Technology

Digital Planning Directory launches: a milestone moment for the UK's planning sector

Digital transformation has taken a major step forward with the launch of the Digital Planning Directory - a comprehensive platform bringing together state-of-the-art planning tools and services in one accessible location. The Directory, developed to address the pressing need for digital skills and resources in local planning authorities, will help both public and private sector professionals make informed decisions about digital planning solutions.

Updated: Mon Jan 27 2025

Funding Service: how a glossary helps us speak the same language

Read about the work content designers in the Funding Service are doing to improve their grants glossary in order to ensure consistency and meet diverse user needs. Find out more about how they're adding and refining definitions, collaborating across teams, testing updates to improve user experience and how you can get involved.

Updated: Tue Jan 21 2025

I don't worry about AI taking my job - just my cat

Michaela, Data Scientist, talks about how she has navigated a new career in government, using AI and programming to solve complex problems, and found her passion in data science. She also explores the vibrant culture and impactful work of the MHCLG Data Unit.

Updated: Wed Jan 15 2025

4 things I've learnt as a policy professional working in digital

Policy professionals can learn a lot from the world of digital. In this blog post, Reuben, Policy Design Lead in MHCLG's Funding Service team, shares insights he's gained on user-centred design, agile working and cross-team collaboration.

Updated: Wed Jan 08 2025

Faster, better, cheaper: delivering improved outcomes for citizens

Digital is about working smarter, streamlining how we operate, making policies more responsive, and creating a culture of collaboration. Earlier this autumn, our digital team set out a vision within the department of using digital ways of working to deliver improved outcomes. Find out about the objectives, principles and approach that underpin our ambition.

Updated: Wed Dec 18 2024

Making the most of design histories

At the Department for Education (DfE), all designers working on service teams are required to work 'in the open'. One way we do this is by sharing our design thinking through design histories. Design history posts are blogs that record ...

Updated: Fri Dec 13 2024

Content workflow tips

When working on content-heavy services like our Early years child development training and Support for social workers, it's crucial to agree on and document a workflow. This is because: For guidance, refer to reviewing and approving content and user-centred design ...

Updated: Thu Nov 28 2024

Evolving our approach to benefits analysis

'Evolve' is a portfolio of projects within Justice Digital, improving the way workplace technology services are delivered. We aim to make sure that the 100,000 people working across the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have the digital tools, services, equipment, connectivity ...

Updated: Thu Nov 28 2024

Transforming Lives: Coding Workshops Partnership

In 2002, I lost my Internet company. With a new baby and a mortgage to pay, I took a temporary job teaching in a prison, never imagining I would still be in that role 21 years later. But one thing ...

Updated: Thu Nov 14 2024

A journey to modernisation: Digitising dogs records

In the rapidly evolving world of digital transformation, the MoJ has embraced a modern strategy, one that centres around flexibility, data-driven decisions, and user-led services. This approach is aimed at delivering justice that's faster, simpler, and better for all. Recently, ...

Updated: Wed Oct 30 2024

What might a Policy Standard in government look like?

Government is becoming more familiar with doing user-centred policy design, whether in creating programmes, support interventions, funding or even legislation. This post discusses the potential for a Policy Standard in government, built on the broader application of service design principles beyond digital services.

Updated: Wed Oct 30 2024