8055posts
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Setting the foundations for effective data use in local government
In this blog post, we share the insights behind our approach to scaling data standards and an update on how we are addressing the challenge of unconnected systems in councils. Over 300 councils and sector organisations have committed to the …
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Progress in second year of the hen harrier southern reintroduction
The hen harrier southern reintroduction aims to establish a wild, farmland nesting population of hen harriers in the south of England. Supported by a conservation breeding programme, the project plans to introduce up to 100 juvenile hen harriers to a protected …
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Campaign Sites: Supporting our great global trade network
How we created a new publishing service from over a thousand microsites.
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Share your expertise and join our Science Advisory Committees
We hear from current members of our Science Advisory Committees (SACs) to find out about their roles, and to hear about their experience of being a SAC member.
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Tackling a system's accessibility without testing
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides a helpful framework for identifying technical accessibility issues, but what happens when the same issues crop up time and again? How can you find the causes and change the culture of the team behind the system?
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Government announces TB Eradication Strategy refresh to end the badger cull
The new strategy will use scientific evidence to help the Government to meet the goal to eradicate TB by 2038
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Removal of Ofsted single word judgements: what it means for schools and parents
Schools in England will no longer receive Ofsted single headline grades, also known as single word judgements, from today. This is the first step towards delivering a better accountability system which will see School Report Cards introduced from September 2025, which will …
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Upskilling Senior Civil Servants with the Digital Excellence programme
Guest blog from Olga Winkle, Learning Delivery Manager, Central Digital & Data Office An online learning programme created specifically to upskill Senior Civil Servants with digital, data and technology skills. The Modern Civil Service agenda set out Digital and Data …
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Making use of the Department for Education accessibility experience lab in Sheffield
“White male, 43 years old” said the AI voice as I had a camera pointed at me. In this case AI hasn’t quite got it right yet. But to give you a clue, let’s just say I was very happy …
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Speaking to children and young people about violent disorder and the Southport attack
The horrific attack in Southport on 29 July 2024 and the violent disorder in its aftermath, have caused grave concern across the country. Following the attack, rioting coordinated by right-wing extremists was initiated by the spread of misinformation about the …
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My advice would be to just take a chance and go for it, it may just be the fresh start that you need
We are pleased to advise that the GFiE Department for Education (DfE) Care Leavers Internship Scheme returns for 2024 and will launch on Monday 2nd September 2024. Full details about the Pathway and application process are detailed below, as well …
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How we value: petrol filling stations
In this instalment of our How We Value series, we explain how we value petrol stations across England and Wales.
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Inside the RPA: Marie Hardeman
In our series of blogs from the Rural Payments Agency’s Customer Directorate, we are featuring video interviews and blogs from some of the key people whose roles are focussed on delivering and improving the services provided to customers. In the …
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Natural England’s role in licensing to control badgers to prevent the spread of bovine Tuberculosis
Current government policy is to enable culling or vaccination of badgers to control bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). The Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs has today (30 August) announced a refresh of the strategy for control of bovine …
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Strategic Renewables Unit – Update
The Strategic Renewables Unit (SRU) aims to ensure the MMO’s vision of a prosperous future for our seas, coasts and communities is supported through deployment of sustainable offshore wind and other marine renewables. To learn more about the SRU, please …
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Welcome aboard our Fisheries Management Plans blog
Welcome aboard our new Fisheries Management Plans blog. Stay updated on latest developments, learn how we are moving forward and how your input matters
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How content designers add value to projects, from start to finish
We work in Defra’s farming content improvement team. Our role is to iterate and improve farming-related content on GOV.UK. One of our goals is to help farmers understand what type of funding is available and how to apply for it. …
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Reflecting on the first six months of BNG
By Chris Kaighin – Deputy Director, Biodiversity Net Gain Services It has been six months since the world-leading initiative Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory for most planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act. BNG makes sure development …
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The first time joining an FOB
Jordon Egan is a Senior Veterinary Inspector at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and in this blog shares her experiences of traversing across the country and joining a Forward Operating Base to work in front-line exotic disease control. After …
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NUAR Discovery update: collaboration, testing and next steps
Richard Duffield, NUAR Discovery Project Lead, gives an update on the discovery project celebrating the extensive cross-sector collaboration that has happened thus far; examining the more detailed testing phase that we are now undertaking; and looks to the future, exploring what happens next with this exciting work.
