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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)

@ukgovcomms.bsky.social
87 followers 45 following 380 posts

*Not* a government account. A Bluesky account for sharing best practice of government communications in the UK. Run by @bowsy.co.uk.

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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 7h
What a weird way to communicate with that kind of community rather than a blog post or newsletter (never mind somewhere that would enable discussion). Turns out that the medium is the message. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Edition 7: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — software developer newsletter
HMRC's newsletter for software developers for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
Frankie Roberto @frankieroberto.com · 23h
It’s not an alternative to GOVUK Notify, it’s a whole different proposition and layer of abstraction (it uses GOVUK Notify to send SMSes, emails and letters). (That they share the same name is unfortunate and not ideal)
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Just discovered this exists and, y'know, I'm just too damn tired to even be angry right now. notify.nhs.uk
notify.nhs.uk
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Nice post from GDS, would have been better with some examples. Would be even better if there was a place where prototype creators could record what they've done and how successful they were as a way for other people to learn from. designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/29/w...
designnotes.blog.gov.uk
What are the principles of prototyping?
An evolving set of prototyping principles to help people use prototypes to learn and improve their products or services. These principles were contributed to by people across government during Service...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Sure, this is good but the obvious undercurrent that it's just easier to do this within one organisation than it is to work collaboratively across government to build resources and tools that support everyone highlights everything wrong with how we work now. defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/29/t...
defradigital.blog.gov.uk
Turning existing knowledge into AI-enabled learning
Nathan O'Gara explores how, in Defra, we’re finding new ways to share our expertise, using AI to make learning easier to create, reuse and access.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Blimey, I don't know if MHCLG is doing more good work than other government organisations or just better at being open about it. Either way - bravo! mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/29/a...
mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk
ALIGN: a new national infrastructure spatial tool for evidence-based planning and growth decisions
ALIGN is a new national infrastructure spatial tool bringing together data, models and AI to identify local infrastructure needs and constraints. Supporting both central and local government, it will ...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
When I was this young lady's age apprenticeships had almost completely died out. It's great to see how they're returned in the last 20 years. cddo.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/28/h...
cddo.blog.gov.uk
How TechTrack helped Sophie start a digital career
Sophie Metcalf explains how a TechTrack apprenticeship helped her move from education into a software development career in government.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is really excellent work (especially architecture.cddo.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gds-local) but there's still an underlying assumption that councils will continue to procure the majority of their digital systems. technology.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/25/g...
technology.blog.gov.uk
GDS Local: helping local government buy and use tech better
GDS Local is on a journey to tackle fragmentation in local government technology. Find out about what we've learnt and what comes next!
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
As always playing catch-up. This is good in that it highlights both that often the only way to secure moving something forward is with very senior support and also the system issues with how data is used in government. public.digital/pd-insights/...
public.digital
3 lessons from 3 years spent building AI inside the UK government — Public Digital
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This is obviously great but I wish there was more information. Specifically publishing the outputs of the 21st September workshop. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/25/d...
gds.blog.gov.uk
Digital devolution: what’s been happening and what’s coming up?
Explore how we're working with local government to build capability and support innovation.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
MHCLG is the absolute poster-child of excellent public comms these days. Whatever's in the water there please share it around! mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/24/w...
mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk
What good delivery means to us
The digital delivery community in MHCLG is thriving. Across different teams, professions and directorates, we found ourselves returning to many of the same conversations about what good delivery looks...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Sounds like a lot of really good stuff here. I hope there are relevant communities of practice to support the folks going on these courses after they're done them. mailchi.mp/e074b77447db...
mailchi.mp
Government Digital and Data Hub - Newsletter - September 2026
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Sounds like a lot of interesting people saying a lot of interesting things (although I suspect the level of "radical honesty" might not be the same as mine). However, will the sessions be recorded for people who can't attend? Doesn't look like it. cddo.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/17/t...
cddo.blog.gov.uk
Take a look at what’s in store at DataConnect 26
Join public sector data, digital and AI professionals to share learning, explore real-world case studies and build valuable connections.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
@richardpope.org (Author of the excellent Platformland) really highlighting the failure of Government as a Platform in the UK. Common infrastructure for wide-sector services (schools, GPs, etc) should be the absolute basis of how we design government services. richardpope.org/2026/09/15/n...
richardpope.org
Nationalise Parent Pay?
