6531posts
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Wetland restoration: for people and planet
By Craig Ralston, Reserve Manager, Natural England World Wetlands Day, an annual awareness day, marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971. The adoption took place in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on …
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What we're doing to recruit more early years workers including trialling a £1k sign-on bonus
We’re taking important steps to deliver the expanded 30 hours free childcare scheme for working parents from when their child turns nine-months-old until they start school, saving them £6,500 a year. Over 100,000 parents of two-year-olds have already registered their children …
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World Wetlands Day 2024: Wetlands and wellbeing
In this post, Jordan tells us about the importance of wetlands and their wellbeing benefits.
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Dragons' Den IP Blog - Series 21 Episode 5
Innovative ventures and intellectual property set the stage alight on Dragons' Den this week - from a hair care revolution to dental hygiene for cats, the Den saw a variety of presentations, each with their own unique challenges and opportunities.
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Come and meet RPA at shows and events across the country
It’s going to be a busy 2024 for RPA, ensuring its external engagement is as successful, if not more so, than last year’s. We’ll be engaging with even more farmers and rural communities across the country, with a presence at …
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Get to know Rebecca Pow, Minister for Nature
Rebecca Pow is the Under-Secretary of State for Nature at Defra. In this post, you can read about why she is so passionate about the natural world and farming.
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2023 Student Extramural Studies Placement
During summer 2023, we were delighted to host a one-week study placement for veterinary students at our offices in Surrey. This was the third year we had offered this popular training opportunity. Students participated in a wide-ranging programme of presentations …
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Ban on unregistered XL Bully dogs now in force
We look at media coverage of the law banning XL Bully dogs without a valid exemption coming into force.
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Designing the world's most effective border
Patrick O'Shea writes about how his team have gone about refreshing how the UK's border operates.
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National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Meet the STEM Apprentices 1/3
George - Defence Aerospace Degree Apprenticeship Scheme I have spent most of my working career as an apprentice, starting off as an advanced apprentice technician in the Royal Air Force (RAF). My working day consisted of fixing the latest fast …
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Pharmacy First: what you need to know
Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the government and NHS England on 31 January 2024 …
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Showcase your work at Services Week 2024
Are you involved in a digital public service? From the policy idea, design or development to data behind the scenes or the day-to-day running, we want to hear from you! Join us at Services Week 2024 this March. What is …
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The Subsidy Advice Unit – our first year and next steps
The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU), part of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has now been operating for just over a year as part of the UK’s domestic subsidy control regime. The SAU has two key functions – evaluating assessments …
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Explaining How Bathing Waters are Monitored, Warnings Issued and Results Published
We know how important our bathing waters are to local communities and the health and wellbeing benefits they deliver. The Environment Agency has an important role to play in the regulation of bathing waters, providing scientific and legal advice to government and informing communities about where to take a dip safely.
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Unveiling justice: Showcasing our courts at public open days
In the third episode of the Inside HMCTS podcast, we discuss the benefits to those members of the public able to join us at an open day in their local court or tribunal.
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Connecting businesses with nature projects
Projects for Nature is a pioneering new online platform that connects businesses and other donors with 23 nature recovery projects across England (all of which have been screened by experts). I’m Justin, the nature lead for The Council for Sustainable …
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Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme factsheet – February 2024
The Government’s number one priority is keeping the UK safe. To strengthen the security of our border and improve travel, the UK has launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme - an ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. …
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New announcements to boost nature recovery one year on from the launch of the Environmental Improvement Plan
New measures will help to protect wildlife and habitats on land and at sea
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Norfolk – a county where children & young people FLOURISH.
Norfolk – a county where children & young people FLOURISH. Norfolk has a shared ambition to be a county where every child and young person can flourish. Through the work of the Children & Young Peoples Strategic Alliance (CYPSA) Norfolk …
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British Forces Gibraltar Personnel in The Alps
In the last week, 11 British Forces (BF) Gibraltar personnel travelled 1800 km to enjoy a challenging and educational trip to the picturesque French Alps to join over 1000 other Royal Navy personnel participating in the 2024 Royal Navy (RN) …
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Media coverage on new border controls
Today we’re looking at coverage on new border controls introduced today under the Border Target Operating Model
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Power of Attorney Stories: Shirley
[English] - [Cymraeg] A Lasting Power of Attorney (also known as an LPA) is a legal document. It allows you to nominate someone you trust to step in and make decisions about your health and welfare and property and finance …
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So long and thanks...
