8517posts
-
GAD at Botswana Actuarial Symposium
GAD Actuarial Director Dave Johnston attended the first Botswana Actuarial Symposium which explored how actuaries can strengthen public policy. Attendees including a small number of international participants, heard about GAD’s range of specialisms.
-
Making sense of complexity: how we are approaching impact evaluation of trade remedies
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) investigates allegations of unfair international trade practices, as well as unforeseen surges of imports, which are harming UK producers. Where there is evidence of unfair international trade practices, or unforeseen surges of imports, and evidence of injury to UK …
-
Good conduct at planning inquiries – thoughts from the Bar and Inspectorate
Interim Professional Lead for Appeals, Claire Searson, reflects on a recent webinar into professional conduct at planning inquiries.
-
What is the difference between Weather-Health Alerts and Severe Weather Warnings?
UKHSA's Weather-Health Alerts (WHAs) are separate from the Met Office's National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) - and understanding the difference matters.
-
Response to claims on local elections postponement
Reports yesterday suggested that 22 areas across England will have their elections delayed. This is pure speculation. So far we have had responses from a fraction of the councils that are due to hold their elections in May this year. …
-
Further education and skills inspections: frequently asked questions
Since we published the renewed inspection framework on 9 September 2025, we’ve put on lots of online and face-to-face engagement with further education and skills (FE) providers to answer your questions. We’re publishing the most frequently asked questions below, so …
-
The power of patterns
Design leader, Joanna Goodwin, writes about Wales's newest government design system.
-
The new SFI offer for 2026
Following the Secretary of State’s speech at the Oxford Farming Conference today, we summarise how we're making the new SFI simpler and more targeted, and what this means for you.
-
OFC 2026: clarity, partnership and growth
Today at the Oxford Farming Conference, the Environment Secretary made a series of announcements to support farmers in England, with a focus on clarity, partnership and growth.
-
GDS Parish Council Domains Helper Service wins Digital Transformation award
Find out how the team scooped the biggest prize at the UK IT Industry Awards 2025.
-
The red triangle that made history: celebrating 150 years of UK Trade Mark no. 1
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the trade mark registry, this blog explores the history of the first trade mark - and you can now have your say on the most iconic trade mark in history...
-
Are schools closed 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.
-
Minutes published of UK NSC November 2025 meeting
The minutes have been published of the UK NSC November 2025 meeting.
-
Introducing EquipoISE: an evaluation of adding multiple rare conditions to the newborn blood spot screening programme
The UK NSC has published an update on a project called EquipoISE to make it easier to develop the evidence needed to make robust recommendations on screening newborns for rare diseases.
-
Building a data model for planning decisions
Every year, local planning authorities make hundreds of thousands of planning decisions. Right now, planning decisions are recorded in dozens of different formats. Find out about the work taking place to change that by creating a data standard for planning decisions.
-
The Rural Payments Agency Podcast: Episode 14
Welcome to the fourteenth episode of The RPA Podcast. In our latest episode, we talk about how the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) Online is the easiest and most convenient way for cattle keepers to report their cattle births, movements and …
-
Looking Ahead: Growing Life Chance Recruitment in 2026
In Going Forward into Employment (GFiE, pronounced gif-ee-) we are proud of what we achieved in 2025 and very excited for 2026. The GFiE Network of recruiting pathways is rooted in inclusion, fairness and opportunity, supporting people who face barriers …
-
A Biodiversity Net Gain Solution for a High Value Brownfield Site
By David Feige, Northumberland County Council In this guest blog, David Feige, County Ecologist for Northumberland, explains the approach taken to approve a major new industrial development on a brownfield site at Cambois. The site contained a significant amount of …
-
Building on the positives
Happy New Year! I hope every adult social care colleague, carer and those accessing care and support had a lovely Christmas and welcomed in 2026 with rest, reflection and renewed energy.
-
UK NSC online seminar on screening effectiveness
The most recent UK NSC online seminar looked at assessing screening effectiveness, using the UK abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programmes as a case study.
-
What are the symptoms of adenovirus and how does it spread?