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Really mixed feelings about this. Perhaps the best / only way to drive change in a complex organisation is to (at least metaphorically) spin out a new sub-org to do it. That said, the idea that that team is "special" really drives against genuine whole-org change. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/17/c...
gds.blog.gov.uk
Creating the conditions for transformation
CustomerFirst shares early lessons from its work with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
One more. Excellent this is happening but it's chipping away at the edge of a huge whole-government issue (national government data architecture) that no-one senior enough wants to spend the political capital to really tackle head-on. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/15/w...
gds.blog.gov.uk
What the ‘Early Years’ Innovation Challenge showed us about data-sharing and collaboration
What would seamless, trusted data-sharing mean for young children and their families? At a recent Early Years Innovation Challenge, we explored how better data-sharing could support earlier interventi...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Still at MHCLG but only highlighting the same systemic issues. It's insane that each separate department is spending multiple tranches of money doing this rather than there being one central team in government responsible for this. mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/15/t...
mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk
The MHCLG AI Gateway: enabling more effective and safer adoption of AI in our digital services
AI is becoming an important part of how we design and deliver digital services. To help product and delivery teams across MHCLG adopt AI more safely and effectively, our Technical Architecture team de...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It's nice that MHCLG has blogged about their process for this but it's not like it's something they've chosen to do. It's mandatory step 12 in the service standard. Really code should be open from the *start* and iterated in the open - not just done in a big drop at some gate.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
These are the kind of excellent small incremental improvements I wish far more teams in far more departments would blog about. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/16/h...
gds.blog.gov.uk
How we made it easier for millions of users to sign into government services
Users can now sign in to GOV.UK One Login with a passkey using their face, fingerprint or passcode, without remembering passwords or entering security codes.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
This is nice but it would be good if part of the programmes to introduce major changes in IT in government organisations was some ongoing user research with users to (1) share best practice and (2) investigate ROI. defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/09/c...
defradigital.blog.gov.uk
Copilot and me: What’s made a difference
In the third part of our series looking at the ways Defra colleagues are using AI, Zoe Wilson reflects on how Copilot empowers her as a form of assistive technology.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
OMG - I'd never even *heard* of this until you mentioned it. Heroic work from someone keeping that version up all this time.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I love the level of detail in both of these that almost no-one will care about but will be really important for those that do. This team are champions of open working. More of this please. enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/03/u... enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/03/c...
enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk
Commencing transition from 0.4 to 1.0
The transition period from the 0.4 and versions of the trust framework and supplementary codes has started One of the conformity assessment bodies that are approved to certify against the UK digital v...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The Digital Devolution programme sounds fascinating and an excellent way to build on GDS Local. However, it'll be interesting to see how local gov officials react to central gov folks being parachuted into the offices as "advisors". gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/01/s...
gds.blog.gov.uk
Supporting devolution through digital, data and AI
Across government, there is a growing focus on how powers, funding and decision-making can be exercised closer to the places they impact. We're pleased to be working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Really great post. Lots of good stuff coming out of GDS these days. I hope this means the comms restrictions are loosening. I only wish we could have public week notes or show and tells from this group. dataingovernment.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/03/c...
dataingovernment.blog.gov.uk
Connecting data to enable modern digital government
The Foundational Data team in the Office for the Chief Data Officer explains how better-connected data could support simpler, more joined-up public services.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
One more excellent thing to see. Not just the achievement but the blogging too. The only thing I would love to see is a timeline of feature introduction and a list of things asked for but not implemented (for good reasons). Both would be valuable insights. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/02/g...
gds.blog.gov.uk
GOV.UK Pay at 10: how it started and how it's going
10 years ago, GDS launched GOV.UK Pay, one of its flagship platforms used by public sector service teams. To mark this milestone, we look back at an incredible first decade and some exciting developme...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This is excellent and I so wish there was even more detail. It'd be great to see the actual interaction maps and understand the related incentives. Also what patterns for change that emerged that could be replicated elsewhere. technology.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/28/l...
technology.blog.gov.uk
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Awesomesauce.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
This is excellent of course but I'd kinda hope that most central gov organisations had been doing this since at least 2015. mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/27/a...
mhclgdigital.blog.gov.uk
Adopting a user-centred design approach to our internal content landscape
The Content Improvement team in MHCLG focuses on making sure internal content across our platforms is accessible and user-friendly, and meets the needs of all colleagues. By treating content as critic...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Ahh... What you actually mean is improving the digital and data platforms inside the ONS. That's great - but it's a lot less than what the title of the article is implying... blog.ons.gov.uk/2026/08/27/b...
blog.ons.gov.uk
Building the digital backbone behind the UK’s statistics
Secure technology and data products are the foundations upon which the ONS delivers modern statistics. One month into his new role as Director General, Luke Ashton gives his early thoughts on how his
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Very nice - but we do wish more was accessible to non-civil-servants of course. There's no reason why UK gov can't host an online discussion platform where you have to nominated to a couple of existing members to join. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/24/s...
gds.blog.gov.uk
Services Week 2026 Wrap Up
This year's Services Week saw an incredible 4,000 attendees across 80 sessions, delivered by over 30 different government departments. We reflect on the event's success and how to stay connected to th...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
AI as assistive tech. Fascinating. defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/20/a...
defradigital.blog.gov.uk
A thinking partner: Copilot as assistive technology
Since 2023, Defra has been running targeted trials and rollouts of Microsoft Copilot - a personal AI assistant integrated within Microsoft apps. These pilots highlighted the meaningful ways it can ben...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The Digital Identity folks are outpacing even MHCLG in the consistency of the their blogging. Top marks! enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/20/h...
enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk
How digital verification services can help businesses meet their obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations
In early 2026 we (DCMS, formerly DSIT) worked with HM Treasury to publish guidance under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs). The guidance sets out how certified and registered digital verificatio...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Excellent - much more of these kind of stories please. cddo.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/20/a...
cddo.blog.gov.uk
A Digital Fast Stream Secondments Journey: How the secondment strengthened my product and strategy Skills
How a six-month Digital FastStream secondment strengthened my skills in Product, Strategy and Decision-Making.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Really nice post but still not clear if this is just planned to be the way to get equivalent information to what's on GOV.UK or whether the vision is to make this a single interface for government services in future. insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/19/d...
insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk
Designing GOV.UK Chat for the GOV.UK app
Learn how we designed GOV.UK Chat to integrate into the GOV.UK app and the improvements we made based on user insights.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
This is fun but it's less "what could we do with more than 5 hours" and more "what could we do if these tools could actually be properly supported". dwpdigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/17/e...
dwpdigital.blog.gov.uk
Engineering Practice Hackathon: a day of collaboration, AI and innovation
What happens when you ask 40 engineers to use their skills and AI tools to transform the experience of new employees joining DWP Digital?  In July 2026, the Engineering Practice Hackathon brought toge...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
This is exactly the sort of thing we should be doing. enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/17/h...
enablingdigitalidentity.blog.gov.uk
How digital verification services can be used to support alcohol purchases
The Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2026, once it is approved by Parliament and has come into force, will enable retailers and hospitality venues in England and W...
