7167posts
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Dragons' Den IP Blog - Series 21 Episode 1
The Dragons are back! Episode 1 of the new BBC Dragons’ Den series has got off to an inspiring start. Unusually, every one of the intrepid entrepreneurs walked away with an offer. Read our latest Dragons’ Den IP Blog to find out more about the IP behind the inventions…
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Free courses and qualification for adults to boost their skills
Whether you’re starting your first job, looking to change career, or want to boost your skillset, we’re investing in training programmes that can help you get where you want to go. There are thousands of free courses available to young …
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Windrush Schemes Factsheet – November 2023
We are determined to put right the terrible injustices faced by some people from the Windrush generation and the wider Commonwealth, which happened under successive governments. The Windrush Scheme ensures members of the Windrush generation can get the documentation they need to …
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Energy efficiency drive for historic homes
There has been coverage in the media of plans published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to remove barriers and drive energy efficiency in historic homes, cutting energy bills for households across the country. 'Adapting Historic Homes …
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FCDO Research Advisory Group: Apply to become an expert member
The role The FCDO’s Research Advisory Group provides strategic guidance, rapid insights, and independent challenge to help achieve the FCDO’s ambitious global research and development objectives. The FCDO is expanding the group and invites applications from senior experts from academia or industry for 4 additional …
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Environmental land management in 2024: details of actions and payments
Today we published an update to the Agricultural Transition Plan on GOV.UK. It includes our progress, priorities and plans for the coming years. In this post, I'll share a summary of the update which includes details of scheme payment rates, premium payments, new actions and plans for a single application service.
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Embracing challenges: a reflective journey in exams administration
Nicki Hlousek, exams manager at Newcastle College, reflects on his experience as an exams officer and shares tips on how to be successful in the role. It has been quite a ride since my last blog back in April 2023, …
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How to improve your child’s school attendance and where to get support
This article has been updated on 29 February 2024 to reflect the latest information. For most pupils, the best place to be is in school, surrounded by the support of their friends and teachers. This is important not just for your child’s …
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Inaccurate coverage on our farming budget
The Guardian has today published a piece claiming the government has broken its promise to English farmers by failing to spend the promised £2.4 billion a year on agriculture between 2021 and 2023.
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A new year and a new challenge for Companies House
Louise Smyth, Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, reflects on her highlights from 2023 and shares more information about what 2024 will look like for Companies House.
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How to apply for 30 hours free childcare and find out if you’re eligible
Thousands of parents are entitled to government-funded childcare to support them to return to work after parental leave. Depending on how old your child is, you may be able to access between 15 and 30 hours government funded childcare a …
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UK Government action in 2023 to stop the boats
Tackling Illegal migration Illegal Working raids – Immigration enforcement raids up 68%. Successes include targeting the food delivery sector, conducting more than 250 enforcement visits and 380 arrests involving food delivery drivers in 2023, supported by a new agreement with …
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When can I apply for 15 hours free childcare?
We’re expanding free government-funded childcare so that thousands more parents won’t have to choose between a career and a family. Currently, parents who work and earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage, and earn …
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The King's New Year Honours list 2024: honours for contributions to education, skills and children’s social care
Over 90 Brits from across the country have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for their contribution to education, skills and children’s social care. Foster carers, campaigners, educators and fundraisers have been awarded an OBE, MBE, DBE, …
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Celebrating our successes
Chief Digital & Information Officer, Richard Corbridge reflects on his time in post so far and highlights some of our key successes this year.
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Year in review: What DIO has achieved in 2023
It’s been a busy year for us at DIO. From supporting the Coronation of King Charles III to supplying more than 20,000kg of turkey to Armed Forces personnel over Christmas, our teams have been working hard to help our Armed …
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Coverage of electrical waste recycling plans
Today we are looking at coverage following the launch of our electrical waste recycling consultation.
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Minutes published of UK NSC’s November 2023 meeting
The UK NSC has endorsed the use of digital pathology as an alternative option to light microscopy for the review of cancer screening histopathology slides.
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Working with farmers to protect our future land
Agriculture is the biggest sector we regulate in terms of individual businesses, with around 100,000 premises covering 70% of the land in England. Every year, the EA works together with farmers to bring the changes and improvements which will protect our future land and resources and secure better compliance with environmental regulations.
