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
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
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov 2023 Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
From humble beginnings as a prisoners' monies clerk to senior posts in the Treasury, Kevin Ross shares his journey through the civil service
The demand dynamic: Innovating with the market in mind Partner Content
23 Nov 2023 Operational Delivery
The demand dynamic: Innovating with the market in mind
Getting value for money from innovation is a challenge, but setting specific, local priorities brings better outcomes – on all fronts. David Rees, head of Local Government at PA Consulting, explains why and how to let demand lead the way
Solving the public sector productivity puzzle Partner Content
16 Nov 2023 Leadership
Solving the public sector productivity puzzle
Driving productivity improvements will continue to be a core focus across the public sector – regardless of who forms the next government. Fixing the flaws in how productivity is understood and measured is the first crucial step, as Baringa explains
Consultancy: Working in partnership to deliver for the UK Partner Content
16 Nov 2023 Project Delivery
Consultancy: Working in partnership to deliver for the UK
MCA chief executive Tamzen Isacsson on consultants supporting private and public sector clients to face the future during challenging times
Sunak has lost the man who would implement Maude’s civil service reforms
15 Nov 2023 Civil Service Reform
Sunak has lost the man who would implement Maude’s civil service reforms
New Cabinet Office minister John Glen should build on his predecessor Jeremy Quin’s approach to government reform
Largest shared services provider to UK Government celebrates 10 years Partner Content
10 Nov 2023 Leadership
Largest shared services provider to UK Government celebrates 10 years
SSCL has made significant savings in excess of £750m for the taxpayer by embedding shared services into the public sector through the provision of core and specialist digital solutions
How expanding the UK’s behavioural research capacity will benefit policymaking
09 Nov 2023 Policy
How expanding the UK’s behavioural research capacity will benefit policymaking
Behavioural research is fragmented in the UK, but a leadership hub hopes to change this
The AI opportunity: What we can learn from previous revolutions to fully realise the potential of AI Partner Content
09 Nov 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
The AI opportunity: What we can learn from previous revolutions to fully realise the potential of AI
The AI revolution isn’t our first rodeo, says Amanda Kelly, a public services expert at PA Consulting. So, how can we learn the lessons of the past to ensure a successful fourth industrial revolution that drives innovation and better public services in a democratic and equitable way?
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
07 Nov 2023 Commercial
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
Intervening in distressed companies can be complex, costly and require skills not widely held across government. The National Audit Office's new report and guide aim to help government maximise its resilience against the risks of company failure and be better prepared when confronted with these situations
Rethinking the planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Partner Content
06 Nov 2023 Planning
Rethinking the planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
Top tips for ensuring new infrastructure projects protect the natural environment without slowing down development
Johnson and Cummings thought their inherent exceptionalism would prevail over Covid. They failed time and again
06 Nov 2023 Coronavirus
Johnson and Cummings thought their inherent exceptionalism would prevail over Covid. They failed time and again
Lee Cain said Covid was “the wrong crisis" for Boris Johnson’s "skill set”. The phrase will hang round Johnson’s neck like a VW emblem on a Beastie Boy
Making data an ally to project delivery decision-making Partner Content
31 Oct 2023 Operational Delivery
Making data an ally to project delivery decision-making
Rhiannon Evans and Tom Woodhouse explain why government must improve its use of data to increase project delivery success
Transforming our urban spaces through design Partner Content
26 Oct 2023 Energy & Environment
Transforming our urban spaces through design
By embracing regenerative design, the UK can lead the way in creating thriving and resilient urban habitats and communities, says
Rahul Patalia, Director, Property & Buildings at WSP
Recent perm sec sackings show there aren't sufficient safeguards around the departure of senior officials
20 Oct 2023 Civil Service Reform
Recent perm sec sackings show there aren't sufficient safeguards around the departure of senior officials
Political alignment should never be a factor in deciding on a permanent secretary, argues the chair of the Lords Constitution Committee