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
Martin Jordan @martinjordan.com · 13/08/2026
As a public servant, I write weekly notes to let people see what I do. This time I was particularly slow. Last week, I worked on autumn talks on policy/service design. I also conducted accessibility testing, participated in a workshop on civic ledgers, and joined the #ServiceStandard Q4 planning.
verwaltungsgestaltung.de
Week #223 at the Digital Service: Notes for 3–7 August
Martin worked on his autumn talks on policy and service design in week 223 at Digital Service. He also did accessibility testing, participated in a workshop on civic ledgers and joined the quarterly p...
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
And we're once again looking for volunteers to help with our various events. If you might be interested please drop a line to transformgovtalks@gmail.com. Thanks!
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
After Wales - Scotland! The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh on Tuesday 22 September, 18:00–19:30. luma.com/a9ubumzh
luma.com
TransformGov Talks Scotland: September 2026 · Luma
This is a hybrid event. In person attendance will be invite only, and tickets are for remote viewing only. Every time you pass a law, you get a computer…
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Then TGT is on tour! TGT Cymru: TransformGov Talks x Transform Wales. The Bike Lock Ltd, Cardiff, Wales on Thursday 17 September, 18:00–19:00. luma.com/gaq6niit
luma.com
TGT Cymru: TransformGov Talks x Transform Wales · Luma
We're delighted to be working with Transform Wales to bring TransformGov Talks to Wales for the first time. Join us for two presentations - one from…
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Our August event is a bit different. Come and join us for summer drinks at 6pm on Wednesday 26th at the Buckingham Arms in Petty France. luma.com/c0n132i7
luma.com
TransformGov Talks: August 2026 Summer Drinks · Luma
In a break from our usual programming, join us for a casual evening down the pub, socialising with fellow public sector reformers. (No free pizza or drinks…
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This is great (both the work itself and working in the open) but in both cases it feels like the bare minimum of what we could be doing. Where's the wider joined-up gov ambition? Where's the official social media accounts this should be on?
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Reposted by UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT)
David Durant @bowsy.co.uk · 07/08/2026
This is incredibly touching. It's lovely to see that GDS still has occasional heartwarming fits of whimsy.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
This sounds really interesting and again it's excellent it's being shared in the open but... dataingovernment.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/05/h...
dataingovernment.blog.gov.uk
How we used AI to help government manage its email backlog
Government email has been piling up for decades and sorting through it manually is no longer sustainable. Project Kestrel explores how AI and synthetic data could transform the way Knowledge and Infor...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Very nice to see this in the open. Light on detail as you'd expect at this point so it'll be interesting to see if the team continue to publish as the work gets going. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/06/g...
gds.blog.gov.uk
GDS: delivering a better GOV.UK experience for business
GDS and BIST are supporting UK businesses to operate and grow by collaborating across government to improve online advice and services.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Nice that HMLR are doing stuff and GDS is blogging about it but it's 2026 and "putting an existing form online" is still a victory. gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/05/t...
gds.blog.gov.uk
Turning ambition into action in complex systems
Transforming complex public services starts with action, not perfection. Learn how HM Land Registry used rapid testing, evidence and collaboration to improve a citizen service and build momentum for w...
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I'm only sad because I was working on this *ten years ago* when seconded from GDS to the Environment Agency and yet, here we are, doing an Alpha again. www.gov.uk/service-stan...
gov.uk
Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) – Collections of Waste
DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) – Collections of Waste alpha assessment report
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Very nice DEFRA. defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/03/b...
defradigital.blog.gov.uk
Building Defra’s software development profession for the AI age
Principal Software Developer John Watson shares how he and his colleagues are exploring how they can use AI to drive efficiencies.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
More published roadmaps like this one please. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
HMRC Transformation Roadmap — Progress Update 2026
An update on the progress made on HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap.
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UK Gov Comms (NON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) @ukgovcomms.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Sure, open data is great but got god's sake why is MHCLG spending money to build and support its own platform instead of using data.gov.uk or waiting for the National Data Library? open-data.communities.gov.uk
open-data.communities.gov.uk
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