'We want to do more work in the open and co-create change': JP Marks interview
28 Jan Economy

'We want to do more work in the open and co-create change': JP Marks interview

HMRC perm sec JP Marks on empowerment, Covid and his plans for the department
by Suzannah Brecknell
'Greater candour makes for stronger recommendations': Q&As with committee chairs
03 Feb Education
'Greater candour makes for stronger recommendations': Q&As with committee chairs
'I promoted flexible working like a campaigner': What I learnt driving inclusivity in the civil service
02 Feb Civil Service Reform
'I promoted flexible working like a campaigner': What I learnt driving inclusivity in the civil service
Give those you lead what they need: How to be an emotionally intelligent leader
30 Jan Analysis
Give those you lead what they need: How to be an emotionally intelligent leader
‘The Home Office is preparing for whatever the future throws at us’: Matthew Rycroft looks ahead
12 Dec 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
‘The Home Office is preparing for whatever the future throws at us’: Matthew Rycroft looks ahead
The Home Office permanent secretary says 2024 will be a year of "focusing on prevention, not cure"
How ex-UK officials have helped to run Cop28 and why Cop26 was ‘crazy’ – CSW speaks to climate conference organiser Wasim Mir
12 Dec 2023 Energy & Environment
How ex-UK officials have helped to run Cop28 and why Cop26 was ‘crazy’ – CSW speaks to climate conference organiser Wasim Mir
Ex-Cop26 chief and current UN director of conference affairs Wasim Mir compares Cops in UK, UAE and Egypt and shares lessons from time outside civil service
From Eurovision 2023 to Euro 2028: Susannah Storey on a busy year for DCMS
11 Dec 2023 Culture
From Eurovision 2023 to Euro 2028: Susannah Storey on a busy year for DCMS
The permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport sets out what has made her proud, energised and hopeful in 2023
New horizons: Douglas Wilson reflects on the AGO's growing international role
11 Dec 2023 Leadership
New horizons: Douglas Wilson reflects on the AGO's growing international role
The director general of the Attorney General's Office looks back on ten years' of change and sets out his priorities for the department
'Significant overhaul is needed': Insights from a previously-secret review of centre-of-government crisis capabilities
08 Dec 2023 Analysis
'Significant overhaul is needed': Insights from a previously-secret review of centre-of-government crisis capabilities
Review makes 23 recommendations for “higher-quality faster-paced central decision making”, including reinvigorating the lead government response model
'Culture matters a lot – especially when dealing with lots of change': Sarah Munby reflects on DSIT's first year
08 Dec 2023 Civil Service Reform
'Culture matters a lot – especially when dealing with lots of change': Sarah Munby reflects on DSIT's first year
Taking on a new portfolio has made 2023 an energising but hectic year for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology perm sec
Marking the Good Friday Agreement and a digital healthcare breakthrough: Jayne Brady reflects on the power of hope as she looks back on 2023
07 Dec 2023 Leadership
Marking the Good Friday Agreement and a digital healthcare breakthrough: Jayne Brady reflects on the power of hope as she looks back on 2023
Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady praises the incredible resilience of her colleagues and some digital firsts in Northern Ireland this year
‘The duty to be calm and the need to be capable’: Alex Chisholm on the Cabinet Office’s crucial role
06 Dec 2023 Civil Service Reform
‘The duty to be calm and the need to be capable’: Alex Chisholm on the Cabinet Office’s crucial role
The permanent secretary for the Cabinet Office looks back on 2023, and discusses handing over his job in April
Which civil service departments have the biggest gender pay gaps?
04 Dec 2023 HR
Which civil service departments have the biggest gender pay gaps?
