8479posts
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Appreciating woodland ecosystems through winter birdwatching
Emily Robinson, Content Officer at the Forestry Commission, reveals the birds you can expect to see in our woodlands in winter, and how they contribute to a healthy, woodland ecosystem.
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Bringing together international public designers in Amsterdam, Berlin and Brussels
Recapping the International Design in Government Community activities this year from a conference in Amsterdam to getting together in Berlin. And sharing what is planned for the community in 2026.
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Serious games to support organisation design
Policy Lab has been exploring how serious games can help civil servants make more intentional decisions about organisation design. This post shares what we learned from designing and testing a new game with OD&D professionals across government.
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Collaborative multi-year strategy for the king scallop fishery
The king scallop multi-year strategy will shape the future of UK-EU management collaboration. Catch up with the progress to date and what’s next.
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What Professional Recognition can do for you!
This week we’re celebrating all things Professional Recognition, each day focusing on different aspects of the process, including case studies and testimonies from Government Science and Engineering (GSE) members who have benefitted from the process. Today we’re covering the basics – what Professional Recognition is, how it can benefit you as an individual, and how …
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A User Centred approach to helping colleagues collaborate by improving DBT’s People Finder
How DBT's Employee Experience team combined user research, design and delivery expertise to improve the department's intranet.
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The Architecture Decision Record (ADR) Framework: making better technology decisions across the public sector
We’ve introduced the Architecture Decision Record (ADR) framework to help teams across government make and record technology decisions consistently.
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Glimpse a Geminid meteor this weekend
The peak of the Geminid meteor shower occurs this weekend and with the Moon out of the way you’ve got a great opportunity to spot shooting stars.
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New draft guidance published to support faster and clearer local plan-making
Read about the details of a new plan-making system for England. It will ensure local plans, which are created by councils to shape development in their area, are simpler, faster to prepare, and more accessible for everyone. Learn about new user-tested digital guidance and tools published in draft to help plan-makers deliver local plans faster.
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Consultation opens on evidence relating to population screening for Type 2 diabetes in adults
The UK NSC has opened a public consultation on evidence relating to population screening for Type 2 Diabetes in adults.
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How the Regulatory Policy Committee uses artificial intelligence
The government is keen that all areas of the public sector understand the opportunities from using artificial intelligence (AI) and mitigate the potential risks. The RPC has been experimenting with using AI tools over the past few months to see how far these can help us with different aspects of our work.
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Spotlight on our 2025 GSE Award winners!
The Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession recently celebrated the second annual GSE Awards on 20 November recognising the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and teams across the profession. Organised by a dedicated group of volunteers from various departments, with support from the GSE Profession team and …
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Making the Planning Inspectorate a great place to work
Chief People Officer Hayley Kelly talks about the inspiration she has drawn from the recent CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition and her pride in helping make PINS a great place to work.
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Strategic Planning – there’s a lot of it about!
Compared to the process that produced marine plans published in 2021, let alone the preparation of the first marine plan (for the East) in 2014, there are now other strategic and spatial planning initiatives and projects in play. Notable examples …
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Join us for the FSA open Board meeting – 10 December
Cymraeg The FSA’s final board meeting of the year will take place next Wednesday (10 December) at Victoria Hall, Reading. This is your opportunity to hear first-hand how we’re tackling issues that affect your food. We're discussing a range of …
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From saving orangutans to tracking hornets: the unexpected world of the Operational Delivery Profession at APHA
How the Animal and Plant Health Agency saved a baby orangutan: Find out about the great work APHA does and how the Operational Delivery Profession helps connect people across government delivering on the front line.
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International Volunteer Day: making a difference in our communities
In this post, to mark International Volunteer Day, 3 of our colleagues reflect on their volunteering experience: what motivates them, how their contributions support the people and places around them, and how it connects to their professional values.
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Building a diverse digital future: how our partnership with Colorintech is inspiring the next generation
Over 3,500 people engaged with GDS at Black Tech Fest through our ColorinTech partnership. 92% left inspired to pursue digital Civil Service roles.
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5 things we are doing to tackle child poverty
Families across the country are feeling the pressure of rising costs. From making sure children have access to nutritious meals to helping with the cost of school essentials, here are five things that we are doing to pull over half a million children out of poverty.
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Living with antimicrobial-resistant TB
In this blog post Samara shares her story of fighting antimicrobial -resistant tuberculosis, the hidden long-term consequences and the importance of getting that persistent cough checked out.
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Progress made on plans to evaluate SMA newborn screening
Update from latest partnership board meeting overseeing planning of the in-service evaluation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy.
