Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice
05 Nov Fraud, Error Debt & Grants

Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice

Extra funding for fraud and error activity, and lessons learned from its interventions to date, present DWP with opportunities to increase the scale and impact of its approach
by Laura Brackwell
The UK government is set to lead a global accountability initiative – here is why it matters
08 Dec Civil Service Reform
The UK government is set to lead a global accountability initiative – here is why it matters
High tax, low strategy: What the 2025 Budget tells us about the British state
02 Dec Economics
High tax, low strategy: What the 2025 Budget tells us about the British state
Move fast and test things: Thoughtful risk-taking can build a new era for public service reform
28 Nov Civil Service Reform
Move fast and test things: Thoughtful risk-taking can build a new era for public service reform
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
What to look forward to at Policy Festival 2024
09 Sep 2024 Policy
What to look forward to at Policy Festival 2024
Tamara Finkelstein shares why the profession’s annual festival later this month is a must-attend event for government policymakers
Harnessing innovation for the sustainable delivery of public services Partner Content
09 Sep 2024 Energy & Environment
Harnessing innovation for the sustainable delivery of public services
AtkinsRéalis’ Lawrence Jepp discusses how successful sustainability and innovation go hand in hand.
Labour has been appalling at defending cronyism row appointments
06 Sep 2024 Civil Service Reform
Labour has been appalling at defending cronyism row appointments
The appointments row raises questions over processes and pay levels
Book review: Torsten Bell's well-evidenced argument might appeal to think tank economists, but will it convince ministers?
05 Sep 2024 Economics
Book review: Torsten Bell's well-evidenced argument might appeal to think tank economists, but will it convince ministers?
The policy proposals in Torsten Bell’s clear and well-evidenced book might appeal to think tank economists, says Thomas Pope, but only time will tell if political strategy will convince his new colleagues and bosses in the Labour government
Eyes on the prize: How DWP can better tackle benefits fraud and error
03 Sep 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Eyes on the prize: How DWP can better tackle benefits fraud and error
DWP can do more to understand how fraud and error gets into the benefits system, and what can be done to tackle it
'I rarely took anything at face value': What I learnt about organisation development in the civil service
21 Aug 2024 HR
'I rarely took anything at face value': What I learnt about organisation development in the civil service
Tips on keeping an open mind when seeking to resolve issues from a professional "chameleon"