Final performance: what the closure of the government’s Performance Platform means
07 Apr Civil Service Reform

Final performance: what the closure of the government’s Performance Platform means

Government is closing two centralised tools to make data available to departments and the public. Sam Trendall finds out more
by Sam Trendall
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
14 Apr Civil Service Reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
13 Apr Civil Service Reform
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
12 Apr Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
09 Apr Civil Service Reform
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
In the first of a new series of articles exploring developments in public sector management, Colin Talbot looks at how one social care organisation is challenging the assumptions of service delivery
Outcome delivery plans: third time lucky?
01 Apr Civil Service Reform
Outcome delivery plans: third time lucky?
The new approach to departmental planning can only really succeed if the Government can define properly what its small number of priority goals are.
'Courage is the first quality you need': Barbara Hosking's civil service career recollections
31 Mar
'Courage is the first quality you need': Barbara Hosking's civil service career recollections
Barbara Hosking, the former press secretary to Harold Wilson and Ted Heath, has died aged 94. In February 2018, she sat down for lunch with Suzannah Brecknell to discuss writing speeches for prime ministers, the courage required of civil servants, and coming out at 91. Here, we republish the interview to share her reflections on her time in government
How civil servants can prepare for the Covid decade
30 Mar Coronavirus
How civil servants can prepare for the Covid decade
The challenges of the UK’s recovery from the pandemic will take years to sort out. A new report from the British Academy sets out some of the things policymakers need to think about to prepare
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
29 Mar Coronavirus
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
More than 20 million UK citizens have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app. One of the leaders of the development process discusses its impact and future plans with Sam Trendall
‘Sound priorities, undermined by a narrow view of security and aid cuts’: assessing the integrated review
26 Mar Security & Defence
‘Sound priorities, undermined by a narrow view of security and aid cuts’: assessing the integrated review
The government’s landmark foreign and defence policy review arrived at many of the right conclusions, but UK security could be undermined by a focus on competition when the UK’s leadership could make a bigger difference through cooperation, says Ian Mitchell, the co-director, Europe for the Center for Global Development
Relationship goals: how ministers and civil servants can work together better
25 Mar Leadership
Relationship goals: how ministers and civil servants can work together better
The relationship between ministers and civil servants is the most important in government. CSW sat down with one former minister and one former permanent secretary to find out how it works in practice
Covid policy lessons: one year on from the UK’s first lockdown, how have other countries faced the crisis?
23 Mar Coronavirus
Covid policy lessons: one year on from the UK’s first lockdown, how have other countries faced the crisis?
As the NHS performs the difficult balancing act of carrying out a nationwide vaccine rollout while trying to mitigate the spread of new Covid variants, Geoffrey Lyons peers beyond British borders to review five innovative and relatively inexpensive responses to Covid from foreign governments
Conference rooms become testing centres: how DHSC aims to get rapid Covid tests into workplaces
22 Mar Commercial
Conference rooms become testing centres: how DHSC aims to get rapid Covid tests into workplaces
The National Worker Programme is the latest step in NHS Test and Trace's plan to curb coronavirus transmissions as the economy reopens. Here's what we know about the programme so far, and the work happening behind the scenes.
