7368posts
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Information Commissioner's Office unveils data strategy: How we are shaping the future of data in regulating information rights
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
shares how they are using data to empower
through information. -
The Environment Agency has published its annual Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) report
The Environment Agency has published its annual Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) report of the environmental performance of England’s nine water and sewerage companies during 2023. The EPA is the only independent comparison of environmental performance across the sector. While it …
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Storm recovery in Lincolnshire
My name is Paul Dutchburn, and I am the Asset Performance Team Leader in the South Humber & East Coast (SHEC) in the Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire Area. Six months after the eighth storm of the 2023-2024 season, I am now …
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Celebrating success this awards season
CDIO, Rich Corbridge reflects on how the collective efforts of DWP Digital colleagues has been the driving force of success and industry recognition over the past 12 months.
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Generative AI in government: DBT’s next steps
How DBT has been working with partners across government to learn about the potential value that AI tools could bring to our support for businesses.
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An exciting job opportunity for veterinary surgeons at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Do you have the veterinary expertise that can help us innovate and develop new, cutting-edge technologies? Are you excited by the prospect of interesting and challenging scientific problems that, owing to their sensitivity, cannot be done elsewhere? Can you see …
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BNG lessons learned with Local Planning Authorities
By Ruth Andreyeva, Director of Land, Water and Seas strategy Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in England earlier in 2024, after many years of collaboration across industry and the public sector. We celebrate this milestone wholeheartedly, but we’re not …
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RPA supports Farm Safety Week
RPA is supporting Farm Safety Week run by the Farm Safety Foundation – or Yellow Wellies as they’re known. Farm Safety Week, starting on 22 July, is the ten-year anniversary of the campaign, which brings together more than 400 partners …
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ACE suppliers Coefficient and Bays Consulting win £100,000 AI competition prize
Two suppliers who met through ACE’s Vivace community have been awarded a £100,000 grant from the Government’s AI Fairness Innovation Challenge to develop novel solutions for addressing unfair bias and discrimination in artificial intelligence systems. The Challenge, managed by the …
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Inside BFSAI: Mount Pleasant winter capabilities
In British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), Mount Pleasant Airfield (MPA) is exposed to dramatic and challenging South Atlantic winter conditions at this time of year. This climate makes the operation of the airfield challenging. 1312 Flight (Flt), 905 Expeditionary …
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Beth’s love of problem-solving is ideal for her UK NSC role
Profile of UK NSC test expert member Professor Bethany Shinkins.
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Global IT Outage and OFSI Reporting Obligations
Ongoing technical issues with global IT systems, as reported in the media, may be impacting upon firms’ ability to fulfil their reporting obligations to OFSI, or meet other deadlines to supply us with information. For any reporting which misses the …
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DHSC's position on puberty blockers
Response to High Court ruling on puberty blockers On 29 July 2024, the High Court ruled a ban on puberty blockers introduced by the government was lawful. DHSC's response is below: Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “I …
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RPA Agency Management Board visit to Bearwardcote Farm
RPA offers a wide range of grants and rural payments to farmers and businesses. In this blog, Robert from the Grants Service team writes about RPA’s Agency Management Board visit to Bearwardcote Farm in Derbyshire talking to the farmers about …
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Flood & Coast Excellence Awards 2024: Celebrating Innovation and Collaboration
This week, the Environment Agency hosted the Flood and Coast Excellence Awards. These celebrate some of the most innovative and impactful flood and coastal erosion risk management projects from across the country writes Caroline Douglass, Environment Agency Executive Director of …
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Engineering the perfect Summer for your STEM development
Summer learning for GSE members The GSE Awareness courses have been refreshed and support the ambition to increase scientific literacy across government and help deliver on the GCSA's aim for a more scientific civil service. Check out the changes made …
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Understanding algal blooms in the River Wye
My name is Jason Doe and I’m a freshwater ecologist in the Environment Agency. I have been surveying algae in the River Wye for several years and find the interactions between aquatic life and its environment fascinating. Plants and invertebrates …
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How grass cutting on flood defences reduces the risk of flooding
Abigail Ovenden, Asset Management Engagement Advisor in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, talks about how important it is to cut grass on flood defences and why such work is done. You may have seen our Environment Agency teams and contractors out cutting …
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Coverage of announcements in the King’s Speech
There has been significant coverage of the King’s Speech today, with many outlets reporting prominently on legislation which will be brought forward by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Following the Chancellor’s speech last week to grasp the …
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How Zero Down Lease is taking the fear out of leasehold extensions
In our latest podcast, Josef Wasinski tell us why he set up Zero Down Lease, a company dedicated to helping customers navigate the complex area of lease extensions, taking away the fear and confusion.
