From the editor: Has the government become mission-oriented?
31 Jul Civil Service Reform

From the editor: Has the government become mission-oriented?

In the end, the Spending Review did not put mission-based working front and centre, but look closely and it's clear that the five missions did still exert some influence on the chancellor's allocations
by Jess Bowie and Suzannah Brecknell
Celebrating success and shifting the dial on diversity – nominate now for the 2025 Women into Leadership Awards
02 Sep Leadership
Celebrating success and shifting the dial on diversity – nominate now for the 2025 Women into Leadership Awards
Why chasing productivity won’t save our public services
01 Sep Civil Service Reform
Why chasing productivity won’t save our public services
Voluntary madness: Whitehall’s obsession with exit schemes is hollowing out the wrong people while dodging real reform
27 Aug Civil Service Reform
Voluntary madness: Whitehall’s obsession with exit schemes is hollowing out the wrong people while dodging real reform
Book review: 400-odd pages of how right Rory Stewart was at the time, and how history will prove him to be a visionary
21 Feb 2024 Politics & Constitution
Book review: 400-odd pages of how right Rory Stewart was at the time, and how history will prove him to be a visionary
This autobiographical amble through Rory Stewart’s political career highlights much of the former Conservative minister’s unmet potential
From the editor: Whatever else 2024 will be, it will be a year of change
20 Feb 2024
From the editor: Whatever else 2024 will be, it will be a year of change
Even if we find ourselves with a stable, majority government by the end of this year, it’s unlikely that we’ll see a sudden end to the other challenges which have been battering public services
Flaws in fuel poverty and homelessness data show the urgent need for effective national data infrastructure
16 Feb 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Flaws in fuel poverty and homelessness data show the urgent need for effective national data infrastructure
Strong data infrastructure would enable us to anticipate social needs, design services that respond to these needs and signpost people towards the best advice
Cross-government working is not a nice to have – a paradigm shift is long overdue
13 Feb 2024 Civil Service Reform
Cross-government working is not a nice to have – a paradigm shift is long overdue
The Treasury and Cabinet Office must wield their influence to remove any remaining barriers to departments working in harmony
We need a constitutional reset but a pick 'n' mix of ideas is not the answer
12 Feb 2024 Civil Service Reform
We need a constitutional reset but a pick 'n' mix of ideas is not the answer
With a cast of heavy-hitters, the UK Governance Project has some good ideas, says Dave Penman, but forget a Royal Commission: ministers need practical suggestions if we are to make real change
Too many; time wasting; little value – meetings don't have to be this way
09 Feb 2024 HR
Too many; time wasting; little value – meetings don't have to be this way
A good meeting requires more than a tight agenda – the way we prepare, listen and engage is vital to developing presence and improving the experience for everyone
For the civil service, prestige can be a double-edged sword
09 Feb 2024 HR
For the civil service, prestige can be a double-edged sword
Prestige, properly practised, can encourage people to join the civil service and keep giving their best. But it can also be toxic
Now is the time to learn lessons about maintaining standards in an emergency
08 Feb 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Now is the time to learn lessons about maintaining standards in an emergency
The NAO's review to learn lessons from spending during an emergency was extensive. Here are the key takeaways for government
The UK must learn lessons from New Zealand on the generational smoking ban Partner Content
06 Feb 2024 Health & Social Care
The UK must learn lessons from New Zealand on the generational smoking ban
The UK government plans to ban cigarettes for people under a certain age. However, youth smoking rates have significantly decreased over the last decade, and evidence from other countries shows that supply-side policies do not effectively reduce tobacco consumption. If the goal is to reduce tobacco usage, governments should focus on demand, not supply, according to Philip Barry, director of independent economics advisers at TDB Advisory
Driving change: Navigating the path to net zero through modal shift Partner Content
06 Feb 2024 Planning
Driving change: Navigating the path to net zero through modal shift
Surface transport must reduce its carbon footprint if the UK is to reach its net-zero goals by 2050. This requires investing in new tech and fuels, green finance, and promoting behaviour change in our communities, as James Knoll-Pollard, behavioural design lead for future mobility, and Melinda Matyas, associate director for future mobility at WSP explain
