GOV.UK blogs

Secondment opportunities for competition economists at the CMA

Following the success of the first two editions of the CMA Economist Secondment Programme, we are now launching a new round of secondment opportunities for competition economists. If you are a competition economist and want to find out more about …

5 months of engagement with over 100 contributions - libraries strategy deep dive sessions completed

An update on the deep dive visits as part of Baroness Sanderson's libraries strategy work.

NHS Long Term Workforce Plan fact sheet

*Updated on 26 October* The first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan was commissioned by the government to set out a series of interventions train, retain and reform the workforce, and put the NHS on a sustainable footing into the …

Why we watch the tides

Many parts of the UK are at risk from coastal flooding, either flooding from tidal conditions, or from wave and spray overtopping. This risk is forecast to rise in the future, due to climate change and sea level rise.

Defra’s response to reports on Thames Water

Today’s blog outlines widespread coverage on Thames Water

Principal Social Workers making positive changes

I am delighted to introduce Hannah’s blog this week as we look ahead to the national Children and Adults Principal Social Worker Conference in Birmingham in July. The PSWs are vital to improving social care services for children, adults and families, helping to create supportive environments in which best practice can thrive.

How we’re dealing with bots and the reselling of driving tests

In the blog post CEO Loveday Ryder, explains what bots are, the challenges they pose, how the agency is protecting learner drivers and the steps being taken to deal with them.

Noise pollution: mapping the health impacts of transportation noise in England

Noise can have a significant impact on our health, beyond just being annoying or disturbing sleep. This blog looks at a new study led by UKHSA into the impacts on public health from noise pollution.

Why is landscape design so important to woodland creation?

With the publication of landscape & woodland design guidelines this month, Robin Gray celebrates the work of the landscape & woodland design advisors in the Forestry Commission.

Why World Wellbeing Week is an opportunity for us all to celebrate the many aspects of wellbeing

In World Wellbeing Week, David Light and Lucy Holland reflect on the importance of wellbeing, and highlight some of the joint activities which Defra and Atos, one of our key strategic suppliers, have undertaken in recent months.

Cooking in Scrubs - A spotlight on working as a prison caterer

Working in an industrial-sized kitchen and catering for 1,300 people with a range of dietary requirements, Fiona says her role as a caterer at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is “extraordinary and never dull.”  What did you do before you became a …

Fish traceability technology examined

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is keen to investigate technological advances that can improve consumer confidence in seafood products while also  reducing administration  for fishers, merchants, processors and retailers. Being able to trace consignments of commercially caught fish is critical to …

Looking to the future of DWP Digital

As we launch our ambitious plans for the future, CDIO Rich Corbridge outlines the key projects we will deliver to set us up for success.

VESTEG x Pace: A Hybrid Framework for Scanning Depths and Horizons

PESTO, STEEP, PESTLE, GESTE… whatever your favoured taxonomy for Horizon Scanning [1], these acronyms all work to ensure futurists’ evidence gathering is sufficiently broad, taking into account holistic and macrocontextual change. They help us avoid many research biases and myopia …

From AA to OBE - King Charles III recognises  ONS digital employee in Birthday Honours

We are proud to announce that Ceinwen Blake, Deputy Director of Digital, Data and Technology, has been named in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours list.  She has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), recognising her extraordinary work and IT service at The Office for National Statistics that has significantly contributed towards the service we provide to the nation.

Protecting hedgerows: share your views

Hedgerows store carbon, support crop pollinators, create habitats for animals, slow water flow and create shade and fodder for animals. We want to protect the hedges we have, invest in their maintenance and support further planting.  We also want to make sure that hedgerow regulations work for wildlife, the environment and farmers. Today we launched a consultation on hedgerow protections in England and we want your views. 

HMRC wins Women in Tech Employer award for the second year running

HMRC has won the Best Public Sector Employer category for the second year running at the Women in Tech Employer Awards. The awards celebrate employers and individuals going above and beyond to help close the gender gap within the tech …

Alternatives to A Levels and university: What you need to know

Thinking about what’s next after you leave school? Gaining a university degree is just one option and there are many different paths you could take, from apprenticeships to higher technical qualifications. And while it’s compulsory for young people to be …

Food For the Future: Understanding the Challenges and Options for Sustainable Food Production in England using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

With increasing concerns around food security in the face of growing populations, climate change and recent global events, such as the Ukraine invasion, the UK government is turning their attention to new and innovative ways of meeting future food demands …

Using Herbicides to protect our flood defences from invasive plants

The Environment Agency is responsible for carrying out maintenance work on its assets to ensure they will perform as they should during a flood.

