Interested in a .gov.uk Domain Name?

.Gov.uk Crown Logo

Many Town and Parish Councils are considering adopting a .gov.uk domain for their email and website. The 2024 edition of the Practitioners’ Guide emphasises that community members, suppliers, and partners now expect local councils to have a .gov.uk domain. While it’s not a legal requirement, having a .gov.uk domain demonstrates good practice, trust, and professionalism.

Benefits of a .gov.uk Domain:

  1. Security Measures: Local councils with a .gov.uk domain benefit from robust security measures and monitoring provided by the Cabinet Office.
  2. Trustworthy Emails: Emails sent from a .gov.uk domain are immediately recognisable as legitimate and trustworthy by recipients.
  3. Separation of Communications: Using a .gov.uk domain ensures clear separation between personal and professional communications.
  4. Administrative Control: Councils have administrative control over email accounts, making it easier to manage changes (such as new joiners, leavers, or sudden absences) and handle Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests.

Additionally, although not a direct benefit of a .gov.uk domain, using Active Council we register your domain with the National Cyber Security Centre. They provide extra checks and early warnings related to domain and website issues.

Funding Opportunities:

The Cabinet Office offers workshops on .gov.uk domain names. You can register for these workshops by filling out the Registration of Interest form for a .gov.uk domain. Furthermore, they provide funding to encourage more councils to use .gov.uk domains. You can receive up to £100 towards .gov.uk domains and associated services. With Active Council, a .gov.uk domain registration costs only £30.

Guidance:

For detailed information, refer to the following sections of the Practitioners’ Guide:

  • Section 5.213: Provides comprehensive guidance on using .gov.uk domains.
  • Section 1.26: States that every authority should have an email account belonging to the council, accessible by the council.

To learn more, get in touch with Active Council and explore your options today!
 

Published: 10/05/2024 Published by: Admin

Return to News Page.