8952posts
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Extension offer for 2021 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements
We’re offering a one-year extension to more than 5,000 farmers whose Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (CS MT) agreements are set to expire on 31 December this year.
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FETF 2025: Over 8,800 applicants offered grant funding
We’re pleased to confirm that over 8,800 applicants have successfully secured funding through this year’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). Grant Funding Agreements (GFAs) have now been sent.
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Six Months in - Building the Women in Engineering Working Group
In celebration of Ada Lovelace Day, a moment to honour the achievements of women in STEM, we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how a small group within Justice Digital is trying to engineer organisational change. This blog is part of …
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What’s changing – managing your patents
We are publishing a weekly blog series to provide you with comprehensive guidance on each aspect of the upcoming changes. In today’s blog, we explore how managing your patents is changing in the One IPO service. So far, the most popular transactions in the new service are all around managing your patents. Things like changing who …
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More than the sum of our parts: professionals and citizen scientists working together to transform evidence collection
We’re in the middle of a step change for national-scale environmental evidence in England. In recent years, the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme has allowed us to create and upgrade maps and data products like the England Peat …
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Understanding satellite re-entry: UK Space Agency leads global research on atmospheric ablation
To understand more about atmospheric ablation, the UK Space Agency commissioned studies led by Durham University, University of Southampton, and Belstead Ltd to investigate the potential impacts of satellite re-entry and fill critical knowledge gaps, reinforcing the UK’s leadership in space sustainability.
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Windscale: From Nuclear Pioneer to Decommissioning Landmark
Before we were Sellafield, we were Windscale. Today our brilliant people and supply chain partners have a different challenge – how do we safely decommission these legacy facilities?
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Four decades in the passenger seat: My journey as Chief Driving Examiner
Chief Driving Examiner, Mark Winn, retires this month after 39 years in driver testing. Here he reflects on the changes he’s seen since becoming Chief Driving Examiner in 2018.
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One Big Thing 'AI for All' is live
One Big Thing 2025 - ‘AI for All’ is live. This year’s initiative is about all civil servants becoming more confident and responsible users of AI.
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Power of Attorney Stories: Jill
[English] - [Cymraeg] A lasting power of attorney (also known as an LPA) is a legal document. It allows you to nominate someone you trust to step in and make decisions about your health and welfare and property and finance if you …
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Coverage of pro-growth package to get Britain building
There has been prominent national print and broadcast coverage about the government unveiling a package of pro-growth amendments to the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as part of wider efforts to sweep aside blockers standing in the way of growth …
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iCOMAT opens state-of-the-art space manufacturing facility with £4.8 million UK Space Agency investment
A groundbreaking new space manufacturing facility that is expected to create 2,000 jobs has officially opened in Hardwicke, Gloucester, marking a significant milestone for the UK's space industry capabilities.
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Tyrosinaemia screening implemented in England
Newborn screening for hereditary tyrosinaemia type 1 (HT1) has been implemented in England.
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Compliance Clarity: Real World Lessons in Trade Sanctions Breach Detection
OTSI is committed to sharing information with businesses to support their compliance with trade sanctions. This might be in the form of a disclosure linked to enforcement action, or updated guidance. It could also be in the form of blogs, …
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Inside PECS: Managing One of Government’s Most Complex Contracts
PECS ensures safe, timely prisoner transport across England and Wales, managing 600,000 moves yearly. With strict performance metrics and collaboration across justice partners, it plays a vital role in supporting court operations and access to justice.
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Making London Accessible: How Travel Hands Is Transforming Urban Mobility
With support from the UK Space Agency's Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme, London-based charity Travel Hands has integrated space-enabled tracking technology to enhance the security and accessibility of its service and help people with visual impairments across the city.
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Listening and improving: how we’re developing species monitoring
In May 2024 we published, for the first time, 'Indicators for Species Abundance in England' as an official statistic in development. The all-species abundance indicator, once fully developed, will be used to track progress with meeting our statutory biodiversity targets. This blog post dives into how we're continuing to develop our species monitoring.
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MMO updates bass fishing guidance for 2025
The guidance on GOV.UK has been updated to help commercial and recreational fishers understand their obligations and contribute to the long-term health of bass stocks.
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Flood Action Week: How Prepared Are You for Flooding?
Mark Garratt is an Environment Agency flood director and has seen firsthand the devastating impacts flooding can have on homes and business. Here he tells you why you need to be prepared for flooding this winter and outlines some simple steps to keep you and your loved ones safe.
