‘We can’t control the tweets’: chief people officer Rupert McNeil on criticism, the Covid response – and why the civil service is like a jellyfish
09 May HR

‘We can’t control the tweets’: chief people officer Rupert McNeil on criticism, the Covid response – and why the civil service is like a jellyfish

In his final interview as civil service chief people officer, Rupert McNeil talks about his proudest achievements, and the reasons for his departure
by Jess Bowie and Suzannah Brecknell
Read the May 2022 edition of Civil Service World
19 May Digital, Data & Technology
Read the May 2022 edition of Civil Service World
Saving grace: NS&I chief Ian Ackerley on Covid turbulence, select committee grillings and green investment
18 May Finance
Saving grace: NS&I chief Ian Ackerley on Covid turbulence, select committee grillings and green investment
Dark arts for dark times: a brief history of government propaganda
11 May Communications
Dark arts for dark times: a brief history of government propaganda
People Survey: Who’s bucking the trend on bullying, harassment and discrimination?
06 May HR
People Survey: Who’s bucking the trend on bullying, harassment and discrimination?
Not all departments are improving their scores when it comes to staff reporting workplace problems
‘Typical hostile environment treatment’ – Home Office leaves thousands of Turkish nationals waiting more than a year for visa decisions
05 May Digital, Data & Technology
‘Typical hostile environment treatment’ – Home Office leaves thousands of Turkish nationals waiting more than a year for visa decisions
Applicants say they have been provided with little information on the processing delays that mean they cannot leave the UK – even for births or funerals – and struggle to prove their right to live and work in this country
Lingo bingo: decoding the language of the boardroom
04 May Communications
Lingo bingo: decoding the language of the boardroom
The universal language of the boardroom pays dividends to those who can decode it, so here's a crash course
‘Wholesale undermining of transparency’: What do we know about the Cabinet Office clearing house?
28 Apr Communications
‘Wholesale undermining of transparency’: What do we know about the Cabinet Office clearing house?
Ahead of the release of a PACAC report into the secretive unit, CSW speaks to three FoI experts to find out their concerns about the clearing house
Regulation and gaming: don't defeat the purpose Sponsored
26 Apr Policy
Regulation and gaming: don't defeat the purpose
Juan Espinosa and Carlos Hernández Rivera, former General Directors for Gambling Regulation in Spain, explain that when it comes to tackling the growing gambling black market, balanced and proportionate regulation pays off
Is the civil service fit for the future? Looking back on ten years of reform Sponsored
25 Apr Civil Service Reform
Is the civil service fit for the future? Looking back on ten years of reform
Like painting the Forth Bridge, civil service reform is a never-ending process, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stop now and again to take stock of progress and consider what priorities lie ahead. Jim Dunton reports on a webinar looking back on reform over the last ten years
Read the April 2022 edition of Civil Service World
25 Apr HR
Read the April 2022 edition of Civil Service World
Outgoing chief people officer Rupert McNeil reflects on his career and tells CSW what's next in this people-focused issue
How to modernise challenging legacy systems Sponsored
25 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
How to modernise challenging legacy systems
Speaking with CSW, Roz Barrance, head of business development for the UK civil division of Leidos, explains how collaboration will be key to delivering digital transformation
Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on improving its performance
22 Apr Civil Service Reform
Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on improving its performance
CSW assesses progress against key actions set out in the Declaration on Government Reform, and explores how volunteering can boost skills and support key priorities
Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on empowering its people
22 Apr Civil Service Reform
Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on empowering its people
In the final part of our series exploring the Declaration on Government Reform, CSW assesses progress against actions designed – according to the document – to ensure there are the “best people leading and working in government to deliver better outcomes for citizens”.
What does the Ukraine war mean for the Integrated Review – and what else stands in the way of its delivery?
20 Apr Security & Defence
What does the Ukraine war mean for the Integrated Review – and what else stands in the way of its delivery?
