7282posts
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GDS’s user research on AI in government
Our user research into AI and generative AI across the public sector has helped us understand how colleagues view and interact with these technologies, including their aspirations, concerns and current usage patterns
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How merging creative design and futures at Defra led to collaborative strategic insights
By Emma Mutch, Defra Introduction Defra, in collaboration with Andthen, shares insights into how it developed a new horizon scanning capability and emerging trends and global megatrends outputs. Unique approaches and methods were used in this work, notably a highly …
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The vital role of Quality Assurance in pensions calculations
Robust quality assurance (QA) processes are a crucial tool for administrators to help mitigate calculation and administrative error. This blog explores what QA is, the benefits to schemes in undertaking QA activity and some strategies schemes could implement to improve QA in their schemes.
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Uncorking innovation
Wine, like everything else, has plenty of hidden intellectual property (IP). Today, we're diving into a key part of its IP and how it changed the game. It turns out that just like a good bottle, this invention has increased in value throughout time…
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What are the 2024 Storm Overflow EDM Annual Returns?
Today, we published water company Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) Annual Return data for 2024, which can also be viewed on a map via the Storm Overflow portal, showing the frequency and duration of spills from storm overflows in England. EDM tracks …
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Wood ants mean healthy woodlands
Emily Robinson, Content Officer at Forestry Commission, shares how wood ants act as a keystone species in promoting a healthy woodland ecosystem.
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Exploring AI in Healthcare: Insights from the AI Airlock Pilot
The AI Airlock is a pilot programme designed to help test and improve the rules for AI-powered medical devices to ensure they reach patients quickly, safely and effectively. Since we announced the pilot cohort in early December, the AI Airlock …
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Asking for guidance part 4: A case of distribution in kind
In which our expert caseworker considers an unusual question involving panel 8 of form TR1.
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Using integrated pest management to grow healthy crops and support nature
The UK’s National Action Plan for Pesticides guides farmers towards sustainable pest, weed and disease management through integrated pest management (IPM). By combining techniques like crop rotation, biodiversity, and selective pesticide use, IPM strengthens farm resilience, boosts food production, and helps nature thrive. In this post we share resources and case studies.
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From Inspiration to Action: Driving Gender Diversity in Engineering
Before joining the Civil Service, I did science outreach, demonstrating different robots to school children and explaining how we program them. We showed that they too could grow up to do programming and themselves as a career. There were so …
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Using species conservation translocations as a tool for nature recovery
By Delphine Pouget and Jeremy Sabel, Natural England’s Species Recovery & Reintroductions Team Natural England recognises that species translocations can be an important tool in nature recovery. Natural England’s ambition is to promote and enable high quality conservation translocation projects …
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Using Generative AI to help users resolve Trade Barriers
How DBT used a Large Language Model to increase knowledge sharing and improve its Market Access Service
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The UK Forestry Standard: a guide to sustainable forestry and responsible timber harvesting
Chris Watson is the Forestry Commission's Woodland Resilience Advisor. Here he outlines the principles and wider environmental, economic and social benefits of sustainable forest management and timber harvesting through the UK Forestry Standard.
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NHSE National Secure Data Environment (Get Access to Data) Alpha Reassessment
From: DHSCAssessment date: 18/5/2023Reassessment date: 26/10/2023Stage: Alpha reassessmentResult: Met at reassessmentService provider: NHS England Service description This service aims to solve the problem of enabling secure access to and support in the use of NHS datasets for external users for health and social care research. …
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Who’s eligible for the 2025 COVID-19 vaccine, or ‘Spring Booster’?
Details of who is eligible to book a free NHS COVID-19 vaccination this spring.
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Join us for a Lunch and Learn session about working in GVS
Have you ever wondered what roles there are for vets in government? Did you know vet roles exist in 9 government departments? Join us for a conversation with Government Veterinary Service (GVS) colleagues on Tuesday 22nd April 12:30-13:15, to hear …
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Why clear and accurate pricing matters – and how businesses can get it right
Learn how we’ve been working to help consumers get clearer and more accurate price information, and what businesses can do to get it right.
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Government publishes first Pesticides National Action Plan in a decade
Last week, the Government published the Pesticides National Action Plan, the first in a decade. Read this post to find out more.
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Funding Service: How we transformed Delta based on user needs
Delta is the main platform MHCLG uses to collect data and make payments. It helps the department make policy decisions, release national statistics and process payments to local authorities. Read how the Funding Service transformed Delta based on user needs.
