'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
Go to work on an egg: posters from a golden age of government comms
04 Sep 2023 Communications
Go to work on an egg: posters from a golden age of government comms
CSW looks back on the creativity and context of some memorable campaigns from the postwar years
Barriers, success, and Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s principles in digital projects Partner Content
04 Sep 2023 Analysis
Barriers, success, and Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s principles in digital projects
The crucial steps to set up complex projects, as discussed by digital project leaders at a roundtable supported by Mastek at CS Live 2023
'Public sector reform is way overdue': Interview with Scotland's auditor general
01 Sep 2023 HR
'Public sector reform is way overdue': Interview with Scotland's auditor general
Scotland's auditor general calls for greater transparency in how public money is spent
'Spads were often a problem to be overcome': Former ministers on working with No.10
31 Aug 2023 Policy
'Spads were often a problem to be overcome': Former ministers on working with No.10
Every minister wants to have the ear of the prime minister – but getting close to "the centre" is no simple feat
Animal research: Are we on the precipice of change?
29 Aug 2023 Science & Engineering
Animal research: Are we on the precipice of change?
Amy Beale of medical research charity FRAME gives an overview of recent events and changes in policy
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient James Brereton
25 Aug 2023 Planning
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient James Brereton
Former deputy director of Transport Security Operations at the DfT, now in the Home Office, has received an OBE for services to the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. CSW meets him
Churn and diary management: Former ministers recall biggest frustrations working with civil servants
24 Aug 2023 HR
Churn and diary management: Former ministers recall biggest frustrations working with civil servants
Latest episode of the IfG’s “Becoming a minister” podcast series includes politicians’ occasional frustrations with civil service – and advice on how to deal with them
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Matthew Lodge
23 Aug 2023 Transport
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Matthew Lodge
The director of Rail Infrastructure South at the Department for Transport has received an OBE for services to the rail industry. CSW meets him
‘Treat them with respect’: Ex-government leaders share advice on building good minister-civil service relations
22 Aug 2023 HR
‘Treat them with respect’: Ex-government leaders share advice on building good minister-civil service relations
Institute for Government's latest podcast reveals insights into how ministers and officials work together – from those with experience
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Brian Johnson
21 Aug 2023 Security & Defence
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Brian Johnson
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency chief executive has received a CBE for services to the maritime industry. CSW meets him
Delivering record value for UK taxpayers Partner Content
21 Aug 2023 Commercial
Delivering record value for UK taxpayers
Crown Commercial Service has helped the public sector achieve record commercial benefits of £3.8 billion and respond to new challenges. Chief executive Simon Tse shares the lessons from the past year
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Derek Grieve
18 Aug 2023 Coronavirus
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Derek Grieve
The head of the vaccinations division in the Scottish Government has received a CBE for services to public health during Covid-19. CSW meets him
Cabinet sub-committees 'not effective', ex-education secretary claims
17 Aug 2023 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet sub-committees 'not effective', ex-education secretary claims
Former education secretary Estelle Morris criticises the conventional approach to cross-departmental working
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Martin Clarke
17 Aug 2023 Internal Audit
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Martin Clarke
Outgoing government actuary Martin Clarke has received a Companion of the Order of the Bath for public service. CSW meets him
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Freya Grimwood
16 Aug 2023
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Freya Grimwood
Freya Grimwood, now a deputy director at the Serious Fraud Office, recently received an OBE for Public Service for her work as principal private secretary for the law officers in the Attorney General's Office. CSW meets her

Do the government's proposals on standards and integrity go far enough?
15 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Do the government's proposals on standards and integrity go far enough?
Improved reporting guidelines are welcome, but more must be done to highlight informal lobbying, argues Rose Whiffen of Transparency International UK
Real pay rises can tackle the public sector workforce crisis
14 Aug 2023 HR
Real pay rises can tackle the public sector workforce crisis
Ministers are being neither honest nor realistic about protecting services when they claim settlements that keep pace with inflation are not an option, writes Joseph Evans
Rupert McNeil: Acoba is a simplistic system ripe for overhaul – my recent experience proves it
11 Aug 2023 Civil Service Reform
Rupert McNeil: Acoba is a simplistic system ripe for overhaul – my recent experience proves it
Without reform, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and its narrow way of operating could act as a serious deterrent for successful outsiders who are considering roles in the senior civil service
Custodians of government's history: A guide to the Knowledge & Information Management profession
10 Aug 2023 Knowledge & Information Management Profession
Custodians of government's history: A guide to the Knowledge & Information Management profession
Continuing the professions series, CSW takes a closer look at Knowledge and Information Management
'That's the thing I want to do': Why the prison service has always been a calling for HMPPS boss Amy Rees
09 Aug 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
'That's the thing I want to do': Why the prison service has always been a calling for HMPPS boss Amy Rees
Amy Rees’s entire career has been focused on delivering positive change for the people who live and work in UK prisons. As part of its Women in Westminster series, CSW's sister title PoliticsHome sat down with the chief executive of HM Prisons and Probation Service to learn more about her journey from prison wing to Whitehall
Speak out: tips from a voice coach on how to project confidence and authority
08 Aug 2023 HR
Speak out: tips from a voice coach on how to project confidence and authority
Top tips to master the art of using your voice to assert authority, overcome gender stereotypes, build credibility and trust, and empower future generations from professional voice coach Cath Baxter
‘Get used to knowing less than everyone else’: Ex-ministers share tips on starting in a new role
07 Aug 2023 Leadership
‘Get used to knowing less than everyone else’: Ex-ministers share tips on starting in a new role
Former Cabinet Office minister also reveals how they were accidentally offered two jobs in a reshuffle
Shaping health security: In conversation with UKHSA's chief scientist
04 Aug 2023 Health & Social Care
Shaping health security: In conversation with UKHSA's chief scientist
The UK Health Security Agency recently published its first ever science strategy, which looks at how to prepare for threats over the next decade. Its chief scientist Isabel Oliver shares the highlights
Director's cut with DCMS job-sharers Becky Morrison and Hannah Malik
03 Aug 2023 Culture
Director's cut with DCMS job-sharers Becky Morrison and Hannah Malik
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, Becky Morrison and Hannah Malik, Director of civil society and youth (job share) at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, explain what it takes to do their job