Francis Maude’s review of Whitehall should lead to cross-party agreement on civil service reform
19 Oct Civil Service Reform

Francis Maude’s review of Whitehall should lead to cross-party agreement on civil service reform

Leaked proposals for a new settlement for ministers and civil servants are mostly to be welcomed
by Alex Thomas
Whitehall has a people problem
30 Nov Civil Service Reform
Whitehall has a people problem
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
Sunak has lost the man who would implement Maude’s civil service reforms
15 Nov Civil Service Reform
Sunak has lost the man who would implement Maude’s civil service reforms
From the streets, to prison, to working in the civil service
06 Dec 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
From the streets, to prison, to working in the civil service
An official shares her remarkable and harrowing life story, and explains how she now uses her experiences to help improve government policy
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
01 Dec 2022 Finance
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
Public services may well have passed their tipping point, and short-term firefighting is clearly not the way back
Driving value for money for everyone: Meeting the challenge of ‘Yes’ for public sector commercial directors Partner Content
01 Dec 2022 Analysis
Driving value for money for everyone: Meeting the challenge of ‘Yes’ for public sector commercial directors
By challenging established processes and embracing new ways of working, significant savings and enhanced efficiencies are achievable, say Sarah Ashley and John Thompson from Baringa
We should go further and faster in redesigning human-centred public services
30 Nov 2022 Operational Delivery
We should go further and faster in redesigning human-centred public services
The UK scores well on a new international ranking of people-focused public services. But amid ever-growing pressures, we cannot afford to sit on our hands
How the Geospatial Commission is putting the UK on the map
18 Nov 2022
How the Geospatial Commission is putting the UK on the map
As new rankings name the UK as a leader in geospatial capability, Caitlin Ballard explains what this means and why it matters to policymakers
For every civil servant seen to be mistreated, others will be too scared to speak up
18 Nov 2022 HR
For every civil servant seen to be mistreated, others will be too scared to speak up
After weeks of bullying allegations against current and ex-ministers, whistleblowing reforms can help restore integrity and accountability in government
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
14 Nov 2022 HR
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
Fast streamers in the FDA union are considering strikes as low pay outweighs the prospect of future promotion.
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