gov.uk
 | |
Screenshot  Screenshot of gov.uk's landing page as of 2 May 2023 | |
Type of site | Government information |
|---|---|
| Available in | English and Welsh |
| Owner | HM Government |
| Created by | Government Digital Service |
| URL | gov |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | No |
| Launched | 1 February 2012 |
| Current status | Online |
Content license | Crown copyright Open Government Licence |
gov.uk(styled on the site asGOV.UK) is aUnited Kingdompublic sectorinformation website, created by theGovernment Digital Serviceto provide a single point of access toHM Governmentservices. The site launched as abetaon 31 January 2012,[1][2]following on from theAlphaGovproject. The website uses a modified digital version of theTransport typefacecalledNew Transport.It officially replacedDirectgovand the online services ofBusiness Linkon 17 October 2012. As of January 2023[update],GOV.UK is the second-most-used government website worldwide, after Russia'sGosuslugi.[3][4]
The website was planned to replace the individual websites of hundreds of government departments and public bodies by 2014. By 1 May 2013, all 24 ministerial departments had their URLs redirected to gov.uk. As of March 2022, GOV.UK hosts pages for 23 ministerial departments, 20 non-ministerial departments, and over 410 agencies, public corporations, and other public bodies.[5]
History
[edit]The first ministerial departments and other organisations moved to the Inside Government section of gov.uk on 15 November 2012.[6]On 12 December 2012, a further three departments migrated, bringing the total of ministerial departments to six out of a total of 24.[7]By 1 May 2013, all 24 ministerial departments, as well as UK embassies around the world, had transferred to gov.uk.[8]
On 16 April 2013, gov.uk won Design of the Year 2013 at theDesign Museumawards.[9]The Government Digital Service has also won aD&AD"Black Pencil" award for their work.[10]In 2019, gov.uk won aD&AD"Wood Pencil" award for its Step-by-Step digital design pattern.[11]
In 2018, the Government Digital Service introduced the GOV.UK Design System, with the intention of having styles, components, and patterns in a centralised location to support government departments in utilising GOV.UK.[12]
On 19 February 2024, gov.uk updated their logo to reflect the depiction of the crown as theTudor crownused by KingCharles IIIin his cypher and coat of arms.[13]
Alphagov
[edit]Alphagov was the project name of the experimental prototype website built by theGovernment Digital Service,which was launched on 11 May 2011 by theCabinet Office.[14][15]The website was open for public comment for two months in order to judge the feasibility of a single domain forBritish Governmentweb services.
Launched in response to the report byMartha Lane Fox,Directgov 2010 and Beyond: Revolution Not Evolution,[16]published in November 2010, Alphagov sought to act as a proof of concept for the way citizens could interact with the government through a series of useful online tools that were more useful than published content alone.
As well as improving the 'citizen experience' of using government web services online, the project also identified the potential for £64 million in yearly savings on the central government's annual £128 million web publishing bill.[17]The initial consultation period was completed in June 2011. A beta version was then created, which led to the launch of GOV.UK.[18]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Gov.uk service portal opens for public testing".BBC News Online.1 February 2012.Retrieved17 September2012.
- ^"Introducing the beta of GOV.UK".31 January 2012.
- ^"Портал государственных услуг Российской Федерации".gosuslugi.ru.RetrievedJan 25,2023.
- ^"Website Rankings".similarweb.RetrievedJan 25,2023.
- ^"Departments, agencies and public bodies".gov.uk.Retrieved17 March2022.
- ^Heywood, Jeremy."Launching Inside Government".Government Digital Service.Retrieved15 November2012.
- ^"The new home on the web for FCO, MOD, BIS and AGO".Government Digital Service. 12 December 2012.Retrieved31 December2012.
- ^Williams, Neal (30 April 2013). "24 departments later".Government Digital Service.gds.blog.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^Wainwright, Oliver (16 April 2013)."'Direct and well-mannered' government website named design of the year ".The Guardian.Retrieved16 April2013.
- ^"Writing for Design / Writing for Websites & Digital Design".D&AD.Gov.uk.
- ^"GOV.UK step by step journeys".D&AD.dandad.org.
- ^Noakes, Alice; Hupe, Amy (22 June 2018)."Introducing the GOV.UK Design System - Government Digital Service".gds.blog.gov.uk.Retrieved2022-03-17.
- ^Hand, John; Aikman, Ian (19 February 2024)."King Charles' crown appears in change of logo on government's gov.uk website".BBC News.Retrieved21 February2024.
- ^"Government launches single government website prototype".Cabinet Office.Retrieved3 July2011.
- ^Warman, Matt (30 March 2011)."Work begins on Alphagov single government website".The Daily Telegraph.London.Retrieved3 July2011.
- ^"Directgov 2010 and Beyond: Revolution Not Evolution".Cabinet Office.Retrieved3 July2011.
- ^Rawlinson, Kevin."New government web domain to save £64m, but at what cost?".The Independent.London. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-16.Retrieved3 July2011.
- ^"Alpha.gov.uk to become beta".The Guardian.London.Retrieved3 July2011.
