George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
18 May HR

George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants

While the civil service is dominated by generalists when it comes to policy, junior civil servants may be the closest thing ministers have to experts
by James Sweetland
Silence is not golden: The civil service must enable a 'speak-up' environment
06 Apr HR
Silence is not golden: The civil service must enable a 'speak-up' environment
Letting ethical standards slip has corrosive consequences beyond No.10
22 Mar HR
Letting ethical standards slip has corrosive consequences beyond No.10
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
07 Mar Civil Service Reform
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
Rethinking public policy: How universities can help policymakers keep up with the times Partner Content
15 May HR
Rethinking public policy: How universities can help policymakers keep up with the times
Ricky Kanabar, Associate Professor of Social Policy, University of Bath, on forming the next generation of policy leaders with the ability to distil research and develop effective strategies to ensure policy achieves its intended outcomes
5 best practices for delivering civil service learning and development Partner Content
12 May Education
5 best practices for delivering civil service learning and development
Learn why each of these strategies is important for delivering effective public sector training courses and how you can achieve them for your team
The Raab-resignation circus shows we need an independent look at ministerial bullying
25 Apr Civil Service Reform
The Raab-resignation circus shows we need an independent look at ministerial bullying
The UK government should follow the example of parliament, Scotland and Wales to improve the way complaints of bullying are handled
From the editor: Civil servants are not to blame for Raab's behaviour
24 Apr HR
From the editor: Civil servants are not to blame for Raab's behaviour
We must challenge the victim-blaming narrative that Raab is a martyr to the civil service blob
Defence spend analysis: A look at the 2023 Spring Budget Partner Content
11 Apr Commercial
Defence spend analysis: A look at the 2023 Spring Budget
The additional £5 billion allocated to Defence represents an attempt to match increased resources against policy priorities and security concerns within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Proxima’s Justin Reuter takes a look at what this means for commercial teams in the department
In praise of middle managers
05 Apr HR
In praise of middle managers
Middle managers are much maligned but their role in navigating the tricky terrain between the top team and the frontline is a vital one
The people with the purse strings are on the same side as you – here's how to play the government spending game
24 Mar Finance
The people with the purse strings are on the same side as you – here's how to play the government spending game
If you’ve felt that the government spending game is stacked against you trying to do the thing that feels obviously right: it’s not just you
The ICO's collaborative approach shows multi-million pound fines aren't the only route to effective regulation
06 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
The ICO's collaborative approach shows multi-million pound fines aren't the only route to effective regulation
Regulation works best when we work alongside organisations – an approach that has paid off for DfE, the information commissioner writes
Data assurance can help grow the UK economy, but trust in data is hard won
10 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
Data assurance can help grow the UK economy, but trust in data is hard won
Mistrust between those who share, collect and use data reduces the potential value that can be generated, and the UK has a significant role to play in providing services that establish trust in data
To ensure trust in the Raab investigation, Sunak must prioritise people rather than political control
09 Feb HR
To ensure trust in the Raab investigation, Sunak must prioritise people rather than political control
Everything must be done to give confidence to those who have made the enormously difficult decision to raise complaints against some of the most powerful people in the country
What's it really like for civil servants when departments are broken up?
07 Feb HR
What's it really like for civil servants when departments are broken up?

The policy and strategy arguments for reshaping Whitehall may be strong, says former senior official Dunstan Hadley, but the human upheaval and logistical nightmare should never be overlooked
Public sector leaders need to keep talking about standards
24 Jan HR
Public sector leaders need to keep talking about standards
An approach which focuses only on compliance is a missed opportunity. Leaders have the opportunity to galvanise the people in their organisations to aim high
Eyes on the prize: How to improve civil service delivery
20 Jan Operational Delivery
Eyes on the prize: How to improve civil service delivery
With big savings and a better citizen experience up for grabs, the NAO’s Alec Steel offers practical advice on using information to improve service delivery
As fast streamers gear up to strike, ministers must wake up to the damage already done
19 Jan HR
As fast streamers gear up to strike, ministers must wake up to the damage already done
Ministers may talk about “union barons”, but the disputes are unions responding to their members, not the other way around
Sunak must go beyond fine words to repair the damage to the UK's governing institutions
12 Jan HR
Sunak must go beyond fine words to repair the damage to the UK's governing institutions
Scrapping the civil service job-cuts target will go some way to restoring relations, but reputations cannot be repaired overnight
How will location data help solve the challenges of 2023?    
11 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
How will location data help solve the challenges of 2023?    
Location data supports public services and helps cut costs – but changes can we expect to see this year?
Justin Reuter: From flying in the RAF to procurement Partner Content
15 Dec 2022 Commercial
Justin Reuter: From flying in the RAF to procurement
Proxima’s new Executive Advisor on how his move from serving on the front line to working in procurement, strategy and operations ensures that the defence sector is being steered by those who understand what is needed
From the streets, to prison, to working in the civil service
06 Dec 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
From the streets, to prison, to working in the civil service
An official shares her remarkable and harrowing life story, and explains how she now uses her experiences to help improve government policy
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
01 Dec 2022 Finance
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
Public services may well have passed their tipping point, and short-term firefighting is clearly not the way back
Driving value for money for everyone: Meeting the challenge of ‘Yes’ for public sector commercial directors Partner Content
01 Dec 2022 Analysis
Driving value for money for everyone: Meeting the challenge of ‘Yes’ for public sector commercial directors
By challenging established processes and embracing new ways of working, significant savings and enhanced efficiencies are achievable, say Sarah Ashley and John Thompson from Baringa
We should go further and faster in redesigning human-centred public services
30 Nov 2022 Operational Delivery
We should go further and faster in redesigning human-centred public services
The UK scores well on a new international ranking of people-focused public services. But amid ever-growing pressures, we cannot afford to sit on our hands
How the Geospatial Commission is putting the UK on the map
18 Nov 2022
How the Geospatial Commission is putting the UK on the map
As new rankings name the UK as a leader in geospatial capability, Caitlin Ballard explains what this means and why it matters to policymakers
For every civil servant seen to be mistreated, others will be too scared to speak up
18 Nov 2022 HR
For every civil servant seen to be mistreated, others will be too scared to speak up
After weeks of bullying allegations against current and ex-ministers, whistleblowing reforms can help restore integrity and accountability in government
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
14 Nov 2022 HR
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
Fast streamers in the FDA union are considering strikes as low pay outweighs the prospect of future promotion.