Right here, right now: Fiona Mettam and Craig Ogilvie on being head of place for Scotland
10 Aug HR

Right here, right now: Fiona Mettam and Craig Ogilvie on being head of place for Scotland

The government has appointed director-level heads of place across the nations and regions to help create thriving civil service communities and develop strong local partnerships. In this series, we meet some of them to find out what it takes to do the role and how it complements their day job
by CSW staff
Dame Lesley Strathie: The HMRC boss who understood the operational side of the civil service
11 Aug
Dame Lesley Strathie: The HMRC boss who understood the operational side of the civil service
'There's no such thing as too much creativity': Ex-chief medical officer Sally Davies on the fight against antimicrobial resistance
05 Aug Health & Social Care
'There's no such thing as too much creativity': Ex-chief medical officer Sally Davies on the fight against antimicrobial resistance
Select few: Q&As with committee chairs Simon Hoare, Layla Moran and Ruth Cadbury
04 Aug Civil Service Reform
Select few: Q&As with committee chairs Simon Hoare, Layla Moran and Ruth Cadbury
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
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