GOV.UK blogs

The Partnership Between Salford Libraries and Salford Jobcentres

Public library partnerships with other organisations can be hugely rewarding - for both sides. Last week, we celebrated the role libraries play in sustaining economic growth as this year’s theme for Libraries Week. This is evident in the partnership between Salford …

Lancashire charities making a difference

This week, Mark Simms OBE, spent time in Lancashire, meeting with trustees, volunteers and staff from a wide range of local charities.

Raising the standard for water efficiency in the east of England 

Water is essential for people, businesses and the environment. Unless it is carefully managed, England will run out of this precious resource at the times we most need it. As demand for water increases in response to population growth, the …

Carers Week (9-15 June 2025)

Introduction by Rebecca Sudworth of the Food Standards Agency, Deputy Carers Champion for the Civil Service. Today marks the start of Carers Week 2025 - In the Civil Service, around a fifth of our colleagues are carers. They combine work …

What does the Spending Review 2025 mean for education? 

On Wednesday 11 June, the Chancellor delivered the next steps of the government’s Spending Review.  A Spending Review is the process the government uses to set all departments’ budgets for future years. This covers both the services the public uses …

A parent’s guide to summer infections and health hazards

As summer arrives, you’re likely to spend more time outdoors with your children. Lots of us love this time of year and it’s great to enjoy the longer days and warmer weather.

It’s worth being aware, however, of some common seasonal infections and hazards to help you spot illness more easily and take action if you need to

Spending Review Council Tax reporting

There has been reporting that councils will increase council tax by 5% in coming years as a result of the Spending Review. To safeguard residents against excessive hikes, the Spending Review confirmed the government intends to maintain the referendum threshold …

Why do we have hosepipe bans during a drought?  

Whenever we get a period of dry weather, the inevitable question is ‘Will there be a hosepipe ban?’  For most years it rains and the answer is no. However, after the driest spring in 132 years in England, and the …

Call for evidence: expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery

We've launched a call for evidence to better understand how we can support and incentivise business to invest in nature recovery.

Getting water wise – Shared Standards in Water Efficiency for Local Plans in East Anglia 

By Dr. Louise Bardsley, Principal Adviser Strategic Solutions, Natural England The East of England is the fastest growing region in England. It’s also the driest. Communities, businesses, farming and nature all need enough water to thrive. But without a fundamental …

This opportunity is helping me grow personally and professionally every day

Hello Friends of GFiE This month the UK celebrates Social Mobility Day on 12th June. GFiE is all about breaking down barriers to opportunity and this month we celebrate our ongoing commitment to social mobility through our Life Chance Recruitment …

Supporting Ecological and Economic Resilience in the Maldives’ Marine Ecosystems - Ocean Country Partnership Programme

By Sarah Allison The Ocean Country Partnership Programme is a bilateral technical assistance and capacity building programme that provides tailored support to countries to manage the marine environment more sustainably, including by strengthening marine science expertise, developing science-based policy and …

A greener future: how tree planting initiatives are transforming England's landscape

Richard Chapman, Deputy Director of Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund Tree Programme, highlights some of the tree planting initiatives happening from organisations across England, showing how we can work together for a greener future.

Extract: Using AI to unlock historic planning data 

This week, the Prime Minister officially launched Extract, the AI tool which the Digital Planning programme in MHCLG and the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence are developing to transform decades of planning information trapped in paper maps and PDFs into usable digital data.
This technology will significantly reduce the time required to digitise documents from hours to minutes, freeing planning officers up to focus on applications rather than data management.

How can I report water pollution and odour problems online? New service puts environmental action at your fingertips.

The new ‘Report an environmental problem' service is now live on GOV.UK, making it easier than ever to report water and odour pollution to the Environment Agency (EA) across England. The new online service enhances our existing telephone incident hotline …

My journey: from vulnerability to Changing the Script on social work 

My journey: from vulnerability to Changing the Script on social work 

Growing up in the West Midlands, I never imagined I’d one day be leading a team protecting vulnerable children. Now, I'm Head of Service for Contextual Safeguarding at Birmingham Children's Trust.

Deputy Prime Minister scraps outdated Vagrancy Act

It was confirmed this week (Wednesday 10th July) that the Government will formally scrap the Vagrancy Act by Spring next year. New legislation brought forward through the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill will instead focus on real crimes such …

We’re making it easier to find MOT testing advice

We’re moving vehicle testing advice out of the MOT testing service (MTS) and onto a single, dedicated, and easy-to-access page on GOV.UK. 

Nature for Health: Greening Healthcare Sites for People and Wildlife

By Lucy Prescott, Health and Nature Senior Officer Restoring nature goes beyond protecting wildlife and increasing biodiversity. It is also about rebuilding everyday connections between people and the natural world. To achieve this, we must broaden our partnerships and engage …

Heat Health: what you need to know for summer 2025

During the summer, many of us enjoy the longer days, warmer evenings, and time outdoors. But warmer weather also brings potential risks to health, especially when temperatures climb higher than usual. 

SMA Screening ISE partnership board updated on NIHR research call

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has advertised the research call for the in-service evaluation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy.

Celebrating and Supporting Carers during Carers Week!

This week we celebrate Carer’s Week 2025 June 9th – 15th, the aim is to shine a spotlight on the incredible contributions of carers and raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise their contribution to families …

AI in schools and colleges: what you need to know

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. It’s already having a significant impact across the public sector -  from helping police identify criminals to improving cancer screening in the NHS.  

That’s why we are bringing the AI revolution to classroom – using it to modernise our education system, to back our teachers and deliver for our children.

The ocean is a climate ally: How the East Marine Plan can lead on climate action

Sian McGuinness from the Marine Planning team discusses a new study “The opportunity for climate action through climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning”, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory “After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place …

Supporting local government to reduce cyber risk through targeted interventions

The cyber threat to local government is real, increasing, and constantly evolving. Four years into the Cyber Support programme, we’re sharing insights on the impact of our cyber work.

Enabling users to focus on what really matters

The Financial Forecasting Tool (FFT) represents a significant leap forward in operational efficiency. Here's how this transformation was accomplished.

Government Veterinary Services at BVA Live (12-13 June) 

Want to learn more about the work of the Government Veterinary Services (GVS)? Come and see us at BVA Live.  We will be speaking at a few events across the 2 days:  Thursday 12th June:  10:25-11:25: Business, Careers & Debates …

Addressing concerns in the veterinary sector

An update on our market investigation, following our consultation on potential remedies for vet businesses When we published our consultation on measures to address potential competition concerns in vet businesses, we expected a broad and robust set of responses – …

Join the Government Science and Engineering profession

On Monday 9 June the Cabinet Secretary launched the ‘Join a Profession’ campaign. This campaign is part of the government’s vision to enhance the Civil Service by investing in skills and leadership capabilities to drive innovation. The Cabinet Secretary is …

Join a Profession: discover your professional community

Being part of a government profession is an important aspect of every civil servant’s career journey. Wherever you work, whatever you do, there’s a Civil Service profession waiting to welcome you and help you develop your skills and career, and …

NHSE Cohorting as a Service Alpha Assessment

Read the alpha assessment report for the Cohorting as a service from NHSE.

Working on White Mars

British NHS surgical resident Dr Nina Purvis is with the European Space Agency in Antarctica, researching "White Mars".

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, …