'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
Eyerolls, avoiding the phone and docs in the bin – how civil service leaders have responded to reform efforts
02 Aug 2023 Civil Service Reform
Eyerolls, avoiding the phone and docs in the bin – how civil service leaders have responded to reform efforts
Former senior government leaders set out barriers to reform in think tank report
Director's cut with FCDO's David Whineray
01 Aug 2023 Foreign Affairs
Director's cut with FCDO's David Whineray
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, David Whineray, director of global health at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, explains what it takes to do his job
Director's cut with MoJ's James Dowler
31 Jul 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
Director's cut with MoJ's James Dowler
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, James Dowler, director for international, rights and constitutional policy at Ministry of Justice, explains what it takes to do his job
Better together: Lessons from a decade of Shared Services
28 Jul 2023 Analysis
Better together: Lessons from a decade of Shared Services
It is 10 years since the government committed to an ambitious shared services strategy. CSW reports on a roundtable that discussed progress and sought to identify challenges ahead
Trains of thought: making the most of training opportunities for managers and their teams
27 Jul 2023 HR
Trains of thought: making the most of training opportunities for managers and their teams
In the first of a two-part series, Tina Seth takes a look at different types of training and how to make the most of them
Heavy Duty: How the Department for Education worked to tackle the HGV driver shortages
26 Jul 2023 Education
Heavy Duty: How the Department for Education worked to tackle the HGV driver shortages
Fiona Mee Alvares, John Wright, and David Bussey explain how DfE's Skills Bootcamp allowed individuals with no, or limited prior experience, as well as qualified HGV drivers to gain additional in-demand HGV qualifications
What is social research and why does it matter? Head of profession Jenny Dibden explains all
25 Jul 2023 Leadership
What is social research and why does it matter? Head of profession Jenny Dibden explains all
In the first of a series of interviews with heads of professions across government, Jenny Dibden talks about collaboration, coordination and the drive to attract new talent to the Government Social Research profession
Test of the best: The past, present and future of civil service entrance exams
21 Jul 2023 Analysis
Test of the best: The past, present and future of civil service entrance exams
How we decide who joins the civil service has a profound impact on the work of government, argues Andrew Greenway. If there wasn’t a good reason before to think hard about how we assess and predict civil servants' competence, there certainly is now...
Power to the people: How we can deliver open government
21 Jul 2023 Analysis
Power to the people: How we can deliver open government
Greater public involvement in shaping, implementing and evaluating policy is a clear goal of open government. Tim Gibson examines how it can be done, as well as its potential to help shape better policy and restore trust in the working of democracy
Book review: How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt
20 Jul 2023 Analysis
Book review: How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt
This detailed exploration of Whitehall and Westminster offers a peek into the corridors of power and starts a valuable conversation about the need for reform
PACAC to the future – William Wragg interview
18 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
PACAC to the future – William Wragg interview
Tevye Markson sits down with the “baby-faced assassin” William Wragg to discuss chairing a select committee, his hopes for the civil service and how it feels to be leaving politics behind
'Good, grown up policymaking': How DLUHC is working to fix 'broken' housing system
18 Jul 2023
'Good, grown up policymaking': How DLUHC is working to fix 'broken' housing system
Emran Mian talks to Beckie Smith about raising standards in social housing, putting “moral pressure” on landlords, and the importance of partnership working
What does a second permanent secretary do and why are there so many of them?
18 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
What does a second permanent secretary do and why are there so many of them?
More and more departments are appointing second permanent secretaries. Beckie Smith speaks to civil service leaders and outside experts to find out more
Pay, reform and why People Survey results were 'not bad, actually' – the Alex Chisholm interview
17 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Pay, reform and why People Survey results were 'not bad, actually' – the Alex Chisholm interview
Against a tempestuous backdrop of industrial action and concerns over staff morale, civil service chief operating officer Alex Chisholm tells Tevye Markson how he is working to make government better and civil servants happier
The three ways that Whitehall must improve its approach to devolution
14 Jul 2023 Local & Devolved
The three ways that Whitehall must improve its approach to devolution
The Institute for Government’s Akash Paun, Duncan Henderson and Peter Hourston share their insights on how government can master the art of transferring responsibility to local areas
Don't let your minister eat mayo: What I learnt in private office
14 Jul 2023 HR
Don't let your minister eat mayo: What I learnt in private office
Former SCS Katie shares what’s worked – the ideas, tips and strategies that can help you overcome the obstacles you may face in private office
Making civil servants' jobs easier with 'nerdy tech' - Mark Thompson interview
13 Jul 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
Making civil servants' jobs easier with 'nerdy tech' - Mark Thompson interview
The next phases of government’s data revolution have the potential to truly transform the way the civil service operates, but business cases are not enough to deliver results. Suzannah Brecknell talks to Mark Thompson, director of data, platforms and interoperability in the Cabinet Office’s Government People Group
Two leaders outline how the commercial sector can support women in reaching their full potential Partner Content
12 Jul 2023 Commercial
Two leaders outline how the commercial sector can support women in reaching their full potential
Home Office's Sam Ulyatt and DHSC's Melinda Johnson discuss the importance of education, culture, mindset, and supporting talent to support women
Tribute to Lord Kerslake
12 Jul 2023 Leadership
Tribute to Lord Kerslake
An outstanding permanent secretary, and later also civil service head, Bob Kerslake became a champion of social housing and sustainable communities
Too many cooks in the kitchen? Here’s a recipe for cross-government success
12 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Too many cooks in the kitchen? Here’s a recipe for cross-government success
Complex challenges increasingly require officials to work across departmental boundaries, but it's not always easy to deliver on these shared projects. Sian Jones offers advice from the latest National Audit Office guide which aims to help civil servants get better together
Lunch with....Ofcom chief exec and former communities perm sec Melanie Dawes
10 Jul 2023 Communications
Lunch with....Ofcom chief exec and former communities perm sec Melanie Dawes
The chief executive of Ofcom breaks bread with Jess Bowie
Vision thing: What is government getting wrong with infrastructure planning?
10 Jul 2023 Economy
Vision thing: What is government getting wrong with infrastructure planning?
Institution of Civil Engineers flags UK’s “room for improvement” as it seeks civil servants’ first-hand experiences of working on major projects
'It’s a precious thing to doubt your certainty': CSW chews the cud with Food Standards Agency chief executive Emily Miles
06 Jul 2023 Brexit
'It’s a precious thing to doubt your certainty': CSW chews the cud with Food Standards Agency chief executive Emily Miles
Jess Bowie meets FSA chief executive Emily Miles to discuss the safety of what we eat, idealism versus pragmatism, and why a bit of self-doubt is crucial to good leadership
'The nation was fortunate': The civil servants who helped build the NHS
05 Jul 2023 Health & Social Care
'The nation was fortunate': The civil servants who helped build the NHS
On the 75th anniversary of the creation of the NHS, Chris Holme looks back on the officials who made it happen