The briefings against Chris Wormald damage the trust that is essential to good government
23 Oct Civil Service Reform

The briefings against Chris Wormald damage the trust that is essential to good government

For the Cummings admirers in No.10 reading this: Anyone can break a system down, putting it back together is a different skill
by Dave Penman
The UK needs regulation – but we can do it an awful lot better
24 Oct Civil Service Reform
The UK needs regulation – but we can do it an awful lot better
How much money could the government's Covid fraud voluntary repayment scheme recover?
23 Oct Coronavirus
How much money could the government's Covid fraud voluntary repayment scheme recover?
One body, two missions: How Skills England is working with partners to drive opportunity and growth
16 Oct Education
One body, two missions: How Skills England is working with partners to drive opportunity and growth
I worked for Blair's Delivery Unit – trust me that the next government needs a new approach to reform
06 Jun 2024 Operational Delivery
I worked for Blair's Delivery Unit – trust me that the next government needs a new approach to reform
Top-down targets simply don’t release the creativity and compassion in our public servants that all of us are going to depend on, writes a former perm sec
Performance not politics: How EDI helped the Department for International Trade achieve its objectives
03 Jun 2024 HR
Performance not politics: How EDI helped the Department for International Trade achieve its objectives
Lately there have been accusations that EDI initiatives are politically motivated, but nothing could be further from the truth, writes John Alty, former interim perm sec at DIT
Despite ministers' promises to tackle churn, the civil service whirligig keeps on spinning
20 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Despite ministers' promises to tackle churn, the civil service whirligig keeps on spinning
IfG research has found a third of top officials have spent less than a year in their current post
Q: What do lanyards have to do with delivering public services? A: Absolutely nothing
17 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Q: What do lanyards have to do with delivering public services? A: Absolutely nothing
Esther McVey's EDI crackdown is a fake war, against fake enemy from a minister with a fake job title
How secure data access drives healthcare benefits Partner Content
15 May 2024 Health & Social Care
How secure data access drives healthcare benefits
Greg Garner of AtkinsRéalis discusses how the NHS can use Secure Data Environments to reap the benefits that data offers to health outcomes and patient care
Mind your language: Why civil servants should strive for clarity above all else
14 May 2024 Communications
Mind your language: Why civil servants should strive for clarity above all else
The civil service has been battling against verbose official-speak for decades. But clarity of language reflects clarity of purpose
Redefining procurement: Custom solutions for the UK's biggest challenges Partner Content
14 May 2024 Policy
Redefining procurement: Custom solutions for the UK's biggest challenges
The public sector is under pressure to do more with less. Contracts for Innovation is enabling organisations to help create bespoke solutions and become early adopters of cutting-edge innovation
Making the best of broadband communications for public safety users Partner Content
13 May 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Making the best of broadband communications for public safety users
Éric Davalo, Vice President, Head of Europe, UK and North America at Airbus Public Safety and Security, unveils the benefits of the transition towards secure and high-speed (4G and 5G) mobile communications systems for public safety users
Book review: David Omand's call for greater national resilience should be required reading for anyone in government
07 May 2024 Leadership
Book review: David Omand's call for greater national resilience should be required reading for anyone in government
This no-nonsense guide is a useful reminder that diligent planning must underpin crisis management
Be all in... but have a Plan B: What I learnt driving change in DWP
03 May 2024 HR
Be all in... but have a Plan B: What I learnt driving change in DWP
A former change programme director reflects on what it takes to drive reform in a large organisation
Civil service leaders must get better at deep listening
02 May 2024 HR
Civil service leaders must get better at deep listening
Does it bother you as much as it does me that across government, we can still be way too slow to spot and act on serious problems before they materialise or grow into national scandals?
Talent is the magic ingredient of success – so how can Whitehall get better at managing it?
01 May 2024 HR
Talent is the magic ingredient of success – so how can Whitehall get better at managing it?
The civil service must create dedicated roles and a more effective system for spotting and supporting talented people – as well as removing poor performers – if it is to address the complex challenges facing the country
Ethics is an enabler, not a barrier to effective policymaking
29 Apr 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Ethics is an enabler, not a barrier to effective policymaking
The ethical and regulatory challenges associated with developments in biomedicine, health and AI are set to intensify, writes the director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Building a case for a change: Tackling fraud with AI Partner Content
22 Apr 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Building a case for a change: Tackling fraud with AI
Investing in counter-fraud technologies can help address financial mismanagement and optimise spending
Dave Penman: What's your issue with the civil service, John?
19 Apr 2024 HR
Dave Penman: What's your issue with the civil service, John?
Cabinet Office minister John Glen's latest attack is both ill-advised and damaging
Who is responsible for preventing fraud and error? A simple but vital question
17 Apr 2024 Coronavirus
Who is responsible for preventing fraud and error? A simple but vital question
Joshua Reddaway, director of fraud and propriety at the National Audit Office, considers lessons from two recent NAO reports where fraud was found in schemes delivered through others
Matt Bazeley: 'We must work smarter on workplace well-being' Partner Content
15 Apr 2024 Health & Social Care
Matt Bazeley: "We must work smarter on workplace well-being"
The chief executive of the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) on an urgent call for a national strategy to address the national health crisis and tackle absenteeism
Plain failing: Leadership means sharing career disappointments as well as success
12 Apr 2024 HR
Plain failing: Leadership means sharing career disappointments as well as success
Mentorship can accelerate careers, especially when senior staff share their disappointments and setbacks
Good government relies on good whistleblowing, so departments must be ready to listen
11 Apr 2024 HR
Good government relies on good whistleblowing, so departments must be ready to listen
Without listening to whistleblowers, we are destined to lurch from scandal to crisis without learning from mistakes
The value of ChMC accreditation Partner Content
11 Apr 2024 Operational Delivery
The value of ChMC accreditation
Government Chief Commercial Officer Gareth Rhys Williams recently highlighted the great work being done to drive up professional standards in consulting with the new Chartered Management Consultant accreditation. Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), looks at the award’s growth over the past three years
The use of social investment to tackle homelessness can provide a blueprint for other policy challenges
05 Apr 2024 Policy
The use of social investment to tackle homelessness can provide a blueprint for other policy challenges
Policymakers must consider creative options to tackle entrenched challenges, says former senior civil servant Stephen Muers, who is now chief exec at Big Society Capital
Book review: Ros Atkins' guide to communication is honest, readable and practical, but don’t hope for shortcuts
25 Mar 2024 Communications
Book review: Ros Atkins' guide to communication is honest, readable and practical, but don’t hope for shortcuts
Engagingly written and packed with useful information, this book will ensure you never start an email with 'I hope you are well' again
We’re looking at public sector productivity the wrong way
21 Mar 2024 Civil Service Reform
We’re looking at public sector productivity the wrong way
The chancellor is hoping that his £3.4bn investment will unlock £35bn in productivity improvements. But will it?
Defra’s experience shows the problems in making Brexit work
14 Mar 2024 Energy & Environment
Defra’s experience shows the problems in making Brexit work
The department is struggling to make sense of its post-Brexit responsibilities and freedoms