'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
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
'Part of our job is making technology approachable': Government tech chief David Knott on transformation and curiosity
11 Oct 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
'Part of our job is making technology approachable': Government tech chief David Knott on transformation and curiosity
Government’s recently appointed chief technology officer talks tackling legacy IT, exploring generative AI, diversifying the cloud landscape – and his return to government after 35 years
Rishi Sunak's Network North transport pledges: How much have we seen before?
06 Oct 2023 Policy
Rishi Sunak's Network North transport pledges: How much have we seen before?
CSW and PoliticsHome analyse the government's plans to scrap the northern leg of HS2 and instead spend the money on a new Network North project to improve transport across the country
Minding your business: Is there a mental-health crisis in the civil service?
06 Oct 2023 HR
Minding your business: Is there a mental-health crisis in the civil service?
Following reports of a mental-health crisis, we explore the figures and talks to experts about coping strategies for individuals and the organisations that employ them
We're all in this together: How can civil service professions collaborate better?
04 Oct 2023 HR
We're all in this together: How can civil service professions collaborate better?
Changes in career pathway planning have altered how the civil service works. So, how do you make the best of expertise in the age of professions?
How the ONS is harnessing data to prepare for future pandemics
03 Oct 2023 Coronavirus
How the ONS is harnessing data to prepare for future pandemics
Good data played a key part in informing the UK response to the coronavirus pandemic. But what lessons can be learned and how can we best prepare not only ourselves, but the rest of the world if, and when, another pandemic hits?
On the road: Government senior officials reflect on roadmap for digital reform progress
29 Sep 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
On the road: Government senior officials reflect on roadmap for digital reform progress
A year since the government launched its roadmap for digital reform, CSW convened leaders from across government to reflect on progress so far
Head of profession profile: Government science and engineering boss Angela McLean
28 Sep 2023 Health & Social Care
Head of profession profile: Government science and engineering boss Angela McLean
The government science and engineering profession is headed by chief scientific adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean. To mark GSE Recognition Week, CSW meets her to find out more about the profession and her own career so far
Stat your service: Meet the winners of the RSS Campion Awards
27 Sep 2023 Statistics
Stat your service: Meet the winners of the RSS Campion Awards
An award-winning Department for Education team tells CSW how it transformed access to school attendance data, moving from termly to fortnightly publications in less than six months
The new wonkocracy: Who are the think tanks shaping Labour policy?
26 Sep 2023 Policy
The new wonkocracy: Who are the think tanks shaping Labour policy?
Political parties are gearing up for a general election next year and think tanks are busy trying to exert influence on their manifestos and beyond. With polls pointing to a Labour victory, Chaminda Jayanetti considers the organisations – some new, some familiar – which are helping to shape the policies of Keir Starmer and the shadow cabinet
'First impressions are everything': How to be a press secretary
25 Sep 2023 Communications
'First impressions are everything': How to be a press secretary
Former Cabinet Office press secretary Shaun Jepson shares tips for comms success
From the editor: Whether it's RAAC or climate change, governments must stop being so short-termist
22 Sep 2023 Education
From the editor: Whether it's RAAC or climate change, governments must stop being so short-termist
The lack of investment in schools built with weak concrete has been bad enough, but crumbling in the face of the climate crisis could be far more destructive
Force of Nature: Conservation authority boss Gemma Harper on the urgent need for collaboration
21 Sep 2023 Energy & Environment
Force of Nature: Conservation authority boss Gemma Harper on the urgent need for collaboration
In the battle against climate change and the biodiversity crisis, government-wide collaboration is a must. CSW talks to Dr Gemma Harper, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee chief executive tasked with keeping UK public bodies on track for a sustainable, nature-first future
Civil servants are losing trust in the wider public sector – and each other
20 Sep 2023 Civil Service Reform
Civil servants are losing trust in the wider public sector – and each other
Survey reveals falling trust in the wider public sector among officials – while trust in private partners rises
Read the autumn 2023 issue of Civil Service World
19 Sep 2023 HR
Read the autumn 2023 issue of Civil Service World
Our Energy and Environment special asks: What can the UK do to prepare for climate change? Plus, the secret life a press secretary, and government's ugliest postwar buildings
A 3am A&E trip and ‘Yes, Minister’ moments: Five things we learned from the IfG’s latest Ministers Reflect interviews
12 Sep 2023 Health & Social Care
A 3am A&E trip and ‘Yes, Minister’ moments: Five things we learned from the IfG’s latest Ministers Reflect interviews
Former constitution minister Chloe Smith ended up in hospital after working too hard, whilst Brandon Lewis clashed with an official on his first day as minister
Five things you don’t want to miss at this year’s Policy Festival
07 Sep 2023 HR
Five things you don’t want to miss at this year’s Policy Festival
From artificial intelligence to devolution, this year’s Policy Festival offers a bit of everything
'We expect them to run a multibillion-pound department with no training’: Ministers' budget-management woes
05 Sep 2023 Finance
'We expect them to run a multibillion-pound department with no training’: Ministers' budget-management woes
A former cabinet minister calls for financial training for incoming ministers
Setting up shop: A roundtable discussion about public sector procurement Partner Content
04 Sep 2023 Analysis
Setting up shop: A roundtable discussion about public sector procurement
As the government moves towards a new procurement landscape, how can leaders from commercial, delivery and policy teams ensure they realise the opportunities presented by this reform? Officials discuss at a roundtable, supported by Serco, at CS Live