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
The case against a new civil service pay review body
13 Nov 2024 HR
The case against a new civil service pay review body
The establishment of a civil service PRB would further undermine unions, argues Andrew Moretta
Keir Starmer’s rewrite of the ministerial code is long overdue
08 Nov 2024 Politics & Constitution
Keir Starmer’s rewrite of the ministerial code is long overdue
Starmer’s document refresh addresses some of the major shortcomings of his predecessors’ codes
Ministerial code: If Starmer is serious about ethics, he needs to go further
08 Nov 2024 HR
Ministerial code: If Starmer is serious about ethics, he needs to go further
The prime minister remains the ultimate decision maker – a far cry from a truly independent process
Championing inclusivity: Make your meetings more insightful Partner Content
04 Nov 2024 HR
Championing inclusivity: Make your meetings more insightful
Introducing inclusivity champions to your meetings can deliver multiple benefits, as AtkinsRéalis’ Andrew Terry explains
Why we should be excited by plans to improve collaboration between civil servants and charities
25 Oct 2024 Civil Service Reform
Why we should be excited by plans to improve collaboration between civil servants and charities
Gus O’Donnell welcomes Keir Starmer’s plan to strengthen the connection between civil society and government – and how you can get involved
Black History Month: The glass ceiling for black civil servants remains unbroken
23 Oct 2024 Civil Service Reform
Black History Month: The glass ceiling for black civil servants remains unbroken
Despite the public sector’s significant progress in achieving ethnic diversity, challenges remain at the highest levels of leadership
Are government skills future ready?
21 Oct 2024 HR
Are government skills future ready?
There’s often a gap between needs and capabilities, which manifests in policy failures, botched projects, and a slower drip of underperformance
Our mission: Supporting better access to vital public services Partner Content
16 Oct 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Our mission: Supporting better access to vital public services
Full fibre broadband is transforming the UK, supporting NHS innovations like eConsult, boosting businesses, and driving economic growth. Writes Openreach COO Katie Milligan
Responding to climate change and improving the natural environment – a part for everyone in creating the conditions for success? 
16 Oct 2024 Energy & Environment
Responding to climate change and improving the natural environment – a part for everyone in creating the conditions for success? 
Katy Losse, director of environment and climate change at the NAO, looks at the different roles civil servants can play in tackling one of government's biggest problems
Evidencing the value of health is the key to uniting health and growth
15 Oct 2024 Economics
Evidencing the value of health is the key to uniting health and growth
To realise the opportunities in the overlap of the government’s economic and health missions, we need to mobilise evidence on how economic decisions impact public health
100 days in: It's time to turn mission development into mission action
11 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
100 days in: It's time to turn mission development into mission action
Katherine Merrifield from the Health Foundation assesses whether the 'missions' approach is laying the foundations for meaningful change
Sue Gray’s departure is not a quick fix for the centre of government
09 Oct 2024 Communications
Sue Gray’s departure is not a quick fix for the centre of government
Keir Starmer has wielded the axe, sacking chief of staff Sue Gray and replacing her with his former head of political strategy Morgan McSweeney. But it will take more than changes of personnel to fix the centre of government
If government is serious about digital transformation and AI, it needs a fundamental shift in mindset
09 Oct 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
If government is serious about digital transformation and AI, it needs a fundamental shift in mindset
Evaluation should be hardwired into the design of any digital project, and tight budgets should strengthen the argument for finding out what works
How can the Budget help counter fraud and error against government?
08 Oct 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
How can the Budget help counter fraud and error against government?
The NAO's Joshua Reddaway shares what to look out for in Rachel Reeves's first Budget
Clickbait claims about jailing civil servants do not a leader make, Kemi
04 Oct 2024 HR
Clickbait claims about jailing civil servants do not a leader make, Kemi
If you’re running to be leader of a political party with ambitions to lead the country, you have a responsibility to be truthful
Trust in politics and government is shot. Meaningful participation could help fix it
03 Oct 2024 Policy
Trust in politics and government is shot. Meaningful participation could help fix it
Civil servants can play a crucial role in turning the tide by using participative approaches like citizen panels – but only if they’re well-designed and meaningful
Breaking down barriers: How civil servants from disadvantaged backgrounds can thrive
02 Oct 2024 HR
Breaking down barriers: How civil servants from disadvantaged backgrounds can thrive
Does my accent mean I'm from Essex? No, I’ve never been skiing. No, I can’t speak a word of Latin. No, I don't have a favourite medieval battle
We need a better discussion about public sector pay
01 Oct 2024 HR
We need a better discussion about public sector pay
The public sector pay debate is often reduced to simplistic arguments of “too much” or “too little”. Transparency and accountability are needed to restore trust
The language of mission-led government is compelling. But the 'how' really matters
23 Sep 2024 Policy
The language of mission-led government is compelling. But the 'how' really matters
Starmer’s government is committed to being “mission-driven”. What are the challenges to delivering on this? And what could make it happen?
Preventing fraud in government: The critical role of AI and analytics Partner Content
18 Sep 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Preventing fraud in government: The critical role of AI and analytics
With the rise of online activities, identity fraud now accounts for 66% of reported cases. Only by leveraging advanced analytics and AI, government agencies can enhance their defences
A civil service duty of candour should signal a shift from defensiveness towards willingness to learn from failure
16 Sep 2024 HR
A civil service duty of candour should signal a shift from defensiveness towards willingness to learn from failure
The case for a duty of candour on the civil service has been growing for years. Now is the time to think about how it will work in practice
Investing £1.8bn in the UK’s clean energy mission Partner Content
16 Sep 2024 Energy & Environment
Investing £1.8bn in the UK’s clean energy mission
Professor Dame Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge and Senior Adviser at Holtec Britain, sets out the US nuclear company’s investment and job creation commitment to the UK
While we debate the future, smokers need help now Partner Content
16 Sep 2024 Health & Social Care
While we debate the future, smokers need help now
Duncan Cunningham, External Affairs Director for the UK & Ireland at Philip Morris International, calls for a shift to a data-driven, scientific approach that prioritises offering a choice of effective, innovative smoke-free solutions to those who need them most, today
From the editor: As the Grenfell Inquiry report shows, lessons are not easy to learn
10 Sep 2024 Leadership
From the editor: As the Grenfell Inquiry report shows, lessons are not easy to learn
Achieving real change takes time and persistence, and a deep consideration of how to turn understanding into action