Government Digital Service

Evolving the Service Standard for the future of public services

Emily Ball, Deputy Director for Service Transformation and Nia Williams, Service Owner, 2 July 2026 - Digital Centre, Service design

We’re evolving the Service Standard from a one-off test into a living standard for modern, end-to-end public services. Here’s how – and how to be involved.

GOV.UK app: One year of easier, faster services in your pocket

Leanne Cummings, Director for GOV.UK Products and Services, 1 July 2026 - GDS team, GOV.UK, GOV.UK app

Today, the GOV.UK app turns one. And, like all first birthdays, it’s a bit of a special moment - a time to celebrate but also reflect and look forward.

Exploration sprints: testing whether a different approach is actually viable

James Herbert, Executive Director, 1 July 2026 - Digital Centre

Could a two-week sprint transform a public service? Discover how CustomerFirst tests ideas, uncovers barriers and builds evidence before major change.

Update from the GDS Responsible AI Advisory Panel

Jeni Tennison, GDS Responsible AI Advisory Panel Chair, Executive Director, Connected by Data, 18 June 2026 - AI

How is government using AI responsibly? Insights, challenges and next steps from the GDS’s Responsible AI Advisory Panel.

What we learned from the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars programme – and how it is shaping the next phase

Jeremy Gould, Deputy Director, Public Sector AI Adoption and Roni Saanumi, Head of Programme Delivery, Public Sector AI Adoption, 11 June 2026 - AI

Find out how the first 10 months of the AI Exemplars programme has gone.

Data maturity: the foundation for AI ready public sector data

Dan Hesse, Senior Product Manager, 4 June 2026 - AI, Digital Centre

Good AI starts with good data. We partnered with The National Archives to explore how data maturity can prepare legal data for AI use. Here's what we found.

Building for the future: Making change simple on GOV.UK Pay

Alan Maddrell - Senior Content Designer for GOV.UK Pay, Government Digital Service, 2 June 2026 - GDS team, GOV.UK Pay

GOV.UK Pay has a new provider for non-Crown card payments and pay by bank. Find out what this means for public sector teams.

Putting customers first:  DVLA and  CustomerFirst  partnering to improve Drivers Medical service

Daniela Wegrostek, Senior Engagement Manager, GDS and Eleanor Mcconachie, Service Owner, GDS, 28 May 2026 - Digital, Data and Technology

CustomerFirst, a new unit in the Government Digital Service, is working with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to explore improvements to the end-to-end customer journey for the Drivers Medical service, while continuing to prioritise road safety and accessibility for everyone who needs them. 