As the chief of defence staff and MoD permanent secretary outline their priorities, CSW examines some of the challenges involved in delivering on the IR's goals
Capability-based pay, milestone-based rewards and the five-year strategy: everything you need to know about the Cabinet Office’s plans for SCS reform
19 Apr Civil Service Reform
Capability-based pay, milestone-based rewards and the five-year strategy: everything you need to know about the Cabinet Office’s plans for SCS reform
Submission to the Senior Salary Review Board reveals a suite of new proposals to help keep top officials in their posts
Joint account: how Wales's new technology innovation agency aims to transform public services
14 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Joint account: how Wales's new technology innovation agency aims to transform public services
The Welsh Government has created an agency to drive technology innovation in public services. Co-leaders Harriet Green and Myra Hunt share their plans
Experts reflect: what are the biggest threats to cybersecurity in 2022?
11 Apr Security & Defence
Experts reflect: what are the biggest threats to cybersecurity in 2022?
The global threats faced by the UK are increasingly digital. Amid reports of cyberwarfare in Ukraine, CSW hears from key voices on the biggest threats and what the public sector can do to minimise them
Mark Goldsack on the growing and evolving role of UK Defence and Security Exports
05 Apr Security & Defence
Mark Goldsack on the growing and evolving role of UK Defence and Security Exports
UK Defence and Security Exports last spoke to CSW in March 2020. One rebrand and one global pandemic later, Jess Bowie catches up with UKDSE director Mark Goldsack
An official of the golden generation
04 Apr Security & Defence
An official of the golden generation
A collection of the late Sir Patrick Nairne’s writings provides a fascinating counterbalance to breathless accounts of recent events, says Sir Richard Mottram
In the hot seat: how do you prepare for a select committee appearance?
31 Mar Politics & Constitution
In the hot seat: how do you prepare for a select committee appearance?
Select committees have grown in importance so it’s all the more crucial to prepare properly when it’s your turn to give evidence, as Stewart Jackson explains
A real shot in the arm: the highs, lows and lessons of delivering the Vaccines Programme
29 Mar Health & Social Care
A real shot in the arm: the highs, lows and lessons of delivering the Vaccines Programme
In a bleak and challenging time, the breath-taking speed and success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout provided much-needed hope across the country. Beckie Smith meets Antonia Williams and Leila Tavakoli, who worked on the programme, to discuss what they learned from this award-winning endeavour
Thinker Taylor: the policing chief scientific adviser on police dogs, facial recognition and digital forensics Exclusive
28 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Thinker Taylor: the policing chief scientific adviser on police dogs, facial recognition and digital forensics
Paul Taylor was named the first national policing chief scientific adviser last year. He tells Beckie Smith how he’s working to improve the way science and technology is used in policing – and the “Del Boy moments” he’s had along the way
Gearing up government for levelling up? Good DLUHC with that…
24 Mar Economics
Gearing up government for levelling up? Good DLUHC with that…
The Department for Levelling Up is the latest in a line of Whitehall bodies that has gone through many fusions and fissions over the last 20 years. How will this new iteration fit in with the rest of government – and the wider UK? Colin and Carole Talbot explain
FCDO IT system branded ‘inept’ as Afghanistan Task Force chief admitted regularly deleting emails to save space
23 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
FCDO IT system branded ‘inept’ as Afghanistan Task Force chief admitted regularly deleting emails to save space
MPs 'don't buy' officials' explanations of Afghanistan evacuation of Nowzad staff and animals
The Bollom line: the outgoing DE&S chief exec reflects on his time leading some of government's most complex and costly projects
21 Mar Security & Defence
The Bollom line: the outgoing DE&S chief exec reflects on his time leading some of government's most complex and costly projects
As he steps down as chief executive of Defence Equipment and Support, Simon Bollom talks to Tevye Markson about handling criticism, tips for his successor and semi-retirement plans
Read the March 2022 edition of Civil Service World
17 Mar Security & Defence
Read the March 2022 edition of Civil Service World
Defence Equipment & Support chief exec Sir Simon Bollom on the "pinnacle" of his 40-year career and experts reflect on cyber threats in this month's Security & Policing focus
'I’ve experienced bullying and discrimination, absolutely': Simon Tse on championing racial diversity in the civil service Exclusive
14 Mar HR
'I’ve experienced bullying and discrimination, absolutely': Simon Tse on championing racial diversity in the civil service
The Cabinet Office race champion explains why he's "passionate about wanting to make a change" in the civil service