GOV.UK blogs

Updating the product manager role and skills on the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework

Debbie Blanchard and Olivia Helliwell share their experience leading a year-long cross-government co-design of the product manager role for the Capability Framework.

How the UK NSC stays up to date with health screening innovations

Article alert system helps ensure the UK NSC stays up to date with the latest scientific developments in health screening.

How we value properties for business rates: the rental comparison method

In this first part of our three-part blog series, we explain the rental comparison method and how it is used to value properties like shops, pubs and restaurants for business rates.

AI4Peat - Innovative use of AI to map and restore our precious peatlands

AI4Peat Project team members: Anne Williams, Michelle Johnson, Samuel Richardson, Nick Tomline, Martha Tabor, Phil Shea. Restoring Peatlands Peatlands are among the UK's most valuable ecosystems, playing a crucial role in carbon storage, water regulation, and biodiversity. However, many peatland …

Introducing the DfE Plain Language standard 

In digital, data, and technology in DfE, we’ve published a Plain Language standard.  The Plain Language standard ensures that users can:  The standard incorporates our ways of working and best practise for user-centred design in government. It should not create …

Developing service patterns - reusable designs for building government services

This blog post describes what a service pattern is, how this one was made, how we think it could help design better services, and what we’d like to do next.

Citizen Science and the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is working with partners to develop tools, guidance and frameworks to support a standardised and connected approach to citizen science monitoring of the water environment. The Citizen Science Technical Advisory Framework Last year, we shared how the …

Funding boost to support digital planning innovation

The MHCLG Digital Planning programme is providing further grant funding to local planning authorities (LPAs), for specific digital, data and innovation work, to modernise their planning services.  In this blog post, we set out the allocation of funding for a range of improvements and projects which will transform planning processes and deliver efficiencies.

Changes to our SCCIF guidance to improve stability for vulnerable children

Next month, we will be making a small number of changes to our social care common inspection framework (SCCIF). These are mainly aimed at children’s homes and fostering agencies. The changes are intended to encourage more providers to look after …

Shining a light on interpreting in our courts and tribunals

Interpreters are a vital part of the justice system. Through their skills we meet our duty to provide access to justice and ensure everyone involved in a hearing can understand proceedings.

Driving Fairness in Business: The rebuild of the Payment Practices Reporting Service

Late payments can threaten small businesses’ growth and survival, making tackling this issue a key ministerial priority for DBT. Discover how the rebuilt Payment Practices Reporting Service is encouraging fairness and transparency, and how it supports the government’s mission to build a resilient economy.

World Social Work Day 2025: celebrating compassion and collaboration

The Co-Chairs of the Principal Children and Families Social Worker network talk about the importance of compassion and teamwork among social workers, highlighting how these values positively impact their work with children and families.

4000 inspections and counting: How we’re driving water industry performance

In 2023 we announced significant changes to the way we regulate so that we can better address the underperforming water industry. At the heart of our plan was a significant increase in both our workforce and the number of inspections …

 Belfast-based ARC Regulatory talks top tips for safeguarding IP 

Specialist regulatory consultancy ARC Regulatory Limited has been a success story since its start in 2010. We spoke to ARC’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Heather Taylor, to find out more about the organisation’s rapid rise and how protecting its intellectual property (IP) has played a significant part in ARC’s growth journey.  

A brighter future for Cornwall’s willow tits

Weighing as much as two teaspoons of sugar, with a round body and a ‘sooty black cap’ on their heads, willow tits are some of the sweetest looking birds in the country. But they are in danger – the willow …

Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship revenue claims are open for 2025

You can now submit your 2025 revenue claim for Countryside Stewardship (CS) or Environmental Stewardship (ES). You have until 11.59pm on 15 May 2025 to submit your claim without reduction. Countryside Stewardship Before you submit your CS claim, please make …

A message of thanks from Isabelle Trowler CBE, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families

Opening Social Work Week, Isabelle Trowler CBE thanks the sector, discusses workforce recruitment and retention, new standards, and her visits to colleagues across the country.

From hobby to classroom

As part of the Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub’s (DEWH) 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?  Iain - I'm Dr Iain Farquharson, I'm …

PATH-SAFE: Changing the way we approach surveillance

The ability to detect and identify harmful pathogens early and to accurately trace foodborne disease (FBD) outbreaks to their source is critical to ensuring public health is protected and economic impact is limited. Initiated in 2021 and funded through the …

Children embrace the future with the Humanoid School Project 

British Science Week 2025 marked the launch of an exciting new initiative, where primary school children across the UK were introduced to the world of humanoid robots.

