6032posts
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Podcast – Think digital, act human: the interview panel’s perspective
Ever been to an interview and wanted to know what the panel was thinking? In this episode, Nettie Williams, Head of Community and Communications gives the unique perspective of a panel member and what they're looking for. If you have an interview coming up, this episode's for you.
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Marketing T level consultation - have your say
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) is running a public consultation on the Outline Content for an upcoming Marketing Technical Qualification. We welcome views from providers, employers, and industries bodies. The Outline Content aims to provide learners with …
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Positive interventions and how to make them - Part One
I was delighted when the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence began work on guidelines for social work with adults experiencing complex needs. I am pleased to host blogs from two members of the guideline committee, Ellie and Chloe, who reflect on their involvement and the guidelines' importance.
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Positive interventions and how to make them - Part Two
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) have guidelines for social work with adults experiencing complex needs. This is the second of two blogs from members of the guideline committee, Ellie and Chloe, who reflect on their involvement and the importance of the guidelines.
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Track our progress: Trade Remedies Authority case milestones – Sept 2022
Here’s the latest update on our interactive case tracker, which shows the progress of each of our cases as they go through the investigation lifecycle. This month’s tracker shows progress on our cases during August and the data is correct …
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New guide on mitigating impact of avian influenza in wild birds published
In today’s blog we look at the publication of a new guide to support landowners and charities with the threat of avian influenza
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Sustainable Farming Incentive: more farmers can apply without being invited
From 1 September, if you have land in a Countryside Stewardship or Environmental Stewardship agreement, but not on common land, you can now apply online directly by signing into the Rural Payments service.
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Top Tips For a Successful Queen's Awards Application
UK businesses have less than one week left to apply for The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. Now more than ever, is a vital time for great UK businesses to be celebrated and recognised, so The Queen’s Awards Office have …
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UN-GGIM: The UK view on a successful 12th Session
Caitlin Ballard, International Policy Advisor at the Geospatial Commission, summarises the UK delegation’s reflections on the 12th Session of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in New York. In early August, after a three-year hiatus …
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Supported accommodation – we need strong oversight to make sure young people are safe, secure and doing well
Yvette Stanley, our National Director Regulation and Social Care, discusses the progress we have made in our plans for regulating supported accommodation, as we seek to recruit inspectors. In December 2021, Amanda Spielman agreed to the government’s request that …
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A day in the life of a case administrator
Working as a case administrator Are you looking for a rewarding role where you can make a difference and where your personal qualities are just as important as experience or qualifications? We spoke to Case Administrator, Emily, about her role …
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DIT – Director of Science and Technology Exports and Investment – SCS2
Summary The Department for International Trade (DIT) are recruiting for a new Director role at the forefront of the UK’s science and technology superpower ambitions. This Director will lead the newly formed Science and Technology Directorate. The work of the …
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Customer Service Group: my journey so far
The Customer Service Group (CSG) within HMRC handles more than 50 million customer calls each year. The Tax Operations team supports customers on one of CSG’s busiest telephone helplines, answering around 450,000 calls each week, helping with a wide range …
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Excavating a 2,500-year-old Iron Age hill fort
A team of archaeologists and volunteers has just finished excavating part of a 2,500-year-old Iron Age hillfort on Lulworth Training Area. The impressively sited Flower’s Barrow hillfort is sadly being lost to the sea due to coastal erosion due to its …
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Piloting a Cyber Assessment Framework for Local Government
This Autumn, the Local Digital team will be working with a small cohort of councils to help establish a clear and comprehensive cyber resilience standard for local government in England.
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International Dog Day: what to consider when buying a new pet
In his latest blog to celebrate international dog day, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer talks about what to consider when buying a pet and how to do this safely.
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Route review update – construction and the built environment
In April 2022, we published the construction route review report. In the report, we made a number of commitments. Four months on, we are pleased to report the progress made to date on these commitments: Gain approval from the Secretary …
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Sale of horticultural peat to be banned to protect England’s peatlands
In today’s blog we look at the action being taken to protect peatlands
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Daily Mail coverage on the badger culling
There is inaccurate coverage in the Daily Mail today on Defra’s involvement in a research paper published in Vet Record.
