GOV.UK blogs

Building our Industrial Strategy

Tom Gelderd, one of the officials who advised on the creation of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, looks at why it’s needed, how it has evolved and the challenges it has faced in the months leading up to its publication.

Careers Day at St Vincent's Primary School

Kate Murphy talks about her experiences of visiting St Vincent's Primary School as part of their career day.

We’ve started playing tag! How to find good stuff quicker on the blog

We always want to improve the blog and make it easier to find the news and articles that are most relevant and interesting to you. That’s why we’ve introduced tags. These are a new way to search the blog quickly and easily.

Home Office in the media: 26 July 2017

Today’s Home Office-related coverage includes reporting of yesterday’s publication of Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) annual statistics on deaths during or following police contact.

Predictions - Future of Manufacturing

What will the future of manufacturing be like? What if you could get bespoke products, produced rapidly on demand, and in a green and eco-friendly way?

Creating common ground with design standards

Senior designer Michael Owen explains how design standards can help inform good design choices

How one mental health Trust in Leicestershire is using e-cigarettes as a tool to go smokefree

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust provides high quality integrated mental health, learning disability and community health services mainly for people living in the city of Leicester and the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. As part of their commitment to the …

Making MOT a live service

Our digital MOT testing service was launched in 2015, providing a critical service to over 23,000 MOT garages across the country. It's remained as a beta service since then, and we've been working hard on improvements to make it ready to be a live service.

We’re developing a new MOT reminder service

We’re developing an MOT reminder service to help vehicle owners get their vehicle tested on time as part of our strategy to help people keep their vehicle safe to drive.

Am I making myself clear?

Claire Moriarty, Permanent Secretary of Defra, on why listening and responding is essential to good leadership.

Defence in the media: Tuesday 25 July 2017

Today’s defence in the media blog includes coverage of the Defence Secretary’s visit to Britain’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Do wholesale distributors require pharmacovigilance agreements?

Our GDP inspectors often receive queries from wholesaler distributors asking in what instances agreements are required for the purposes of fulfilling pharmacovigilance requirements.

GSE to recruit new Head of Geography

Dr Rita Gardner, Director of the Royal Geographical Society, and Jon Pickstone, Chair of the Central Government Geographers Group, welcome Sir Mark Walport’s announcement that a new pan-government Head of Geography will operate under the GSE umbrella.

England leading the world: New Tobacco Control Plan sets the bar high

We are at a pivotal point in our fight against tobacco where an end is now in sight, and as the plan aspires, a smokefree generation a reality.

We're hiring Interaction Designers

We’re looking for talented interaction designers to help us transform government services. You’ll get to design some of the most important services in the country and your work will be used by millions. We’re developing a platform for the rest of government, …

Operations Engineering in DWP

My name is Phyllis Egbuonu, and I’m an Event Operations Lead in DWP Digital.

Meet the Environment Agency angler: Julia Simpson

I started fishing when I was Head of Wildlife, Recreation and Marine Policy in our Head Office 10 years ago. We were promoting angling participation at the time and I thought if I was going to lead this credibly I …

Capital Allowances and vehicles and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) - Talking Points meetings

This week’s Talking Points meetings cover, Capital Allowances and vehicles of which we have two meetings on Thursday 27 July 2017 at either 11am to midday or 1pm to 2pm.
We also have information about intellectual property on Friday 28 July 2017, 11am to midday.

Transformation Review: Bracknell Forest Library Service

Bracknell Forest Council's Director of Environment, Culture and Communities writes about changes made to their original plans, following consultation

Visit from South Korea delegates

Marine aggregates are an important resource for England and Wales, and there is a long history of marine aggregate extraction in our waters.

