Government Digital Service

At the Government Digital Service, we’re committed to embedding sustainability into the heart of our digital services. Our latest blog post explores how GOV.UK One Login is leading the way in reducing emissions while supporting greener government operations. Key milestones so far: ✅ Partnering with Greenpixie to measure and optimise cloud emissions ✅ Empowering over 250 team members with Digital Sustainability 101 training, helping teams embed sustainability into decision-making ✅ Collaborating across government departments to share best practices and develop impactful policies. Technology is one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions — but also one of the most powerful tools for change. Our mission is clear: to make digital services as sustainable and efficient as possible while balancing user needs and performance. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to a greener future. Read the post to learn more about our work and how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/efCyTpf6

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 placed a legal obligation on public sector bodies to meet accessibility requirements. We are responsible for monitoring a sample of public sector websites and mobile apps, and between January 2022 and September 2024 monitored 1,203 public sector websites and 21 mobile apps against the regulations. Read more about what we found on the Accessibility in Government blog: https://lnkd.in/g_y3Kha7 And read the report in full here: https://lnkd.in/gFDqSPwj

GOV.UK One Login has officially launched a no photo ID route. This will allow our users to prove their identity even if they do not have access to a valid photo ID. Users will now be able to prove their identity using their UK bank account and a HMRC record check. This marks an important step and valuable addition for the GOV.UK One Login platform, as we continue to look for further ways to improve inclusion.

We’ve improved the interface of GOV.UK’s site search to create a simpler, more user-friendly experience. Read our latest blog post to learn more about these changes and what they mean for GOV.UK users: https://lnkd.in/eCbNM8jF This builds on the foundation we laid earlier this year when we launched a new site search engine for GOV.UK. Updates include a new autocomplete feature, a streamlined design for filters and sorting, and improved readability of search results.

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Natalie Jones OBE (Director & SRO of the GOV.UK One Login programme) has been honoured with the prestigious Outstanding Tech Leadership Award at the Tech Impact Awards! This award recognises her exceptional leadership and ability to make a positive impact. It’s a testament to Natalie's dedication to driving growth and excellence for our organisation and inspiring the One Login team to achieve remarkable milestones. Please join us in congratulating Natalie on this well-deserved recognition!  

GOV⁠.⁠UK Forms recently moved into public beta, but how did it all begin and what’s next? Senior Frontend Developer, David Biddle, discusses the journey of GOV⁠.⁠UK Forms from the earliest developments of collecting user feedback in discovery and alpha through to public beta. Read here: https://lnkd.in/eYJdHqVa

Congratulations to Amanda Dahl for winning Role Model of the Year at the Computing #WomenInTechExcellence Awards! Amanda is responsible for GDS’ digital service platforms and was recognised for being an inspiration to women working in tech. We couldn’t be more proud!

Want to find out how we’re designing GOV.UK Chat, our AI-powered chatbot that answers questions based on GOV.UK guidance? Read our latest blog post and learn in more detail how we’re designing GOV.UK Chat, why our approach to this element of the work is so important, and the reasons behind some of the decisions we’ve made so far: https://lnkd.in/eqw9b8Xb At the moment we’re running an experimental pilot of the chatbot on the GOV.UK website, testing with users who rely on GOV.UK as part of running a business. We’re keen to better understand where GOV.UK Chat provides value and identify areas for further improvement. Let us know your thoughts in the comments :)

Our latest blog post from Farah Hussain and Tim Paul details our recent work with the OECD - OCDE and digital teams in the Republic of Korea. Read more about how we're collaborating with international peers on digital, data and technology: https://lnkd.in/eVJaG-rM

“Accessibility is really for everyone, when we need it.” As part of our monthly Speaker Series, Jonathan Hassell from Hassell Inclusion spoke to GDS staff about digital accessibility. His talk included how accessibility has changed. For example, it's not just a website that has to be considered, but all of the things that an organisation does in digital communications and tools for its employees and customers. In addition to this, Jonathan also spoke about how accessibility requirements are for a much bigger audience than previously, and their needs must be accounted for. Jonathan is one of the world’s top digital usability and accessibility thought leaders, with 25 years’ experience in identifying new directions and challenges in digital accessibility. Thanks for speaking to us Jonathan, our staff enjoyed hearing from you.