The real test of the industrial strategy? Whole-of-government delivery
02 Jul Economics

The real test of the industrial strategy? Whole-of-government delivery

Delivering the industrial strategy will require not just excellent civil service machinery but deliberate, sustained use of political capital to prioritise and unblock
by Tera Allas
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
'Trying not to overburden them will help': How civil servants can work effectively with new spads
03 Jul 2024 HR
'Trying not to overburden them will help': How civil servants can work effectively with new spads
The relationship between spads and civil servants is often caricatured, but it's a vital partnership
Don't get new ministers' briefs in a twist
02 Jul 2024 Policy
Don't get new ministers' briefs in a twist
Planning for new ministers is important, including studying all the manifestos. Just make sure those plans are flexible, as you never know what they will ask when they’re actually in office
From London to Llandudno, the country and civil service is crying out for stability and a long-term plan
27 Jun 2024 Local & Devolved
From London to Llandudno, the country and civil service is crying out for stability and a long-term plan
The big challenges all governments face require big thinking, but that requires stability, writes FDA general secretary Dave Penman
Transition tips from a seasoned cabinet secretary
25 Jun 2024 HR
Transition tips from a seasoned cabinet secretary
Gus O’Donnell on some key issues likely to face civil servants before and after 4 July
Stop ordering your staff back to the office. Shift your cultures instead
20 Jun 2024 HR
Stop ordering your staff back to the office. Shift your cultures instead
Leaders need to place themselves in front of their people and reinstate confidence and cohesion among their workforce, a chief exec writes
Global challenges and the role of public policy Partner Content
20 Jun 2024 Policy
Global challenges and the role of public policy
Now is the time to develop the knowledge, skills, and capabilities for a successful and rewarding public policy career
Civil service reform: How do the manifestos stack up?
19 Jun 2024 Civil Service Reform
Civil service reform: How do the manifestos stack up?
While the proposals were not front and centre, both the Labour and Conservative manifestos addressed the "how" of government
How to read a general election manifesto
18 Jun 2024 Policy
How to read a general election manifesto
A former civil servant who helped write a party manifesto explains how civil servants should analyse the all-important publications
Dear next government, there is one way to rebuild trust... and it already exists
17 Jun 2024 Politics & Constitution
Dear next government, there is one way to rebuild trust... and it already exists
If people are to trust politicians, then politicians have to trust the people, writes the chair of the UK Open Government Network
We can’t rely on ministers to be 'good chaps' – as this whole sordid costings affair shows
11 Jun 2024 Politics & Constitution
We can’t rely on ministers to be 'good chaps' – as this whole sordid costings affair shows
Reports of an ethical government have been greatly exaggerated
It's time government embraced the human side of productivity
10 Jun 2024 Civil Service Reform
It's time government embraced the human side of productivity
Equipping and organising people can make a huge difference in productivity levels
I worked for Blair's Delivery Unit – trust me that the next government needs a new approach to reform
06 Jun 2024 Operational Delivery
I worked for Blair's Delivery Unit – trust me that the next government needs a new approach to reform
Top-down targets simply don’t release the creativity and compassion in our public servants that all of us are going to depend on, writes a former perm sec
Performance not politics: How EDI helped the Department for International Trade achieve its objectives
03 Jun 2024 HR
Performance not politics: How EDI helped the Department for International Trade achieve its objectives
Lately there have been accusations that EDI initiatives are politically motivated, but nothing could be further from the truth, writes John Alty, former interim perm sec at DIT
Despite ministers' promises to tackle churn, the civil service whirligig keeps on spinning
20 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Despite ministers' promises to tackle churn, the civil service whirligig keeps on spinning
IfG research has found a third of top officials have spent less than a year in their current post
Q: What do lanyards have to do with delivering public services? A: Absolutely nothing
17 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
Q: What do lanyards have to do with delivering public services? A: Absolutely nothing
Esther McVey's EDI crackdown is a fake war, against fake enemy from a minister with a fake job title
How secure data access drives healthcare benefits Partner Content
15 May 2024 Health & Social Care
How secure data access drives healthcare benefits
Greg Garner of AtkinsRéalis discusses how the NHS can use Secure Data Environments to reap the benefits that data offers to health outcomes and patient care
Mind your language: Why civil servants should strive for clarity above all else
14 May 2024 Communications
Mind your language: Why civil servants should strive for clarity above all else
The civil service has been battling against verbose official-speak for decades. But clarity of language reflects clarity of purpose
Redefining procurement: Custom solutions for the UK's biggest challenges Partner Content
14 May 2024 Policy
Redefining procurement: Custom solutions for the UK's biggest challenges
The public sector is under pressure to do more with less. Contracts for Innovation is enabling organisations to help create bespoke solutions and become early adopters of cutting-edge innovation
Making the best of broadband communications for public safety users Partner Content
13 May 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Making the best of broadband communications for public safety users
Éric Davalo, Vice President, Head of Europe, UK and North America at Airbus Public Safety and Security, unveils the benefits of the transition towards secure and high-speed (4G and 5G) mobile communications systems for public safety users
Book review: David Omand's call for greater national resilience should be required reading for anyone in government
07 May 2024 Leadership
Book review: David Omand's call for greater national resilience should be required reading for anyone in government
This no-nonsense guide is a useful reminder that diligent planning must underpin crisis management
Be all in... but have a Plan B: What I learnt driving change in DWP
03 May 2024 HR
Be all in... but have a Plan B: What I learnt driving change in DWP
A former change programme director reflects on what it takes to drive reform in a large organisation
Civil service leaders must get better at deep listening
02 May 2024 HR
Civil service leaders must get better at deep listening
Does it bother you as much as it does me that across government, we can still be way too slow to spot and act on serious problems before they materialise or grow into national scandals?
Talent is the magic ingredient of success – so how can Whitehall get better at managing it?
01 May 2024 HR
Talent is the magic ingredient of success – so how can Whitehall get better at managing it?
The civil service must create dedicated roles and a more effective system for spotting and supporting talented people – as well as removing poor performers – if it is to address the complex challenges facing the country
Ethics is an enabler, not a barrier to effective policymaking
29 Apr 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Ethics is an enabler, not a barrier to effective policymaking
The ethical and regulatory challenges associated with developments in biomedicine, health and AI are set to intensify, writes the director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics