GOV.UK blogs

The National Education Nature Park: how to get involved

The National Education Nature Park was launched in 2023 by the Department for Education, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Horticultural Society and partners. This offers children and young people the opportunity to take hands-on action to improve biodiversity and …

Working together to protect and restore the Mimram catchment

Thanks to funding from the Environment Agency, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has appointed Heidi Mansell as the new Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory Officer to lead crucial efforts to restore and protect the River Mimram—one of Hertfordshire’s rare and …

The importance of LPAs for carers and their loved ones 

[English] - [Cymraeg] It is estimated that there are over five million people with unpaid caring responsibilities in England and Wales. According to research carried out by Carers UK, most people who provide care or support to a loved one …

Towards the new SORP

We have received nearly 60 responses to date on the Exposure Draft Charities SORP and want to encourage anyone who has not already done so to engage with the consultation.

Last Call: Join the Planning Inspectorate as a Band 2 or 3 Inspector

Be an independent decision maker. Planning Inspectors needed to lead on major plans and infrastructure. Apply by 8 June.

Championing unpaid carers

Introduction from Sarah McClinton, Chief Social Worker for Adults According to the 2021 Census, almost one in ten people in England provide unpaid care, equal to 4.7 million people caring for a loved one. As Social Workers and as system …

Principles to Practice: Launching the Ministry of Justice AI and Data Science Ethics Framework

The use of data-driven technologies within the criminal justice system raises a host of challenging ethical issues, such as how to ensure automated decisions are explainable, or how to design governance processes to promote ethical principles such as sustainability, accountability, …

Unlock your potential with the GSE Professional Recognition offer 

The GSE Professional Recognition Offer is a great opportunity to elevate your career in science and engineering. This initiative is a collaboration between the GSE Profession and leading professional organisations. It provides structured pathways to internationally recognised status through membership, …

The case for designing democracy

Politics expert, Michael Saward, unpacks how design can be used to shape democracy.

Harnessing the power of AI in the public sector

Building connections and sharing insights across the public sector at DBT's second AI conference.

Government Digital and Data at Civil Service Live 2025 

Visit our biggest offer to date at Civil Service Live 2025 to network, get interactive with Government Digital Service products and participate in live demos at venues across the UK.

The role of libraries in building a sustainable economy

This year, Libraries Week is celebrating the vital role libraries play in building a sustainable economy. The Business & IP Centre’s National Network, based in libraries across the UK, drives and sustains economic growth by offering free impartial business support …

Connecting courts globally: improving how we manage international engagement

Find out how we are working with others to maximise the impact we can deliver through our engagement with international justice leaders both at home and abroad.

A Voyage in Good Distribution Practice (GDP): The Aviation and Marine Sectors

The aviation and marine sector are a journey away from the traditional scope of a Wholesale Dealer’s Licence (WDA (H)), and one of unique and specific challenges. The lorries and trucks that supply medicines to hospitals and pharmacies also head …

Join the celebrations for Libraries Week

Libraries Week: Libraries Change Lives 2025, running this week until Sunday 8 June, celebrating the vital role libraries play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. This year's theme, Libraries Week: Libraries Change Lives By Sustaining Economic Growth highlights how library services …

Making services work together — starting with health, disability and work

Learn more about how we’re improving government services to work together, especially for people with a long-term health condition or disability.

DHSC Health Checks / Complete your NHS Health Check Alpha Assessment

From: DHSCAssessment date: 16/11/2023Stage: AlphaResult: MetService provider: DHSC Service description  This service aims to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, and some cases of dementia among adults aged 40-74.  The service being developed is a new national digital channel that will work …

Changing perceptions of Veterinary Public Health

Written by the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales Natalie Sampson MRCVS Changing societal perceptions is hard, yet that is exactly what we set out to do four years ago when we faced an Official Veterinarian (OV) recruitment crisis that …

Commercialising Knowledge Assets Fund opens for applications

Author: Sarah Staniland, Head of Communities and Funding, GOTT Today, the Government Office for Technology Transfer announced the opening of the autumn call of the new Commercialising Knowledge Assets Fund. The fund is designed to support government research organisations in …

