GOV.UK blogs

Forestry Apprenticeship: becoming a 'tree family'

Gareth is one of 15 people who joined us in September 2022 as a Development Woodland Officer studying the Forestry Apprenticeship. Here he reflects on his first nine months with the Forestry Commission.

What is Pride Month to me?

Awareness months at their core are about bringing global attention to important social issues, not only celebrating people in specific communities, but showing that they deserve a fair and equal place in the world. 

Leading with Pride

Officer Upton has been working as a prison officer for a year. He spoke to us for Pride month about his career in the Prison Service and how he is proud to lead Pride in Prison and Probation (PiPP) – …

Crowds turn out for launch of UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour

The first leg of the UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour was a resounding success, as hundreds turned out to see the 72 ft model rocket in Southampton.

How properties are valued for Council Tax

Learn more about the evidence we consider when valuing homes for Council Tax.

Free funding available for National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) for teachers and school leaders

Teachers are the foundation of the education system – there are no great schools without great teachers. Alistair Guest from the DfE’s NPQ Policy Unit talks to Dave Ellison-Lee, Director of Education at RISE multi-academy trust about his experience of the departments support for teachers and leaders to develop their expertise.

Simplifying Cloud Hosting Adoption

As part of our MoJ and wider Government strategy, we are putting cloud first. The MoJ has been taking strides toward this for a few years via Digital's Platform and Architecture modernisation and hosting offers. Technology Services has now adopted …

Ensuring support for our carers

Three years after launching the Civil Service Carers’ Strategy, Alex Chisholm and Rebecca Sudworth, Civil Service Permanent Secretary Lead and Deputy Lead for Carers, provide an update on progress.    Today marks the start of Carers Week 2023. In the Civil Service, around a fifth …

Celebrating apprenticeships in care services

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to enter your chosen career, and help you develop the knowledge, skills and experience you need to progress in your role. Rachel, Laura and Lisa have experienced apprenticeships in care services at Hertfordshire County Council. …

Carers Week 2023: Claire-Louise’s Story

In support of Carers Week 2023, we caught up with Claire-Louise, one of our inspirational colleagues who has caring responsibilities at home. Here, she shares her personal story of becoming a carer including how she’s been supported in the workplace …

Volunteers Week 2023: Volunteering and Outreach team

As part of Volunteers Week 2023, we caught up with Rachel from the Volunteering and Outreach team to learn more about the work the team do and the volunteering opportunities available across HMRC. Volunteering at HMRC I’m Rachel, I’m part …

Why Carers Week is important to me

In Carers Week, Defra group Senior Security Advisor Hannah John reflects on how she balances a fast-paced career with being a mother and a carer.

Am I a cyclist (or just a person on a bike)?

On World Bicycle Day, Wieke Wicks celebrates the benefits – including the joys – of cycling and asks the question ‘what makes a cyclist’?

Coverage on Hedgerows

We recognise hedgerows are vital elements of our landscapes, upholding the distinct character of the countryside, improving local air quality, and serving as crucial wildlife habitats. This is why we will be consulting shortly on how we can best continue to support and enable farmers to conserve hedgerows after phasing out the Common Agricultural Policy.

Working for Companies House

At Companies House we’re on a journey to make sure that our culture is people-led, with equality, diversity and inclusion forming an integral part of all that we do. We want to provide equal opportunities, and we’ve already taken positive steps towards creating an inclusive environment at the core of our organisational culture.  Find out more about working for us.

Top tips to avoid delays to Countryside Stewardship Capital Claims

  When you are submitting a Countryside Stewardship (CS) capital claim, there are a number of things that you need to remember to avoid any delays to receiving your payment.   We have put together some top tips of things that …

Restoring Britain’s pine martens: a position from Natural England, NatureScot and Natural Resources Wales

John Holmes, Strategy Director, Natural England  I confess I have never seen a pine marten, but I hope to one day. For now though, knowing they are out there, and that they are spreading gives me real hope for nature …

Windrush Schemes Factsheet – April 2023

We are determined to put right the terrible injustices faced by some people from the Windrush generation and the wider Commonwealth, which happened under successive governments. The Windrush Scheme ensures members of the Windrush generation can get the documentation they need to …

Nowt so queer as design

Policy designer Andrew Knight writes about why governments need more queer designers.

