8431posts
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We Are Strategic Command: Sharon Brookes
Interviewer: Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background? Sharon: My name’s Sharon Brookes, and I’m the Senior Civil Servant (SCS) 1* Director of the Defence College for Military Capability Integration (DCMCI), part of Defence Academy. I’m …
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Ocean Country Partnership Programme in Maldives - Pollution update and the Fifth Maldives Marine Science Symposium
In July the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) team from Cefas visited Maldives to attend the Fifth Maldives Marine Science Symposium and to progress work with various OCPP partners. Aerial view of Maldives islands The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) …
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Newly recognised Official Statistic tracks the environmental impact of our consumption
Nearly all the food we eat, clothes we wear, and cosmetics we use contain commodities grown in fields and forests around the world. The environmental impact of our consumption habits is becoming more widely understood. To understand this, in this post, JNNC Evidence Specialist Ethan Workman discusses the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption (GEIC) Indicator which …
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Into the woods: the value of amenity woodlands
Join us for this month’s ‘Into the woods’ blog by Helen Townsend, the Forestry Commission’s Head of People, Landscape and Historic Environment. To mark Take a Walk Outdoors Day, she shares the value from having access to nature.
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Why we’re supporting the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance
Gerry Hackett and Ewen Anderson tell us why they have each volunteered to chair one of our Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA) working groups, sharing their personal career journeys to this point, and their ideas for where they see some …
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Defra's Bass Management Group: a new era for England's bass fishery
Defra’s collaborative Bass Management Group has met for the first time to discuss and progress the future management of the bass fishery in England.
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The Ouse Washes – a vital flood defence system in East Anglia
My name is Rupert Wilson and I am the Field Team Leader in the Ouse Washes Field Team in East Anglia. Our team plays a crucial role in the Management of the Ouse Washes Flood Storage Reservoir. The Ouse Washes …
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Media factsheet: EU Settlement Scheme
This factsheet was updated on 7 August 2025 The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) enables EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK by the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and their family members, to …
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Low Pay Commission regional visits 2025
Make your views heard on the future of the minimum wage The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is the independent body which advises the Government on the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW). Commissioners are drawn from …
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Behind Government Digital and Data: meet the people driving a modern digital government
In this blog we shine a spotlight on some of the remarkable individuals who are harnessing technology and data to make government work better for everyone.
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New screening masterclass dates announced
The UK NSC has announced 2 new dates for its popular screening masterclass, one in May and one in July.
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Dragons’ Den IP Blog- Series 22 Episode 2
From mystery football shirts on your doorstep to Italian pizza in pubs, the second episode of series 22 was full to the brim with keen entrepreneurs ready to pitch their business to the Dragons.
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Inaccurate reporting of grant funding based on council tax levels
There has been inaccurate reporting in The Telegraph, The Telegraph and I news that the government plans to redistribute grant funding to benefit areas with higher council tax levels. This is not true. These proposals will not see grant funding …
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From hive to honey: UK expertise supporting beekeepers in Ghana
In August 2024, our National Bee Unit invited participants from Ghana for a week-long intensive training on honeybee health, husbandry and honey production in the UK.
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The UK-Ukraine school partnerships programme: How can I get involved?
Schools across the UK and Ukraine are coming together in an exciting new partnership focused on sharing stories and promoting reading for pleasure. The programme, part of the 100-Year Partnership between the two countries, aims to create connections between school …
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Coverage following the import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany following Foot and Mouth case
There has been widespread media coverage following the announcement that we have introduced an import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after a Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) case was detected in Germany. The commercial …
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UK NSC meeting welcomes findings of review into effectiveness of AAA screening in the UK
Minutes published of UK NSC meeting held on 21 November 2024.
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Our tenth NDA group supply chain event
On 16 January 2025, the NDA will be hosting its tenth supply chain event, which is recognised as the largest supply chain event in Europe. This event is being hosted in Telford. To mark its decennial, Emma Ferguson-Gould, NDA Group …
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I don’t worry about AI taking my job – just my cat
Michaela, Data Scientist, talks about how she has navigated a new career in government, using AI and programming to solve complex problems, and found her passion in data science. She also explores the vibrant culture and impactful work of the MHCLG Data Unit.
