9583posts
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Your voice matters: new findings on product safety in the UK!
The Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) ninth edition of consumer research has been published and builds on the previous waves by examining the public's awareness of product safety issues. Unlike other waves, this wave focused specifically on the …
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The enchanted land of IP
A favourite childhood story is being adapted for the screen, and it got me thinking about the intellectual property behind it. From copyright and licensing to trade marks, The Magic Faraway Tree shows how IP helps creative worlds travel from page to screen and across generations.
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Give to Gain: How One Opportunity Helped Me Grow - International Women’s Day 2026
As we celebrate International Women's Day, Catherine reflects on how receiving the gift of an event ticket gave her the confidence to take her career to the next level.
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Reflections on Coastal Futures 2026
Sarah Allison, Integrated Marine Manager, reflects on the highlights, conversations and takeaways from Coastal Futures 2026. This year’s Coastal Futures conference took place on the 28 and 29 January in the Royal Geographical Society building in Kensington. If you haven’t been …
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AI and collusion: frontiers, opportunities and challenges
How AI and pricing algorithms have the potential to facilitate collusion, and what businesses can do to mitigate risk.
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How research led to policy change: Phytophthora pluvialis restrictions lifted
Joan Webber is the Forest Research Principal Pathologist and works on invasive pathogens, including Phytophthora pluvialis. Collaborating with Forest Research and Forestry Commission colleagues, her research helps us understand the threat from the agents and how it can be managed.
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What you need to know about secondary school offer day
On March 2, Year 6 pupils across the country found out which secondary school has offered them a place for September 2026. The vast majority of pupils have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools – most their top …
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Shaping the future of open data with Open Data Communities
Open Data Communities (ODC) is the platform for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to routinely release its data outputs in fully open, accessible and reusable forms. This blog post talks about how it’s evolving, why it’s changing and how you can help shape the next steps.
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What lies beneath: the data shaping the future of offshore wind energy
By Alex Banks, Principal Specialist, Ornithology. Offshore wind development is a vitally important part of the UK government approach to tackling the climate crisis and addressing energy security. At the same time, it is also vitally important that we protect …
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Announcing the 1.0 trust framework
Today, we have published the next iteration of the trust framework, supplementary codes and supporting documents in pre-release. Each publication is marked as the 1.0 version, with the supporting documents version-controlled in this way for the first time. The UK digital verification services (DVS) trust framework is the foundation for building trust in the digital …
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South West in-person consultation events- book now
Join us to share your views on the proposals for the Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal and pelagic FMPs.
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Celebrating 20 years of the Business & IP Centre
This year, the BIPC at the British Library is celebrating twenty years of supporting small businesses to start and grow. Together with Amy Miller, Business & IP Centre National Network Co-ordinator, we take a look at the work of the BIPC and how the BIPC network has grown during this time and the ongoing partnership …
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Why your property's Council Tax band could increase
There are times when a property may be moved into a higher Council Tax band. In this blog, we’ll look at the four main reasons it could happen.
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Content isn’t static: what I learned about content ownership in the world of AI summaries
We reviewed a number of Department for Business and Trade (DBT) tagged pages flagged for review to confirm ownership and decide next action: update or retire. Without clear ownership and ongoing stewardship, content can drift while remaining live. AI systems and search tools can continue to surface older material without context, increasing the importance of …
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Why user research panels matter - Part One
Sophie Werkshagen shares her experiences of managing a participant panel for a government service, reflecting on why user research panels - and the people who maintain them - matter. In Defra we design and deliver services that support farming, food …
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DVSA’s digital year in review: championing our colleagues
In part 2 of our blog series, Becky Thomas, Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO), highlights some of the people, projects, and programmes that drive continuous improvement behind the scenes at DVSA Digital and Data.
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Coastal Planners Corner
North East In recent months, Kathleen had been focusing on developing the employment and heritage assets policies for the East Marine Plan. This has been a collaborative process, as we refine policies based on stakeholder feedback and insights from an …
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Explainer: Everything you need to know about modernising polling stations
The way we vote in person has not changed since 1872. Big changes are being tested in the way people vote at polling stations – helping to make elections more convenient, accessible and better suited to modern life. What’s changing? 🗳️ Making voting more convenient Several councils will …
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Building procurement knowledge and confidence with Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) training funded by DfE
Anthony Degnan, Finance Manager at Ad Astra Academy Trust, tells us what he has gained professionally after undertaking a DfE-supported Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Procurement Fundamentals course. Ad Astra Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust in the North East of England, with ten primary schools spread across Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, …
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We’re simplifying how you contact us about some of our grants
We’re changing the way you contact us by email about some of our grants. If you’ve emailed us at one of the addresses listed below, you should now use ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk. What you need to do Remove the email addresses listed below from your safe sender list and do not use them to contact us in …
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Government Veterinary Communities Explained: AGV & GVS
By Anthony Ridge, Deputy Head of Veterinary Trade Facilitation, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs I’ve spent the past eight years as a government vet, starting at the Animal and Plant Health Agency and now working in Defra as …
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Researchers and suppliers give UK NSC insights into novel cervical screening technologies
The UK NSC hosted a roundtable engagement day with 10 organisations to discuss emerging, novel developments relevant to cervical screening tests.