Meet the land registration lawyers

Land registration lawyers play a vital role in ensuring applications are completed correctly and our practice and procedures are being followed accurately. Jonathan, Andrea and Kate tell us about their day-to-day roles and why they decided to join HM Land Registry.

Successful shortlisting at the Digital Leaders 100 Awards

DWP Digital is proud to announce the shortlisting of 6 projects and individuals at this year's Digital Leader 100 Awards (DL100). The DL100 list, in its 11th year, celebrates the teams and individuals who are working hard behind the scenes …

Roundup of OPSS Vacancies

We’re undergoing an exciting period at OPSS, and there’s never been a better time to join us. Read our post to see our current vacancies.

Benefits of international collaboration on modernising justice systems

Last week’s attendance at United Nations (UN) and Council of Europe events provided a global platform for HMCTS to share knowledge, challenges and learning from countries with shared ambitions for modernising justice systems.

Progress on practical projects to support the UK NSC in making newborn blood spot screening recommendations

A summary note has been published of the latest meeting of the UK National Screening Committee's Blood Spot Task Group when members were updated on progress on 4 of its 5 core projects.

Come rain or shine, adverse weather matters for our health

Adverse weather matters for our health. There is a strong evidence base showing us that periods of very hot or cold weather or flooding present a wide range of direct and indirect health risks.

The Digital Leaders’ Download

Last week saw the launch of Digital Leaders’ Download, a new interview series in collaboration with PublicTechnology and CDDO's Chief Executive Megan Lee Devlin. Find out more about the series and where you can find it.

Celebrating Pride Month at HMRC: Steph’s story

Psst, can I let you into a secret? I don’t really like having a lot of attention. By preference, I’m quiet and like things very low-key. If there’s a party, I either don’t go or you can find me in the kitchen …

Invitation to present at DataConnect23

Sue Bateman, Chief Data Officer at Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) discusses DataConnect23 following its launch event on 23 May 2023.

Coverage of River Wye roundtable meeting

There has been coverage of a roundtable meeting hosted by the Environment Secretary, which discussed actions to restore the River Wye, as well as an update to the river’s status by Natural England.

Cutting edge farming projects to get share of £30 million of government funding

Today (31st May), the government announced that up to £30 million has been awarded to more than 50 cutting-edge farming projects that will help boost food production, move towards net zero, and create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.

A likely story: the ins and outs of likelihood analysis

The UK TRA is a new kid on the block among Trade Remedies Authorities around the world. Over the last two years since we were set up, the TRA has been reviewing measures put in place by the European Union and …

Coverage on recycling collections

Today we are looking at recent coverage around household recycling.

A council view of the fly tipping curse

Fly tipping is more than a nuisance. It isn’t just ‘a bit of dumped waste’ for the local council to clear. It’s an Environmental Health Officer sent to investigate. It’s a Waste Operative (or two) the council can ill-afford to …

Creating psychological safety in our ways of working

The original 'It's okay to' poster was created by GDS to communicate the 'unofficial' ways of working and to help create a safe psychological environment for new team members. At Justice Digital (the digital arm of the Ministry of Justice), …

Iterating the GOV.UK Design System contribution model

Read about how the GOV.UK Design System team updated their contribution model to help the community get more involved.

Everything you need to know about duckweed on the River Witham

Periods of hot and dry weather can be busy times for the Environment Agency as we work to protect not just our water resources; but our precious environment and the wildlife that depends on it.

During these conditions we receive a lot of calls about duckweed in Lincolnshire, particularly on the River Witham. This blog explains what duckweed is, why it is a problem in dry weather and the challenges of managing it.

Assessing the health of the River Wye and its catchment

By Emma Johnson, Area Manager - West Midlands Team The Wye Valley is an iconic landscape, hugely important for biodiversity due to the wide range of rare river wildlife, loved by people and important for farming. It’s because it’s so …

Trust Services Sanctions – 5 months on

The trust services sanctions came into effect on 16 December 2022. These are financial sanctions, for which the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) is responsible, while the Department for Business and Trade is responsible for professional and business services …

Secure by Design – a new way to manage cyber risk in capabilities

Here’s what you need to know Secure by Design is a key component of how cyber security will be improved within the MOD. The culture and approach to how cyber security is addressed in capability programmes across MOD is changing.  …

How HM Land Registry data benefits the UK

Who among us hasn’t wanted to know how much a property has sold for at one time or another? Find out about how HM Land Registry data creates reliable house price information as well as other benefits our data provides to the UK.