This is my farewell post before I step down as Chief Social Worker for Adults. It was a privilege and an honour to take on this role over 10 years ago, the first of its kind in England. I am so very grateful for all the support I have received from so many people...
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Watch: webinar for tenant farmers
On Thursday 8 February, we hosted a webinar for tenant farmers. In the session, we gave an overview of the actions and payments available through our environmental land management schemes in 2024. This post includes the recording of the webinar.
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New actions to support seabirds, wildlife and Net Zero
Today, one year exactly since the publication of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), we are taking further actions to halt and reverse the decline of nature in our country. Firstly, to protect an important forage fish for a range of …
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The Environmental Improvement Plan: Our progress one year on
Read about the actions Defra has taken since 31 January 2023, from supporting England's wildlife to cleaning up our water.
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Welcome to the new Environment blog
Welcome. This is the first post on our new Defra Environment blog. We’ve expanded the previous Land Use blog so that we can showcase a greater range of stories about the environment. From now on, we’ll cover topics like nature, …
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Environmental Improvement Plan one year on: Driving Nature recovery on land and sea
By Alan Law, Deputy Chief Executive, Natural England This time last year, Defra’s Secretary of State launched the Environmental Improvement Plan to an audience of nature conservation bodies and the media in the nature rich setting of Camley Street Natural …
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New deadlines for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment queries and appeals
A new 60-day deadline for BPS queries and appeals is now in place. The deadline, approved by ministers, will help RPA manage the closure and administration of BPS efficiently. We sent an email (or letter) to our customers in December …
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Getting the data fundamentals right at the Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) launched its Data Strategy in August 2022 and since then we’ve been making progress against the goals we set out. We’re also looking to the future - planning our roadmap for the next three years …
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Coverage of new social housing reforms
There is significant reporting on the announcement of new social housing reforms to make the system fairer and not available to those who abuse it. The measures proposed in the new DLUHC consultation could ban those who blight communities and …
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Losses of tagged hen harriers higher than normal
Hen harriers are rare birds of prey that breed in the uplands of northern England. While we have welcomed increases in breeding numbers in recent years, up to a high of 54 nests in 2023, their recovery remains threatened by …
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HMP Highpoint - The Circular Economy of IT Disposal
I was recently fortunate enough to visit HMP Highpoint to see a fully operational ‘Prison Industry’ digital workshop, where old or end-of-life printers are taken to be dismantled and recycled. HMP Highpoint is a category C training and resettlement prison, …
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The coast is clear: strengthening shoreline management planning
Article written by Julie Foley, our Director of Flood Risk Strategy and National Adaptation, Environment Agency Our treasured coast is a dynamic and exciting place for all those that live, work and play there. It’s a complex environment and how …
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A short guide to unit pricing
What kind of shopper are you? Do you buy exactly the same things when you shop? Or maybe you’re happy with whatever’s on offer? However you like to shop, we all know there’s pressure on household budgets right now. People …
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Launching the Healthy System Indicators: A new way of relational working across local and national systems
How do we know if we are healthy? What do we look out for? We have a regular temperature, we know our energy levels, our body doesn't ache. These are indicators of good health. Much like the body, we can …
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The current offer for horticultural growers and farmers
The horticulture industry in England is diverse. As such, we and have a range of different offers available for farmers and growers. Whether you grow carrots or strawberries, daffodils or apples there is support you can access to help increase your productivity, improve the environment and innovate. In this post, we’ll summarise the schemes and grants horticultural famers and growers can access now. We'll also include links for you to join 2 upcoming webinars.
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Guidance updates on to how to notify the MHRA of changes to the PV System
Amendments to the guidance on the MHRA website stipulating changes to the way updates to a MAH’s PV system should be notified to the MHRA have been published. The changes aim to make administration burden less for both MAHs and …
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Our Business Analyst development programme - what a difference a year makes
In December 2022, ONS welcomed 11 new Business Analyst apprentices through our Business Analyst Development Programme. One year on, Jodie Stephens, Head of Practice for Business Analysis, takes the opportunity to reflect on their incredible development.
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Spotlight on new actions for arable and horticulture farmers
At the beginning of the month, we published a post which summarised the recent Agricultural Transition Plan update. The update includes the full range of new and improved actions plus the payment rates available this year. Following the update, we said we'd set out the offer for each farm type in a series of posts. This post is for arable and horticultural farmers.