7151posts
-
Catchment Sensitive Farming: Sharing sustainable farming techniques at the Arable Knowledge Hub
Guest blog: By John Charles-Jones, Woodborough Park Farm arable farmer Sustainable farming is vital. Both food production and nature rely on healthy soils, clean water and air, and farmers can have a big impact. Environmentally friendly farming isn’t just good …
-
Did you know you can become a magistrate?
Find out why civil servant Christine Wright decided to apply. Many of the legal decisions made in England and Wales are made by magistrates. They are ordinary people who work in all sorts of fields and have no previous connection …
-
Royal Gibraltar Regiment Soldiers Complete Exercise Diamondback
Soldiers from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment have successfully completed a two-month deployment to Fort Irwin, California, as part of Ex DIAMONDBACK. Members of the Regiment joined with X Company from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers as part of the American …
-
Applying user-centred design in a data-focused product
We use a recent discovery to demonstrate how our user-centred designers work alongside other technical professions to build a complex data-driven product.
-
Getting it right for civil, family and tribunals reform
Our Civil, Family and Tribunals Programme Director Rachel Hunt explains how reform across the jurisdictions will move forward to get the technology right and provide a more reliable and consistent service for public and professional users.
-
My priorities for the early years sector
I’ve now been in the post of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector for nearly two months. It has been an incredibly busy but rewarding start to this new role. As you may know, I come from a schools background, having been …
-
Supporting Families: Maximising the capacity and connectivity of the voluntary and community sector
Good practice project led by Durham County Council Introduction Durham County Council led a project on behalf of the national team to gather good practice around improving connectivity with the voluntary and community sector. They worked with 19 Local authorities …
-
Spotlight on talent development: Meet Fast Streamer Warsome Hersi
First year Digital Data Technology and Cyber Fast Streamer Warsome Hersi tells us about his journey into the Civil Service Fast Stream and his first posting as a Product Manager within Defra Digital Data and Technology.
-
Services Week 2024
Services Week is returning for the sixth time this year and will be taking place from 18 to 22 March 2024. The annual event series is run by the Government Digital and Data community for people working in the UK public sector.
-
Screening research: who does what?
Important factors, roles and responsibilities to consider for anyone wanting to conduct research or evaluation into screening.
-
OFSI refreshes its guidance for the maritime sector
The maritime shipping industry is crucial for global trade and growth, linking countries and economies worldwide. However, because of its global reach, it faces unique challenges with financial sanctions. To help businesses navigate these complexities and ensure compliance, OFSI has …
-
Watch webinar for livestock and grassland farmers
On Thursday 14 March, we’re holding a webinar for livestock and grassland farmers to learn more about the funding opportunities available in England in 2024. A link to register for the webinar is included in this post.
-
How we’re using Webinars to demonstrate how quick and easy it is to use GOV.UK Forms
In our latest blog post find out about our recent webinar. Hear all the latest updates on our new form builder GOV.UK Forms and find out how easy it is to set up a trial account and start creating forms.
-
Royal Gibraltar Regiment OP Teamwork
For the third year running, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) attended an Army-wide TEAMWORK Day activity as part of the overall TEAMWORK campaign at the University of Gibraltar. The University kindly agreed to host the RG and continue to build …
-
Royal Gibraltar Regiment Prepares for Annual Training EX Jebel Tarik in the UK
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is gearing up for its annual training exercise, Jebel Tarik, to be held on the ranges of Hythe and Lydd in Folkstone, United Kingdom. This deployment marks a significant milestone for the Regiment as it supports …
-
New Standards and Compliance Unit launched - An update by Robin Simcox
Commissioner for Countering Extremism, Robin Simcox shares his thoughts on the launch of the Standards and Compliance Unit (StaCU). Just over a year after the publication of the Independent Review of Prevent (IRP), I am delighted to announce the launch …
-
DHSC response to reporting on medical school places
In response to recent misleading reporting on the subject of the government’s drive to increase the number of medical school places, here’s how we are meeting our pledge to double the number of medical school places in England to 15,000 …
-
PropTech company Searchland goes from strength to strength
In our new podcast, Searchland co-founder Hugh Gibbs explains the benefits of taking part in the Geovation Accelerator Programme and how it probably sped up the start-up’s development by a year, fast-tracking their journey from an idea to a business.
-
XL Bully registrations
We look at the latest number of XL Bullies registered with an exemption scheme in England and Wales.
-
Coverage of plans to designate 27 new swimming sites
Today we are looking at media coverage of this week’s bathing water consultation launch.