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An update on customer account managers now and in the future
DVSA introduced Customer Account Managers in response to vocational and motorcycle training providers saying they needed a better way to communicate with DVSA. The role started in October 2021. There have been some changes since they were introduced. So, this …
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Improving MOT site reviews – here’s what you need to know
This blog provides an update from our MOT Enforcement team on changes we are making to our reviews process from 1 April 2025.
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Priority Pathogens: The disease families which require urgent scientific research
Today we have published a Priority Pathogen Families reference tool, highlighting 24 pathogen families where we believe further research is most needed in the interests of biosecurity.
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Disease emergency response in action
Aled Edwards, Head of England Field Delivery for the agency reveals how rapid response by several teams working closely together is helping to keep us safe from animal diseases such as foot and mouth, every day of the year.
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From hands-on problem solver to strategic infrastructure leader
Gary Ireland shares his journey from hands-on estate management to leading long-term projects.
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Key takeaways from the GOTTCon 2025 panel discussion: Risk and Innovation
Authors: Joanna Rodin and Rachel Egan, Deputy Director job-share, Strategy and Implementation, GOTT. Last week we chaired a panel discussion on the subject of "Risk and Innovation" which brought together a wide range of different experts from various sectors to …
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England’s major landowners to work together to drive nature recovery.
Last week, a group of landowners – who collectively own 10% of England’s land – met to accelerate nature’s recovery. Read this post to find out more.
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If you go down to the woods today
This World TB Day, APHA disease scientist Siân Powell describes a long-standing project at Woodchester Park to better understand TB disease spread in badger populations and advancements in our diagnostic capabilities.
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With tuberculosis (TB) on the rise again, how can we prevent further spread?
On World TB Day 2025, we look at the most recent data, which showed a rise of 13% in reported numbers of cases in England between 2023 and 2024.
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Modernising courts and tribunals: what we've achieved and learned
As the HMCTS reform programme formally concludes, Nick Goodwin reflects on its achievements, benefits to users, and plans for future modernisation of courts and tribunals.
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Reforming Benefits and Support: echoes of our earlier advice
It is not uncommon that the Social Security Advisory Committee's recommendations, while not wholly accepted at the time they are made, feature in some shape or form in policy announcements in the years that follow. The Secretary of State for …
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How we're breaking down the digital divide in schools
We've just committed £45 million to improve digital connectivity in schools to close the digital divide over the next year. We want to make sure that through this investment, no child is left behind and that we’re supporting teachers to …
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Building the Future of Criminal Justice: Our Vision for 2025 and Beyond (Part 2)
Operations Director, Daniel Flury outlines the vision for a more efficient criminal justice system by 2025, focusing on streamlining processes, improving case management, and investing in technology and people to create a more accessible and responsive system.
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Shapwick Heath Peat Restoration – Bringing Bogs Back to Somerset
By Louise Treneman, Senior Reserve Manager Peatlands habitats, such as raised bog, blanket bog and fen, in good condition, are home to a wide range of species and store the largest amount of carbon of all habitats in England. However, …
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RPC offers to help Government achieve a 25% reduction in the administrative costs of regulation
The RPC welcomes the Government's new target to reduce the administrative costs of regulation on business by 25% by the end of the parliament.
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A New Era for England's Nature: Celebrating the Publication of the second Local Nature Recovery Strategy
By Emily Butterwick – Northamptonshire LNRS Senior Officer This month we celebrate the publication of North Northamptonshire Council’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). It marks a significant milestone towards our country’s efforts to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change and improving …
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Understanding Ideology's Role in Terrorism and Extremism
By Robin Simcox, Commissioner for Countering Extremism For decades, the UK has faced a sustained threat from terrorism. That threat has amplified since October 2023, Hamas’s attacks in Israel and the ensuing fallout. While we rightly focus on the tragic …
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Council tax levels publication
The government has today published the Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England for 2025-26. This showed the national average council tax bill will increase by less than last year under the previous government. We know that families …
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The State of Play In Our Criminal Courts: Challenges and Current Actions (Part 1)
Daniel Flury, Operations Director at HMCTS, discusses the ongoing challenges in the criminal courts and the actions being taken to improve efficiency and reduce delays. From addressing case backlogs to streamlining processes, he outlines key efforts to strengthen the justice system.
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'Ready to Pass?' aware learners are more likely to listen to instructors’ advice
Discover how the 'Ready to Pass?' campaign is changing learner drivers' attitudes and behaviours, making them more likely to follow instructors' advice.
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LEGOcy in the making: an IP story
There's something magical about watching your children's imagination come alive through LEGO, and there's a fascinating story behind these beloved bricks. From a small Danish woodworking shop to a global brand, intellectual property has played a crucial role in protecting their innovation along the way.