Enter GOV.UK Notify—a powerful, secure, and cost-effective platform that helps UK public sector organizations send important messages via email, SMS, or even physical letters. It’s a game-changer in how government services communicate with citizens.

In this post, we’ll explore what GOV.UK Notify is, how it works, and how it's shaping the future of digital government communication in the UK.

What Is GOV.UK Notify?

• GOV.UK Notify is a secure and scalable communication platform created by the UK Government Digital Service (GDS). It allows public sector organizations to send email, text messages, and letters directly to individuals—at the right time, with the right information.

• Whether you're reminding someone to register to vote or confirming a doctor's appointment, Notify ensures these messages are fast, reliable, and traceable.

The Core Purpose of GOV.UK Notify

At its heart, GOV.UK Notify aims to make it easy for UK public sector teams to communicate clearly with the public without building their own messaging systems.

It provides:

1. A secure, ready-to-use platform to send notifications

2. Free or low-cost access for eligible public bodies

3. API and web interface support, suitable for developers and non-tech users alike

Who Can Use It?

Notify is available to central government departments, local authorities, the NHS, and other public sector bodies. Organizations must register and go through an approval process to access the service.

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Key Features of GOV.UK Notify

1. Email Notifications:

   Send personalized, template-based emails at scale—whether it's appointment confirmations, updates, or reminders.

2. SMS Messages:

   Quickly send text messages to individuals or groups. Great for urgent updates, reminders, and confirmations.

3. Letters by Post:

   Notify can print and send physical letters on your behalf. Upload the letter content and recipient address, and they’ll handle the rest—ideal for reaching people without digital access.

4. Template-Based Messaging:

   Messages are created using dynamic templates, which include variables like names, dates, and reference numbers—ensuring personalized communication.

5. API-Based Integration:

   Developers can automate notifications by integrating Notify with their applications or services via a well-documented API.

6. Real-Time Dashboards & Analytics:

   Track the status of every message—delivered, failed, or pending—in real-time. It adds transparency and helps teams improve communication strategies.

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Real-Life Use Cases

Notify is already trusted by hundreds of UK public services. Here are a few examples:

• Local Councils
  Send reminders for bin collection schedules or council tax deadlines.

• NHS
  Notify patients about upcoming vaccination appointments or test results.

• HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs)
  Issue tax return acknowledgments or refund notices to users.

• Courts and Tribunals
  Inform citizens of hearing dates and case updates via letter or SMS.

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Steps for Implementation

• Step 1 :

  Register to the UK Government Notify Service using the mail id available only to

  UK government departments, Local authorities, The NHS, Charities delivering public services. And your UK registered Mobile Number.

• Step 2 :

  Log into your Notify Service , create templates for the Email , Messages, Letters. At the bottom we get the template id ( used while implementation in code ).

• Step 3 :

  Create an API key as per your requirements ( For POC purposes test available , For using in Production “ Request to go Live”). Save the API key( Also used while implementation in code).

• Step 4 :

  Install the required Libraries in your project , e.g. :

  Python : notifications-python-client

  Node Js : notifications-node-client

  Java : uk.gov.service.notify:notifications-java-client

• Step 5 :

  Use in your project using predeclared functions from library :

  send_email_notification(...)

  send_sms_notification(...)

  send_letter_notification(...)

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Flow :

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Ready to Try Notify?

If you’re part of a public service and looking to improve communication, I highly encourage you to explore GOV.UK Notify. It’s a smart, secure, and scalable solution tailored for modern digital government needs.

🚀 Get started here:
👉 https://www.notifications.service.gov.uk

Let’s Connect

I’m currently diving into GOV.UK services and exploring civic tech solutions. If you’ve worked with Notify—or are considering it—let’s chat! I’m always open to:

• Sharing experiences

• Collaborating on public digital tools

• Learning how tech is transforming public services

Drop a comment, send a message, or connect with me on LinkedIn —I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Author: Jay Sunil Deshmukh