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Thousands more veterans will receive HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards by the end of the year thanks to a £3 million injection to expand the roll-out to veterans who left service before 2018.

Sir Robert Stheeman, CEO of the Debt Management Office, is retiring after over 20 years of public service.

Rishi Sunak should put ethics high on the global agenda when the UK hosts the AI Safety Summit this autumn, according to research by the professional body for computing.

80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain set to be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035.

2,500 ambitious tech talents will be recruited into digital roles in government by June 2025 through new apprenticeship and early talent programmes, the Cabinet Office has announced today.

Focus remains on halving inflation and growing the economy, says Secretary of State, as latest encouraging figures published

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has today published a Report following its pre-appointment hearing on Monday 19 September with Amerdeep Somal, the Government’s preferred candidate for the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE).

Guarantee issued by UK Export Finance allows Teesside manufacturer Paralloy to access up to £26m of a Santander UK bank guarantee facility to fuel its successful exporting business.

UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade announces the introduction of DBT International Trade Advisors (ITAs) to Scotland.

Ruth Rankine responds to the latest GP appointments and GP workforce statistics

Scottish and Welsh Ministers press UK Government on new partnership.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) welcomes the publication of the annual Section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 report data released from the Government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) on the enforcement of legal metrology. 

The assessment process has now started, and each pilot system has received a request for information from us. This is so we can collect the evidence that we need to review. As part of our assessment, we are speaking directly with people using health and care services and with staff working in the ICS about their experiences.

Five more former sub-postmasters have had convictions set aside after their cases were sent back to court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). 

Joan Saddler responds to the Race and Health Observatory report on gypsy, roma and traveller communities

The statement will help us understand how our relationship with sport and physical activity changes over our lifetime and is shaped by our experiences and our opportunities to be active.

The UK Information Commissioner has today called on organisations to handle personal information properly to avoid putting victims of domestic abuse at the risk of further danger.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Housing Ombudsman have launched consultations on a joint Complaint Handling Code.

Innovative projects will receive funding to develop technologies to predict strawberry yield, increase vineyard productivity and optimise harvesting schedules.

The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Deborah Sellin for appointment to Bishop of Peterborough.

The Defence Secretary met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his counterpart Rustem Umerov and promised further military support from the UK.

The International Horizon Scanning and Learning Report 46: Five Essential Conditions for Health Equity examined determinants of health inequity and highlighted five policy areas where action could be taken to reduce inequity. 

Professionals in the North of England have been urged to apply for senior public sector roles in a bid to increase the regional diversity of the UK’s top public sector appointments and level up the UK.

The Scottish Government no longer expects to have enough money to deliver all its planned £26 billion investment in public sector infrastructure.

A procedure which reduces the size of the stomach by two-thirds to help people living with obesity to lose weight has been deemed safe and effective to be used in the NHS, NICE has said.

The CMA has found that Arçelik’s anticipated purchase of Whirlpool’s major appliances business in Europe could reduce choice in the supply of washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and cooking appliances.

Government announces four new attendance hubs, widening the support to a total of 400,000 pupils.

Funding will protect essential bus services and allow local authorities to make the improvements that would most benefit their communities.

Chancellors don’t respond symmetrically to good and bad economic news. This represents a risk to the accuracy of official borrowing forecasts.

Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, Responded to yesterday’s speech by Ed Davey MP, leader of the Liberal Democrat party

The Ministry of Justice has launched a major new advertising campaign to tackle recruitment and retention, by showing the reality of life as prison and probation officers.

More people could be encouraged to purchase alcohol-free drinks under government proposals to make alternatives to alcoholic drinks more widely available.

National Crime Agency officers have arrested a man as part of an investigation into the death of a woman who is thought to have died attempting to cross the Channel in a small boat.

 In the midst of the most severe diphtheria outbreak in recent global history, UNICEF Nigeria is sounding the alarm about the urgent need for widespread vaccination. The outbreak has so far resulted in over 11,500 suspected cases, more than 7,000 confirmed cases, and claimed the lives of 453 people, mostly children.

Gareth Sumner aims to take innovation and collaboration to the next level

Legislation to champion patient voice unanimously backed.

On 1 October 2023, two new guidelines from the Sentencing Council for sentencing offenders convicted of interfering with the administration of justice will come into effect.