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Cymraeg yn yr IPO - y daith hyd yn hyn
Cymraeg: Ar ôl sylweddoli, fel busnes gyda'i bencadlys yng Nghymru, y gallem fod yn gwneud mwy i roi'r dewis o wasanaethau dwyieithog Saesneg/Cymraeg i gwsmeriaid sy'n siarad Cymraeg, aeth y Swyddfa Eiddo Deallusol ati i ymgorffori defnydd o'r iaith Gymraeg yn ei gweithgareddau. Yma, rydym yn edrych ar y daith hyd yn hyn. English: After …
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Bathing Season 2025 storm overflow EDM data analysed
Following the 2025 DEFRA bathing water classifications, we are sharing an update on storm overflow performance associated with bathing waters across England for the 2025 season (15 May to 30 September). This year has seen an overall improvement: both the …
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“I imagined a concrete jungle not a nature reserve!”: Innovation at Winfrith
Recently, three new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group graduates were lucky enough to visit Winfrith, the former nuclear reactor test site now being decommissioned by Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), as part of the NDA group’s estate. Jo, Kim, and Tiffany …
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Three countries, eight designers, nine insights
Tax designers from across the globe write about developing and using design patterns.
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Farming podcast: how to build a fairer, more transparent supply chain
In this post, we share the latest podcast featuring Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator Richard Thompson with Paul Tompkins (NFU Dairy Board Chair) and Michael Masters (Barber's Farmhouse Cheesemakers). They discuss building a fairer, more transparent supply chain following new regulations. We also include a link to, and summary of, the ACSA's first annual report.
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Smarter banking: How Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust increased their annual interest income to over £1 million
David Leane, Chief Financial Officer, shares how Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust has benefited from reviewing their banking arrangements. When I joined Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust twelve years ago as a small trust of just four schools, managing our …
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Swapping spreadsheets for spades with Northumberland Wildlife Trust
To mark International Volunteer Day - 5 December - Rob Mills, an Accounting Technician in the Cabinet Office Digital Finance team, shares how swapping spreadsheets for conservation work reminded him why getting outside matters - and why you should consider …
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Supporting justice in action: how staff delivered urgent technical support for a high-profile trial
When an urgent request arrived on the eve of a major murder trial, colleagues from across HMCTS worked together to deliver a critical technical solution. They protected a witness’s identity, upheld the principle of Open Justice and made sure the trial could proceed fairly.
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Innovation in action: highlights from the Local Government Innovation Hackathon
The Local Government Innovation Hackathon brought 150 people together to design fast, data-driven solutions to homelessness and temporary accommodation.
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How DHSC is Delivering for the British Public
How DHSC is Delivering for the British Public In part three of our series spotlighting civil servants driving the government’s Plan for Change, we meet Samantha Jones, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Health and Social Care. From tackling childhood …
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Mapping the housing safety and quality system
Where we live has a huge impact on our lives. The safety, quality and sustainability of our living environment is part of a vast and complex system. Learn how MHCLG's System Design team visualised this complex system, bringing real people’s experiences to life within it as part of their work to support user-centred policy design.
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New guidance published: The Consenting Lifecycle of Marine Geological CO₂ Stores
We are pleased to share that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published a new guidance document, The Consenting Lifecycle of Marine Geological CO₂ Stores. The MMO has been closely involved in shaping this guidance, with our …
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How to avoid catching flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses this winter
As we brace ourselves for chillier days and look forward to more indoor gatherings and seasonal social events with friends and family, now is the ideal time to remind ourselves of behaviours that can reduce the spread of respiratory infections …
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Creating special educational needs provision: A primary school case study
Waterville Primary School's headteacher, Mark Nugent, talks about successfully building specialist SEN units for speech and language needs, while maintaining academic standards and supporting a diverse community of learners.
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Countdown to EU IUU Regulation Changes
Time is running out until 10 January 2026, when the new EU Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations come into effect. We’re supporting all those involved in the UK seafood supply chain, so they can prepare and adopt to …
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Publishing the Environmental Improvement Plan - turning ambition into action for nature
We have published (1 December) our revised Environmental Improvement Plan – a clear roadmap for restoring nature. The previous plan lacked the rigour and detail to turn intent into impact. This government is determined to put that right. Our revised …
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Talking farming in 2026
Over the past year, I’ve been out and about with my team talking to farmers and others across the farming sector — from agents and agronomists to academics and advisers. To help us plan for 2026, we welcome your suggestions on where we should visit.
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Landscape Recovery and growth: building the foundations for critical nature infrastructure
By Chris Davis, Natural England’s Deputy Director for Landscape Recovery and Schemes Development At a time when the UK is facing serious environmental challenges such as climate change and loss of wildlife, restoring and protecting our natural capital is one …
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Leading with kindness on digital change, engagement and adoption
When it comes to digital change - the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is making our people the priority.