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Annual report highlights examples of UK NSC’s evolution and innovation
Today we have published the UK NSC annual report, summarising the committee’s work and achievements during the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
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Government introduces new bill to clean up water sector
Today we are looking at the introduction of the government’s first steps to transform the water sector.
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Delivering for nature and the economy
Home builders in the Poole Harbour catchment area can apply for Nutrient Credits from 31 July. Natural England is playing its part in getting Britain building by enabling sustainable growth and safeguarding our rivers, lakes and seas. One way we …
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Grade 6 – Head: Science Policy and Engagement, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
This role will work across a diverse portfolio within the Chief Scientific Adviser’s Office, leading on priority areas that are at the heart of the science system in DESNZ. The postholder will be responsible for delivery of science and evidence …
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The King’s Speech 2024: What does it mean for education?
During the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 17 July, the King set out the government’s priorities for the coming months. This included commitments relating to education, including children’s social care, schools, and further education. Together, these important changes will …
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Farmers – Protect yourselves from waste criminals
A wet winter has meant it’s been a difficult start to the year for many farmers. Facing reduced early crop yields or worse still, zero yields, the temptation to cut costs or diversify, to find additional income is more tempting …
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Welcoming a new Government and what this means for adult social care
The votes have been cast and the country has spoken. The new Government is now busy setting out its priorities and future direction as set out in its election manifesto. As a sector, adult social care will be adjusting to …
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Changes to ungraded inspections
In this blog, we’ll talk you through the changes we will be making to ungraded inspections in the autumn term. You may already be aware of these changes from the announcements that Sir Martyn Oliver made in his speech to …
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Alternative text in action
We want to share some top tips on writing and using alternative text to encourage everyone to add it into their content every day. Our tips can be applied no matter what software or application you’re using.
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What is RSV and is there a vaccine?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory virus that is common over the winter period, typically November to February. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5 in the UK annually, and for 20 to 30 infant deaths. In this post, we look at the symptoms, risk factors and who is eligible for the vaccine.
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We’ll need the original deeds
From October, we will no longer accept conveyancer applications for first registration based entirely on certified copies of title deeds and documents.
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Helping farmers get ready for winter with slurry storage support
Is your farm winter ready? We know winter woollies are well packed away, crops are growing, combine harvesters will soon be in the fields and many of you will have fingers crossed for dry, settled weather. But time keeps moving …
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First patent filing in IPO’s new digital service
The first real life patent filing has been made using our new patent application service. The Transformation team told us how it went and how a limited number of customers can gain access to the patent filing pilot programme. Will you be on board?
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Celebrating nature on our doorstep: a tale of seven blackbirds
Back in May, one of the blog team found a blackbird nest in her garden. Here's the story of the chicks and their parents.
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Anglian Water Services Ltd fined £50k in case brought by the Environment Agency
We continue to work on our largest ever criminal investigation, to date, into potential breaches of environmental permit conditions by all water and sewerage companies discharging into English waters. The extent of potential non-compliance involves more than 2,000 wastewater treatment …
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Launching a new film: 10 years of ethnography in government
Policy Lab is celebrating 10 years of bringing new methods into government. An important part of our story is our pioneering use of ethnography in policymaking. We have brought our ethnographic approach to independent reviews, the creation of strategies, the …
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Protecting Trained Models in Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning
Find out how you can protect individual's data after it's been used in training models through output privacy.
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Citizen Science in the West Midlands
My name is Lydia Ashworth and I have been a Citizen Science Coordinator for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands since July 2023. In this blog, you can find out about the Environment Agency’s ‘Supporting Citizen Science Project’ and …
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Planning reform and housing
The Government has this week announced first steps in reforming the planning system to get Britain building and bring about the biggest increase in social housing and affordable housebuilding in a generation. In a speech on Monday [8th July], the …
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Driving local growth through a “new era” of devolution: No 10 mayoral roundtable
The first-ever cross-party mayoral meeting bringing together England’s metro mayors was held in Downing Street this week (9 July 2024). Word of the meeting first hit The Guardian's Monday front page, highlighting the new Government’s plans to power up Britain …