7081posts
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Investment oversight insight
In this blog we look at investment governance, the framework which guides investment decisions. It is especially significant in GAD where we work on the detail of investment analysis with clients as well as overarching policy that determines how an investment strategy is set and monitored.
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Strategic Renewables Unit Powers Ahead!
Successfully Tackling Underwater Noise This summer, the SRU, alongside other MMO teams, regulators and industry developers, collaborated to manage noisy activities in the Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation. By working together, all parties successfully kept noise levels below …
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Working together for nature – collaborating on the first Local Nature Recovery Strategy in England
By Simon Stonehouse, Natural England Wessex Area Team The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the West of England has landed. It’s the first of 48 that will cover the whole of England to be launched. This is a huge …
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Kickstarting local nature recovery: a new strategy for the West of England
The first Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been published. Find out why that's important for local and national biodiversity.
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What is the Curriculum and Assessment Review and how will it impact my child's education?
We’re holding an independent review to refresh the curriculum and statutory assessment system for 5- to 19 -year-olds. Here's how it will impact you.
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Supporting growth and unlocking the opportunities of AI
At the Financial Times Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit today, I shared some of the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) evolving thinking on the foundational role of competition in the UK's growth mission, and how we have been challenging ourselves on …
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A commissioner for the tenant farming sector
Today, at the Northern Farming Conference, Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner shared that there will be a commissioner for the tenant farming sector in England.
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Setting the standard for biodiversity markets in the UK
In this post, Ciaran Ambler, Head of Biodiversity Finance and Philanthropy in Defra's Green Finance team, shares the recently launched Biodiversity Standard and how you can share your views to ensure this standard works for the whole sector.
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Getting your school or trust ready for new recycling regulations
In this blog post, Amanda Quinn, Education Procurement Category Manager at YPO, highlights new, simpler recycling regulations coming into force in 2025 and the action that schools and trusts will need to take to be compliant.
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Improving the Mental Health Act: what you need to know
The Mental Health Act is changing to give patients a greater say over their care and to improve their experiences, whilst protecting them, staff and the general public. But how is it changing? In this explainer post, we’ll answer some …
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Early battles to lifelong passion
As part of the Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub’s People in Wargaming series we recently spoke to a panel of people/experts about their experiences in the field of wargaming. Interviewer: Can you briefly introduce yourself? Tess: I am Tess Butler, CEO …
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Coastal Planner Corner
The MMO have marine planners based around the English coast. Their role is to engage with you for the development, implementation, and monitoring of marine plans. You can find out who your local coastal planner is and their contact details …
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Waste Crime Engagement Specialists take to the stage at the Environmental Services and Solutions Expo in a bid to stop waste crime
Waste crime is estimated to cost the UK economy around £1 billion per year. Often this money is taken away from essential services to deal with the damage caused by waste criminals. Waste crime can endanger people's safety, undercut reputable …
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Knives Down: Inside the community fight against knife crime (Part 2)
In the second part of our anti-knife crime event podcast we find out more about the event from some of our special guests who attended the event on the day to help educate young people on the dangers of carrying a knife.
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The Tobacco and Vapes Bill: What you need to know
The government has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, as set out in the King’s Speech. This will be the biggest public health intervention in a generation – breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage and putting us on track …
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Meet the GSE award winners
Interview with Kate Whitehead, Diversity and Inclusion award winner At the GSE Conference, we celebrated excellence in science and engineering by recognising outstanding contributions across government. There were awards in different categories, with eight key awards in total. We sat …
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GOV.UK Chat: Understanding and addressing jailbreaking in our generative AI experiment
Learn how we’re addressing the risk of our experimental chatbot being manipulated to produce unintended or harmful responses.
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We’re running a private beta of GOV.UK Chat
This month we’re beginning an experimental pilot of our AI-powered chatbot. Here’s what we’ve been doing since our last update about GOV.UK Chat and what’s happening now.
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Codes of conduct, independent scrutiny and education - Nolan’s golden threads.
In CSPL’s first report in 1995, Lord Nolan said three ‘golden threads’ were applicable right across all public life to maintain high standards: ‘All public bodies should have a Code of Conduct incorporating the seven principles of public life. Internal …
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Unlocking Accessibility: Content designers share their experience and advice
We asked content designers from various government departments how they initially learned about accessibility and what they wished others would consider when creating accessible content.