Adenovirus might not be a household name like flu or the common cold, but it's one of the most common causes of viral infections. Most people will have had at least one adenovirus infection before they turn 10, and because …
-
Progress towards enabling the use of digital verification services for alcohol sales in England and Wales
In December 2024, the then Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced that changes would be made to the Mandatory Licence Conditions (MLCs) under the Licensing Act 2003 to allow digital verification services (DVS) to be used …
-
The Future of Childhood #1: Engaging with Children and Young People
Improving outcomes for future generations What could childhood look like in 10-20 years? That’s what the Government Chief Scientific Adviser is exploring in GO-Science’s latest Foresight project: The Future of Childhood and Adolescence. We want to understand what factors might …
-
Promoting ethical alternatives to monetary incentives in user research
At DBT, our research projects are based on ethical and methodologically sound foundations. We ensure that our participants are incentivised for their time and the expertise they share with us. In this blog, we share about balancing different kind of incentives for ethical user research.
-
Response to claims on housebuilding and migration
Reports today suggest new homes built in this country will be required to house arriving migrants. This is scaremongering. The majority of homes that developers sell in this country are to British nationals. Nearly nine in ten social homes go …
-
Launching a new Co-design Toolkit for Early Years Services
This blog launches a new co-design toolkit to support the development of services for early years. The co-design toolkit is a practical set of resources created to enable local authorities and communities to design public services together. It has been …
-
Modernising democracy: Transforming the Electoral registration officer portal
The Electoral registration officer portal (EROP) is used by local authority officials responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers, and to process millions of applications directly affecting people’s ability to vote. Learn how the Elections Digital team transformed this service, making it more efficient and better equipped to support future electoral reforms.
-
UK NSC authors write journal article on the ethics of multi-cancer detection tests
UK NSC authors write journal article that explores the ethical challenge of testing for many cancers using a single test.
-
Feedback invited on UK NSC’s work on screening for coeliac disease
The UK NSC is requesting feedback on screening for coeliac disease, including highlighting issues that would be useful to explore.
-
New Year, New IP: why your business needs a workout plan
Starting something new can feel intimidating – whether it's walking into a gym for the first time or protecting your business's IP. Discover why IP protection matters for businesses of all sizes, and how to take your first steps.
-
Changes to the childhood vaccination schedule from January 2026
The NHS childhood vaccination schedule has recently been updated to help give children even better protection against diseases. Changes include protecting children against some diseases earlier and adding vaccines that protect against more diseases.
-
The King’s New Year Honours list 2026: honours for contributions to education, skills and children’s social care
More than 100 people across the UK have been named in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 for outstanding contributions to education, skills, children’s services and social care.
-
Walking the Mersey Valley Way: the first step towards nine new National River Walks
On Boxing Day, the Government announced the first National River Walk: the Mersey Valley Way. Read this post to find out reflections from Defra policy advisor's Anna Glayzer on this project.
-
Inside APHA: The science blogs that shaped 2025
From hidden wildlife threats to crop-saving innovations, explore APHA’s most-read blogs from 2025, and uncover the science shaping a healthier, safer future.
-
The Small Services Space One Year On: Learnings and Ambitions
The Shared Infrastructure team in Justice Digital launched an innovative new product (The Small Services Space) just over 12 months ago. It aims to support smaller teams who have a need, and desire, to modernise or mature using digital solutions …
-
FiPL at four: making a difference across protected landscapes
Now in its fourth year, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is helping farmers and land managers in England’s protected landscapes farm more sustainably while restoring nature, heritage and access to the countryside. This post highlights what collaborative working has achieved.
-
Two years of fisheries management plans: progress and what’s next
From collaboration to action, FMPs are transforming fisheries management—see what’s been achieved and what’s coming up.
-
2025 in MedTech: a year of innovation, global leadership and regulatory milestones
Rob Reid, MHRA deputy director of innovation devices, at AI Airlock Connect, October 2025 As the end of 2025 rapidly approaches, I find myself searching out those articles and lists that reflect on key moments across the year. Whether it …
-
Windermere Wrapped: Our Year in Review
Our teams have been busy monitoring 66 sites across Windermere and its tributaries throughout 2025. Our live monitoring equipment is deployed in seven locations and each deployment gives us countless data points about oxygen levels, temperature and other important factors that tell us how healthy the lake is.
-
Animal Welfare Strategy for England published
The government has today launched a new Animal Welfare Strategy. It sets out a comprehensive programme of reforms to improve the lives of millions of animals across England, from farm animals and pets to wildlife. In this post, we’ll summarise what this means for livestock keepers and the wider rural community.