The Olly Robbins affair is a strategic state failure
23 Apr HR

The Olly Robbins affair is a strategic state failure

Sue Gray. Sir Chris Wormald. And now Olly Robbins. Together, these dismissals show a strategic state deficit
by Patrick Diamond and Vijay K. Luthra
Bring science and engineering in early – a new strategy to support officials across government
06 May HR
Bring science and engineering in early – a new strategy to support officials across government
Culture change starts at the top, and it should start with a new code
06 May Civil Service Reform
Culture change starts at the top, and it should start with a new code
Lost in the frenzy to slash costs – government needs a genuinely strategic approach to ALBs
30 Apr Civil Service Reform
Lost in the frenzy to slash costs – government needs a genuinely strategic approach to ALBs
Delivery – not adoption – is the key to government unlocking value from AI Partner Content
17 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Delivery – not adoption – is the key to government unlocking value from AI
AI offers a way for civil servants to deliver more, faster, cheaper, and with greater precision. But to do so, Becky Noble, Public Services AI Lead, and Rory Scott, Public Services Head of AI Engineering at PA Consulting explain that success relies on how teams deliver for scale and value
Better regulation will raise the bar of responsibility Partner Content
13 Mar Policy
Better regulation will raise the bar of responsibility
Not many people choose to return to their old job, but after five years away working on global issues for Philip Morris International, Peter Nixon returned at the end of last year to serve once again as the managing director of Philip Morris Limited – the UK arm of PMI. He sets out why he has returned
Building a smarter state: What has been achieved so far Partner Content
13 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Building a smarter state: What has been achieved so far
Why delivery, not intent, will define the next phase of public sector reform and help deliver the right outcomes for the public
New partnership announced to support ethnic minority civil servants into leadership Partner Content
12 Mar HR
New partnership announced to support ethnic minority civil servants into leadership
Partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing inclusive leadership pipelines across the civil service
140 years together: Why the civil service’s charity needs your voice Partner Content
12 Mar HR
140 years together: Why the civil service’s charity needs your voice
For nearly a century and a half, a quiet principle has underpinned the UK civil service: those who dedicate their lives to the public good should not be left to face life’s storms alone. Since 1886, the Charity for Civil Servants has served as an umbrella of support for our community, providing free help to current, former, and retired civil servants in times of need – for life
True efficiency is about much more than just cuts
11 Mar Civil Service Reform
True efficiency is about much more than just cuts
Efficiency as a byword for cuts makes life harder for everyone, but if done well, can improve services and working lives
Tension at the top of government is not uncommon – firing a cabinet secretary is
10 Mar Civil Service Reform
Tension at the top of government is not uncommon – firing a cabinet secretary is
From Thatcher to Starmer: The tricky relationship between prime ministers and their top officials
Building trustworthy AI-enabled services for the public sector Partner Content
09 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Building trustworthy AI-enabled services for the public sector
Now, more than ever, there is a need for a practical and accountable approach to AI that strengthens service delivery without unnecessary complications. Writes Nikki Powell, Director of Service Delivery at Capita Public Service
Antonia Romeo's leadership style is exactly what the civil service needs right now
09 Mar Civil Service Reform
Antonia Romeo's leadership style is exactly what the civil service needs right now
After weeks of turmoil at the centre of government, Romeo’s appointment as cab sec signals a chance for the civil service to reset, regain confidence and champion its value
Don’t drift from offshore wind leadership Partner Content
09 Mar Energy & Environment
Don’t drift from offshore wind leadership
Why offshore wind matters, and why The Crown Estate is developing a “sat nav for the seabed”
The Reckoning: Austerity, state capacity, and the Fifth Industrial Revolution
06 Mar Civil Service Reform
The Reckoning: Austerity, state capacity, and the Fifth Industrial Revolution
Austerity destroyed the connective tissue of the strategic state. The Middle East crisis should be a wake-up call on the need for sustained investment in the human systems and institutional structures that make delivery possible
Can public sector ombudsmen help detect system failures sooner?
05 Mar Politics & Constitution
Can public sector ombudsmen help detect system failures sooner?
What is often dismissed as an "unfortunate individual error" can actually be the first sign of a systemic issue
The government has missed another opportunity to get hybrid working right
04 Mar Civil Service Reform
The government has missed another opportunity to get hybrid working right
The government continues to pursue a dogmatic approach of a top-down, one-size-fits-all quota for half a million civil servants across 200 employers
A smarter approach to tackling fraud: Lessons for government from a review of the MoD
03 Mar Civil Service Reform
A smarter approach to tackling fraud: Lessons for government from a review of the MoD
A message to all departments: tackling fraud effectively requires sustained leadership attention
Breaking the Ming vase: A case for state resources for manifesto development
02 Mar Policy
Breaking the Ming vase: A case for state resources for manifesto development
Seriousness about delivery should become part of the culture of democratic competition
Be visible, be robust: An open letter to the new cabinet secretary
27 Feb HR
Be visible, be robust: An open letter to the new cabinet secretary
You have the experience, the credibility, and, for now, the political backing to drive genuine reform. The window will not stay open indefinitely
Civil service leaders share the public's frustrations over the pace of delivery – courage is the cure
26 Feb Operational Delivery
Civil service leaders share the public's frustrations over the pace of delivery – courage is the cure
Senior officials understand the urgent need to speed up the pace of delivery, and are energised to do so
Civil Service Pension Scheme: Advice from a barrister on compensation and redress
24 Feb HR
Civil Service Pension Scheme: Advice from a barrister on compensation and redress
The dos and don'ts to protect your position and preserve your right to redress, according to pensions barrister Paul Newman KC
Why supply-chain warnings stall before they become decisions
23 Feb Commercial
Why supply-chain warnings stall before they become decisions
The problem is rarely a lack of foresight. It is that acting on warnings requires spending real money today to prevent a problem that still feels theoretical
The boys' club at the top of government isn't just a culture problem – it's a capability crisis
18 Feb Civil Service Reform
The boys' club at the top of government isn't just a culture problem – it's a capability crisis
A state that draws its decision-makers from too narrow a pool will consistently fail to anticipate the consequences of its own policies
Shorter, better, fairer, stronger: Why the new Green Book is an encouraging update
18 Feb Economics
Shorter, better, fairer, stronger: Why the new Green Book is an encouraging update
The revised Green Book looks better. But the key to seeing more productive investment in all parts of the country is political will in Westminster and Whitehall
Can the government trust AI to answer citizens’ questions?
17 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
Can the government trust AI to answer citizens’ questions?
The government has been here before. To retain control of its relationship with citizens, it must ensure AI prioritises GOV.UK info over other sources
Learning that sticks Partner Content
16 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
Learning that sticks
Rapid advances in technology and AI are increasing the pressure on civil servants to keep up. A Civil Service World

webinar with KPMG explored how continuous learning can become a regular part of working life, and help public servants stay ahead of the curve
How government organisation can move from AI ambition to delivery Partner Content
16 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
How government organisation can move from AI ambition to delivery
The government has a clear AI ambition. What’s missing is the confidence that comes from having a practical path to delivery