Gove’s government reform plan: what it means for the civil service, and what is missing
17 Jun Civil Service Reform

Gove’s government reform plan: what it means for the civil service, and what is missing

The Declaration on Government Reform sets out plans for civil service reform one year on from Michael Gove’s landmark speech on public service. Bronwen Maddox and Alex Thomas from the Institute for Government take a look at what it means
by Bronwen Maddox and Alex Thomas
Dave Penman: Dom should put up or shut up
17 Jun Coronavirus
Dave Penman: Dom should put up or shut up
Read the June 2021 edition of Civil Service World
14 Jun
Read the June 2021 edition of Civil Service World
Opinion: The government must change its approach if the new subsidy control system is to be a success
01 Jun Brexit
Opinion: The government must change its approach if the new subsidy control system is to be a success
Forward operations: Alex Chisholm sets out the future for civil service reform
15 Jun
Forward operations: Alex Chisholm sets out the future for civil service reform
Alex Chisholm has had a busy first year as civil service chief operating officer. Now the UK is looking towards its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, he tells Beckie Smith about his priorities for the months ahead, and how the plans for civil service reform are shaping up
All change for digital government?
15 Jun Digital, Data & Technology
All change for digital government?
This year has seen the biggest changes to Whitehall’s technology leadership in a decade. Sam Trendall runs through what’s new
From civil service to civil disobedience: one official’s struggle to balance activism with Whitehall ethics Exclusive
10 Jun Economics
From civil service to civil disobedience: one official’s struggle to balance activism with Whitehall ethics
Cee MacDonald was working as an economist in the civil service when she was arrested at an Extinction Rebellion protest. She reflects on how she balanced her activism with the civil service code
Games, simulations, and digital twins: the technology transforming the citizen experience Sponsored
09 Jun Coronavirus
Games, simulations, and digital twins: the technology transforming the citizen experience
Data is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services. But what if a shock like the COVID-19 pandemic renders data out of date? Deloitte has been working out not only how to unlock insight from the most recent information, but also how to use this information with cutting-edge technology to fundamentally improve the citizen experience
Andy Cowper: The Treasury’s back – and so is Dom
08 Jun Coronavirus
Andy Cowper: The Treasury’s back – and so is Dom
The Department of Health and Social Care – and its secretary of state – has had another month in the headlines. But did it just see its future in the school funding row?
Peter Schofield on DWP at 20: A department two decades in the making that rose to the challenge of a lifetime
08 Jun
Peter Schofield on DWP at 20: A department two decades in the making that rose to the challenge of a lifetime
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Department for Work and Pensions. Permanent secretary Peter Schofield reflects on the momentous occasion
‘Hard work doesn’t let Whitehall off the hook on transparency’: Meg Hillier on the civil service’s Covid response
03 Jun Coronavirus
‘Hard work doesn’t let Whitehall off the hook on transparency’: Meg Hillier on the civil service’s Covid response
Public Accounts Committee chair warns that perm sec churn ‘requires younger civil servants to have the courage to call out ministers’
Drawn from memories: MoD infrastructure director Sherin Aminossehe on her lockdown art and returning to the civil service
02 Jun Security & Defence
Drawn from memories: MoD infrastructure director Sherin Aminossehe on her lockdown art and returning to the civil service
Sherin Aminossehe is director of infrastructure and race champion at the Ministry of Defence. She tells Beckie Smith about the MoD estate, drawing in lockdown, and why returning to the private sector wasn’t the epiphany she expected
'The inflection point is here': how Covid is driving digital transformation in health Sponsored
01 Jun Digital, Data & Technology
"The inflection point is here": how Covid is driving digital transformation in health
It’s been one of the most challenging years for healthcare providers, but Salesforce sees lasting change from accelerated digital transformation
Unwrapping government’s £300m Amazon package
28 May Commercial
Unwrapping government’s £300m Amazon package
Since a public sector-wide agreement with AWS was introduced six months ago, departments have signed deals worth hundreds of millions with the cloud firm. Sam Trendall reports
Opinion: Covid proves the need for a civil service shake-up
27 May Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Covid proves the need for a civil service shake-up
The government’s pandemic response shows that the Whitehall can move at speed. But those lessons must now be learned and fully embedded in government
Lessons from a digital career: John Fitzpatrick’s journey from a Manchester benefits office to leading MoD’s digital transformation
26 May Security & Defence
Lessons from a digital career: John Fitzpatrick’s journey from a Manchester benefits office to leading MoD’s digital transformation
John Fitzpatrick’s civil service career has gone from a Manchester benefits office to playing a key role in the MoD’s digital transformation. He relives the journey with Richard Johnstone
‘As we re-evaluate statues and debate connections between venerable institutions and the slave trade, racism persists’: has the civil service made progress in addressing inequality?
