'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
From children in care to the cycling world championships: JP Marks on Scotland’s achievements this year
18 Dec 2023 Health & Social Care
From children in care to the cycling world championships: JP Marks on Scotland’s achievements this year
The perm sec of the Scottish Government looks back on an exciting year (and confesses that he hopes to avoid watching Elf again this Christmas...)
‘I’ve realised how much I missed giggling with colleagues’: Paul Willgoss on returning to the office in 2023
15 Dec 2023 HR
‘I’ve realised how much I missed giggling with colleagues’: Paul Willgoss on returning to the office in 2023
The vice-chair of the Civil Service Disability Network on the fear of those who shielded as office working returned, and on creating a more accessible civil service
'Teamwork helped the MoJ deliver what might have seemed impossible': Antonia Romeo reflects on 2023
15 Dec 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
'Teamwork helped the MoJ deliver what might have seemed impossible': Antonia Romeo reflects on 2023
The MoJ perm sec looks back on year where "impossible was nothing", with achievements such as preparing a court to support a deaf juror – a historic first
'Being bold and innovative means making brave choices': Angela MacDonald on HMRC's transformation journey
14 Dec 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
'Being bold and innovative means making brave choices': Angela MacDonald on HMRC's transformation journey
HMRC's second perm sec looks back on a year she is proud of, and forward to her first Christmas as a "granny"
‘I want to make DBT one of the best places to work’: Gareth Davies shares his vision for the new department
14 Dec 2023 HR
‘I want to make DBT one of the best places to work’: Gareth Davies shares his vision for the new department
The Department for Business and Trade perm sec talks about the challenges of 2023 and the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special
‘Productivity is my favourite subject’: HMT’s Cat Little on finding better ways to use people’s time
13 Dec 2023 Finance
‘Productivity is my favourite subject’: HMT’s Cat Little on finding better ways to use people’s time
The head of the government finance function and second permanent secretary to the Treasury looks back at the year, and sets out her running goal for 2024
‘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