6995posts
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Supporting HM Treasury through legal proceedings
In this blog, we look at the long legal journey the government undertook, with GAD in a supporting role, considering the legal fall out on the costs of the McCloud judgment.
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Appeals Service: Four LPAs join Householder Appeals system trial
Following the successful launch of our pilot with the London Borough of Barnet, we're excited to announce the expansion of our trial to include four additional local planning authorities (LPAs).
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Announcing the gamma (0.4) trust framework
The UK digital identity and attributes trust framework underpins our approach to building trust in the digital identity ecosystem. The requirements it contains help build confidence that services certified against it are reliable and secure. So far, we’ve published three …
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Tree planting at Silver Hill: four years later
Find out how Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo, Head Forester at Zetland Estates, is transforming Silver Hill into productive woodland.
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Leasehold reforms to improve millions of lives
Yesterday, 21st November, the Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook provided an update to the House on sweeping reforms starting in the new year to improve the lives of millions of existing leaseholders, and a timeline of vital steps being taken over …
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UNZA-VMD postgraduate programme: Improving antimicrobial stewardship in Zambia
The UNZA-VMD postgraduate programme is a collaboration supporting students and research in Zambia. Through the UK Fleming Fund, two MSc students and one PhD student are being sponsored to complete training and research focussed on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), led by …
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World AMR Awareness Week - working together to tackle the global challenge
World AMR Awareness Week 2024 takes place this week, 18-24th November, a global campaign to raise awareness and understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and to promote best practices to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. Antimicrobial resistance occurs …
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New guidance page for Integrated Pest Management
To help farmers, growers and land managers adopt different IPM approaches, we’ve published a new guidance page on GOV.UK. This post includes a link to the new guidance page and background on IPM.
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Offshore wind farms — our role in advising on the right place for low impact on marine and coastal nature
By Tamara Rowson, Natural England Offshore Renewables Industry Specialist Since 11 November delegates from across the world have been in attendance at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on “delivering deep, rapid, and sustained emission reductions now to keep temperatures under …
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How EA has spent fishing licence income to support angling and fisheries
We have just published our Fisheries Annual Report for 2023 to 2024, which details how fishing licence income has been spent to improve fishing and fisheries throughout England. Anyone 13 and over who fishes with a rod and line in …
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Funding announced at COP29 for 20 projects to support marine protection and fight poverty
Today, we have announced the 20 projects that have been successful in the first round of funding of our Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grant Programme (also referred to as OCEAN). Read this post to find out more.
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Advancing work on supply chain fairness
Today, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced that the government will advance work on supply chain fairness by using the fair dealing powers in the Agriculture Act 2020. In this post, we provide background and a summary of what you can expect.
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Warm Homes Plan and heat pumps
There has been widespread coverage in national media following the launch of the Warm Homes Plan by DESNZ. The Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and deliver warmer, cleaner energy to heat homes, with …
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GOVERNMENT VETERINARY SERVICES (GVS) AT THE LONDON VET SHOW 2024 – 14th and 15th November 2024
Were you at the London Vet Show this year? We were! And we had a great time. Talking to almost 170 vets and veterinary services staff, we spread the word on the various meaningful roles of vets in government. We …
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Overdue Right to Buy reforms to protect social housing
There has been widespread national and trade coverage following the launch of the Right to Buy consultation yesterday, proposing reforms to the scheme to protect and reverse the decline in much need council housing. This was picked up in The …
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Data Hackathon: Exploring how open data can help transform the planning system
Find out how a recent hackathon was used to start to build an app, based on open planning datasets, which could be used to help identify brownfield land for development.
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Introducing the Model for Responsible Innovation
Last week, the Responsible Tech Adoption Unit (RTA) published our Model for Responsible Innovation, a practical framework for addressing the ethical risks associated with developing and deploying projects that use AI or data-driven technology. The Model sets out a vision …
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Highlights from the Government Science and Engineering Conference 2024
The biennial Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Conference 2024 was a great opportunity to showcase science and engineering innovators in the Profession.
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IP and colour: protecting a spectrum of creativity
Colorifix’s Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Jim Ajioka and Marketing Manager Nora Eslander told us about about their business and the part their IP strategy plays in their sustainability journey.
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Introducing the Leader’s Guide to Accessibility
This leader's guide is for anyone with responsibility for a digital team, product or service. It will help you work out how to build accessibility into your product or service from the start.