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Student fees and maintenance loan increase: what you need to know
Maintenance loans and tuition fees in England are changing in line with inflation to help ensure the financial stability of the university sector. But what does this mean for students and universities?
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Journal article showcases UK NSC workshop on risk stratification in breast screening
A journal article has been published about a UK NSC workshop on risk stratification in breast screening.
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Our approach to Farming Recovery payments
To support farmers affected by Storms Babet, Henk and severe wet weather, we’re providing a one-off Recovery Payment to help cover the uninsured costs of restoring farmland. Payments will range from £2,895 to £25,000, based on the level of damage. Following our announcement this summer, we’re now able to confirm how farmers were selected for this support.
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How we’ll evaluate a site to host a Geological Disposal Facility
A Geological Disposal Facility – or GDF – is the best solution to permanently dispose of our most radioactive waste. We’ve developed a robust process for choosing where a GDF could be built and at the moment, we’re actively engaging …
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A thank you to all trustees
As we begin Trustees’ Week 2024, David Holdsworth thanks the hundreds of thousands of trustees in England and Wales who take on this role for the good of others.
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Response to NAO report on cladding remediation
There is widespread coverage today of a report from the National Audit Office which calls on the government to speed up the pace of remediation on buildings with dangerous cladding and set a date for its completion. More than seven …
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GOV.UK Forms in motion
GOV.UK Forms is now in public beta! Learn how easy it is to get started using the new form builder platform to make better, digital forms, save people time and improve the public’s experience of interacting with government.
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A day in the life – plant surveying on the River Mimram with Emma, a Senior Environmental Monitoring Officer
Every June to September, Environment Agency monitoring officers conduct surveys of aquatic plant life (known as macrophytes) to determine the health of our riverine ecosystems. This year, I was lucky enough to spend the day on the River Mimram with …
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Celebrating the 9th Annual One Health Day
[Christine Middlemiss, Chief Veterinary Officer] What does One Health Day mean for me? For me, at the very core of taking a "One Health Approach" is collaboration. As vets, we have a vital role to play in ensuring that all …
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VAT on private schools: Everything you need to know
Tax breaks for private schools will end from 2025 to enable better investment in state education, the Chancellor confirmed in the Budget 2024. We’re removing the exemption so that 20% VAT will be added to education and boarding fees charged …
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Emerging Roadmap and transition provisions
A lot has happened in the month since my last blog, including the launch of the national conversation about the NHS and Budget announcement of additional funding for Life Sciences. This has highlighted the vital role of diagnostics and Med …
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Inaccurate coverage on DEFRA’s budget
Prior to the budget announcement, The Guardian published an interview with Secretary of State, Steve Reed where they state that he said farmers and conservationists will have to “learn to do more with less” following speculation about deep budget cuts …
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Budget boost for housing, local growth and remediation
The Chancellor has set out a Budget to fix the foundations by providing a significant boost for housebuilding, backing projects to support local growth and supporting devolution. This week’s budget invests in local government and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to …
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Subtitles and captions: What’s the difference?
Subtitles and captions are essential for accessibility, and now more than ever people are using captions to better understand content. Learn why captions are important and what to keep in mind when adding them to a video.
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Commonwealth leaders champion global ocean action in Samoa
Tom tells us how ocean health was put front and centre at a recent meeting of Commonwealth leaders.
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Seabed Saviours - the EU Life Recreation ReMEDIES project comes to an end
By Fiona Tibbitt, Project Manager on the EU Life Recreation ReMEDIES I have had the privilege of being Project Manager on the EU Life Recreation ReMEDIES project for the last one and half years. I’ll admit it was a daunting …
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Mapping our green and blue spaces: the green infrastructure mapping project
Martin Moss, senior officer for green infrastructure mapping, and Sarah Parrott, higher officer for engagement and impact If you looked at a map of your local area, could you identify the accessible green spaces? What about the blue ones? If …
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How Design System Day makes our community stronger
Our latest blog post outlines how our GOV.UK Design System Day event makes the community stronger.
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All about bats
As the spooky season of October is upon us, we have collaborated with Madan Gautam from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to bring you the fascinating world of bats. Read this blog to discover all about bats, learn about their unique …
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What does the Budget 2024 mean for education?
On Wednesday 30 October, the Chancellor announced the government's Budget for 2025-26. Here's what it means for education.