8482posts
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Celebrate Professional Recognition Week 2025 with the GSE Profession
A message from Dame Angela McLean, Head of GSE Profession and Government Chief Scientific Adviser “As Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the GSE Profession, I am delighted to introduce this year’s Professional Recognition Week which will take place from Monday 8 December to …
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Contamination Control Reminder: Managing Bacillus Risks in Aseptic Processing
The MHRA’s inspectorate and the Defective Medicines Report Centre (DMRC) are actively liaising with NHS and Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS), following an increase in reports of Bacillus contamination in aseptic facilities. While no firm link has been identified between these …
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2025 Bathing Waters Classifications
The Environment Agency published the 2025 Bathing Water Classifications earlier today, Tuesday 25 November.
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Insurance Review in Phase 1 Clinical Trials
On 28 April 2026, new regulations for Clinical Trials will come into effect - the most significant updates in two decades. To support a smooth transition, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) …
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Getting consent for charity changes: the Commission’s role in supporting trustees
A £1bn collection of Chinese ceramics is now permanently at home in the British Museum, following a significant piece of consent granted by the Commission earlier this year. In March, we gave authority to the trustees of the Sir Percival …
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Identifying the environmental impacts of digital services: lessons from the 'Get air quality data’ service
This is the second blog in a series on product managing the design of sustainable services written by Lucy Stewart and Katie Marcus, product managers working in air quality improvement at Defra. Digital services have environmental impact. Every search query, …
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A future filled with trees: National Tree Week 2025
National Tree Week marks the opening of the tree planting season, and this year there is substantial progress to report. The theme, "A Future Filled with Trees," reflects our commitment to creating lasting environmental change. Communities across England will come together during National Tree Week to plant, protect, and celebrate trees that will stand for …
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COP30 and Nature: a moment for vision and scale
COP30 was always going to be a landmark for nature, set against the backdrop of the Amazon river in Belém, the gateway to the world’s largest tropical forest. But beyond the ‘COP in the forest’ headlines, two things made this summit pivotal for those committed to protecting and restoring critical ecosystems. Read this post to find …
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Innovative approaches to Med Tech regulatory reform
Well, hello again. Hasn’t time passed by so quickly since my last blog in September. At the MHRA, we have many exciting and pioneering initiatives underway. I was listening to a medical device podcast recently and the podcast host proclaimed …
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Transforming IT Operations at UKEF : From Service Provider to Strategic Enabler
Over the past three years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has undergone a significant technology transformation and IT Operations has been at the heart of that. What was once a traditional IT Operations function focused on “keeping the lights on” has evolved into a strategic technology and cyber enabler, delivering value across technology enablement, productivity, value …
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Climate change and health
Climate change has been identified as the century's most important health threat. GAD explores why cross-sector collaboration is essential to protect communities and build resilience in a warming climate.
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Mission Moments: Cutting Through Complexity: How We're Backing Britain's Businesses to Grow
From 70 stakeholder sessions to 1,200 partner inductions, one civil servant shares how the new Business Growth Service is turning government support for SMEs from a maze into a motorway – and why every simplified application brings us closer to …
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"Wisdom of the Trail": Reflecting on nine years of innovation
As they prepare to launch the “Wisdom of the Trail” satellites, Lacuna Space reflects on nine years of innovation and UK-grown collaboration that helped shape a new era of satellite IoT.
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Growing greener citizens: Our sustainability journey at Goldsmith Primary Academy
Goldsmith Primary Academy sustainability lead and assistant head Jennie Twells explains how growing greener citizens is also helping to save her West Midlands-based trust money. At Windsor Academy Trust (WAT) one of our ambitions is to become one of the …
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Projects for Nature celebrates a major step towards mobilising private finance into nature
Following the success of the Projects for Nature pilot, which saw private sector companies award more than £700,000 to nature recovery projects across England, we are delighted to announce the next chapter of programme with SpaceHive leading the platform. Read this post to find out more on this next chapter.
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GDS Local goes live
GDS Local is a new unit within the Government Digital Service (GDS) that brings central and local government together to improve how digital public services are designed and delivered. Working alongside councils, we’re helping create services shaped around real lives—easier to use, better connected and built on proven digital foundations.