NHS Digital Publications system - Alpha service assessment

The new Publications system replaces the existing statistical publications and clinical indicators systems which pre-date NHS Digital. There are some important security and availability requirements for the system: Publishing time must be within 59 seconds of a specified time Pre-release …

Cyber Security Apprenticeships: sneaky criminals and Q from James Bond

Applications are now open for our Cyber Security Apprenticeship scheme. Sam Murphy tells us why he’s glad he joined up…

Game changers: Craig Clark

As part of our Game changers series we meet Craig Clark MBE, whose Glasgow-based Clyde Space company is fast positioning itself at the forefront of the burgeoning UK space industry. Glasgow is in the running to host the UK’s first …

North West Discovery Sessions - Autumn 2017 Forward Look

We think there is something for everyone in our Autumn programme, of bite-size learning sessions – which are all FREE to attend - whether it be learning some new leadership techniques, finding out about other Civil Service Departments in your neck of the woods or something relating to a specialist profession.

Whilst some of the dates are yet to be confirmed, see below for details of what is coming soon.

Home Office in the media: 25 July 2017

The main stories relating to the Home Office this morning include the Metropolitan Police's announcement on providing new kit to officers in order to deal with acid attacks and a report in the Express on a lorry driver who was …

How can Britain produce economically valuable skills?

Britain has struggled to produce economically valuable skills for over 130 years. How can this be fixed?

Education in the media: 24 July 2017   

Today’s news review looks at new measures to deliver greater equality for the LGBT community, and a survey on swimming in schools.

What do we mean by responsible building?

We’ve been talking a lot in GOV.UK about our need to deliver responsibly through our 2017 to 2018 roadmap. We’re having 4 x 11 week mission periods and we want to ensure that while we deliver at pace, we don’t …

All Set For Takeoff at RNAS Yeovilton

Hi, I’m Alastair Fife, team leader for WINFRA - the DIO’s Wildcat Infrastructure Programme. We last updated you on progress on the project earlier in the year and I’m pleased to say that the vast majority of the infrastructure work …

Home Office in the media: 24 July 2017

The main Home Office story in the media today has focused on Spice, the street name for a group of synthetic cannaboids, which was formally a so-called ‘legal high’ before being banned last year.

The Faraday Challenge – part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

Future generations will be using vehicles, which have batteries as their primary source of energy.  They will be able to charge, travel, discharge to the grid and recharge at will.  There will need to be completely different business models developed around how …

Defence in the Media: 24 July 2017

Defence news today includes the first meeting of the newly-formed Defence External Innovation Advisory Panel, and reporting on British Army recruitment. Defence Innovation Panel World class innovators including astronaut Tim Peake and former McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis gathered at the MOD …

Goonhilly Aerial 1 – “Arthur” 55 years on

On 23 July, 55 years ago, US president John F. Kennedy’s gave a historic press conference about the unprecedented capabilities of the previously launched Telstar satellite. His speech was, for the first time, transmitted via the satellite from the United …

API the Docs conference: 3 key takeaways

Technical Writer on GaaP, Jonathan Glassman, recently attended the API The Docs conference, organised by our very own technical writer community at GDS and Write the Docs. Find out what he learned...

Smarter working means making Defra a better place to work

Read a blog post from Betsy Bassis, Defra Chief Operating Officer, explaining what it means to work smarter and why it's important

Good clinical practice inspection metrics for 2015 to 2016 published

Last week we published the 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016 GCP Inspection metrics report.

My week at DWP Digital

Hi, I’m Catherine Bailey, I’m coming to the end of my first year of A-Levels and I have just completed a work experience placement with the DWP Digital Engagement team in Leeds.

From best practice to next practice

How new technologies are improving our tools for analysis and impact...

Defence in the Media: 23 July 2017

Defence news today includes the UK’s programme to replace trident, the annual report and accounts, soldier welfare, and the University Officer Training Corps.

Currency fluctuation adjustments

When we convert foreign currency into sterling it generates gains or losses, this is exactly the same for any organisation. Managing the impact of exchange rate changes is part of the normal responsibilities of government.