Developers in England will be required to deliver 10% “Biodiversity Net Gain” from January 2024 onwards.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board responds to a report by the Education Committee on tackling school absence

The Bank of England should cease selling bonds purchased as part of quantitative easing (QE) to avoid further losses to taxpayers

Vulnerable young people and children from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong will receive vital mental health support through a new £2.5 million fund.

More than a century after his death, Private (Pte) William James Meager, a 38 year old soldier from Bloomsbury in London, has finally been laid to rest with full military honours alongside two other unknown British soldiers.

Research by the NHS Confederation and conducted by Carnall Farrar, examines the potential of increased targeted investment in community services

We set out issues with the inheritance tax system and examine options for reform and the distributional impacts of reforming or abolishing the tax.

Digital technology is embedded in our daily lives and in every sector. Playing their part, the construction and property sector are unlocking their net zero potential through the adoption of digital technology. Vital, given the built environment is responsible for around 40% of UK carbon emissions.

Roll-out of free school meals and childcare must not compromise on quality if we are to safeguard the health of those most disadvantaged. This is the message from senior leaders in the Building a Healthier Wales Coordination group. 

Sean Duggan responds to the Centre for Mental Health report 'A mentally healthier nation’

Statement on the resignation of Dr Jo Saxton as Chief Regulator.

At DSEI 2023, Strategic Command launched the Integration Design Authority (IDA).

NICE yesterday (26 September 2023) published draft guidance for public consultation that does not recommend trastuzumab deruxtecan for treating advanced HER2-low breast cancer in adults.

Government welcomes decision by regulators to approve the Rosebank development.

Matthew Taylor responds to Health Foundation polling that shows four in five members of the public support more investment for the NHS.

Project is one of four major bids in Scotland receiving total of £1m from UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.

Next steps to help displaced people rebuild their lives.

Ofgem is launching an investigation into whether BES Commercial Electricity Ltd and Business Energy Solutions Ltd (together BES) are in compliance with rules that ensure deemed rates – the rates you pay if you are not in a contract with a supplier but are using energy – are not unduly onerous for customers. 

Ofcom yesterday imposed a £40,000 financial penalty on Islam Channel Ltd for serious and repeated breaches of our broadcasting rules.

RoSPA's joint study with Trent & Dove on Fall Prevention reveals that 69% of falls could be avoided

A Lithuanian lorry driver has been charged after cocaine worth around £6.8 million was seized as part of an ongoing National Crime Agency investigation.

Recommendations for improving care regulation published.

The Education Committee has proposed a range of measures to reverse the worrying trend of children’s absence from school.

Under-performance by the majority of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, will mean companies have to return £114m to customers next year.

Dr Layla McCay comments from Bournemouth on the Leader of the Liberal Democrat's conference speech.

Following Ed Davey’s speech at the Liberal Democrats’ conference, IPPR welcomed key Liberal Democrat policy announcements on health and social care. 

An experimental statistics publication for Scotland.

This follows recommendations made by The Whyte Review and will support Club Welfare Officers nationwide.

The US and UK have committed to developing and funding new capabilities to stop the spread of sickening AI-generated images of children.

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted an angler from Gloucester for two fishing licence offences which ended in fines totalling £1,059.

Donna Jones, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, has welcomed the Home Secretary’s review into the process and governance of police use of firearms, specifically after discharging a weapon.

This month we have been exploring the topic of climate tipping points and provided an overview of the subject in an earlier blog post. In this post, we look more closely at the impacts of potential tipping points on UK weather and climate.  

The Community Ownership Fund supports treasured institutions across the UK so that they can be run by the community, for the community.

Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board which was co-chaired by COSLA and Scottish Government. The Board oversaw reform across areas that impact on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Greater balance needed to support PSBs while protecting innovation.

Setting an arbitrary ceiling on the so-called tax share of the UK economy risks hampering national growth and prosperity, according to a new report by IPPR.  

Data on last week’s industrial action by junior doctors and consultants is here: NHS England » Potential industrial action in the NHS

When what is now NCFE was founded in 1848, change and revolution was sweeping through Europe and beyond. From Brazil to France and Hungary, people rose up against rulers and deposed regimes.  