-
Coverage of CMA report on UK housebuilding
There has been significant coverage of the publication of the Competition and Markets Authority’s final report on the UK housebuilding market study. The full-market study, supported by the Housing Secretary Michael Gove, was launched in February 2023 and the final …
-
The SFI pilot: designing the improved offer with farmers
Since 2021, over 800 farmers in England have been testing an early version of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), delivering 10,000 actions on their land. In this post, I’ll explain how farmers in the pilot have helped us to shape the current and future offer. I'll also include a video which gives an overview of our work.
-
Second place for RG soldier in Inter-Services Bouldering Competition
Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s Sergeant Alec Spooner recently returned to Gibraltar after claiming second place in the 2024 Inter-Services Bouldering competition in the United Kingdom. Sgt Alec Spooner's achievement of finishing second in the Masters category at the Inter-Services bouldering competition …
-
An update on OFSI's licensing process and policies
This blog provides further information on how the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) makes licensing decisions. We outline both the process involved in obtaining a licence, from submitting an application to (if the licence is granted) receiving a …
-
Waste criminals – we’ve got you in our sights
By Joanna Larmour, deputy director of the Environment Agency’s National Enforcement Service Waste crime has been going on for too long – and the Environment Agency is taking action. That’s why we’re committing more resources than ever to find, identify …
-
Data Distribution in Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning
This post is part of a series on privacy-preserving federated learning. The series is a collaboration between the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit (RTA) and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Learn more and read all the posts …
-
DLUHC announces allocation of funding for council-led initiatives advancing innovative digital planning services
The DLUHC Digital Planning Programme is supporting further Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) through the latest funding round for digital services to improve planning. In this blog post, we announce allocation of funding for council-led initiatives advancing innovative digital planning services.
-
Environment Officer Joseph Holder explains how weekly beach walkovers and inspections are helping to improve Weston-super-Mare’s bathing water quality
The Environment Agency conducts weekly sampling during the bathing water season, which spans from May to September. Across the UK, there are 424 designated bathing water sites, 49 of these sit within Wessex. Each one of these sites is …
-
The Rural Payments Agency - embedding sustainability in everything we do
In this blog we hear from RPA’s Net Zero lead, Michael Sinclair who talks about how RPA is embedding sustainability in everything it does. I’m going to start this blog with a confession. I don’t consider myself to be particularly …
-
A very busy week for Manchester Army Cadet Force in Gibraltar
Between 10 and 17 February 2024, members of the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force visited Gibraltar for a routine trip. Twenty-seven cadets and support staff, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel William Royle, spent the majority of their visit utilising …
-
Watch: Velcourt 2024
In this post, we share 3 videos from Velcourt 2024 featuring Farming and Countryside Programme Director Janet Hughes. The videos include an update on the agricultural transition, the latest on the farming offer in England and questions from the attendees.
-
The support I have had has been unbelievable and I am so grateful to be working in such a nice environment
The Civil Service has over 20 Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) Life Chance Schemes in operation across Government, using innovative approaches to recruitment and providing Individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, who face barriers to employment, with opportunities and …
-
Strengthening Sri Lanka’s preparedness to respond to oiled wildlife emergencies
Written by Jamie Small, from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), on behalf of JNCC and Cefas, The UK government's Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) team share updates on oiled wildlife response training recently delivered in Sri Lanka. JNCC and …
-
The first phase of the Forestry Commission’s new approach to consultation is live
Back in September 2023 we announced our new approach to how we consult or seek advice and information on forestry proposals. This published statement set out how the Forestry Commission, on behalf of the Forestry Commissioners, will undertake consultation when …
-
An Innovative Journey: Why 20% really matters
Guest blog by Ross Middleham, Creative Lead at the Met Office. At the Met Office, one of our core values is that ‘we keep evolving’. We are constantly horizon-scanning for ways to make improvements and deliver value. So in August 2023, …
-
Media coverage on reforms to waste electricals regulations
Media coverage on reforms to waste electricals regulations There has been coverage over the weekend (Sunday 25 February) on our consultation on reforming the producer responsibility system for electrical waste. On 28 December 2023, the UK Government, along with …
-
Completing Reform - Common Platform
In a recent blog, we set out how we aim to deliver the remainder of our Reform Programme over the next 12 months. Here, Crime Programme Director, Daniel Flury, describes in more detail what this means for crime reform.
-
Why I chose to join Defra’s Cloud Academy: Steven Calder
Steven Calder provides an insight into why he chose to apply for an ICT apprenticeship in the Defra Cloud Academy.
-
Climate change targets: Net zero, no hero for investors
“Net zero” has become a buzz phrase for climate-conscious companies over the past few years and has also infiltrated the world of investing. However, when it comes to investing, net zero targets are perhaps not the saviour that they seem to be in the corporate world. Find out more in this blog.
-
UK Space Agency provides £500,000 through Accelerating Investment programme
The UK Space Agency has provided up to £500,000 funding to support specialist projects, helping to accelerate high potential UK companies and support them on their investment journey.