9583posts
-
The UK Trade Mark Register at 150: what next?
Guest bloggers Annabelle Whatmough and Anne Barrett look at what the future holds for trade marks following the 150th anniversary of the Trade Mark Registry.
-
Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance in pets and horses
VMD Voices: Our Experts Explain
-
Building on success: funding for new OCEAN projects
In November 2024 at COP29, we shared the 20 projects we'd funded through the first round of our Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme. Today, we're delighted to be back with an update that we're building on first round success and awarding £14 million to community projects through the second funding round.
-
Suspensions: How suspensions in school can help tackle behaviour and boost pupil support
Schools will be supported to introduce internal suspensions as part of their behaviour policies. Suspensions are meant to be a serious response to poor behaviour. But when pupils are sent home, they can miss learning, spend long periods unsupervised and fall further behind.
-
Operation AUSTRAL ENDURANCE: Building Antarctic capability through cooperation
British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) personnel based at Mount Pleasant Complex have worked with Chilean counterparts and UK partners to strengthen safe, treaty‑compliant access to one of the world’s most demanding operating environments. Background and direction In December 2025, …
-
Coverage of leasehold announcement
There has been significant and widespread media coverage of a major shake-up of the outdated leasehold system, announced by the government yesterday. Over 5 million leaseholders and future homeowners will benefit from stronger control, powers and protections, through the draft …
-
Towards a comprehensive National Underground Asset Register, integrated into the existing ecosystem
The goal of the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) is to make street works safer and more efficient by bringing together underground asset data in a standard form, securely accessible in one place. Informed by extensive consultation, we are designing regulations that ensure that the …
-
A look back at DVLA and Amazon Web Services (AWS)’s knowledge-sharing event
Simon Cromwell, ITS Strategy and Communication Lead, reflects on our recent event with Welsh Local Government and public sector colleagues. From cloud technology to developing digital careers, we explored what we've learnt and why investing in people is just as important as investing in technology.
-
How people used GOV.UK in 2025
User insights help us to understand how we can develop GOV.UK to ensure it continues to meet people’s needs and work well for everyone. Learn about some of 2025’s main findings across the GOV.UK website, app and social media channels.
-
AI Skills Boost: Skills England’s AI foundation skills for work benchmark supports free AI training for all, by Phil Smith
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way we work. In order to benefit from the opportunities AI presents, boost economic growth and career success, it’s essential that people have the right skills and are confident in using them. The challenge Too many people in the UK lack digital …
-
OFSI and partners clamp down on the abuse of cryptoassets
Sanctions enablers are increasingly turning to cryptoassets to move and hide illicit funds, including those linked to sanctions evasion. But every transaction leaves a trace. By working together, UK agencies are following those traces to identify, investigate and disrupt criminal …
-
Time to Adapt: Helping Coastal Communities Prepare for a Changing Coast
From seaside towns to quiet rural stretches, England’s coastline is one of the country’s most valued assets. It is home to thriving communities, beautiful landscapes and vital infrastructure that we all rely on. But the coast is also one of the places where the impacts of climate change are being felt most clearly.
-
Improving the way Google delivers search services in the UK
Find out more about our proposed conduct requirements relating to Google’s general search and search advertising services.
-
Housing Secretary rallies sector at housing and infrastructure roundtables
This week the Housing Secretary and Housing Minister, along with the Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, convened the country’s biggest housebuilders including Vistry, Permission, Taylor Wimpey, and Barratt Redrow to seek their views on proposed planning reforms …
-
Why Nature Close to Home Matters: Evidence from the People and Nature Survey
By Lydia Dixon, People and Nature Deputy Director, Natural England A daily dose of nature boosts physical and mental health, strengthens communities, and can save the NHS millions every year. These benefits are often greatest for people in nature-deprived communities, who gain disproportionately from …
-
Nipah virus: what is it, where is it found and how does it spread?
Nipah virus (NiV) is a serious infectious disease that periodically causes outbreaks in parts of Asia. While the risk to most people remains very low, understanding this virus is important if you are planning to travel to one of the areas where it circulates. No cases have ever been found in the UK.
-
Unshackling leaseholders from problematic ground rents
The government has set out plans to introduce a cap on existing ground rents to £250 a year.
-
Collaborative underwater TV surveys of Nephrops in the Irish Sea
Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus), more commonly called langoustines, Dublin Bay prawns or just prawns, are a commercially important shellfish species, with numerous fisheries around Great Britain and Ireland. The fisheries represent an economic value of £114 million (UK Sea Fisheries Statistics …
-
Empowering Women in Tech: DBT’s focus on inclusion and innovation
“Diversity in Digital and Data leads to better outcomes for all of DBT and the businesses we support in the UK and beyond.”
-
New year, new challenges – and we've hit the ground running
Interim Chief Executive Graham Stallwood looks forward to working together across the planning sector in a busy and exciting 2026.