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Anchoring NATO Advantage
From virtual seas to command rooms, the Wargaming Hub transforms ideas into actionable insights, ensuring NATO forces remain agile, resilient, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow. The ability to anticipate, adapt, and innovate is more critical than ever. Wargaming …
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Ready, set, plant! For a future filled with trees
To celebrate tree planting season, Asia Aldridge, Content Lead at the Forestry Commission, shares some inspirational tree planting projects happening up and down the country by our committed Woodland Ambassadors.
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Consultation opens on antenatal and newborn screening for fragile X syndrome
The UK NSC has opened a consultation on the evidence relating to antenatal and newborn screening for Fragile X syndrome.
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A better register of digital identity and attribute services
The GOV.UK register of digital identity and attribute services makes it easy to check and find digital verification services that you can trust. It's a digital service, so we've been making continuous improvements to the register in line with the …
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Celebrating Inter Faith Week in the Civil Service
Earlier this year, I was honoured to be appointed as the Civil Service Faith and Belief Champion. It's a responsibility I take very seriously, but it's also one that fills me with hope and purpose. Faith and belief – whether …
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Speculative reporting of council tax rises
There has been reporting in the media that the government will allow ‘limitless’ council tax rises – this is not true or accurate. There has been no change in the governments approach to council tax. Council tax has always been, …
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UK Space Agency funds studies to tackle space debris challenges
The UK Space Agency has awarded more than £380,000 across 10 technical studies to support international research into space debris through the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC).
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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.
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From local to national and back again: place-based support for citizen science
By Andy Jefferies, Senior Officer for Citizen Science One challenge for the citizen science sector is how to bridge the gap between evidence and experiences which are meaningful at a local scale, and those which are meaningful at a national …
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📢 UK Space Agency Christmas card design competition! 🎅
Design a Christmas card about keeping Santa and the satellites we all rely on every day safe! 🛰️🎅🛷
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A wickedly good IP strategy
Cinema tickets are purchased, the perfect Glinda-inspired outfit is planned, and I am truly ready for the release of Wicked: For Good but whilst I'm daydreaming about pink and green, I started thinking about the IP behind the wonderful world of Oz.
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Consultation launched on 11 Scotland led demersal FMPs
These joint UK FMPs are open for your views until 11 March 2026. Find out more with online events in December.
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Confirming user understanding: what to do and what not to do
We’ve been asked what a ‘good’ confirmation of user understanding, that meets the requirements of the trust framework, looks like.
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UK Space Agency teams up with IMEO and GHGSat to tackle methane emissions
The UK Space Agency has announced a collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), reinforcing the UK’s leadership in tackling one of the most urgent climate challenges: methane emissions.
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Finding support as a care leaver
Emily shares how her life has been transformed by Staying Close, a Department for Education-funded programme supporting care leavers.
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Building bridges: a joint mission in the Falklands
Sarah Browning-Lee, Joint Programme Officer, British Forces South Atlantic Islands At the heart of the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command's global presence are our overseas bases, within this is the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), with a mission to …
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Everything you need to know about free school breakfast clubs
Families will soon be able to start accessing free breakfast clubs lasting 30 minutes for their children before school through our new free breakfast club programme. Find out more.
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Explainer: everything you need to know about the new Renters’ Rights Act
Renting in England is about to change – and millions of tenants are set to benefit. From 1 May 2026, new laws will kick in that give 11 million renters stronger rights, better protections and more security in their homes. …
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How we're tackling illegal waste dumping and protecting our environment
Waste crime is completely unacceptable. We are working tirelessly with compliant businesses, operators and partners to protect our environment and communities from waste crime. We will always take decisive action to investigate and work with police to bring perpetrators to justice.
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International Men’s Day: Celebrating Men and Boys While Promoting Gender Equality
In Digital and Data, we are used to talking about change, adopting new tools, designing better services, using evidence to improve decisions. But lasting change isn’t just technical, it’s cultural. International Men’s Day is a good moment to pause and …
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Verifying your identity for Companies House with GOV.UK One Login
Find out how verifying your identity with GOV.UK One Login for Companies House is designed to be quick, free and secure.
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James’ journey in nuclear decommissioning | International Men’s Day 2025
Today marks International Men’s Day, celebrating the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Men and Boys” and today, we’re celebrating those who embody being a positive male role model, display …
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Government Security Profession - defending the British Government and our citizens
Government Chief Security Officer, Vincent Devine, discusses how the Government Security Profession's 14,000 members can access development opportunities, leadership programmes and rewarding career paths whilst protecting Britain.
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Making adjustments to the driving test
Following a successful 5-month trial, DVSA is rolling out some subtle changes to the practical driving test.