Long-range strike capacity is essential to ensuring that the Royal Navy is fit for any future conflict, but the fleet is currently lacking in this area. Q-Ships could provide an effective solution.

COP28 comes at a decisive moment for international climate action. This summer saw temperature records broken, and several floods and wildfires across the world.

Blog posted by: David Cannon, Executive VP, nfiniti3 and lead editor, ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy, September 20, 2023.

People across England are being encouraged to use the NHS App as an easy way to register their organ donation decision – as more than 7,000 patients actively wait for a transplant.

Following the publication of Ofwat's performance report the following statement has been issued by the Environment Secretary.

Retail sales volumes fell in the year to September for a fifth consecutive month, but at a much slower rate than last month, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trades Survey.

UKRI has published plans to improve support for students studying towards doctorates and other research degrees, through a new deal for postgraduate research.

The government’s levelling up programme is moving further ahead, with land for the permanent site of the new Darlington Economic Campus being purchased.

An innovative new dataset published by the Met Office highlights the importance of humidity on global heat extremes.

Customers will have £114 million returned to them through their water bills next year after water companies failed to deliver on a series of service commitments.

Simpler social security system saves families time.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has today published the Government’s response to its report on football governance.

Improvements to the traceability system for cattle have been set out by the government.

A study by The Sheffield College found that using Virtual Reality (VR) in assessments had a positive impact on student performance and in retaining information. 

FCA advert references online forum chats to raises awareness of hype in high-risk investments.

The first total ban on the use of snares and glue traps in the UK will come into force this Autumn in Wales, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has confirmed.

Equality watchdog yesterday responded to ECB actions to make cricket more inclusive.

More project professionals are working remotely now than during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the vast majority say they’re happy with current working arrangements, according to a new poll by APM.

The Royal Engineers are delivering world-leading training to Ukraine's combat engineers in Poland, with 1,500 mine detectors having been provided to Ukraine by the UK.

Time is running out for high-rise residential buildings to be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

This research has been commissioned to provide the Scottish Government with a more developed understanding of the cyber resilience maturity of the Scottish Third Sector.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the detention of a man by Devon & Cornwall Police prior to his death is continuing.

A former solicitor who defrauded clients at his firm of almost £2 million has been jailed.

In July we opened investigations into GB News and Greatest Hits Radio for their respective ‘Don’t Kill Cash’ and ‘Face the Family’ campaigns.

The first ever fully digitalised goods shipment landed in Singapore from Burnley.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday commented on more reports that demonstrate the scale and extent of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.

This year’s Connected Britain at the ExCel was the place to be to network with leaders and industry stakeholders in the telecoms space.

Government expands plan to tackle storm overflows, including all coastal and estuary sites.

Blog posted by: karolinakasperek, 25 September 2023 – Categories: Socio-economic.

In our latest spotlight on the work of Homeless Link’s Partnership Managers, Sirea Jabar talks about her work across the North of England to make local partnerships better. Sirea is the Partnership Manager for Yorkshire & Humber, North East, Lancashire & Cumbria at Homeless Link.

While China has recently launched a ChatGPT alternative and become the first country to regulate generative AI, the UK is struggling to find a united voice ahead of its AI safety summit in November.

Blog posted by: Owen Jones, 25 September 2023.

Blog posted by: Kate Boothroyd, Director, KB Risk Consulting Limited, Director, KB Risk Consulting Limited, September 2023.

Storm Agnes has been named by the Met Office as the deep area of low-pressure will impact much of the UK on Wednesday and into Thursday.

The expansion of the Youth Offer to inactive claimants, for the first time, will begin immediately to help young people into work and improve wellbeing.

More help for victims as criminals pay towards costs.

Eight flood warning sirens will be sounded across the upper Calder Valley as part of an annual test to help communities be prepared as possible for any risk of flooding this winter.

The Charity Commission’s next phase of its Trustee Campaign gets underway.

“Focus on the vulnerable and voiceless” is the message coming from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s latest annual review of adult care services.

Police officers pursued a car in line with policy and procedure before a fatal collision in Staffordshire, an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded.

The Welsh Government has heralded France as ‘destination numéro un’ for Welsh food and drink exports at a gastronomic celebration in Lyon.

The dwindling role of aid financing could provide the impetus for developing countries to expand domestic public health spending.

How does an organization ensure it has accurate and reliable information about the resources available to deliver effective products and services?

