'I felt like the boy in short trousers': What’s it like to manage people who are decades older than you?
30 Mar HR

'I felt like the boy in short trousers': What’s it like to manage people who are decades older than you?

Taking on challenging leadership roles can be a quick progression route for younger civil servants, but the experience is not always easy. CSW gets the lowdown from officials who’ve been through it
by Susan Allott
AI curiosity and climate change: What a global survey of public officials tells us about 2026’s big issues
11 May Digital, Data & Technology
AI curiosity and climate change: What a global survey of public officials tells us about 2026’s big issues
Director's Cut: Michael Padfield on flexibility, the Horizon scandal and confusing journalists
08 May HR
Director's Cut: Michael Padfield on flexibility, the Horizon scandal and confusing journalists
Director's Cut: Elisabeth Cuthbertson and Lucy Ryan on job-sharing, agility and the importance of trust
27 Apr HR
Director's Cut: Elisabeth Cuthbertson and Lucy Ryan on job-sharing, agility and the importance of trust
'Generally, the Brits engage really well with think tanks': Lunch with... Rusi's Karin von Hippel
13 May 2024 Security & Defence
'Generally, the Brits engage really well with think tanks': Lunch with... Rusi's Karin von Hippel
Suzannah Brecknell meets director general of defence and security think tank Rusi Karin von Hippel
'You can have a representative organisation but if it's not inclusive it won't last': Jill Hatcher on DE&S's strategy
09 May 2024 Security & Defence
'You can have a representative organisation but if it's not inclusive it won't last': Jill Hatcher on DE&S's strategy
The UK’s adversaries won’t wait for us to adapt to new threats. A fresh approach is generating excitement across defence, says DE&S's director of strategy, people, change and corporate
'The time is ripe for change': How to strengthen the UK’s energy resilience and security
08 May 2024 Energy & Environment
'The time is ripe for change': How to strengthen the UK’s energy resilience and security
Technological advances in the past 200 years have relied on a plentiful supply of cheap energy, something we can no longer depend on. Energy resilience requires an integrated and joined-up cross-departmental strategy
We asked civil servants how they feel about talent and performance management – here's what they said
01 May 2024 Civil Service Reform
We asked civil servants how they feel about talent and performance management – here's what they said
We break down the results from CSW's survey with the Reform think tank
Homeland away: JSaRC's Abu Ahmed on partnership, innovation and industry-led solutions
26 Apr 2024 Security & Defence
Homeland away: JSaRC's Abu Ahmed on partnership, innovation and industry-led solutions
The head of the Joint Security and Resilience Centre on why there are "very few challenges for which we don’t have to work with organisations outside of government to find solutions"
At your service: Delving deeper into citizens’ experiences of government services — and how to improve them Partner Content
24 Apr 2024 Operational Delivery
At your service: Delving deeper into citizens’ experiences of government services — and how to improve them
Recent research shows that citizen satisfaction in public services has fallen for a third year in a row. We report on a CSW webinar exploring how to address this challenge and reverse the trend
Starmer’s mission-led government is a noble aim, but needs a moonshot approach to governance
23 Apr 2024 Civil Service Reform
Starmer’s mission-led government is a noble aim, but needs a moonshot approach to governance
To succeed, Labour should plan for its missions to be led by CEOs unencumbered by the usual Whitehall bureaucracy
Productivity puzzle corner: Can you dig it?
22 Apr 2024 Analysis
Productivity puzzle corner: Can you dig it?
In this third instalment of this series on public sector productivity it’s time to turn to some definitions. Which are very simple. And very, very, complicated
Greening Government Commitments: How is Defra getting on?
19 Apr 2024 Energy & Environment
Greening Government Commitments: How is Defra getting on?