Helping our fish to thrive: why the close season is so important

The evenings are getting lighter, and spring is very much upon us and this is the time of year that coarse fish up and down the country turn their attention to spawning. Adult fish will be spawning, or recovering from …

Defence apprentices test 3D printing to make replacement weapon parts 

Our Defence Academy delivers world-class training and education to defence and security personnel.    Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) apprentices Becky and Jolie are currently completing a five-year Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (WOME) engineering degree apprenticeship.   As part of this …

Why school attendance matters, and what we’re doing to improve it 

Every day at school counts. The evidence is clear - even a few days of missed school can have a significant impact on a child's education and future prospects. 

How we are pioneering artificial intelligence applications in public health 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to address health security challenges. Here are 3 examples of projects that demonstrate how we're using cutting-edge AI technology to protect and improve public health.  Using …

Evicting the Stereotypes: The Real Bailiffs at Work (Part 2)

In the second part of our bailiff podcast, we delve deeper into the fascinating world of our dedicated bailiff teams discovering more about realities of their roles their views on the job.

The Nature Restoration Fund in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

On Tuesday, the Government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament – alongside which Parliament has published the normal explanatory notes for legislation, and the Government has published a guide to the Bill and a set of fact sheets on key measures. One …

What is space weather, and why are we monitoring it?

As the Sun reaches its most active period in 22 years, we’re increasingly aware of the potential risks from severe space weather events. In our latest blog post, find out how we're refining our understanding and responses to space weather, ensuring the UK remains resilient to these cosmic challenges.

Open Digital Planning: a cross-sector partnership to transform local planning services

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Digital Planning Programme coordinates Open Digital Planning (ODP) – a cross-sector partnership of forward-thinking local planning authorities (LPAs) working together to create a more efficient, data-driven planning system.

Over the last 4 years, we’ve worked closely with council officers to understand their technology and data challenges and have used these insights to drive meaningful change.

Championing Young Adult Carers in the Civil Service

Tamara Finkelstein DCB, introduces herself as the new Civil Service Champion for Carers and shares the experience of a young adult carer in the Civil Service Tamara Finkelstein DCB is Permanent Secretary at DEFRA and has recently become the Civil …

Good services are verbs, but better services include nouns

Defra policy lab experts Toby Squire and Rhiannon Long design public services around objects that are familiar to citizens.

The importance of load security 

Load security is incredibly important but is often overlooked. It’s a topic which may not seem exciting or interesting, but the consequences of neglecting it can be truly devastating.   Back in December 2024, Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) updated its …

TechTrack: revolutionising digital apprenticeships in the Civil Service

Learn more about the innovative digital apprenticeship programme, TechTrack, and the plans for 2,000 apprentices to join Whitehall.

Third-party providers: Get ready to register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

If you're planning to verify the identity of clients for Companies House, you’ll need to register your business as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Find out how to get your business ready.

Text (digitised) and videotape: video transcripts help everyone, not just people with access needs

Many individuals prefer reading video transcripts. At the Ministry of Defence, a survey was conducted to explore how staff without accessibility needs engage with transcripts and the reasons for their preferences.

Update on the farming budget

In this post, we summarise the government's £5 billion investment in farming. We outline how the funding is allocated across the Farming and Countryside Programme. We also highlight recent updates and future plans.

Understanding the true burden of Infectious Intestinal Disease in the UK

Cymraeg The third study of infectious intestinal disease (IID3) aims to quantify the rates of infection reported across primary care and NHS 111/NHS 24 call services and quantify the level of underreporting in order to make new estimates of the …

SMA Screening ISE Partnership Board update February 2025

An update from the partnership board that is overseeing the planning of an in-service evaluation (ISE) of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy.

Community Connect - creating data community cohesion

Read about Community Connect, the first in person cross-government data community meet-up. The event, which followed on from the success of DataConnect, celebrated the power of communities to work together, and contribute to the data sharing priorities for government. Take a look at the key from individual data community meetings, and sign-up to upcoming community events.

Tracking Jack Snipe: Our quest to understand the UK’s most elusive bird

By Kevin Clements, West Midlands Area Delivery Team The project The Jack Snipe is probably our most elusive and least understood bird. But a Natural England project aims to change that. It’s a small and secretive bird which, arguably, a …

Nanoplastics are everywhere: what is the health impact of these tiny particles?

Nanoplastics, and their slightly larger cousins microplastics, are polluting our environment and our food. The study of these tiny particles is still a relatively new field and in this blog post for British Science Week we’ll explore how scientists are investigating the effects nanoparticles are having on the human brain and its defences.