Gender stereotypes harm everyone. They place us all into binary boxes, impacting the way we develop, learn and view ourselves. Before a child is even born, their biological sex has determined how society will define them, through a gender binary.  

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden’s speech given recently (22 September 2023) to the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

On Sunday 24 September, six members of the YPO team took on the scary challenge of abseiling down Ilkley Cow and Calf. Together, the team raised £2,220 and the donations keep coming in!

As part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing crackdown, two anglers have been found guilty of fishing illegally on separate occasions this year in Oxfordshire.

When the government announced a £5 billion programme to help rural communities access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband, we knew that Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) would be key. 

Forty-five treasured institutions across the United Kingdom given funding to safeguard future.

This output of the new Attainment Scotland Fund evaluation strategy reports on data gathered through a survey of Scottish Attainment Challenge local authority leads to gain an understanding of the processes and early implementation of the refreshed Attainment Scotland Fund in 2022-2023.

The diffusion of social media platforms can both help and hinder military forces’ operational output, and means it is increasingly difficult to manage and police.

Professional and personal advancement were in the spotlight at the APM Women in Project Management Conference 2023.

The number of people seeking advice on head lice and nits from the NHS website has increased by more than a third since the beginning of September.

In consultation papers published today, the financial regulators have set out proposals to boost diversity and inclusion to support healthy work cultures, reduce groupthink and unlock talent.

Banks need to democratize decision-making and realign their portfolios to build on renewed commitment at the UN General Assembly.

A multi-million project on the Essex coast has reached a new milestone after thousands of tonnes of rock armour arrived from Norway.

The APCC has published ‘Innovative & Effective Approaches to Tackling Serious Violence'.

A new series of videos and a comprehensive brochure exploring the work of the Met Office managed Weather and Climate Science for Service Partnership (WCSSP) programme has been launched. 

Towns and cities across the UK will deploy smart street lamps to test next-gen digital tech, offering EV charging and improved wireless connectivity, as part of a £1.3 million government pilot.

This report covers Year 2 of the multi-year evaluation of the Suicide Bereavement Support Service (SBSS).

Innovation Agency staff and partners bade a fond farewell to founding Chair Gideon Ben-Tovim OBE and Vice Chair Bruce Ash, at a special event in Liverpool.

Cygnet Health Care Limited were recently (Thursday 21 September 2023) fined £1,530,000 after pleading guilty in a criminal prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), at The City of London Magistrates Court over the death of a young woman using one of their services.

Blog posted by: Sue Taylor – Co-author, PRINCE2 7, September 2023.

The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, especially in rural areas, where buses are vital for people to get around.

Ukrainian authorities have been actively using a sanction mechanism to freeze and confiscate assets of individuals and companies that are linked to or support Russia’s full-scale aggression.

techUK's latest report unveils the future of work in an AI-powered era.

The NEPO team rolled up their sleeves to help supplier Bunzl Greenham clean up unwanted litter on the Durham Heritage Coast.

As part of an ongoing Environment Agency crackdown, six anglers have been found guilty of fishing illegally in Kent on separate occasions earlier this year.

A man who pretended to be a teenage girl on social media to blackmail young boys into sending him nude images has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has announced measures to tackle aortic dissection, a heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.

The Attorney General confirms the requirement not to publish material which could prejudice any potential criminal investigation or prosecutions.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is criminally investigating the actions of a West Midlands Police officer following an incident where a man fell from an upstairs window in Birmingham and later died from his injuries.

The UK’s higher education funding bodies are inviting written comments on the assessment of people, culture and environment (PCE) in REF 2028.

Tuberculosis (TB) cases in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022.

The state-of-the-art building has received £499,000 in funding from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Magnox Ltd.

On 20 September, we were delighted to partner with techUK member dxw, to host a roundtable part of Leeds Digital Festival 2023, to discuss how can we use data to drive digital transformation in the public and private sectors.

Offenders will be put to work to pay back the communities they have harmed as part of a week-long nationwide clean-up of Britain’s coastline.

Young people’s sense of disengagement and disempowerment in society should be reversed by stepping up civic education in schools and reducing the voting age to 16 for all elections in England, according to a new report by IPPR which calls for four big 'learning gaps’ in English schools to be addressed.