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Prison, fines and disqualification for these waste criminals
We are delighted with the court sentencing of three men found guilty of illegally dumping more than 26,000 tonnes of waste – the equivalent weight of around 2,170 double-decker buses - at 17 sites across the country. They are estimated …
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Celebrating Diversity: award-nominated Black History Month initiatives led by a trainee probation officer and case administrators
We sat down with three Probation Service team members: trainee probation officer Chenaii, and case administrators Mai and Erin, to discuss their experiences working for HM Prison and Probation Service and their contributions to the celebration of Black History Month …
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Ignite Space 2025 is set to launch UK businesses into the space sector
Ignite Space returns for its fourth year to fuel the next wave of collaboration and innovation in the UK space industry.
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Navigating the future of pensions administration
Here we explore the trends in pensions administration as we enter 2025. The industry faces transformations driven by evolving regulations, tech advancements, and workforce changes. Our insights reveal complexities and opportunities, equipping you with strategies to navigate this dynamic landscape.
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Nature and farming friendly solutions drive agricultural transformation in the Peak District
In this post, Catchment Sensitive Farming Adviser Ben Rodgers shares an example of nature and farming-friendly solutions driving agricultural transformation in the Peak District.
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Secondment opportunities for competition and consumer lawyers
We are launching a new round of secondment opportunities for lawyers, to start on 7 April 2025. Since its launch in June 2018, almost 60 secondees from over 20 law firms have taken part in the programme and we are now …
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Solving problems, sharing knowledge: Defra's content community resources
Ayesha Tinsley explains how her team improved the content community's resources board, in the last in our series on Defra content community projects.
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The Scottish Government's FMPs: update on timelines and engagement
The Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government has provided an update on the 21 FMPs they are leading on. Find out more and how to get involved in this blog post.
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5 tips for Environmental Land Management in-field agroforestry applications
Agroforestry Advisor James Ramskir-Gardiner shares tips for getting the most from your Environmental Land Management (ELM) In-Field Agroforestry application.
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Accessibility audit of the Met Office app: outcomes and learnings
We explore how the Met Office responded to an accessibility report. We also trialled tandem testing and highlighted the lessons we learnt in understanding mobile apps.
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Life on the Range
I am the Training Safety Marshal for East Anglia Training Areas which includes Barton Road Rifle Range. Barton Road Rifle Range is about 1,200 yards long and one of only three bracketed ranges in the UK, meaning that there are several …
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Forests beneath the waves: celebrating our magnificent kelp
Marina Rees, Marine Higher Officer at Natural England When I joined the Thames Solent team as a marine lead adviser, I jumped at the opportunity to work on a project which delved into the world of kelp. I have long …
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What AI means for jobs and how we’re preparing the workforce
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we work, making tasks more efficient and creating new opportunities. To adapt to these changes, people need training and skills to do well in a world shaped by AI. Giving people the skills they …
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Coverage following the Secretary of State’s speech to the Oxford Farming Conference 2025.
The Secretary of State Steve Reed addressed the Oxford Farming Conference on Wednesday (9 January) to outline the Government’s long-term vision to make farming more profitable and put more money back in the pockets of British farmers. The speech was …
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MHRA Good Clinical and Laboratory Practice Symposia (11 and 12 February 2025)
Come and join the next MHRA Symposia in February 2025 and hear the latest on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in the UK from MHRA inspectors and regulators. Registration is available on the dedicated symposia website for in-person …
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Deputy Prime Minister promises to Make Work Pay in Scotland
Scottish media outlets including The Scotsman, The National, the Daily Record and Glasgow Times have all positively reported on the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Glasgow yesterday (09/01/25), where she pledged her commitment to making work pay in Scotland through …
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Maximising the miracle and minimising the disaster – putting Nature at the heart of food security
I was invited to speak at a historic event this week – the first major joint gathering of attendees at the two Oxford farming conferences: the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. After more than a decade …
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Dragons’ Den IP Blog- Series 22 Episode 1
Happy new year everyone! Can you believe we are onto series 22 of Dragons’ Den! As a new band of entrepreneurs face the dragons we are here, as always, ready and waiting to spot and discuss the different types of intellectual property in the pitches.
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Updating the User Researcher role in the Capability Framework
Those of you with eagle eyes will have noticed the ’user researcher’ role in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework, published by the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), has recently been updated. This blog post shares some of the background and thinking behind the changes, and highlights some of the things it …
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Celebrating 50 years of MOD conservation groups
The importance of the MOD estate for supporting wildlife and heritage has long been recognised. In 1971-73, the Nugent Committee examined the necessity and management of Defence land holdings. It noted the importance of the estate, and highlighted the need …
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Sir Jim Harra: Why small changes matter at HMRC
Sir Jim Harra, the Permanent Secretary at HM Revenue and Customs, tells us about the innovative small changes happening in his department.