7665posts
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Safeguarding Global Coral Trade: The Power of a New Visual Guide for Border Inspections
It’s a dark, damp evening in February 2023 when staff from UK Border Force’s CITES team are called to Heathrow’s Animal Reception Centre to inspect a shipment of hard coral. A mismatch between the CITES permit and its packing list …
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New year, new you: why we’re focusing on Continuous Improvement
Chief Digital Officer for Defra Group Chris Thorn shares his thoughts on the value of Continuous Improvement and why it’s important to him.
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Coverage of Environment Agency enforcement of farming regulations in the River Wye
Today (14 January) there is coverage in the Observer of claims by campaign group River Action about the Environment Agency’s regulation of poultry farms in the River Wye Catchment. River Action is quoted claiming that the Environment Agency has …
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Personal perspectives on the Care Workforce Pathway
Individuals drawing on care services were just as vital contributors to the Care Workforce Pathway as care staff, providers and other sector partners. Jennifer Pearl is a member of Think Local Act Personal’s (TLAP) National Co-Production Advisory Group (NCAG) and has a spinal cord injury. She feels fortunate to have a good home care provider and explains how identifying the right values and behaviours are crucial.
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Response to Taylor Wimpey claims on local housing targets
An article in the Telegraph today reports on claims made by Taylor Wimpey that the Housing Secretary has watered down local housing targets for councils which is holding back housebuilding. This is not true. The Housing Secretary’s written ministerial statement …
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Cythnia's work in approved premises over Christmas and the New Year
As we're hiring for approved premises workers, we caught up with Cynthia who has been busy working in an approved premises in the Southwest region over the Christmas and New Year period. She reflects on the unique challenges and rewards …
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Help shape assessments to ensure harbour porpoise and marine birds are protected
Can you believe it’s a brand-new year already? Only last month we launched our latest call for evidence on the impacts of fishing on five English offshore marine protected areas (MPAs). These are the ones designated to protect certain highly …
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How we’re making it easier to access government forms online
What we learned from user research with the public on completing PDF and online forms.
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Dragons' Den IP Blog - Series 21 Episode 2
It’s Episode 2 of Dragons’ Den, and this week’s entrepreneurs sent us on an adventure exploring the beauty of the natural world. From luxury glamping to inflatables that let you take your rucksack for a river swim and organic products that balance your skin. Read on to find out more!
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Harnessing the power of events and APIs
Dan is Senior Technical Lead in our Integration Team. He leads on application development and adoption in several agile teams. Some of the most transformational new technologies for the team are events and APIs. APIs and events: tools for innovation …
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The Digital Markets Unit is hiring – find out how you can impact the way digital markets work
In the last 18 months the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) has been recruiting steadily as we ramp up to get ready for the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Bill to become law. Over that time, we have grown from about …
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Why the GSE Skills Assessment Tool is a must-have for your development
What is the GSE Skills Assessment Tool? The GSE Skills Assessment Tool is a professional development web-based tool which allows you to track the skills required for your GSE career, and access tailored learning opportunities. GSE Skills Assessment Tool in …
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Adopting TCFD recommendations in the public sector (part 2)
In this follow up blog, we look at the challenges public sector organisations can face when implementing TCFD recommendations. We focus on scenario analysis as it can be a complex aspect of the recommendations.
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New and improved actions for upland farmers
Last week, we published a post about the Agricultural Transition Plan update. The update includes the full range of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions — new and updated — with their payment rates. In this post, we will focus on the new actions relevant to those who farm in the uplands, both moorland and non-moorland grassland.
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Care Workforce Pathway: the role of lived experience
Social care colleagues will have better training, clearer career paths and improved job prospects following the announcement of government plans to develop the domestic care workforce. Think Local Act Personal's Tim Parkin explains how his organisation helped gather views from care colleagues and others to inform the Pathway's shape.
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What you need to know about changing schools during the year
Sometimes it is necessary for children to change school during the school year or at a time outside the usual transfer point, for example between academic years 8 to 9 rather than year 6 to year 7. This can be …
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Launching NSPARC - our new National Security Policy and Research CoLab
We are delighted to be launching the new National Security Policy and Research CoLab (NSPARC or N*), sponsored by the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security and hosted by the Policy Lab. Who we are N* was …
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Get to WCAG 2.2 faster with the GOV.UK Design System
UK government services can use the GOV.UK Design System to help meet the latest accessibility guidelines, before monitoring for WCAG 2.2 starts in October 2024.
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Introducing Rural Land Changes: the new online RLE1 service
RPA has launched a new digital service for customers to notify us of mapping changes called Rural Land Changes. This online method will replace the eRLE1 form and significantly reduce the length of time it takes us to action submissions …
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School leaving age: Can you leave school at 16 and what are your options?