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Becoming a Truly Data Led Justice System
The Permanent Secretary and I share the ambition to be a data led and digital department which uses our data assets in an exemplary way to deliver for Ministers and citizens and to change lives for the better. At the …
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Civil Service Choirmaster Stephen hits the right note
Since founding the Civil Service Choir in 2009, Stephen Hall OBE has conducted in iconic venues and built the choir’s reputation for remarkable performances. Interview by Lorraine McBride I joined the Civil Service some 30 years ago as a Fast …
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Collaborative design: how content and interaction designers can work together to solve problems
Senior Content Designer Caroline Vickers and Senior Interaction Designer Joe Horton recently worked together on a GOV.UK service. They share how they found collaborative ways of working and the tools that worked best.
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Measuring Environmental Change at Defra
In 2018 the government published the 25 Year Environment Plan, which set out plans to improve the environment in England and ensure that we become the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it. …
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Supporting Farmers during Drought
Environment Agency is working with Farmers to help them with access to water supplies for their livestock and crops
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Over 100 hen harrier chicks fledge in England in 2022
Today we are looking at media coverage of Natural England's announcement of hen harrier breeding statistics.
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Back to School Week - when do schools and colleges go back?
Most pupils will have enjoyed at least six weeks off school during the summer. However, term dates and holiday lengths will vary depending on the local council, school and college.
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Coventry Libraries – a new home for digital culture
Dave Lloyd from Coventry Libraries writes about Digital Spaces in Coventry Libraries.
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The Art of Delivery: The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2001-2005
This blog post examines the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2001 to 2005, which was created during Tony Blair’s premiership. The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit acted as a nexus of power between No.10 and Whitehall.
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How we collaborated across government to design content supporting Afghan resettlement
In 2021 Alice Dryden collaborated across government to write guidance for citizens helping Afghan resettlers. Here’s how she did it.
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More than 100 hen harriers fledge in England for the first time in over 100 years.
By: John Holmes, NE Strategy Director This year has seen another encouraging increase in the breeding population of one of our rarest birds of prey. Natural England and partners are pleased to report that a total of 49 hen harrier …
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Towards fusion energy regulation
As we prepare to regulate fusion energy facilities, Amber Bannon, our fusion lead, talks about visits to Culham, the home of fusion in the UK and the hottest site in the solar system.
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Introducing You To...
Hi, my name’s Louisa and I’m part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Delivery Team. I’m based in Newcastle and I’ve worked for the RPA for six months. Since joining RPA, my temporary job for the first couple of months …
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How user-centered design shapes our services
Find out how user-centered design shapes our services, and join our user panel for the Register of Overseas Entities.
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GCSE and VTQ results – what do the stats show?
Today, more than half a million of pupils across the country are getting their results for GCSEs and vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) at level 2 and below, to secure their next steps into A Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, or …
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How we're supporting GCSE pupils who have been affected by the pandemic
During the pandemic pupils were affected in different ways. They missed varying amounts of school and the extent to which they were able to learn while at home also varied. That’s why, throughout the pandemic, we prioritised keeping children in …
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Supporting disability employment at home and beyond
In June of this year, I had the privilege of attending the 15th session of the Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP15) in New York, as the Head of the …
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MoD -Science Adviser - Grade7/ Band2
Do you or someone you know, want to be part of a highly capable scientific advice team who are critical to the development and delivery of technologically exciting programmes enhancing operational capabilities for the British Army - Then consider applying …
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Working well with subject matter experts: 6 tips for content designers
From explaining your role to working out their pain points, Content Designer Anna Scott shares tips for creating great relationships and working well with subject matter experts Hi, I’m Anna. I joined Defra as a content designer just over a …
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TRACE study: Does not getting enough sleep increase the chance of a severe peanut allergic reaction?
The Threshold Reactivity and Clinical Evaluation (TRACE) study looked at how sleep deprivation, exercise, and repeat allergen exposure over time, can affect the threshold of an allergic reaction
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Watch: The North Cumbria Farmers Group test and trial
Farmers in North Cumbria's Forgotten Lands are working with Natural England and Defra to help shape future environmental land management schemes. In this third video in a series of 3 about the North Cumbria Farmers Group Test and Trial, uplands livestock farmer and local history expert Barbara Smith explains how the group have been mapping the natural capital of the land, and the background to this history-rich area of north-west England.