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Capital grants in 2024: an overview
In this post, I'll provide an overview of capital grants for environmental land management, the current offer and recent updates.
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New Homes Accelerator
There has been positive media coverage today about the Government’s launch of the New Homes Accelerator, which will work to speed up the delivery of large housing sites and drive economic growth across every part of the country. National papers …
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Decoding Food Allergies: Unveiling insights from NHS data
Helping people with a food hypersensitivity to make more informed eating choices is a key part of our work.
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How the Woodland Carbon Code is supporting our net zero ambitions
In this post, Dr Vicky West, manager of the Woodland Carbon Code, talks about the Code and the impact it is delivering on the environment.
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TechTrack: Start a new career in tech
Did you know, you can start a new career in tech at any stage of your working life? TechTrack is a new digital upskilling programme, delivered via an apprenticeship and created by the Government Digital and Data Profession. This community …
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Getting Your Farm Winter Ready: Is your problem slurry or rainwater?
As part of our farm Winter Ready campaign, we’re looking at where to start when assessing the impact of rainfall on slurry storage and what are the first, and often most straightforward, steps you can take. You may find getting …
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To Mars and beyond
Funded by the UK Space Agency, a team from the University of Southampton is developing nuclear electric propulsion technology to push humanity further.
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Cambridge
There has been coverage in the media this week following a letter sent by the Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to local leaders in Cambridge. The letter confirms that Greater Cambridge has a vital role in kickstarting economic growth across the …
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A summary of the recent updates to SFI
Today, we published a summary of recent changes to the actions and scheme information for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) on GOV.UK. This post summarises the changes.
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What are dry day spills?
England’s sewerage system has thousands of miles of combined sewers. This means that rainwater and wastewater from toilets, bathrooms and kitchens all go into the same pipe to sewage treatment works. During periods of rainfall and/or snowmelt, the capacity of …
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Spotlight on Talent Development – meet summer intern Kiril Korzikovas
Summer intern Kiril Korzikovas shares his experience of completing the Civil Service Summer Internship Programme here at Defra digital data technology and security. I’m Kiril, a second-year student studying Economics and Russian at the University of Sheffield. I started my …
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Green Infrastructure: delivering quality of life and environmental benefits for communities
David Drake, Director, People & Nature at Natural England In January 2023, Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework to support the creation of good quality Green Infrastructure which maximises benefits for people and nature. GI helps local authorities, …
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Cyber escape room
What the escape room was like As part of the Vulnerable Children and Families portfolio away day, I took part in the Cyber Security Awareness team’s escape room. This was a chance to look at cybersecurity in a different and …
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Programme Facilitator: Core Skills and Job Insights
We spoke with two programme facilitators, Simone and Craig. The programme facilitator role involves working with groups of offenders completing mandatory courses as part of their probation conditions. Simone joined the Probation Service two years ago and came from a criminal …
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The Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Challenge Game goes Global
The Marine Planning Team works with the MMO’s Marine Global Team to help aiming to better protect and sustainably manage their marine environments. Credit: Indonesia Nature Film Society, Rekam Nusantara Foundation Turkey Paul Gilliland, Head of Marine Planning, was recently …
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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024
On Thursday 26 September, we held a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. In this post, we share the recording.
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The Marine Spatial Planning Challenge Game
Used around the world by policy expert, decision makers and stakeholders to explore the challenges and opportunities of sustainably developing our oceans and seas. The interactive format of the game demonstrates the challenges and complexities of marine spatial planning. Credit: …
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Internal Marine Plan User Training Programme
In June and July, the marine planning team at the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) delivered a comprehensive training programme to enhance the understanding and use of marine plans in the organisation. This initiative aligns with the MMO's Corporate Plan and …
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Coastal Planner Corner
The MMO have marine planners based around the English coast. Their role is to engage with you for the development, implementation, and monitoring of marine plans. You can find out who your local coastal planner is and their contact details …
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Right to Buy coverage
It has been reported this morning that councils have spent more than £1 billion purchasing former Right to Buy properties since 2020. Right to Buy is an important route for council housing tenants to be able to own their home. …