'We've become much more flexible': Alex Chisholm on using MOG changes as a springboard for reform
19 May Civil Service Reform

'We've become much more flexible': Alex Chisholm on using MOG changes as a springboard for reform

Ahead of this year’s Civil Service Live, the civil service chief operating officer reflects on reforming government and learning from Brexit and Covid
by Tevye Markson
'We want to equip government to deliver better': IfG director sets out vision for think tank's future
25 May Analysis
'We want to equip government to deliver better': IfG director sets out vision for think tank's future
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
24 May Communications
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
Book review: Simon McDonald's memoir is three books in one
23 May Foreign Affairs
Book review: Simon McDonald's memoir is three books in one
'Engage, evolve, embed': Behind the policing science and tech strategy
25 May Digital, Data & Technology
'Engage, evolve, embed': Behind the policing science and tech strategy
Policing’s chief scientific adviser Paul Taylor shares how the new science and technology strategy was developed – and what will be needed for it to succeed
Rethinking public policy: How universities can help policymakers keep up with the times Partner Content
15 May HR
Rethinking public policy: How universities can help policymakers keep up with the times
Ricky Kanabar, Associate Professor of Social Policy, University of Bath, on forming the next generation of policy leaders with the ability to distil research and develop effective strategies to ensure policy achieves its intended outcomes
One-off payment for civil servants was on the table but ‘fell apart in 24 hours’, says union chief
12 May HR
One-off payment for civil servants was on the table but ‘fell apart in 24 hours’, says union chief
FDA’s Dave Penman says Cabinet Office “promised” cost-of-living boost similar to NHS and teacher offers during pay talks
CCS defends Digital Marketplace closure and pledges to ‘reinstate transparency’
05 May Commercial
CCS defends Digital Marketplace closure and pledges to ‘reinstate transparency’
Suppliers and former officials have lamented the decision but procurement agency says platform could no longer "accommodate growing demands"
Government misses gender and ethnic-minority public appointment targets
28 Apr HR
Government misses gender and ethnic-minority public appointment targets
Stats also show rise in London-based appointments despite levelling up ambitions
'Our aim is always to protect children': How partnerships are helping the NCA close in on the worst kind of offenders
20 Apr Justice & Home Affairs
'Our aim is always to protect children': How partnerships are helping the NCA close in on the worst kind of offenders
Child sexual abuse is one of the most disturbing offences the National Crime Agency deals with. But as the NCA’s Dr Lauren Wilson explains, help from partners in the private sector has made a huge difference to the number of suspects arrested and to the safeguarding of children both nationally and internationally
'We’re doing lots of things for the first time': A guide to the international trade profession
18 Apr
'We’re doing lots of things for the first time': A guide to the international trade profession
In this new series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Each briefing looks at a different group, offering a glimpse at what they do and how they work with other parts of government
Plan, record meetings and never overpromise: Lessons from a career in government finance
13 Apr Finance
Plan, record meetings and never overpromise: Lessons from a career in government finance
Former senior civil servant shares ideas, tips and strategies that can help you overcome the obstacles you may face in finance
Public bodies' handling of FoI requests can build or break trust in services. Here's how to do better
11 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Public bodies' handling of FoI requests can build or break trust in services. Here's how to do better
Delays in the handling of Freedom of Information requests undermines the purpose of FoI legislation – but there are resources that can help
Defence spend analysis: A look at the 2023 Spring Budget Partner Content
11 Apr Commercial
Defence spend analysis: A look at the 2023 Spring Budget
The additional £5 billion allocated to Defence represents an attempt to match increased resources against policy priorities and security concerns within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Proxima’s Justin Reuter takes a look at what this means for commercial teams in the department
‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
04 Apr Science & Engineering
‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
As government chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance became a household name as the calm and rational presence at the daily Covid briefings. Beckie Smith takes a look at the man behind the TV screen
Time travel in Whitehall: Institutional amnesia and learning lessons from history
03 Apr Policy
Time travel in Whitehall: Institutional amnesia and learning lessons from history
Closing the gap between history and policy is a critical concern with relevance to contemporary debates about immigration, sentencing policy, childcare, to mention just a few
Why civil servants are leaving and other concerning scores: What we’ve learnt from the 2022 People Survey
31 Mar Civil Service Reform
Why civil servants are leaving and other concerning scores: What we’ve learnt from the 2022 People Survey
CSW digs into the latest Civil Service People Survey results
Winning support from the centre and getting a grip on delivery: How the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero can learn from its predecessors
29 Mar Energy & Environment
Winning support from the centre and getting a grip on delivery: How the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero can learn from its predecessors
The creation of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is a sensible move – but it will need to learn from its predecessor, writes Tom Sasse
Adapting to change and getting things done with agile Partner Content
29 Mar HR
Adapting to change and getting things done with agile
Quanta trainer David Lawrence on harnessing the skills of a Scrum Master to empower teams on agile working
From the editor: Welcome to the new-look Civil Service World
21 Mar
From the editor: Welcome to the new-look Civil Service World
We hope the revamped CSW will enlighten and entertain you, offering food for thought and perhaps a few practical nuggets that will make your job easier
Read the spring 2023 issue of Civil Service World
21 Mar Justice & Home Affairs
Read the spring 2023 issue of Civil Service World
Read exclusive interviews with Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft and first civil service commissioner Gisela Stuart – plus deep dives on the trade profession and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance's legacy
On a mission to help you thrive Partner Content
20 Mar HR
On a mission to help you thrive
Peter Schofield, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions, and Graham
Hooper, Chief Executive of the Charity for Civil Servants, discuss being part of a supportive
community in which every civil servant has the chance to live their lives to the full
‘These are almost impossibly difficult issues to grapple with’: Matthew Rycroft on Rwanda, Windrush and transforming the Home Office Exclusive
20 Mar HR
‘These are almost impossibly difficult issues to grapple with’: Matthew Rycroft on Rwanda, Windrush and transforming the Home Office
‘Permacrisis’ may have been Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2022, but it’s been part of the Home Office lexicon for decades. What’s it like leading such a closely scrutinised department while trying to transform its culture at the same time?
'Salary is only one of the factors people look at': Gisela Stuart on civil service pay, recruitment innovation and government's 'porosity agenda' Exclusive
17 Mar Civil Service Reform
'Salary is only one of the factors people look at': Gisela Stuart on civil service pay, recruitment innovation and government's 'porosity agenda'
Baroness Gisela Stuart has been in post as first civil service commissioner for a year. With ambitions to improve the recruitment process and make the senior civil service more representative, has she managed to get her house in order?
Blazing a trail: trade commissioner Natalie Black marks International Women’s Day
08 Mar Economy
Blazing a trail: trade commissioner Natalie Black marks International Women’s Day
UK PLC’s top official in the Asia Pacific region tells CSW about the importance of role models and asking for advice
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
07 Mar Civil Service Reform
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
NAO's Alec Steel reflects on learning from working with 120 services across government and offers practical advice on making improvements, rather than just changes
The ICO's collaborative approach shows multi-million pound fines aren't the only route to effective regulation
06 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
The ICO's collaborative approach shows multi-million pound fines aren't the only route to effective regulation
Regulation works best when we work alongside organisations – an approach that has paid off for DfE, the information commissioner writes
HMRC 'regularly has to persuade people not to retire'... and six other things we learnt at PublicTechnology Live
06 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC 'regularly has to persuade people not to retire'... and six other things we learnt at PublicTechnology Live
Tech roadblocks for driving theory tests, how government online services can improve and more