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
From missions to milestones: what the Mission Delivery Unit’s move to No.10 tells us about delivery from the centre
08 Sep Civil Service Reform
From missions to milestones: what the Mission Delivery Unit’s move to No.10 tells us about delivery from the centre
In praise of the process: Laurie Magnus’s report on Angela Rayner
08 Sep Politics & Constitution
In praise of the process: Laurie Magnus’s report on Angela Rayner
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
04 Sep HR
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
Opinion: Covid proves the need for a civil service shake-up
27 May 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Covid proves the need for a civil service shake-up
The government’s pandemic response shows that the Whitehall can move at speed. But those lessons must now be learned and fully embedded in government
‘As we re-evaluate statues and debate connections between venerable institutions and the slave trade, racism persists’: has the civil service made progress in addressing inequality?
25 May 2021
‘As we re-evaluate statues and debate connections between venerable institutions and the slave trade, racism persists’: has the civil service made progress in addressing inequality?
The murder of George Floyd led to renewed focus on action to tackle racism. One year on, Ayo Awoyungbo shares his personal reflections on the civil service’s efforts
Dave Penman: Standards in public strife
24 May 2021 Leadership
Dave Penman: Standards in public strife
The various inquiries dogging the government do not seem to have affected it electorally. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only thing that matters to the PM, Dave Penman writes
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
19 May 2021 Health & Social Care
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
In his first column for CSW, health policy expert Andy Cowper reviews Simon Stevens’s Whitehall legacy, and considers the changes being wrought by the new round of health reforms the NHS boss authored
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
07 May 2021 Local & Devolved
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
A prominent MP has been appointed as the prime minister’s adviser on levelling up. What does it mean for the next stage of this agenda?
Ciaran Martin: Six security tests for the new cyber strategy
06 May 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Ciaran Martin: Six security tests for the new cyber strategy
The government’s Integrated Review revealed that the government planning to publish a new cyber security strategy. Ciaran Martin, the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, tells us what to look out for in it
Opinion: Could Covid unlocking help levelling up too?
05 May 2021 Coronavirus
Opinion: Could Covid unlocking help levelling up too?
In this month’s CSW editor’s letter, Richard Johnstone wonders if there’s an opportunity to reset the UK’s economic geography as the country emerges from the pandemic
Opinion: How can policymakers help improve the wellbeing of local communities?
26 Apr 2021 Economy
Opinion: How can policymakers help improve the wellbeing of local communities?
The coronavirus and the stalled European Super League should teach policymakers the same lesson: there is an urgent need to engage local communities in policy and delivery
Switching off: time to tackle ‘always on’ work culture
23 Apr 2021 HR
Switching off: time to tackle ‘always on’ work culture
Many civil servants have embraced working from home during the pandemic, but it also means the lines between work and home life have been blurred. The government should set out rules around out of hours engagement – but employers don’t have to wait
Julia Lopez: Data is fundamental to government. Let me know your ideas to use it better Exclusive
19 Apr 2021
Julia Lopez: Data is fundamental to government. Let me know your ideas to use it better
The Cabinet Office minister writes for CSW to launch a new Dragons' Den-style competition to transform government data for citizens and society
Alex Thomas: Skills and spills in the civil service
19 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Alex Thomas: Skills and spills in the civil service
The government is keen to boost the skills of civil servants and, even in the midst of the Greensill scandal, Whitehall needs to think about both internal training and bringing in external expertise. Here’s some ideas for reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
14 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
Giving departmental boards a stronger role would help government become more effective
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
13 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
The prime minister and chancellor have both begun encouraging people back to the workplace after Covid. But government would be much better served learning the flexible working lessons of the pandemic
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
12 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
Further reform of the way the government manages resources to achieve its goals is vital, says the former government lead non-executive director Sir Ian Cheshire
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
09 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
In the first of a new series of articles exploring developments in public sector management, Colin Talbot looks at how one social care organisation is challenging the assumptions of service delivery
Outcome delivery plans: third time lucky?
01 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Outcome delivery plans: third time lucky?
The new approach to departmental planning can only really succeed if the Government can define properly what its small number of priority goals are.
Opinion: How to make the integrated review really integrated
31 Mar 2021 Security & Defence
Opinion: How to make the integrated review really integrated
The government’s Integrated Review covers everything from bombs to biodiversity, but such a wide remit requires government to think about how it will collaborate with industry and academia, says Dr Simon Harwood, the director of defence and security, Cranfield University
How civil servants can prepare for the Covid decade
30 Mar 2021 Coronavirus
How civil servants can prepare for the Covid decade
The challenges of the UK’s recovery from the pandemic will take years to sort out. A new report from the British Academy sets out some of the things policymakers need to think about to prepare
‘Sound priorities, undermined by a narrow view of security and aid cuts’: assessing the integrated review
26 Mar 2021 Security & Defence
‘Sound priorities, undermined by a narrow view of security and aid cuts’: assessing the integrated review
The government’s landmark foreign and defence policy review arrived at many of the right conclusions, but UK security could be undermined by a focus on competition when the UK’s leadership could make a bigger difference through cooperation, says Ian Mitchell, the co-director, Europe for the Center for Global Development
Make Net Zero a primary objective of all public sector investments, not just a nice-to-have Sponsored
05 Mar 2021 Energy & Environment
Make Net Zero a primary objective of all public sector investments, not just a nice-to-have
In last week’s Budget, the Chancellor announced £15bn in green bonds to help finance the transition to ‘Net Zero’ by 2050. PA Consulting asks: is this sufficient?
Opinion: DWP should ditch language of welfare and embrace social security
02 Mar 2021 Economy
Opinion: DWP should ditch language of welfare and embrace social security
Coronavirus has revealed the extent to which the country relies on the Department for Work and Pensions. Government should harness this to create a system that meets the challenges from a post-pandemic economy
Lucille Thirlby: the SCS needs more than words on pay reform
26 Feb 2021 HR
Lucille Thirlby: the SCS needs more than words on pay reform
Ministers know what is required to fix churn but the pace of change is beyond glacial, argues the FDA's assistant general secretary
Opinion: How government can help make Aria sing
23 Feb 2021
Opinion: How government can help make Aria sing
The government’s new research agency needs the freedom to set its own mission, says former Downing Street adviser Daniel Korski
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
22 Feb 2021 Commercial
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
Central government departments and other public sector bodies can use their procurement powers to help build social value. Charlene Maginnis from the Crown Commercial Service sets out some tips on how to go about it