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Welsh Language Services: here when you need us
Hywel, Caren and Mari from the Welsh Language Unit to explore the support available, from dedicated helplines and translation services to in-court interpreters and why being able to speak your first language can make all the difference during life's most difficult moments.
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Exploring Opportunities to Improve Integration Between Marine Planning and Licensing
In Autumn 2025, MMO announced plans to move away from the current Marine Case Management System (MCMS) to a new and improved marine licensing service fit for the future. The service improvements involve replacing the current technology with the aim …
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Collaborating at scale for nature and people
In this post, Mike Morecroft, Deputy Director for Climate Change Science at Natural England, reflects on the Resilient Landscapes and Seas partnership symposium held recently in Edinburgh, where conservationists, scientists and land managers from across the UK and beyond came …
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Publication of evidence reports
We’ve recently published a number of evidence projects that support marine planning and policy development that explore local decision-making, opportunities for co-existence, and socio-economic trends. A local approach to decision-making for marine planning: a spatial framework for a pilot phase …
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Why meat inspections matter - and how we’re making sure they stay effective
Cymraeg When you buy meat - whether it’s from your local butcher, supermarket or farmers’ market - you expect it to be safe and produced to high welfare standards. Trust is essential for the meat industry to thrive, and at …
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How OFSI Prioritises Licence Applications
OFSI remains committed to a transparent, fair and effective licensing process. Publishing this prioritisation framework is part of our continuing efforts to ensure that applicants understand how we assess cases and what they can do to support timely decision‑making. OFSI receives a wide variety of licence applications each year, ranging from urgent …
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Securing personal data across government
New principles for a digital age: Senior leaders, delivery teams and data professionals across government are encouraged to adopt these principles as the foundation for secure, trusted services.
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Why the RPC matters – because independent scrutiny improves UK regulation
This is the final post in our series answering the simple but important question: why does the RPC matter?
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Deliver grant funding and Access grant funding: a digital service built to last
In this blog post, Kate Harries, head of user-centred design for the Funding Service, shares how the team have been creating a new sustainable digital service to provide a more user-centred and data rich experience for grant teams and grant recipients alike.
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Meet the people behind the APHA Science Blog
Step behind the scenes and meet the small but dedicated team who help bring APHA’s science stories to life, turning complex work into something anyone can enjoy.
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Dragons' Den IP Blog - Series 23 Episode 5
There was a mixed bag of businesses in the Den tonight; from gut-friendly ferments to build-your-own headphones, to a dating app with a difference. Yet there was one thing they all had in common – innovation.
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How we’re helping trustees navigate their fundraising responsibilities
We’ve updated our guidance on fundraising (CC20) and emergency appeals guidance (CC40) to help trustees clearly understand their responsibilities, especially at a time when charities may need to work harder for donations whilst also seeing increased demand for their services.
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How digital identity can support compliance with the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations
Guidance on how the UK digital verification services trust framework interacts with Money Laundering Regulations is now available. Find out more.
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Guest blog: Using Biodiversity Net Gain to Support Dynamic Habitats
How do you create dynamic habitat systems, that are allowed to shift, grow, and reshape themselves naturally, within the rules of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)? BNG requires that developers leave nature in a measurably better state either on site and …
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Designing justice for the future
The new London Tribunals Centre at 7 Newgate Street will deliver modern, flexible hearing spaces and improved accessibility, bringing teams together to support better, more efficient services.
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UK NSC consults on screening for biliary atresia in newborns
The UK NSC has opened a consultation on evidence relating to screening for biliary atresia in newborns.
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How a ‘Hackathon’ approach can accelerate the implementation of digital solutions
AI Generated Infographic illustrating the core elements of the hackathon Jay Ashcroft shares how a ‘Hackathon’ approach can foster creativity and produce working digital solutions in days. At the end of the summer, we collaborated on a ‘Hackathon’ event which …
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Modern Systems for a Modern Industry – how MyVT is transforming experiences
Over the past few years, we’ve made major changes to how Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) applications are processed. We have introduced Manage your Vehicle Testing (MyVT) – the successor to the Technical Application System (TAS) – a new digital system designed to save you time, effort and money. We know, that as businesses working with vehicle approvals, you want to save time …