The public is urged to remain vigilant
Jan282026
Further rain expected as Environment Agency warns of ongoing flood risk
Jan282026
Guidance: Official veterinary surgeon (OVS) notes
Changes to import controls for animals and products of animal origin.
Jan282026
Liz Kendall’s speech at Bloomberg
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Liz Kendall, delivered a speech at Bloomberg on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
Jan282026
A look back at DVLA and Amazon Web Services (AWS)’s knowledge-sharing event
At DVLA, we’re always looking for ways to improve our digital services. We recently brought together Welsh Local Government and public sector colleagues to share how Amazon Web Services (AWS) is supporting our digital transformation.
We also talked about investing in people through digital skills training and career development. It was a great opportunity to share what we’ve learnt over the years with others who have the same mission: delivering better and faster public services.
I was proud to speak at an event full of insightful discussions and practical takeaways. In this blog, I’ll share some of what we learnt during the day – the positive impact of cloud technology, the importance of giving back to the community, and how to develop digital talent.
It kicked off with Tom Brewer, Head of DVLA’s IT Service Creation, who took us back to 2015.
Taking control: how cloud technology transformed our IT services
Tom shared a turning point from 2015, when DVLA reduced our need to hire outside IT companies by developing our own digital skills and capabilities. Alongside our legacy platforms and other serverless systems, we’ve used the AWS cloud platform to deliver digital public services quicker and more efficiently ourselves.
Today, our platform handles 5 billion online interactions a year – things like renewing a driving licence or answering automated enquiries. Shared standards and automation mean less hands-on work, faster results, and simple tools for everyone to use.
The impact? Tasks that once took months now take minutes, and we produce more than 500,000 software builds every year.
It was fantastic to see attendees consider how these solutions can be adapted to speed up and simplify services across the public sector.
Investing in people and giving back to our communities
Next, I shared how we’re developing our people and giving back to our community through outreach activities.
I spoke through examples like our volunteer-led Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) programme, which inspires young people to build their digital skills. Another great example is our Digital Voices advocacy group, which promotes digital development and career opportunities for colleagues of all backgrounds.
My presentation also mentioned our support of the Digital Inclusion Scheme and the UK government’s ‘IT Reuse for Good’ charter. Through this, we’ve donated more than 1,600 laptops to schools and charities across Wales, enabling young people to have access to the technology they need to succeed.
These initiatives sparked excellent discussions on how building a strong employer reputation, with the backing of senior leaders, can help to support local communities and attract the next generation of talent to the public sector.
This led us on nicely to the final talk, where our Capability and Talent Lead, Craig James, shared how we’re helping to develop our people through our Centre of Digital Excellence (CoDE) development programme.
CoDE offers 18 schemes and has helped more than 200 people start their digital careers, regardless of whether they have a background in technology. People often arrive from other professions bringing transferable skills that work brilliantly in technical roles. In some of our teams, half the staff are CoDE graduates!
So, what did our attendees gain from this discussion? Investing in people is just as important as investing in technology, and if they help their own teams grow, they can bring success to their organisations.
Working together for better public services
What truly made the day special were the conversations we shared with attendees. Every organisation has unique circumstances, but a lot of common themes came up – embracing new technology, balancing competing priorities, and the ongoing mission to attract and develop digital talent.
Our experience has taught us that success doesn’t happen overnight – it takes persistent effort, meaningful investment in people, and the courage to embrace change.
I’d like to thank AWS for organising this event with us, and everyone who attended. Seeing everyone sharing their knowledge, experiences and ideas reminded us why events like this are so powerful!
Interested in joining us on our digital journey? Learn more about DVLA’s digital professions and read our collection of digital blogs.
Jan282026
SITI visits Thailand (with photos)
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, visited Bangkok in Thailand today (January 28) to promote Hong Kong’s edges and vast potential to the local innovation and technology (I&T) sector with a view to strengthening collaboration in I&T between the two places.
Professor Sun attended a dinner seminar, themed “Building growth and resilience for the future: Hong Kong as the strategic hub for technology, innovation and investment”, co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and the Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association during which he delivered a keynote speech to the local I&T community. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is currently moving full speed ahead in building a world-class I&T ecosystem. Thailand has made significant strides in recent years in terms of strengthening its digital infrastructure, nurturing start-ups, advancing smart manufacturing, and promoting specific sectors such as healthtech, agritech and greentech. These developments align closely with Hong Kong’s strengths and lay fertile ground for deeper collaboration between the two economies.
“Hong Kong’s I&T landscape is characterised by ‘three major I&T parks’ and ‘five key R&D (research and development) institutions’. This ecosystem is designed to accelerate technological advancement, attract global talent, and strengthen the city’s position as a rising international I&T hub. While embracing international co-operation through our InnoHK Platform, we welcome universities and research institutes in Thailand to join the venture.”
Professor Sun stressed that Hong Kong is the perfect destination for Thai companies that wish to connect with the Mainland Chinese market, with the official opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last December.
The Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, Mr Vincent Ma, who also joined the visit, introduced to the guests at a panel discussion the latest developments of their respective parks.
This morning, Professor Sun visited the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) of Thailand under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand to understand the DEPA’s strategies in promoting digital economy and innovation development, which cover digital transformation for industries and small and medium-sized enterprises, digital platform building, and supporting measures for development of digital-related industries as well as Thailand Digital Valley project. Both sides had an exchange on collaboration between the DEPA, and the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hetao Hong Kong Park.
Professor Sun also visited Charoen Pokphand Group, a Thailand-based conglomerate with a highly diversified business portfolio. He had a discussion with the Group’s management to learn about its latest development and investment plans in advanced manufacturing, as well as those of the Group’s telecommunication enterprise, True Corporation, in digital infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, and retail businesses.
Professor Sun then visited the Institute for Technology and Innovation Management, Mahidol University and toured its frontier research facility. As a key innovation hub in Thailand, the institute specialises in supporting technology transformation, innovation management and research commercialisation. Both sides explored collaboration opportunities in areas including joint research, technology transfer and start-up incubation between Hong Kong and the institute.
In addition, Professor Sun met with the Federation of Thai Industries and exchanged views with the local industrial and manufacturing sectors on co-operation in new industrialisation and industrial upgrading and transformation. During the meeting, he invited Thai enterprises to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to jointly develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and international markets.
Upon his arrival in Bangkok yesterday afternoon (January 27), Professor Sun immediately met with the Thai Health Tech Association, to learn about the association’s work in promoting digital health innovation. He was briefed by leading local health tech enterprises and start-ups as well as representatives of hospital organisations on their technology, product development and market planning.
Professor Sun then visited the True Digital Park of the True Corporation to learn about the Park’s operation in fostering the growth of I&T enterprises and facilitating the application of technologies. The Park features modern offices, co-working spaces, innovation laboratories and event venues, offering an I&T ecosystem that brings together international and local technology enterprises, start-ups and venture capitalists.
Professor Sun also called on the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Mr Zhang Jianwei, to introduce the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s plans in promoting I&T, emerging industries, digital economy and more, and to exchange views on further I&T co-operation between Hong Kong and Thailand.
Professor Sun will depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tomorrow (January 29) to continue the visit.