Field team operatives and contractors use various tools and methods to carry out seasonal vegetation management on sections of watercourse that are within a flood alleviation scheme. This work is carried out to aid the conveyance of floodwater during periods of high flows. This allows the floodwater to pass through the scheme as freely as possible reducing the likelihood of a blockage and reducing the flood risk.

Supporting delegated healthcare in the care workforce

Person-centred, safe and effective delegation of healthcare activities to care workers can enable people to have more choice and control of when and how things happen, with an opportunity to provide a better experience of care.

Hydrographic survey uncovers fascinating insight into the geological past of the UK

Part of a series of data sets collected in the Irish Sea, off North Wales, under the Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) has given us a fantastic insight into the geological past of the UK. The CHP is a long-running data …

What is Clearing and when does it open in 2023?

Clearing is a term you might have heard in the context of university applications, but do you know what it means? Some people might think that you can only apply through Clearing if you haven’t met the grade requirements of …

Organising work experience at DfE Digital, Data and Technology

In this post, senior content designer Laura Croft explains how she went about organising work experience for 4 A-level students.

From Paratrooper to Padre - two very different leaps of faith, one calling

Following a call to ordination in the Church of England, life took an unusual twist when civil servant Julian Hendy-Ibbs signed up to become a part-time paratrooper I’m Lance Corporal Julian Hendy-Ibbs, I serve with Signals Platoon, HQ Company, 4PARA …

Guest post: Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery

In the first round of Landscape Recovery, £12 million of development funding was awarded to 22 projects in England. This money supports plans to restore rivers, boost biodiversity and much more. The projects represent hundreds of farmers and landowners working together to deliver significant environmental change. One such project is the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery Project, for which I am project lead. In this post, I will shine a light on our work.

Living and working with high function Asperger's syndrome

Dean was diagnosed with high function Asperger's syndrome 2016, when he was in his early 40s. We spoke to him about how this affects his daily life, the misconceptions about Aspergers and  how managers and colleagues can be more supportive. 

GOV.UK One Login: June 2023 update

An update on the GOV.UK One Login programme and the closure of GOV.UK Verify.

From fitting cars to steering prison wings - Jack’s journey

We spoke to Jack, who recently joined the Prison Service as an operational support grade (OSG). After taking advice from his family, who also work in the Prison Service, Jack felt like it was the right time to take his …

Police powers: Stop and search

Stop and search powers are a vital tool for the police to prevent violence and other crime. Every knife taken off our streets is a potential life saved - 100,000 knives and offensive weapons have been taken off our streets …

Environment Agency response to recent incident at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works

Today’s blog outlines how the Environment Agency is working as part of the multi-agency response to the recent burst pipe at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works.

Introducing DataConnect23

Mark your calendars for 25-29 September 2023 for the third DataConnect event series, held in collaboration between CDDO and the DQHub at ONS. Find out more about the event and how you can showcase your data work.

International Women in Engineering Day 2023: How you can join the next generation of engineers

International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the contributions of women in the field of engineering and science, and the impact their work has on shaping the world. With so many women breaking down barriers, it’s time to inspire the next …

Start your digital career with DVLA’s development programmes

If you're looking to start a career in digital, DVLA have several development programmes that provide a structured path into the profession. We caught up with 2 of our recent students to learn how the MSc Development Programme helped them move into a digital career.

Register of Overseas Entities: where we are now

Since the Register of Overseas Entities was launched last year, we’ve been working hard to make improvements to the service. Here, we take a look at where we are now and give an update on the next phase of service development.

King Charles III recognises HMRC employees in Birthday Honours

As King Charles III released his first Birthday Honours list last week, we were extremely proud to hear the news that several of our colleagues here at HMRC were recognised for their contributions to public service. We caught up with …

Environment Agency investigation into sewage treatment works moves to next phase

The EA is conducting its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread breaches of environmental permit conditions at wastewater treatment works.

How we are delivering innovation in health and social care services

Innovation is crucial for enabling the NHS to increase the speed of diagnosis and deliver better outcomes for patients. We know patients benefit enormously from new technologies, with breakthroughs enabling prevention of ill-health, earlier diagnosis, more effective treatments, and faster …

Expanded offer of the Sustainable Farming Incentive to roll out from August

Blog looking at the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 which will start accepting applications from August, offering an improved, more streamlined process for farmers.

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2023

Today, 23rd June 2023, marks the 10th International Women in Engineering Day, brought to you by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). As a woman working in Engineering, there are times I’ve noticed that I’m one of few women in the …