Alternative Student Finance – how we’re making student finance accessible to everyone

Some people feel unable to use existing student loans due to their faith. This is most common among some Muslims because their religion prohibits engagement with interest, which is applied to all student loans. We support the goals of every …

Inaccurate reporting of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Over the weekend it was reported that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will remove our existing environmental protections and put irreplaceable ancient woods and trees at risk. This is not true. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will maintain the existing …

From the Frontline to Probation: How My Army Training Shaped My Career in the Probation Service 

We spoke to Jon, a probation officer, operations lead for veterans in Hull and East Riding, and longstanding reservist military policeman. Jon started working in the Probation Service 23 years ago as a probation services officer and recently completed the …

Planning to be an expert witness? Here’s what to do. 

Rebecca Phillips, the Planning Inspectorate’s Interim Chief Planning Inspector gives us information on how to be the most effective expert witness for everyone’s benefit.

£2 million funding available for satellite-enabled business solutions

Building on the success of its pilot phase, the UK Space Agency has launched Call 2 of the Unlocking Space for Business programme, with a total of £2 million available to support pilot projects that commercialise space solutions in the Financial Services or Transport & Logistics sectors.

RPC publishes updated guidance on monitoring and evaluation

As the RPC publishes new case histories guidance on monitoring and evaluation, Caroline Elliott, RPC member and chair of the RPC Methodology Sub-group, explains the importance of incorporating M&E plans as regulation is developed.

Volunteers’ Week – A Message of Thanks

As Volunteers' Week kicks off, Mark Simms OBE, shares a message of thanks to all the people who give their time, energy and care to supporting others.

Now open: Farming Innovation Investor Partnership competition

I’m pleased to say the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition is now open. 

GenAI and software development: a new paradigm

Tim Howard, Deputy Director for Major Projects, Cross-Cutting Technical Services, reflects on his experience of integrating generative AI into software development workflows.

Latest statement in response to small boat crossings

A Home Office spokesperson said:“We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. “The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they …

Open call for evidence - Review of CQC Regulation 9A: visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices

The pandemic was a critical period in our history that highlighted more than ever the need for human contact. As we faced unprecedented times and restrictions to our liberty to mix socially and see our family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, …

Supporting higher education providers through beneficial collaborations

Find out how we’re working with higher education providers to identify areas where they can collaborate and stay within the law.

You care, you matter: understanding self-care for social care nurses

Looking after others often takes its toll on unpaid carers and professional care givers. Taking care of ourselves can sometimes feel like the thing we never get around to doing.

Attending to our own mental health and wellbeing is important. If we are depleted and exhausted, we cannot give our best... at home or at work.

Navigating the administration transition

Transitioning to a new administration provider is a complex and risky process. We explore some key areas where input from scheme managers or trustees can support a successful delivery.

Digital identity and the GOV.UK Wallet: increasing choice, accelerating adoption

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of hosting digital identity specialists from the tech sector to tell them more about our ambition for the GOV.UK Wallet.   They represented the UK’s Digital Verification Services (DVS) sector, that provide the digital …

Connecting the DBT Intranet

The DBT intranet is an important tool that serves thousands of staff. However, making the connections between all its valuable content isn’t as easy as it could be

How to cope with exam stress

Right now, thousands of children and young people are sitting exams across the country. To help all involved navigate this difficult period Childline is sharing some useful exam stress management tips which are also available on the Childline website.

What is Candidozyma auris? Fungal pathogen and emerging global health threat

C. auris is a recently discovered fungus. It rarely causes infections in healthy individuals though can pose a risk to people in hospital, particularly those who have been in hospital for a long time, who are critically unwell and/or who have weakened immune systems.

The power of DNA: using innovation for nature’s recovery

By Andrew Nisbet, Natural England's Deputy Director for Monitoring Natural England is at the forefront of introducing innovative technologies into biodiversity monitoring. Environmental DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the DNA that can be obtained from an environmental sample such as water, …

Celebrating a wave of innovation: Scalable experiments from the One Big Thing initiative

The One Big Thing initiative, with its focus on innovation and efficiency, has catalysed a wave of transformative experiments across UK government.

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund now open 

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 (FETF) is now open for applications.