Good workplace culture attracts good people, but attacks on the civil service will keep coming
31 Jan 2024 HR
Good workplace culture attracts good people, but attacks on the civil service will keep coming
The allegation that diversity networks distract from officials' core mission is false, but the civil service is an easy target in an election year, Prospect's general secretary writes
Who's to blame for the Horizon scandal? It’s more Oliver Cromwell than Tony Benn
29 Jan 2024 Communications
Who's to blame for the Horizon scandal? It’s more Oliver Cromwell than Tony Benn
As the Post Office scandal continues to unfold, Prof Colin Talbot dives into the murky world of internal "policing" in posts and telecoms
'We've lost the art of prioritisation' - what public sector leaders think about the state of the State
24 Jan 2024 Civil Service Reform
'We've lost the art of prioritisation' - what public sector leaders think about the state of the State
As exclusive polling shows the public think there's an urgent need for reform in public services - but have little hope it will happen - what do public service leaders think about the state of the State? The anwer might suprise you
New guidance on the Rwanda scheme may be of limited comfort to civil servants
19 Jan 2024 Justice & Home Affairs
New guidance on the Rwanda scheme may be of limited comfort to civil servants
The message of the latest guidance to civil servants seems to be that they don’t need to worry about international law. It is pretty extraordinary that such guidance is thought necessary in the first place, writes former top government lawyer Sir Jonathan Jones
As ministers move to curb strikes, we should remember the GCHQ trade union ban
18 Jan 2024 HR
As ministers move to curb strikes, we should remember the GCHQ trade union ban
"James", a GCHQ employee, reflects on the years-long ban on union membership in the agency that "became a symbol of a larger struggle for workers' rights and freedoms in a rapidly changing world"
Ministers' 60% in-office drive has no bearing on reality
12 Jan 2024 Civil Service Reform
Ministers' 60% in-office drive has no bearing on reality
Government's in-office mandate isn't backed by evidence and is a pitch to a voter base that doesn't understand how modern workplaces work
SSCL continues to build on a decade of transformational success Partner Content
21 Dec 2023 Finance
SSCL continues to build on a decade of transformational success
By transforming services through core and specialist digital solutions and innovation, SSCL is enhancing customer experience whilst enabling smarter public services. Here, SSCL outlines what the future looks like for shared services provision, and how its team intends to build on the gains over the past 12 months
Suppliers’ hopes and fears for The Procurement Reform Act Partner Content
12 Dec 2023 Commercial
Suppliers’ hopes and fears for The Procurement Reform Act
The Procurement Reform Act promises big changes for both procurement teams and suppliers. Susan Hilgers from Proxima has been talking to suppliers to gauge their views on the forthcoming changes
The overlooked magic ingredient behind every successful innovation Partner Content
12 Dec 2023 Leadership
The overlooked magic ingredient behind every successful innovation
Reflecting on the Civil Service Awards, Sally Bibb, Strengths Lead at PA Consulting, brings a new perspective on the importance of strengths to innovation
Delivering a brighter future: Balancing long-term decarbonisation with short-term challenges Partner Content
08 Dec 2023 Energy & Environment
Delivering a brighter future: Balancing long-term decarbonisation with short-term challenges
Sustainable business consultants Sarah Nolan and Lillie Haralambous outline steps organisations can take to balance both long and short-term goals on the journey to net zero emissions
Next steps for nature: Implementing Biodiversity Net Gain Partner Content
07 Dec 2023 Energy & Environment
Next steps for nature: Implementing Biodiversity Net Gain
Mandating Biodiversity Net Gain can help maximise protection of the natural environment as we pursue economic growth, writes WSP's Associate Director for Ecology Hannah Bilston
Why digital deliverability is vital for 2024 election policy pledges
06 Dec 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
Why digital deliverability is vital for 2024 election policy pledges
Former Cabinet Office deputy director for digital delivery Clayton Smith flags five common pitfalls that lead to failure
Whitehall has a people problem
30 Nov 2023 Civil Service Reform
Whitehall has a people problem
The failure to grasp poor performance and painfully slow recruitment processes are impeding government’s ability to deliver for citizens
Civil service reform is back on the agenda; and there’s plenty to be done
29 Nov 2023 Civil Service Reform
Civil service reform is back on the agenda; and there’s plenty to be done
National Audit Office Director Kate Caulkin places the independent public spending watchdog’s latest report on the civil service in the context of wider reforms