GOV.UK blogs

Geography in Government Awards 2023

We are delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for the Geography in Government Awards 2023. Thank you to everyone that submitted a nomination the standard as always was very high, and it was very difficult for the judges to whittle …

A helping hand for reptiles and amphibians on the Defence estate

The Defence estate includes some of the UK’s most important wildlife sites and is unrivalled in terms of its size and the diversity of habitats and species it supports. Much of our estate is accessible to the public, and providing …

An interview with Sirish Parekh, Head of Estimating Performance, Benchmarking and Data

Ahead of the TIP Live conference on Wednesday 19 April, we interviewed Sirish Parekh, Head of Estimating Performance, Benchmarking and Data at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. Sirish shared his thoughts on TIP Live and the projects that help make …

What I’ve learned about panel management in a growing research team – Part One

User research panel manager Jason Stockwell reflects on what happens when a user research project grows suddenly, and quickly, and how this needs to be managed to keep things on track.

Charities and Partners week - 24-28 April 2023

This week celebrates the first Civil Service Charities and Partners Week to raise awareness of the help and support available from the welfare bodies we work closely with. It shows that despite offering different things, each organisation complements each other …

Drive a step change in infrastructure: TIP Live 2023

There is less than one week to go until the Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) Live conference, where leaders from both industry and government will be exploring how we can deliver a step change in the way we plan, design, construct …

Can I appeal a primary school offer place? Everything you need to know

On Monday 17 April, parents and carers of three and four-year-olds will find out where their child will be starting school in September 2023. The vast majority will receive an offer from their preferred school. However, those who have not …

Collecting the data that makes headlines: the Collection and Ingestion service at the ONS

We're currently recruiting a Service Owner to join the Collection & Ingestion service at the Office for National Statistics.  It's an important role with great scope to make an impact.  I thought I'd take the opportunity to interview Martin O'Brian to find out more about what they do and how the Service Owner fits in.

How we carry out maintenance on the Somerset Levels and Moors

The Somerset Levels and Moors have long been shaped both by human history and natural processes. This means the landscape needs careful management to reduce the risk of flooding to properties within it and ensure the species that have come to call it home continue to thrive.

Making government services more efficient

A great service works well for users, efficiently. CDDO has been collaborating with service teams across government to learn how services can become more efficient.

Driving down reoffending, with a world-class digital probation service

Right now in England and Wales we have a terrible rate of reoffending. About half the people leaving prison will be back there within two years. Not only does this cost the taxpayer huge amounts of money, we’re also not …

How to improve Civil Service job applications and ace your interviews

As recruiters around the world have been celebrating International Recruiter’s Day, Polly Whitworth shares her tips for those thinking of applying for a job in the Civil Service, including how to avoid some of the common pitfalls in the written application process and the interview.

The Biometrics Institute's new Learning Tool

The Biometrics Institute has launched a Biometrics Essentials learning tool. This online course will teach the ethics and good practices that need to be considered when implementing a biometric system. The learning tool is designed for people working in both …

Graphene testing, waste heat capture, and ‘grown’ materials – how Sellafield is pushing the boundaries of environmental protection

For self-confessed ‘dyed in the wool environmentalist’ James Mawby, the ability to help reduce Sellafield’s future impact on the environment was a role too good to pass up. Here he explains some of the ways that the nuclear site’s environmental team are pushing the boundaries of environmental protection.

Text descriptions for data visualisations

Sean Snee blogs about how the Analysis Function recommends providing alternative text for data visualisations, to ensure content is accessible to everyone.

How we are improving data discoverability

To support development of the Data Marketplace, CDDO are working across government to implement a common approach to recording metadata, read more about what we are doing, and why.

Coverage of avian influenza housing order lifting

Today, we are looking at coverage of our announcement that mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds to stop the spread of bird flu will be lifted.

Reducing the age of entitlement for the NLW

In 2019, the LPC recommended that workers should become entitled to the National Living Wage (NLW, the highest rate of the minimum wage) at the age of 21 instead of 25. In April 2021, as the first step to achieving …

Environmental graduate Louise Moysan is shaping the future at Sellafield

Environmental graduate Louise Moysan is shaping the future at Sellafield

Countryside Stewardship: delivering for farmers and the environment

Countryside Stewardship provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment. Through the scheme, thousands of farmers are being paid for the valuable work they do. In this post, we’ll give you a refresher, share some facts and figures and explain how you can get involved.  

