Government Digital and Data Profession Unpacks New ‘Evaluator’ Role
The Government Digital and Data Profession has introduced a dedicated “digital evaluator” role within its capability framework to embed evaluation directly into agile digital projects. The initiative follows a Treasury‑led review that highlighted shortcomings in how digital programmes are funded, managed and monitored. Digital evaluators join teams from the discovery phase, applying the Magenta Book and Green Book methodologies to assess impact, efficiency and unintended outcomes. The framework defines five grades, aligning the role with data governance, performance analysis and user research skillsets.
DfE Seeks Partner for Development of AI-Powered Tutoring Tools for Disadvantaged Students
The UK Department for Education (DfE) is issuing a £1.8 million contract to develop AI‑powered tutoring tools aimed at disadvantaged pupils. The procurement, expected to be awarded by May, will run for nearly three years with a possible one‑year extension. Up...
Environment Agency Plans Drone-Fleet Upgrade to Combat Waste Crime
The Environment Agency (EA) is boosting its waste‑crime enforcement with a £5 million budget increase, expanding its fleet of 33 drones and fitting several with lidar laser‑mapping technology. Since July last year the agency logged 272 drone flight hours, using the...
DSIT Examines How ‘AI Voice Tech Could Significantly Improve Citizen’s Experience’
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has launched an early‑stage market engagement to explore generative AI voice technology for government call centres, branding the initiative as a potential "GOV Voice" platform. The department seeks suppliers who can demonstrate...
Asylum: Courts Service and Home Office Hope to Join up Disconnected Data Systems by Spring
Senior officials from the Home Office and Ministry of Justice told MPs that the new Atlas immigration case‑working platform is now live and that work to link it with justice‑system databases will be completed by spring. The current data silos...
Government Explores Unified ID and Verification System for Businesses
The UK Department for Business and Trade has signed a 10‑week, £300,000 contract with Deloitte to explore a unified digital business ID that would provide a single login and a cross‑government business entity directory. The discovery phase will assess existing...
GDS Public Sector Monitoring ‘Finding and Fixing over 100 Critical Vulnerabilities a Month’
The Government Digital Service’s Vulnerability Monitoring Service (VMS), launched in summer 2024, now has over 700 public‑sector organisations signed up and is detecting more than 100 critical vulnerabilities each month. Offered free through the National Cyber Security Centre, the service...
HMRC Offers Nudge Tool via MTD Software as Providers Cite ‘Need to Educate Customers’
HMRC has introduced the Assist nudge tool within the Making Tax Digital (MTD) Income Tax Self‑Assessment beta, delivering data‑driven reminders through accredited software. A recent trial of similar nudges generated an extra £27 million in revenue, and the department plans to...
FOI Is Arming Cyberattackers – Here Is How to Fix It
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on cybersecurity governance are exposing a stark inconsistency in public‑sector disclosures. Large NHS trusts and other big bodies tend to refuse or invoke national‑security exemptions, while smaller organisations often provide granular details. This uneven approach...
Treasury Chief: ‘AI Can Relieve Staff of Lower-Value Work’
HM Treasury senior official Beth Russell told the Treasury Committee that the department is actively deploying artificial intelligence to handle routine administrative tasks and support policy work. The Treasury has introduced an HR chatbot, is piloting Microsoft Copilot with 25%...
Home Office Previews Plan to Appoint £100m Partner to Manage Datacentres
The Home Office has issued an early‑engagement notice for a £102 million hosting capability supplier contract to manage its on‑premises datacentre estate. The agreement is slated to commence in December 2026 with an initial three‑year term, covering 24/7 operational support, maintenance, engineering...
New Government Commercial Agency to Launch on 1 April
The UK government will merge the Crown Commercial Service with central commercial teams in the Cabinet Office to form the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April. The new agency will operate as a self‑sustaining trading fund, led by CCS chief...
Project Seeks to Bring Data Analytics to ‘Analogue’ Football Policing
The Police Digital Service (PDS) has signed a six‑month, £600,000 contract with data‑analytics specialist Bays Consulting to pilot data‑driven planning for football match policing. The initiative seeks to replace traditional analogue risk‑assessment matrices with crowd‑modelling and predictive analytics, aiming for...