Up-to-date data showing progress with the Greening Government Commitments is currently only available for one department, Defra. CSW takes a look at what headway it has made
Who is responsible for preventing fraud and error? A simple but vital question
17 Apr 2024 Coronavirus
Who is responsible for preventing fraud and error? A simple but vital question
Joshua Reddaway, director of fraud and propriety at the National Audit Office, considers lessons from two recent NAO reports where fraud was found in schemes delivered through others
Tallinn tales: Estonia’s digital boss discusses the innovative country’s next wave of tech transformations
16 Apr 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Tallinn tales: Estonia’s digital boss discusses the innovative country’s next wave of tech transformations
Estonia has long been renowned as one of the world’s leading digital governments. Sam Trendall talks to Tarmo Hanga from the country’s Information System Authority about its latest innovations – including virtual marriages and mobile elections
Lunch with... civil service skills evangelist Pamela Dow
10 Apr 2024 HR
Lunch with... civil service skills evangelist Pamela Dow
The Civic Future co-founder and former head of the Government Skills Campus on education reform, what the military gets right about skills and why she doesn't use the word "woke"
'A lot of it is trying to spot unintended consequences': Meet DESNZ's award-winning net-zero systems team
08 Apr 2024 Energy & Environment
'A lot of it is trying to spot unintended consequences': Meet DESNZ's award-winning net-zero systems team
A tech team supporting the cross-government push to make the UK a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 has won a prestigious award for its work
The use of social investment to tackle homelessness can provide a blueprint for other policy challenges
05 Apr 2024 Policy
The use of social investment to tackle homelessness can provide a blueprint for other policy challenges
Policymakers must consider creative options to tackle entrenched challenges, says former senior civil servant Stephen Muers, who is now chief exec at Big Society Capital
Productivity puzzle corner: what is public work?
05 Apr 2024 Analysis
Productivity puzzle corner: what is public work?
In a new series of articles, Professor Colin Talbot will explore public sector productivity in the UK. This issue is increasingly on the agenda of both main contenders as they vie to form the next government and is something that will likely occupy civil servants whoever wins
'We need to bang the drum for sufficient investment': The 'radical and ambitious principles' behind the ONS's Data Strategy
03 Apr 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
'We need to bang the drum for sufficient investment': The 'radical and ambitious principles' behind the ONS's Data Strategy
Following the release of a major new data strategy, Office for National Statistics chief data officer Fiona James talks about the power of linking information, and why departments must build data into spending review plans
'What does it take to do my job well? A curious, analytical mindset': DBT's Ben Cropper on challenging perceptions and crossing disciplinary barriers
02 Apr 2024 Analysis
'What does it take to do my job well? A curious, analytical mindset': DBT's Ben Cropper on challenging perceptions and crossing disciplinary barriers
CSW meets Ben Cropper, director of analysis and chief economist at the Department for Business and Trade
'We are all digital leaders in government': Cat Little on productivity, AI and the next spending review
02 Apr 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
'We are all digital leaders in government': Cat Little on productivity, AI and the next spending review
As part of our series of conversations between high-profile government figures, Cat Little – who today takes over at the helm of the Cabinet Office – discusses leadership, AI and how to deliver better services with Megan Lee Devlin
Productivity puzzle corner: The Efficiency Wars redux
28 Mar 2024 Economics
Productivity puzzle corner: The Efficiency Wars redux
In a new series of articles, Professor Colin Talbot will explore public sector productivity in the UK. This issue is increasingly on the agenda of both main contenders as they vie to form the next government and is something that will likely occupy civil servants whoever wins
'What keeps you awake at night?': A guide to the government risk management profession
26 Mar 2024
'What keeps you awake at night?': A guide to the government risk management profession
In this ongoing series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Here we offer a glimpse at risk management professionals do, and how they work with other parts of government
Looking to combine a civil service career with further study? Here's what you should consider
22 Mar 2024 HR
Looking to combine a civil service career with further study? Here's what you should consider
Higher education courses are almost always enriching and valuable, but what if you want to work in the civil service at the same time?
Delving under the surface – how government can save billions by tackling fraud and error
21 Mar 2024 Commercial
Delving under the surface – how government can save billions by tackling fraud and error
The National Audit Office is increasingly focusing on how government is tackling fraud and error and, as the NAO's director of fraud and propriety Joshua Reddaway argues, billions could be saved by getting this right
'What I won’t miss? The rate of change we’ve experienced': Alex Chisholm on his time as civil service COO
20 Mar 2024 Civil Service Reform
'What I won’t miss? The rate of change we’ve experienced': Alex Chisholm on his time as civil service COO
Looking back over four years as chief operating officer, Alex Chisholm shares what he’s proud of achieving, what he regrets, and what he will miss most about the job
Read the spring 2024 issue of Civil Service World
19 Mar 2024 HR
Read the spring 2024 issue of Civil Service World
Perm secs reflect on the first year of DSIT, DBT and DESNZ, plus a defence special focus