Experience.

This edition focuses on how Going Forward into Employment have extended their scheme to provide life-chance opportunities to a greater reach of the community.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the food chain

In our latest Food for Thought seminar, Dr Edward Haynes (Fera) and Dr Erin Lewis (Food Standards Agency) explore the impact of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the agrifood chain.

The Food Allergy and Intolerance Research Programme - Dr Paul Turner

A seminar by Dr Paul Turner on food allergy in the UK and the impact of the FSA's Food Allergy and Intolerance Research programme over the past 10 years.

Coronavirus: recovering in our courts and tribunals

Susan sets out the steps being taken by HMCTS in shifting focus from the emergency response to one of operational recovery in our courts and tribunals.

Scottish business, SnapDragon win Queen's Award for Innovation

SnapDragon Monitoring fights fakes online. We identify and remove infringing products from online marketplaces, social media sites, and websites. We use intellectual property (IP) to remove the fakes and the fakers - which is cheap, quick and efficient. Gone are …

Introducing the GOV.UK Data Labs

The digital world is rapidly changing, and with it, GOV.UK users' expectations of how they should be interacting with our services and information. Data Labs is a newly formed multi-disciplinary team, passionate about using data in innovative ways to fulfil our users' needs and expectations.

New health and wellbeing guidance reminds us all to take care

Over a month ago, our Joint Chief Social Workers for Adults, Fran Leddra and Mark Harvey, used their Social Work With Adults blog to highlight the importance of maintaining human connections during the coronavirus pandemic.

It remains important for the care and support workforce - as well as NHS colleagues and our communities - to foster resilience in the midst of these challenges. The publication of new health and wellbeing guidance for care and support professionals is therefore hugely welcome at this time, as they explain...

Fighting ash dieback and protecting the future of our woodlands

We have at least 3 million ash trees across the MOD estate, so managing the tree disease ash dieback is a significant objective of our sustainable woodland management and long-term forest planning. Read on to find out more.

New online booking system for training facilities will make life easier for our Armed Forces

A Bidding and Allocation Management System (BAMS Online) went live across the Defence Training Estate this summer. It is a new online booking service for our Armed Forces.

Home Office in the media: Thursday 5 September

Today's leading stories include the launch of a national campaign to recruit 20,000 police officers, an announcement on future immigration and a High Court ruling on facial recognition. Police recruitment The launch of the campaign to recruit 20,000 additional police …

Telegraph: The Environment Secretary on government reforms to boost recycling

A look into The Telegraph's ‘Zero Waste’ campaign.

What is understood by 'deletion of a non-significant parameter'?

The Variation Classification guidelines list approximately 350 different types of variation change codes and classification sub-categories. These variations fall under three possible procedure types: TIA, TIB or TII and cover the active substance and finished product, devices and safety, efficacy, …

Ageing and health expenditure

Does an ageing population lead to higher costs for the NHS and social care? Find out why this is not necessarily a foregone conclusion.