Notes on Jeremy’s life: Suzanne Heywood remembers the cabinet secretary in songs and policies Exclusive
18 Mar Civil Service Reform
Notes on Jeremy’s life: Suzanne Heywood remembers the cabinet secretary in songs and policies
Suzanne Heywood’s biography of Jeremy Heywood gives an extraordinary insight into the late cabinet secretary’s time in government and at home. She speaks to Beckie Smith about recording her husband’s life, what he would have made of the coronavirus crisis, and the music he loved
‘I’m in awe of everything civil servants have achieved’: One Civil Service Awards sponsor reflects on a year like no other Sponsored
15 Mar
‘I’m in awe of everything civil servants have achieved’: One Civil Service Awards sponsor reflects on a year like no other
Rhona Parry, Chief Executive Officer of Indesser, sets out why the company is backing the Civil Service Awards
Read the March edition of Civil Service World
15 Mar
Read the March edition of Civil Service World
Inside: How Jeremy Heywood thought, the relationship between ministers and officials from two people who lived it, and what the closure of the government’s performance platform means for transparency
Civil Service Awards: lessons from the innovation award winners
12 Mar
Civil Service Awards: lessons from the innovation award winners
In the first of a series of articles looking in-depth at the winners of the Civil Service Awards, CSW republishes our in-depth examination of the work of the Home Office’s Accelerated Capability Environment, who won the 2020 Innovation Award
Interview: deputy national statistician on legacy tech, lockdowns and a ‘leap forward’ for government’s use of data
11 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Interview: deputy national statistician on legacy tech, lockdowns and a ‘leap forward’ for government’s use of data
Alison Pritchard on plans for the 2021 census, ensuring public trust in statistics – and her next epic boat journey
Opinion: DWP should ditch language of welfare and embrace social security
02 Mar Economy
Opinion: DWP should ditch language of welfare and embrace social security
Coronavirus has revealed the extent to which the country relies on the Department for Work and Pensions. Government should harness this to create a system that meets the challenges from a post-pandemic economy
OUTstanding work: Tom Ketteley on diversity in the civil service and the importance of LGBT+ role models
25 Feb HR
OUTstanding work: Tom Ketteley on diversity in the civil service and the importance of LGBT+ role models
Tom Ketteley is an assistant director at UK Visas and Immigration who was named in the OUTstanding top 100 LGBT+ future leaders for 2020. He tells CSW about mentoring, diversity in the civil service and why public role models are important
‘Zeroing in on the art of the possible’: inside the government’s innovation engine
23 Feb Civil Service Reform
‘Zeroing in on the art of the possible’: inside the government’s innovation engine
A Home Office unit focused on innovative ways to solve problems is attracting a lot of attention across government. Richard Johnstone took a look inside the Accelerated Capability Environment to find out more
Opinion: How government can help make Aria sing
23 Feb
Opinion: How government can help make Aria sing
The government’s new research agency needs the freedom to set its own mission, says former Downing Street adviser Daniel Korski
In the spotlight: Treasury’s public spending chief Cat Little on how Covid changed the finance ministry – and ministerial red boxes
23 Feb
In the spotlight: Treasury’s public spending chief Cat Little on how Covid changed the finance ministry – and ministerial red boxes
After an extraordinary year, Cat Little reflects on how the Treasury and government finance function met the pressures of a pandemic with innovation
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
22 Feb Commercial
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
Central government departments and other public sector bodies can use their procurement powers to help build social value. Charlene Maginnis from the Crown Commercial Service sets out some tips on how to go about it
Dave Penman: Why the FDA launched a judicial review over PM’s support for Patel
22 Feb HR
Dave Penman: Why the FDA launched a judicial review over PM’s support for Patel
Boris Johnson’s backing for the home secretary despite evidence of bullying means ministers now have to meet a lower standard of conduct than civil servants. This can’t go unchallenged
February 2021 CSW digital issue available to read
22 Feb
February 2021 CSW digital issue available to read
Exclusive interviews with Cat Little, a look inside government’s innovation engine, and lessons from Singapore
Dave Penman: Lessons from HMRC’s groundbreaking pay deal
12 Feb HR
Dave Penman: Lessons from HMRC’s groundbreaking pay deal
The new pay package from HMRC shows a department that is setting the pace in pay and reward for civil servants. Other departments should hurry to catch up
Brexit from the inside: ministers and officials reflect on the path to exit
01 Feb Brexit
Brexit from the inside: ministers and officials reflect on the path to exit
UK in a Changing Europe’s newly launched witness archive opens a window into how Brexit happened, revealing the internal rows and shaken institutions in Whitehall. Jill Rutter shares the details