-
Own a flat or looking to buy? Here’s what the new leasehold shake-up means for you 💸
Millions of homeowners – mostly flat owners – will save significant cash thanks to a new major shake‑up of the leasehold system. If you own a flat or are looking to buy one, you probably know about the excessive charges …
-
Do schools close because of bad weather? Everything parents need to know
Schools will make every effort to stay open in adverse weather conditions, however, the safety of pupils and teachers is a top priority. Here's everything you need to know.
-
Using Local Nature Recovery Strategies to guide on-farm decisions
Whether you’re looking to improve soil health, manage flood risk, diversify income or plan future environmental activity, your Local Nature Recovery Strategy can help you decide what to do.
-
More sensitive bowel cancer screening test implemented in line with UK NSC recommendation
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England has increased the sensitivity of bowel cancer screening faecal immunochemical test in line with the UK NSC recommendation.
-
What the government's updated guidance on mobile phones means for school inspections
You may have seen that the Department for Education (DfE) is tightening its guidance on mobile phones in schools. Our Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, has said many times that you already have his and Ofsted's full backing to ban mobile phones …
-
Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 – My Family’s Story - Dalya Wittenberg
Dalya Wittenberg shares how tracing her grandparents' escape from Nazi-occupied Poland led her to become a Holocaust educator – and why passing on survivor stories matters more than ever. The first time I disclosed to colleagues that I am a …
-
Unlocking Better Outcomes: The Power of UPRNs in Linking Data
What are UPRNs? In an increasingly data-driven world, seamless data integration is essential for effective, efficient public services and business operations. Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) are unique identifiers of up to 12 digits which are assigned to every addressable location in the UK. These …
-
Early years inspections: frequently asked questions
Since we published the renewed inspection framework on 9 September 2025, we’ve put on lots of online and face-to-face engagement with early years settings to answer your questions. We’re publishing the most frequently asked questions below, so you can see all the …
-
Coverage of our Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance
Temple Gardens, North Somerset ©Historic England Yesterday we announced our new design guidance, giving councils and developers a clear rulebook to deliver better‑designed, safer and healthier neighbourhoods that complement local areas. This forms part of the biggest planning rewrite in a decade, designed …
-
Balancing Nature and Development: The Humber Estuary Protected Site Strategy Pilot
By Katharine Carson, Senior Officer, Sustainable Development, Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Area Team When you think of the Humber Estuary, you might picture big stretches of mudflats full of wading birds like curlew and lapwing. Or maybe you think of the busy docks and …
-
Becoming the trusted guardian of corporate transparency
Andy King, Chief Executive and Registrar of Companies for England and Wales looks back on a transformative year for Companies House, and sets out what's ahead for 2026.
-
Misleading reporting on election postponement
There has been some misleading reporting in a number of media outlets today claiming some local elections have been “cancelled”. That is not the case. Elections in 29 areas are being postponed — not cancelled. Those councils provided evidence that …
-
The evolution of trade marks: from brewery triangles to digital titans
The celebration of 150 years since the first registered UK trade mark is the perfect opportunity to remember how trade marks have shaped the world we live in.
-
Tackling violence against women through whole system design
London Government expert, Olumide Adisa, uses systems thinking to improve outcomes for victims.
-
What is measles and why is it so important we're up to date with our vaccines to protect against it?
Measles is highly contagious so even a small decline in vaccine uptake can lead to a rise in cases. There has been a resurgence of measles in England and around the world in recent years. In 2024 there were 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England, the highest number of cases recorded annually in decades.
-
Making our funded vet visits work better for pig farmers
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) testing is a required part of the animal health and welfare review for pigs. From 22 January, vets will be able to use blood samples as an alternative to oral fluid samples, making it easier for pig farmers to take part in the review.
-
Divorce Step by Step: Your Essential Guide
Discover how the divorce process really works, from gathering your documents to receiving your final order and learn the common mistakes that can delay your application.
-
Making the government’s first digital wallet a reality
In 2025, the digital Veteran Card went live, and private testing began for the digital driving licence. These were big milestones for the team building the UK Government’s first digital wallet – read on to find out what we’ve been doing.
-
A parent’s guide to croup: what are the symptoms and when to seek medical advice
Croup is a common childhood condition that affects the windpipe, the airways to the lungs, and the voice box. It mainly affects babies and young children, typically those aged between 6 months and 3 years, though most cases occur in 1-year-olds. Boys tend to be affected more than girls, and croup is most common during …
-
Our journey to delivering the Fire and Rescue Data Platform
The recently launched Fire and Rescue Data Platform (FaRDaP) is one of the most critical digital services underpinning emergency response across England, Scotland and Wales. Learn how the FaRDaP team built and now run a nationwide service that helps record incident data more easily, keeps communities safer, and supports the future of the fire sector.