25 May
‘As we re-evaluate statues and debate connections between venerable institutions and the slave trade, racism persists’: has the civil service made progress in addressing inequality?
The murder of George Floyd led to renewed focus on action to tackle racism. One year on, Ayo Awoyungbo shares his personal reflections on the civil service’s efforts
Dave Penman: Standards in public strife
24 May Leadership
Dave Penman: Standards in public strife
The various inquiries dogging the government do not seem to have affected it electorally. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only thing that matters to the PM, Dave Penman writes
How Covid has revealed public sector transformation’s greatest strengths – and weaknesses Sponsored
21 May
How Covid has revealed public sector transformation’s greatest strengths – and weaknesses
Discussing the findings of a Dods and SAP Concur report, experts from government and industry reflected on the achievements of the past year, and the areas that have been shown to need the most improvement
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
19 May Health & Social Care
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
In his first column for CSW, health policy expert Andy Cowper reviews Simon Stevens’s Whitehall legacy, and considers the changes being wrought by the new round of health reforms the NHS boss authored
Read the May 2021 edition of Civil Service World
18 May
Read the May 2021 edition of Civil Service World
Inside: an interview with Sherin Aminossehe, the Ministry of Defence’s director of infrastructure, a look at digital transformation in the MoD, and reflections on the Whitehall legacy of departing NHS England chief Sir Simon Stevens
‘We were far stronger than we would have been individually’: Job sharing in a pandemic
17 May Civil Service Reform
‘We were far stronger than we would have been individually’: Job sharing in a pandemic
Two former directors general – now leadership coaches – share their observations of job-share partnerships in demanding times
Fit for the future: how defence is embracing digital
14 May Security & Defence
Fit for the future: how defence is embracing digital
Increasing digital skills in defence has been named among the government’s top policy priorities. Richard Johnstone speaks to the team making it happen
Civil Service Awards: Delivering benefits technology fit for the 21st century
11 May
Civil Service Awards: Delivering benefits technology fit for the 21st century
DWP staff won the Project Delivery Excellence Award for a project to upgrade systems delivering jobseekers’ allowance and many other benefits during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. Mark Bell tells CSW how it was done
Civil Service Awards: How the Citizenship Award winner reached out to people most in need
10 May
Civil Service Awards: How the Citizenship Award winner reached out to people most in need
DWP official Sarah Morton has been recognised for her voluntary work with organisations that support homeless people in Liverpool. She tells CSW how staff from across the department’s Belle Vale service centre support the HOPE Project
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
07 May Local & Devolved
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
A prominent MP has been appointed as the prime minister’s adviser on levelling up. What does it mean for the next stage of this agenda?
Civil Service Award winners: Breaking new ground with support networks
07 May
Civil Service Award winners: Breaking new ground with support networks
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Gillian Whitworth won the 2020 Health & Wellbeing Award in recognition of her extraordinary commitment, courage and compassion in raising greater awareness of eating disorders. She tells CSW about the background to her nomination
Civil Service Award winners: Supporting communities through a year like no other
06 May Coronavirus
Civil Service Award winners: Supporting communities through a year like no other
In the second of our series of interviews with Civil Service Awards winners, CSW spoke to MHCLG senior policy adviser Abigail Agyei,. who won the Rising Star Award for her work with marginalised communities during the coronavirus pandemic. She spoke to CSW about her work, winning the award, and trying to celebrate during lockdown