Creating the conditions for transformation
Creating the conditions for transformation
CustomerFirst shares early lessons from its work with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Better services with patterns and standards
Posted by:
Lou Downe - former Director for Design and Service Standards, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Digital Service Platforms
...activity (like getting permission) should work both for users and government. Why use service patterns? Like any other kind of standard, service patterns will provide better interoperability between services, meaning...
User research for government around the world
Here at GDS we are privileged to meet digital teams from around the world, and we often stay in touch well after our first meeting.
Onwards!
Posted by:
Mike Bracken - former Executive Director, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
GDS team
...staff who’ve been generous with their time as I poked around their services, to the digital teams in departments and agencies who’ve knuckled down and redesigned their services around their...
Same, but different: a common international approach to digital government
Posted by:
Mike Bracken - former Executive Director, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
GDS team, Transformation
A few weeks ago, we welcomed some friends from America to our office in London, members of the United States Digital Service (USDS) and 18F.
Building on the steel thread
Posted by:
Graham Farrant - former Chief Executive, HM Land Registry and Mike Bracken - former Executive Director, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Digital Service Platforms
As part of the work we’re doing to prepare for government as a platform, we’ve been investigating ways to help government agencies use shared platforms and data registers to build better services.
Hire the head and the body will follow
Posted by:
Mike Bracken - former Executive Director, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
People and skills
Part of building government as a platform is people.
Making payments more convenient and efficient
Posted by:
Till Wirth - former Lead Product Manager for GOV.UK Pay, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Digital Service Platforms
Most people have to pay government money at some point or another. For example, when you pay tax, or renew your passport, or get a new driver’s licence, or buy an environmental permit.
Fail them faster
The other day, while driving along a local shortcut, I was faced with a ‘road closed’ sign and had to u-turn. Beyond the sign, there was no road where road had been yesterday.
Meet the content design team
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a ‘content designer’ and an ‘editor’, here Holly Challenger and Beck Thompson reveal all.
Let's talk about permissions
Posted by:
Stephen Blackmore and Lou Downe - former Director for Design and Service Standards, Government Digital Service, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Digital Service Platforms
Licence, permit, registration, certification, accreditation - government has lots of different ways for people to get permission to do something.
Related content and links
Be part of the transformation
If you’re interested in joining us, check out all open opportunities on the GDS careers site.
Government Digital and Data
Download the GOV.UK App
The GOV.UK app went live in public beta in July 2025. Find out how to download it for free on GOV.UK.