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Arable and Horticulture webinar follow up
We recently held a webinar for arable and horticulture farmers. Our aim was to go through the 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for those farm types and answer your questions. In this post, I'll share a summary of the things we covered and set out the offer for these sectors.
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Opening a wealth of opportunities for a successful career in the civil service.
The Civil Service currently 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 …
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Community Ownership Fund Announcement
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that over 70 community treasures including historic theatres, pubs and museums to be rescued with £25 million UK Government levelling up funding. Successful bidders will be given a share of …
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Monopoly and the inventor who was streets ahead
With Christmas fast approaching, families everywhere are likely to be dusting off their Monopoly board, together with its familiar Scottie dog and top hat player pieces, ready for their annual challenge. How many will be aware of the challenges the game itself has seen since its original invention? Read on to find out more!
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Kim's work in approved premises over the festive period
We find out what it is like to work in approved premises over the festive period, and the rewarding nature of the work. We spoke to Kim, a business manager for approved premises in the South West region. With over …
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Introducing our new Chair, Doug Chalmers
Doug Chalmers was appointed by the Prime Minister as the Chair of the Committee following an open recruitment process. He took up his appointment on 12 December.
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GSE Profession 2023 Wrap Up
In this blog we reflect on 2023 and look ahead to what’s coming up for the GSE Profession this year. Firstly, thank you for your contributions and support of our monthly GSE newsletter. Your feedback is important to us, and …
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King’s Lincolnshire coast visit to feature in Boxing Day documentary
In summer 2023, King Charles III visited a new Natural England National Nature Reserve (NNR) on the Greater Lincolnshire Coast to film for a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Boxing Day. The Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR was officially declared …
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Updates to Correspondent Banking Restrictions
Regulation 17A of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 was amended with effect from 15 December 2023. This amendment prohibits UK banks[1] from processing payments previously processed by designated banks (meaning banks designated specifically under regulation 17A) or …
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Transforming with Digital: Walk in our users shoes
I was excited (and slightly daunted) to be asked to speak in the ‘Walk in our Users Shoes’ series as part of the recent 'Transforming with Digital' campaign. As a user researcher, the opportunity to walk in users shoes is …
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Updating the GOV.UK licence finder
We’ve launched a new tool to help people find licences for their businesses, homes and other activities. Here’s how we delivered a successful outcome for users and what happens next.
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VMD AMR team International Engagement
Over the last couple months, our AMR team has been meeting international colleagues to discuss and showcase ways of tackling AMR globally. The team showcased the UK’s progress in reducing antibiotic sales for food-producing animals by 59% and learnt of …
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An opportunity to grow shared living
"At Shared Lives Plus, we oversee two models of shared living: Homeshare, and Shared Lives. Shared Lives is a simple concept; it is a person-centred model which matches people who need support with those who can give it."
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British Sign Language GCSE: Everything you need to know
Students will soon be able to study British Sign Language (BSL) as a GCSE following a consultation into the course content. Parents, teachers and organisations from the deaf and hearing communities, overwhelmingly agreed with the proposals it set out. The …
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Climate change and sustainability in education: 5 steps we’re taking
Education is a key tool in the fight against climate change. The Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy was launched in 2022 and its aim is for the UK to be the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by …
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Developing a set of principles for the design and delivery of greener services
A guide to the 8 principles for the design and delivery of greener services.
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How we are making our forms accessible and easy to use
Jenny Taylor reflects on the work she’s been doing to develop a solution which she hopes will reduce our reliance on paper forms in the future.
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Navigating climate change challenges – key findings from our academic network net zero event
The close of the COP28 climate summit provided an opportunity for us to reflect on our contribution to efforts towards addressing the urgent threat of climate change, and to consider some of the findings of our recent Net Zero event at Newcastle University.
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Housing Secretary Planning Speech
Yesterday the Housing Secretary gave a speech held at the Royal Institute for British Architects called ‘falling back in love with the future’ with a range of stakeholders and journalists in attendance. As part of this he announced a series …
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Natural England welcomes Government's commitment to Nutrient Mitigation
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enabling sustainable development by investing in schemes to reduce nutrient pollution in England’s rivers and estuaries. Read more on GOV.UK. Natural England welcomes the announcement which provides the certainty needed for all providers …
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Complete our surveys for your say on two key Fisheries Management Plans
We have launched two short surveys to enable stakeholders with an interest in skates and rays in the English Channel and Southern North Sea or demersal non-quota species in the Southern North Sea to give us their views on the …