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A Landmark Year for England’s Fungi
From international pledges to pioneering reintroduction projects, it’s been an exciting year for England’s fungi. Natural England Mycologist, Matt Wainhouse, reflects on remarkable year for fungal conservation. Fungi on the global agenda Fungi have often missed out in the global …
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Coverage of our £84 million injection to tackle homelessness
There has been media coverage today on our announcement on World Homeless Day confirming an extra £84 million for councils to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. This is on top of the record £1 billion investment this year to end homelessness, …
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Nature by the numbers: what the 2025 Biodiversity Finance Trends Dashboard reveals
Yesterday at the UK’s Pre-COP event at the Natural History Museum, Defra’s Secretary of State, Rt Hon Emma Reynolds launched the 2025 Biodiversity Finance Trends Dashboard, which tracks global progress against biodiversity finance targets, as part of efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss as set out under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). …
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Reducing the spread of illness this winter: Seven steps to healthier schools and higher school attendance
As the colder months approach, we can expect to see increases in common airborne viruses. Illness is the biggest single reason for school absence; while some absences due to illness are unavoidable, many can be reduced through simple, proactive measures …
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Power of Attorney Stories: Nick
[English] - [Cymraeg] A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows you to nominate someone you trust, known as an attorney, to step in if you lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions yourself. They are legal documents that cover …
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Local Authorities: Leaders in Community Mental Health
Introductions by Sarah McClinton and Robert Lewis Local Authorities: Leaders in Community Mental Health by Christina Cheney In recent years, approaches to mental health support have shifted towards more community based and socially informed care. This shift recognises that mental …
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Minister for Veterans and People visits British Forces Cyprus in first overseas engagement
In her first overseas visit since taking office, Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones, travelled to British Forces Cyprus to engage directly with personnel and families, reaffirming the UK Government’s commitment to supporting overseas postings. A veteran herself, the …
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Dragons Den IP Blog - Series 22 Episode 11
This week’s episode of Dragons’ Den featured some extra fire as guest Dragon Joe Wicks returned to the Den to join the other five investors. As they settled in to see what this week’s entrepreneurs would bring, I was playing a game of spot the IP.
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Using Privacy Enhancing Technologies to Enable International Data Sharing
Hear from the GDS team, in collaboration with colleagues in NHSE, on the results of their pilot using novel Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) to enable international data collaboration on ultra-rare childhood cancer data.
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Celebrating World Space Week 2025 on London’s Piccadilly Lights
As part of World Space Week 2025, we’re proud to see space, art, and creativity come together on one of London’s most iconic landmarks – the Piccadilly Lights.
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Delivering Impact Through Justice Research & Development
The Science Office is the Ministry of Justice’s home for applied science, a team bringing expertise in foresight strategy, emerging technology and the natural, physical and behavioural sciences, to some of the justice system’s toughest challenges. From countering drones that …
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Applications are now open for Science and Engineering Fast Stream 2026
Are you curious about science and engineering roles in government? Would you like to influence decision-making and policy using your science and engineering background? Then the Government Science and Engineering Fast Stream (SEFS) could be the career choice for you. …
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Homegrown talent: How DVLA is developing the next generation of digital experts
Craig James, Capability and Talent Lead, reflects on how DVLA’s Centre of Digital Excellence (CoDE) development programme has helped students develop their digital capabilities.
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Spacecraft to detect Earth-like planets complete and set for testing
Engineers have completed construction of Plato, a mission that will search for Earth-like exoplanets, by fitting its sunshield and solar panels. With this final step, Plato is ready to begin a series of crucial tests ahead of its planned launch in December 2026.
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Prioritising social care registration applications: putting the needs of children and young people first
Following an unprecedented and sustained rise in applications to register children’s homes, on Thursday 18 September, we published our revised policy for prioritising children’s homes applications. The revised policy sets out the criteria for urgently dealing with applications. In short, …
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How we wrote the AQuA Book ....
Discover how actuary Becky Wodcke and a cross-government team updated the AQuA Book - essential guidance for quality analysis across departments. Learn about collaborative writing, new tools like GitHub, and tips for clear communication.
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The curtain falls, a farewell to the Karaoke Shower
After more than a decade of touring the nation and out of tune singing, the time has come to bid farewell to our beloved Karaoke Shower. Yes, that is right, the shower curtain is finally coming down on what must rank as one of the most bizarre education initiatives, not just at the Intellectual Property …
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Do I have flu, COVID-19 or a cold? Know the signs and symptoms
This blog post is an explainer of important information about these winter infections; their signs and symptoms, and information on who is eligible for vaccination.
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Celebrating climate innovation during World Space Week
As we mark World Space Week 2025, the UK Space Agency announces the launch of six new projects funded through our third Climate Services Call.
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How do you assess digital services for sustainability?
Ned Gartside, Sustainable Design Lead, shares how Defra is testing an approach to assess and record how well digital services are managing their environmental and social impacts.
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Qualified Electronic Signatures: Answering your questions
Following HM Land Registry's recent announcement that we will accept Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), we've put together answers to your most frequently asked questions to help you understand how this is working in practice.