The Spending Review will leave officials fearing for their future – and possibly even heading for the door
16 Jun Civil Service Reform

The Spending Review will leave officials fearing for their future – and possibly even heading for the door

SR25 leaves civil servants uncertain about whether they will lose their job and what their organisation will look like once efficiencies are made
by Dave Penman
Vision and trust: Why open government is critical to achieving ministers' missions
30 Jun Civil Service Reform
Vision and trust: Why open government is critical to achieving ministers' missions
Beyond deliverology: How to achieve Starmer’s missions
30 Jun Civil Service Reform
Beyond deliverology: How to achieve Starmer’s missions
The sweet spot: How to get the right balance between strong accountability and not over-burdening small government bodies
25 Jun HR
The sweet spot: How to get the right balance between strong accountability and not over-burdening small government bodies
'Will actions match ambition?' – the FDA's New Year message to the government
06 Jan HR
'Will actions match ambition?' – the FDA's New Year message to the government
Real reform is needed in 2025 – and civil servants are ready to deliver it, writes FDA assistant general secretary Lauren Crowley
Reshaping workforce planning: A skills-first approach Partner Content
06 Jan HR
Reshaping workforce planning: A skills-first approach
The workplace is moving towards a skills-based approach, allowing civil service organisations to diversify talent and foster innovation for a future-ready workforce. Embracing this change can unlock its potential, as Indeed’s Matt Burney explains
What lessons can the UK take from other countries on welfare? Partner Content
06 Jan Operational Delivery
What lessons can the UK take from other countries on welfare?
Welfare services face challenges amid tight public finances, legacy systems, and cost-cutting. PA Consulting experts Martin Bovenkamp, Katie Crookbain, and Ali Rana explore strengthening welfare services
'An opportunity to reset relationships': Prospect chief Mike Clancy's New Year message to government
03 Jan Civil Service Reform
'An opportunity to reset relationships': Prospect chief Mike Clancy's New Year message to government
Prospect's general secretary urges ministers to work in partnership with civil servants and their unions over the next 12 months
'I hope 2025 can be a year of positive change for public services': PCS's New Year message to the government
01 Jan Civil Service Reform
'I hope 2025 can be a year of positive change for public services': PCS's New Year message to the government
PCS union president Fran Heathcote urges ministers to give the civil service the resources it needs and make good on their insourcing pledge to
How can international collaboration improve UK online safety? Partner Content
17 Dec 2024 Operational Delivery
How can international collaboration improve UK online safety?
To maintain its status as a leader in online safety, the UK must keep pace with new approaches to combat online harms. PA Consulting experts Patrick Cronin and Natalia Greene look to other countries for new insights and inspiration
Rethinking procurement: The path towards mission-based public service delivery Partner Content
16 Dec 2024 Operational Delivery
Rethinking procurement: The path towards mission-based public service delivery
To effectively support its missions through procurement, the government must strengthen its partnership with suppliers, says Anthony Kirby, Chief Executive of Serco UK & Europe
Why the latest global ranking of civil services is a 'golden opportunity' for learning
11 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Why the latest global ranking of civil services is a 'golden opportunity' for learning
Kathy Hall says the Blavatnik School of Government's index offers a crucial pathway to service-improvement
Civil servants are hungry for reform, but Starmer's 'tepid bath' jibe has done a lot of damage
10 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Civil servants are hungry for reform, but Starmer's 'tepid bath' jibe has done a lot of damage
Starmer has undermined the leadership of the civil service in the very week that he appointed a new cabinet secretary
Can art be the key to unlocking brighter prisoner futures? Partner Content
10 Dec 2024 Justice & Home Affairs
Can art be the key to unlocking brighter prisoner futures?
Julie Butcher, Head of Education, Skills & Work at HMP Dovegate, a Serco-run prison, on how the government supplier is implementing art education across its prisons. How does the approach support the effective rehabilitation of prisoners?
IBM CEO: AI will help government do more with less without compromising quality Partner Content
09 Dec 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
IBM CEO: AI will help government do more with less without compromising quality
CSW speaks with Nicola Hodson, IBM CEO, UK & Ireland, about how government can use AI to revolutionise public services, improve efficiency, address skills gaps, and build public trust
We need a higher bar: How, and why, we should overhaul the Fast Stream
04 Dec 2024 HR
We need a higher bar: How, and why, we should overhaul the Fast Stream
The civil service needs to radically rethink how it attracts and manages top talent - and reforming the Fast Stream is the essential first step in that process
Check-off victory in Supreme Court is a warning to this and future governments
27 Nov 2024 HR
Check-off victory in Supreme Court is a warning to this and future governments
Let's hope the ruling closes the door on a period of poor industrial relations in the civil service
What can the UK learn from Sweden about whole society resilience? Partner Content
27 Nov 2024 Operational Delivery
What can the UK learn from Sweden about whole society resilience?
The UK government and civil servants are increasingly focusing on whole society resilience, amid mounting threats. PA Consulting experts Caroline Field, Martin Allard, and Micaela Bodelius share important lessons from Sweden’s whole-society approach to security, defence, and resilience
Tracing the Troubles: How we set up the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
25 Nov 2024 HR
Tracing the Troubles: How we set up the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
ICRIR provides information to victims, survivors and their families about Troubles-related deaths and serious injury, and promotes reconciliation. Here, Tristan Pedelty explains how it came into existence and what it’s achieved in the two years since it was formed
The price of everything and value of nothing
21 Nov 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
The price of everything and value of nothing
New teams, units and quangos come and go in government, often at the whim of ministers. How do we make sure the Office for Value for Money is effective?
AI and the future of learning and development in the public sector Partner Content
21 Nov 2024 HR
AI and the future of learning and development in the public sector
How is AI revolutionising public sector learning? Toby Barnard, Managing Director, UK Public Sector at QA, discusses how advanced technology is closing skill gaps and preparing teams for the future
The public sector needs a clear and consistent mandate on net zero
20 Nov 2024 Energy & Environment
The public sector needs a clear and consistent mandate on net zero
Tom Watson shares key recommendations from the University of Nottingham's Policy Commission on a Just Transition to Net Zero
Is the fight for a new pay review body doomed to fail? Oh no it isn't!
19 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
Is the fight for a new pay review body doomed to fail? Oh no it isn't!
Unions calling for an end to the stale and flawed pay remit guidance for civil servants aren't pantomime villains – the system needs to change
Starmer's revisions to the ministerial code could have been a lot worse
18 Nov 2024 Politics & Constitution
Starmer's revisions to the ministerial code could have been a lot worse
Ministers may, however, grow to regret the changes
How much fraud and error does government face today?
18 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
How much fraud and error does government face today?
NAO analysis of the impact of fraud and error on public funds shows the total has grown dramatically in the last two years
Building an inclusive workplace: How Philip Morris is embedding DEI for lasting impact Partner Content
18 Nov 2024 HR
Building an inclusive workplace: How Philip Morris is embedding DEI for lasting impact
Abimbola Nibson-Niboro, Ethics & Compliance Head for the UK & Ireland, describes how the organisation integrates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as an essential component of its workplace culture where diverse perspectives drive innovation and growth
More, better-paid spads is not just good for ministers; it's good for civil servants
14 Nov 2024 HR
More, better-paid spads is not just good for ministers; it's good for civil servants
Far from being a "necessary evil", special advisers and other political appointees are a crucial part of the machine
Civil service pay: Let's drop the ideology and focus on outcomes
14 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
Civil service pay: Let's drop the ideology and focus on outcomes
FDA chief responds to criticism of the union's support for creation of civil service pay review body