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Local Nature Recovery Strategies: how nature can help drive improvements for the water environment
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are locally led, evidence-based strategies that will help to prioritise and target action and nature investment – to help create a better place. Whilst nature is at their core, these strategies will drive the …
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Combatting antimicrobial resistance through global training
Read how APHA has been actively supporting many Low-and Middle-Income Countries through training via its FAO Reference Centre for AMR.
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OPSS 2025 - 2026 Year in Industry Programme
Are you studying Data Science, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, English, History, Politics, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Science or Law with the option to undertake a year out in industry to start in September 2025?
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Using geospatial data and technology as part of World GIS Day
Today is the 25th anniversary of World GIS Day, created to celebrate the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS is a tool that links data to maps, integrating location data with other descriptive information. It allows people to create …
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Young people experiencing homelessness this Christmas
There is media coverage of data from the charity Centrepoint, who estimate almost 23,000 young people could face homelessness across England this Christmas. This has been reported in outlets including the Independent, LBC, Free Radio and the Express and Star. …
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How the science of snakebites is taking on superbugs
Patients in British hospitals with serious, antibiotic-resistant gut infections have little in common with snakebite victims overseas. But when scientists made an unlikely connection in 2018, it led to trials for a potential new treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. In this …
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Role models and International Men's Day
November 19 marks International Men’s Day—a day dedicated to celebrating the positive influence of men, their contributions to society, and their roles as fathers, mentors, and leaders. This year’s theme, “Role Models” invites us to explore the powerful impact that …
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Strengthening Global Sanctions: Two Years of Enhanced Partnership
In October 2024, representatives from the United Kingdom’s (UK) Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) convened in Washington, DC at our annual technical exchange, marking the second …
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People-centred and participatory policymaking
Policy Lab has a ten-year history of using people-centred and participatory methods in policy. Such approaches help to build evidence, understanding and empathy. Participation and engagement are already part of the Policy Profession Standards, and we are excited to see …
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Update for schools and trusts on Procurement Act 2023 - are you ready?
Hannah Mears is a Commercial Lead for Get help buying for schools, the DfE’s free supported buying service for schools and trusts. In this blog post, Hannah updates on the latest advice around the Procurement Act 2023, and how schools can get ready for the new regulations that come in February 2025.
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Celebrating 30 years of the National Lottery supporting nature recovery projects
By Adelle Rowe, Natural England Director of External Affairs Today sees the 30th anniversary of the National Lottery and Natural England is reflecting on the transformative role lottery funding has played in projects that protect and restore nature and give …
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Why we need Self Care Week
The Self Care Forum believes awareness weeks are vital for encouraging people to make better choices about their health and wellbeing. Chair, Helen Donovan, explains how we can all help make the change...
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Are schools closed today because of snow? Everything parents need to know
On snowy days schools make every effort to stay open but sometimes they must close or partially close if it’s unsafe for pupils and teachers to attend. Here we answer your questions about snow days. Who decides if schools should …
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Statement on farming and agricultural property relief
There has been extensive discussion about the changes to Agricultural Property Relief, announced in the Budget on 30 October. The government inherited a £22 billion hole in the public finances, and we had to make difficult decisions at the Budget …
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Our response to the government's social care reform proposals
The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper on its proposals to reform children’s social care. This is a significant opportunity for the government, the sector and Ofsted to better serve the nation’s most vulnerable children. We have …
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Into the woods: resilience for the future
Join us for this month's 'Into the woods' blog by Resilience Officer Jon Burgess, who shares how silvicultural techniques used at a woodland in Devon has built resilience against the impacts of climate change.
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Monitoring inclusion in the digital identity market
Digital identities should be inclusive and accessible for as many people as possible. At OfDIA, our aim is that anyone who chooses to use a digital identity is able to do so. To best understand how we can achieve this, …
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Join the fight against flu by taking part in our citizen science project
Our scientists are tracking flu and other respiratory viruses and they need your help. Join our FluSurvey system and contribute directly to flu surveillance this winter. This UK-wide citizen science programme has now started, but there is still plenty of …
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Four steps to success: tips for candidates applying to the Civil Service
Applying for a role within the Civil Service can be a competitive process, but with the right approach, you will increase your chances of success. Whether you’re a recent graduate, looking for a new job or even a career change, …
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Keeping a close eye on your property helps us prevent potential fraud
Awareness of property and title fraud, and how to guard against them, is vital in supporting not only our own frontline defences but also the wider public and business sectors.