CSW crunches the numbers to see which organisations have the biggest gaps in hourly earnings for women and men, and how gender pay gaps have changed over time
Civil service reform is back on the agenda; and there’s plenty to be done
29 Nov 2023 Civil Service Reform
Civil service reform is back on the agenda; and there’s plenty to be done
National Audit Office Director Kate Caulkin places the independent public spending watchdog’s latest report on the civil service in the context of wider reforms
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov 2023 Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
From humble beginnings as a prisoners' monies clerk to senior posts in the Treasury, Kevin Ross shares his journey through the civil service
'Our job is to bring people and issues together': A guide to the project delivery profession
23 Nov 2023 HR
'Our job is to bring people and issues together': A guide to the project delivery profession
In this series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Each briefing looks at a different group, offering a glimpse of what they do and how they work with different parts of government
New prize will help business department find out what it doesn't know it needs to know
16 Nov 2023 Analysis
New prize will help business department find out what it doesn't know it needs to know
As DBT launches a new prize for early-career researchers, head of analysis Ben Cropper explains the importance of broadening and fostering conversation with external experts so analysts are better prepared to answer the questions of the future
More outsiders, MOG changes and letting civil servants speak: 10 big takeaways from Maude's review
15 Nov 2023 Civil Service Reform
More outsiders, MOG changes and letting civil servants speak: 10 big takeaways from Maude's review
Maude's recommendation-packed review includes calls for an outsider to lead the civil service, new powers for ministers and greater transparency
Psy masters: A guide to the occupational psychology profession
10 Nov 2023 HR
Psy masters: A guide to the occupational psychology profession
Occupational psychologists aim to improve people’s experience of work. Profession head Sonia Pawson and DWP chief psychologist Antonia Dietmann share common misconceptions and how they fell in love with the profession
'The pace of policymaking has to increase': Climate change expert Simon Sharpe discusses progress towards net zero
03 Nov 2023 Energy & Environment
'The pace of policymaking has to increase': Climate change expert Simon Sharpe discusses progress towards net zero
Climate change expert and former senior civil servant Simon Sharpe speaks to Mark Rowe about the role officials can play in tackling climate risks and driving progress towards net zero
‘Rubbish’ pay, the training ‘taboo’ and waning diversity: Insights from a civil service reform talk with ex-cab sec Gus O’Donnell
01 Nov 2023 HR
‘Rubbish’ pay, the training ‘taboo’ and waning diversity: Insights from a civil service reform talk with ex-cab sec Gus O’Donnell
Highlights from a civil reform chat with O'Donnell, Civil Unrest report author Amy Gandon, and Reform director Charlotte Pickles
Johnson 'weak', cab sec's 'scapegoat' fears, more leaving drinks: Covid Inquiry evidence shows turmoil behind the scenes
31 Oct 2023 Coronavirus
Johnson 'weak', cab sec's 'scapegoat' fears, more leaving drinks: Covid Inquiry evidence shows turmoil behind the scenes
Patrick Vallance says advisers tried to "strong arm" him into post-Cummings scandal press briefing and Simon Case says he is "pissed off" over Partygate event
Greening the way: CSW explores government progress on sustainability targets
30 Oct 2023 Energy & Environment
Greening the way: CSW explores government progress on sustainability targets
The government has attempted to demonstrate the path to a greener future through its Greening Government Commitments. How far has it got?
A stronger civil service head and more ministerial appointments: Maude shares highlights of his review
27 Oct 2023 Civil Service Reform
A stronger civil service head and more ministerial appointments: Maude shares highlights of his review
Francis Maude says his civil service governance review will also recommend splitting the Treasury
In conversation with Jess Bowie
26 Oct 2023 Leadership
In conversation with Jess Bowie
A bygone era saw women having to leave their civil service roles when they got married, a policy that for Foreign Office staff was only abolished in 1973. As part of the Women in Westminster series, we sat down with Civil Service World co-editor Jess Bowie to learn how things have changed for female officials and why recognising the unsung heroes who keep the country running is more important than ever
Lunch with... psychologist and 'nudge' guru David Halpern
25 Oct 2023 Policy
Lunch with... psychologist and 'nudge' guru David Halpern
Jess Bowie meets the founding director of the Behavioural Insights Team
Last chance to change: What more must the government do to build climate resilience?
18 Oct 2023 Energy & Environment
Last chance to change: What more must the government do to build climate resilience?
As climate change begins to intensify, the government has a lot to do to make our society more resilient to its consequences. We find out what government is getting right and where it needs to improve.
'What keeps me up at night is worrying about what we don’t know': Elysia McCaffrey on running the GLAA
13 Oct 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
'What keeps me up at night is worrying about what we don’t know': Elysia McCaffrey on running the GLAA
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority chief Elysia McCaffrey’s connection to the civil service started at a young age. She talks about rooting out exploitation of workers, getting the GLAA to pass the Ronseal test, and the power of yoga