add project instructions

Author: anthony-nhs

.github/copilot-instructions.md

@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## Project-Specific instructions
+Check the following files for any project-specific coding standards or guidelines:
+- .github/instructions/project/instructions.md
+
 # Base Coding Standards
 - Follow clean code principles
 - Write comprehensive tests

.github/instructions/project/instructions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# EPS Common Workflow - copilot instructions
+
+## Overview
+This contains common github workflows that are used by other EPS projects
+
+## General
+These rules should be followed for all workflows
+
+*NEVER* use a version number in 3rd party actions or workflows - always use the git commit sha instead
+*NEVER* use secrets: inherit in a workflow - always define what secrets are being passed through to another workflow
+*NEVER* use an input to a workflow directly in a code execution block. Always define an environment variable and use that in the code execution block
+
+All use of 3rd party actions or workflows outside of NHSDigital github org should be carefully evaluated before deciding to use them. Notice should be taken of
+ - How often is the action or workflow updated. Avoid any workflows that have not been updated in over a year
+ - Can the action or workflow be easily written locally with a few simple shell or github actions commands
+
+All workflows that are designed to be called from another repo should have a `workflow_call` trigger. 
+Workflows designed to be called from other repos should be documented in the README.md file

.github/workflows/sync_copilot.yml

@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ jobs:
           path: eps-common-workflows
           repository: NHSDigital/eps-common-workflows
           sparse-checkout: |
-            - .github/instructions
+            - .github/instructions/general
+            - .github/instructions/languages
             - .github/copilot-instructions.md
             - .github/prompts