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
Chartered Management Consultant Award: Built by the sector, shaped by clients Partner Content
09 Nov 2022 Commercial
Chartered Management Consultant Award: Built by the sector, shaped by clients
A mark of excellence, the new ChMC Award can help buying teams from within the public sector identify consultants and firms that will deliver the highest quality results, as Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive, Management Consultancies Association, explains
A civil servant’s guide to the Open Data Institute’s fuel poverty risk index
08 Nov 2022 Analysis
A civil servant’s guide to the Open Data Institute’s fuel poverty risk index
Fuel poverty is a public health emergency. Up-to-date data will help policymakers to target support amid the cost of living crisis
With budgets stretched and workforces drained, government must decide what it can – and can't – deliver
03 Nov 2022 HR
With budgets stretched and workforces drained, government must decide what it can – and can't – deliver
As the cost-of-living crisis bites, the public is divided on public spending – but bold reform is needed, not salami-slicing cuts
Pandemics, plastic bags and planning: What can data tell us about government policy? Partner Content
02 Nov 2022 Analysis
Pandemics, plastic bags and planning: What can data tell us about government policy?
How do we know if a policy works and gives value for money, or has unintended consequences? The longitudinal data of Understanding Society can help to find the answers
Happy World Vegan Day from the Civil Service Vegan Network
01 Nov 2022 HR
Happy World Vegan Day from the Civil Service Vegan Network
Claudia Hedger shares the story behind the network, and its place in the civil service's diversity & inclusion and faith & belief agendas
Unlike the farce at Westminster, public sector cuts are no joke
21 Oct 2022 Civil Service Reform
Unlike the farce at Westminster, public sector cuts are no joke
Jeremy Hunt has been dealt a difficult hand. But with no PM, it's hard to see what authority the chancellor has to make these serious decisions
The mysterious case of Liz Truss and the missing standards adviser
18 Oct 2022 HR
The mysterious case of Liz Truss and the missing standards adviser
Civil servants don’t appreciate having no-one to complain to about wayward ministers
Driving sustainability and value for money through technology procurement Partner Content
12 Oct 2022 Commercial
Driving sustainability and value for money through technology procurement
Dr Philip Orumwense, Commercial Director and Chief Procurement Officer for Technology at Crown Commercial Service, on helping public sector customers increase commercial benefits
A day in the life of an independent prison monitor Partner Content
11 Oct 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
A day in the life of an independent prison monitor
Alex Wilson, a volunteer on an Independent Monitoring Board, talks about his role monitoring whether prisoners are being treated fairly and humanely
Ministerial churn is frantic and destructive, but good government necessarily moves slowly
29 Sep 2022 HR
Ministerial churn is frantic and destructive, but good government necessarily moves slowly
Liz Truss should prioritise stable government, with ministers staying in post longer enough to master their responsibilities and gain officials' trust
Team Truss’s top three themes already twisted into knots
28 Sep 2022 Communications
Team Truss’s top three themes already twisted into knots
The NHS, the energy crisis and the economy were would-be PM Truss's top priorities. But the Plan for Patients is underwhelming
Tackling the backlog burden through people-led change Partner Content
26 Sep 2022 Operational Delivery
Tackling the backlog burden through people-led change
Mark McLeary from Baringa’s Government and Public Sector team on addressing the root causes of problems to prevent them from recurring and worsening backlogs further
Rather than 'fixing' the NHS, we need to radically rethink our approach to health
23 Sep 2022 Finance
Rather than 'fixing' the NHS, we need to radically rethink our approach to health
To create a health system fit for the future, practitioners and policymakers need to start asking the right questions
Sacking Tom Scholar shows weakness. Good ministers don't fear robust advice
12 Sep 2022 HR
Sacking Tom Scholar shows weakness. Good ministers don't fear robust advice
The Treasury perm sec's exit bodes ill for both Liz Truss's administration and the principles underpinning a permanent and impartial civil service
Keeping tabs on work-issued mobile activity with Antenna Partner Content
07 Sep 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Keeping tabs on work-issued mobile activity with Antenna
How can public sector organisations keep track of calls, texts and instant messages in the world of ultra-flexi, hybrid working? Stuart Williams, CTO at FourNet, and Andrew Bale, EVP at Tango Networks, explain
Claims of personal integrity won't cut it, the next PM must reinstate ethical standards
30 Aug 2022 HR
Claims of personal integrity won't cut it, the next PM must reinstate ethical standards
Liz Truss has refused to commit to reappointing an ethics adviser if she becomes prime minister. Neglecting the system that upholds the rules increases the risk her own premiership will be derailed by scandal
Do Rishi Sunak’s civil service reform proposals stack up?
17 Aug 2022 Civil Service Reform
Do Rishi Sunak’s civil service reform proposals stack up?
The leadership candidate's plan includes existing measures, interesting suggestions and "sensible but hardly groundbreaking" proposals
The savvy shopper: CCS boss Simon Tse on delivering value for money and supporting policy priorities
11 Aug 2022 Commercial
The savvy shopper: CCS boss Simon Tse on delivering value for money and supporting policy priorities
The Crown Commercial Service has helped the public sector achieve record commercial benefits of almost £3bn, as well as respond to new global crises. Here, CCS chief executive Simon Tse shares his lessons from the past year
A bold new PM could help restore standards in public life. Appointing a new ethics adviser will be the first test
08 Aug 2022 HR
A bold new PM could help restore standards in public life. Appointing a new ethics adviser will be the first test
Boris Johnson was partly forced from No.10 by concerns over his integrity and standards. Yet these issues have hardly featured in the Conservative leadership campaign
Francis Maude is back in the ring. Here's what he should bear in mind as he looks at civil service accountability
02 Aug 2022 Civil Service Reform
Francis Maude is back in the ring. Here's what he should bear in mind as he looks at civil service accountability
Francis Maude is once again working on civil service reform. Alex Thomas says that his too-hasty review should focus on clarifying responsibilities in government and not on eroding civil service impartiality
Menopause stigma must end. The civil service's workplace pledge is a meaningful step
26 Jul 2022 HR
Menopause stigma must end. The civil service's workplace pledge is a meaningful step
The Cabinet Office’s menopause in the workplace policy is a great step forward in empowering women to feel unashamed
As Sunak and Truss battle it out to be PM, they have yet to address the health and care crisis
25 Jul 2022 Health & Social Care
As Sunak and Truss battle it out to be PM, they have yet to address the health and care crisis
The waiting list is growing, ambulance services are in crisis, and Covid isn't over. None of this has cropped up meaningfully in the leadership debates
Civil service leaders must join the chorus and stand up for their staff on pay
22 Jul 2022 HR
Civil service leaders must join the chorus and stand up for their staff on pay
Environment Agency chief Sir James Bevan threw down the gauntlet with his letter on "unjust" pay. Will others follow or shrug their shoulders?
What does it mean to have gravitas at work?
18 Jul 2022 HR
What does it mean to have gravitas at work?
It’s a quality often associated with good leadership, but what does it really mean to have gravitas, and is it still relevant in a diverse and inclusive workplace?