LITTLE STOUR CHALK STREAM RESTORATION BLOG

Tom Reid, Biodiversity Technical Specialist in the Environment Agency’s Kent, South London and East Sussex Area, explains how the future of the Little Stour, a chalk stream in Kent, is being safeguarded through partnership working on an innovative restoration project.

Four new bathing waters designated

Today we are looking at our response to media coverage on the designation of four new bathing water sites.

NWS employees visit nuclear waste facilities in Sweden during international learning trip

Last month, NWS employees travelled to Sweden to meet the organisation responsible for managing and disposing of the country’s nuclear waste, SKB. The privately owned company, which identified a site for a Geological Disposal Facility in 2009, hosted the NWS …

Designing with Prisoners: Running an ideation workshop in prison

Background As part of the work to reduce reoffending, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are working together to develop a ‘resettlement passport’ for prison leavers. This was a commitment from the Prisons …

Coverage on post-Brexit fishing opportunities and recently allocated spurdog quota for the UK fishing industry

Today, we are looking at coverage on post-Brexit fishing opportunities following a visit to Cornwall by Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer. We are also looking at coverage on recently allocated spurdog quota for the UK fishing industry.

How we’re cutting smoking and stopping children vaping

*Updated 14 August 2023* We have set out new measures to help meet our Smokefree 2030 target and tackle youth vaping. This includes: a national vaping scheme to help one million smokers ‘swap to stop’ financial incentives to help pregnant …

A guide to creating user-centric data commissions

A lot of us rely on getting data from outside our teams to help us to do our jobs. Data that we then use to make decisions. If higher quality data means our judgement can be more accurate, then it’s clearly in our best interests to do all we can to facilitate high calibre information sharing. Fiona Macauley, Product Manager at CDDO shares her top tips for data commissions.

Watch: Trialling Landscape Recovery agreements in Ashdown Forest

In this film, we visit Ashdown Forest for a test and trial update. We hear from those who worked together to develop a draft Landscape Recovery agreement for the area.

Helping schools to make more sustainable printing choices

Ross Buthee, Commercial Lead at Crown Commercial Service, blogs about the Print marketplace framework, an online purchasing portal which puts the power of making more sustainable choices in the hands of schools and trusts.

DWP Digital welcomes a new Chief Digital and Information Officer

A warm welcome to Richard Corbridge, the new Chief Digital Information Officer.

Expert research and methodology group gets down to work

The UK NSC's new expert research sub-group is getting to grips with an important and varied workload.

What are reasonable adjustments and how do they help disabled pupils at school?

All pupils should be helped to fulfil their potential. Reasonable adjustments can help level the playing field by minimising the disadvantages that pupils with disabilities might face compared with their peers. Here’s everything you everything you need to know about …

Dragons’ Den, Series 20 Episode 14

This week’s episode rounded up the end of series 20 and it was a good’n. Right from the off we got the whole set of UK registered intellectual property (IP) rights come up for a sunscreen applicator. Also this week we have water-softening shower essentials, a whisky e-commerce platform… and Dragons hugging bears.

Launch your career with an apprenticeship at the Office for Product Safety and Standards

Do you like working through a problem and finding solutions?

Can you use a range of interventions to ensure that individual businesses are meeting their obligations?

Look no further than the Regulatory Compliance Officer apprenticeship with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

Exploring Careers at the Office for Product Safety and Standards

If you're keen on pursuing a career in the Civil Service, then the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is a great place to kick off your journey.

The UK’s juxtaposed border controls

The juxtaposed controls The UK operates border controls in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. This allows Border Force officers to check passengers and freight destined for the UK before they begin their journey. These ‘juxtaposed controls’ are in place at …

Join the Conversation: Welcome to the OPSS Careers Blog

We're excited to introduce the new Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Blog, your go-to resource for all things related to careers at the OPSS.

Happy 75th Anniversary to the World Health Organization

  On this day in 1948, the United Nations (UN) came together to establish a global organisation that promotes health, keeps the world safe, and serves the vulnerable. Seven decades later, the World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating its 75th …

The night sky in April

This month sees a promising meteor shower, a wonderful opportunity to see the rocky, inner planets of our Solar System, and some of the most striking stars and constellations in our night sky.

Share your views on a new proposal to attract vets into Government

Government Veterinary Services is considering a new veterinary programme to attract more vets into Government veterinary roles. We are calling on vets to help shape the proposal by sharing their ideas. The programme would provide a structured pathway for qualified …