It is compulsory for young people to be in education or training until the age of 18, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in school if it isn’t right for you. There are plenty of different routes to …
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Guiding principles for designing for Biodiversity Net Gain - experts share their insights
Welcome to our first Natural England instructional Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog. Three distinguished experts share their top tips and impart their insights on designing for BNG. They are Julia Baker, Technical Director at Mott MacDonald, David Mooney, CEO …
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Discovering potential opportunities for the National Underground Asset Register
The Geospatial Commission has launched a new discovery project to explore opportunities to widen access to the National Underground Asset Register. Richard Duffield, NUAR Discovery Project Lead, reveals why we started the project and how to get involved.
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7 lessons in mobilising the digital community - building a single definition of roles and skills
We've learnt a lot from running cross government CFDC over the last year and now we want to share seven key lessons we’ve learnt about governance
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UK NSC publishes new declaration of interests guidance
The UK NSC has updated its guidance and processes for individuals working with the committee to declare any interests that may conflict, or be perceived to conflict, with that work.
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Unleashing career potential in adult social care
For the first time, there will be a national social care career structure, the Care Workforce Pathway, with clearly defined roles and opportunities to discover the rewarding reality of the care sector first hand. Find out more...
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Boosting careers in adult social care
As the Department of Health and Social Care announces its adult social care workforce reform package, Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, gives her insight into what this means for recruiting, retaining and empowering the care workforce.
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RPA 2023 External engagement roundup - what a year!
RPA colleagues Sam Taylor, Holly Harbour, Hebe Adams and Robin Williams We take a look back at our external engagement across 2023. We committed to getting out and about to engage with more farmers and rural communities than ever before. …
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58 years of service: A remarkable journey of dedication and justice
This year marks 58 years since Brian began working within the courts service. To celebrate the occasion, we sat down with him to find out more about his career and achievements.
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5 easy ways to boost your child’s development
The more you chat, play and read with young children, the more you help develop their brain, and provide them with the skills they need for when they start school. Wherever you are, simply chatting back and forth, answering your …
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Natural England welcomes Oxford Farming Conference Announcements
Last week, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay gave a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference announcing the biggest upgrade to the UK farming schemes introduced by the Government since leaving the EU. (Suggested caption/introduction)
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Family hubs: Local support and advice for children and their families
Whether you’re a parent looking for help with infant feeding, developing your child’s early language skills, or mental health support, family hubs provide a range of useful services for families in one location. Family hubs are now open in 75 …
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Fisheries Enforcement 2023: A Year of Action and Collaboration
As we usher in a new year, it's an opportunity to look back at the Environment Agency's fisheries enforcement work in 2023. This year has been marked by concerted efforts from EA staff, innovative campaigns, and significant collaborations to combat illegal fishing and protect our fisheries.
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2024: The Year of the Space Entrepreneur
2024 is looking to be the year of the Space entrepreneur, and through the Fusion programme, the UK Space Agency, Entrepreneurial Spark and Exotopic will prime up to 20 of the UK’s most promising space entrepreneurs to make the most of this growth in the industry.
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Get to know the Regulatory Design and Governance Team
The Regulatory Design and Governance team have a unique role to review emerging regulations and feed into the design to ensure legislation works on the ground for our enforcement officers.
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Michael Gove launches new consultation to deliver Awaab’s Law
There has been widespread coverage in the media about the consultation published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, which sets out new plans to improve social housing standards and clamp down on rogue social landlords who fail …
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Low Pay Commission regional visits 2024 – Your chance to be heard
Low Pay Commissioners will be meeting workers and businesses across the UK, on six regional visits. This is your chance to let us know how you are affected by the minimum wage. If you want to participate, get in touch …
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Watch: webinar on the farming offer in 2024
On Friday 26 January, we held a webinar for farmers. During the session, we went through the actions and payments available through our environmental land management schemes in 2024. This post includes a link to the recording.
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Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) - how procurement will change for some schools and trusts
Kevin Draisey is Head of Procurement Operations for Get help buying for schools, the DfE’s free supported buying service for schools and trusts. In this blog post, Kevin explains what Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) means for people who buy for schools and trusts, and how they can get ready for the changes ahead.
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2024 highlights and winter sights: the night sky in January
2024 hosts several fascinating night sky sights, from an early morning line up of the rocky planets to two partial lunar eclipses.
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Embedding a culture of innovation
In our previous article Building an Innovative Civil Service we talked about how innovation is fundamental to continually deliver value to the public. Innovation can be abstract and we want to highlight how important culture is in fostering psychological safety …