'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
One-off payment for civil servants was on the table but ‘fell apart in 24 hours’, says union chief
12 May 2023 HR
One-off payment for civil servants was on the table but ‘fell apart in 24 hours’, says union chief
FDA’s Dave Penman says Cabinet Office “promised” cost-of-living boost similar to NHS and teacher offers during pay talks
CCS defends Digital Marketplace closure and pledges to ‘reinstate transparency’
05 May 2023 Commercial
CCS defends Digital Marketplace closure and pledges to ‘reinstate transparency’
Suppliers and former officials have lamented the decision but procurement agency says platform could no longer "accommodate growing demands"
Government misses gender and ethnic-minority public appointment targets
28 Apr 2023 HR
Government misses gender and ethnic-minority public appointment targets
Stats also show rise in London-based appointments despite levelling up ambitions
'Our aim is always to protect children': How partnerships are helping the NCA close in on the worst kind of offenders
20 Apr 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
'Our aim is always to protect children': How partnerships are helping the NCA close in on the worst kind of offenders
Child sexual abuse is one of the most disturbing offences the National Crime Agency deals with. But as the NCA’s Dr Lauren Wilson explains, help from partners in the private sector has made a huge difference to the number of suspects arrested and to the safeguarding of children both nationally and internationally
'We’re doing lots of things for the first time': A guide to the international trade profession
18 Apr 2023
'We’re doing lots of things for the first time': A guide to the international trade profession
In this new series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Each briefing looks at a different group, offering a glimpse at what they do and how they work with other parts of government
Plan, record meetings and never overpromise: Lessons from a career in government finance
13 Apr 2023 Finance
Plan, record meetings and never overpromise: Lessons from a career in government finance
Former senior civil servant shares ideas, tips and strategies that can help you overcome the obstacles you may face in finance
Public bodies' handling of FoI requests can build or break trust in services. Here's how to do better
11 Apr 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
Public bodies' handling of FoI requests can build or break trust in services. Here's how to do better
Delays in the handling of Freedom of Information requests undermines the purpose of FoI legislation – but there are resources that can help
Defence spend analysis: A look at the 2023 Spring Budget Partner Content
11 Apr 2023 Commercial
Defence spend analysis: A look at the 2023 Spring Budget
The additional £5 billion allocated to Defence represents an attempt to match increased resources against policy priorities and security concerns within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Proxima’s Justin Reuter takes a look at what this means for commercial teams in the department
‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
04 Apr 2023 Science & Engineering
‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
As government chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance became a household name as the calm and rational presence at the daily Covid briefings. Beckie Smith takes a look at the man behind the TV screen
Time travel in Whitehall: Institutional amnesia and learning lessons from history
03 Apr 2023 Policy
Time travel in Whitehall: Institutional amnesia and learning lessons from history
Closing the gap between history and policy is a critical concern with relevance to contemporary debates about immigration, sentencing policy, childcare, to mention just a few
Why civil servants are leaving and other concerning scores: What we’ve learnt from the 2022 People Survey
31 Mar 2023 Civil Service Reform
Why civil servants are leaving and other concerning scores: What we’ve learnt from the 2022 People Survey
CSW digs into the latest Civil Service People Survey results
Winning support from the centre and getting a grip on delivery: How the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero can learn from its predecessors
29 Mar 2023 Energy & Environment
Winning support from the centre and getting a grip on delivery: How the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero can learn from its predecessors
The creation of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is a sensible move – but it will need to learn from its predecessor, writes Tom Sasse
Adapting to change and getting things done with agile Partner Content
29 Mar 2023 HR
Adapting to change and getting things done with agile
Quanta trainer David Lawrence on harnessing the skills of a Scrum Master to empower teams on agile working
From the editor: Welcome to the new-look Civil Service World
21 Mar 2023
From the editor: Welcome to the new-look Civil Service World
We hope the revamped CSW will enlighten and entertain you, offering food for thought and perhaps a few practical nuggets that will make your job easier
Read the spring 2023 issue of Civil Service World
21 Mar 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
Read the spring 2023 issue of Civil Service World
Read exclusive interviews with Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft and first civil service commissioner Gisela Stuart – plus deep dives on the trade profession and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance's legacy
On a mission to help you thrive Partner Content
20 Mar 2023 HR
On a mission to help you thrive
Peter Schofield, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions, and Graham
Hooper, Chief Executive of the Charity for Civil Servants, discuss being part of a supportive
community in which every civil servant has the chance to live their lives to the full
‘These are almost impossibly difficult issues to grapple with’: Matthew Rycroft on Rwanda, Windrush and transforming the Home Office Exclusive
20 Mar 2023 HR
‘These are almost impossibly difficult issues to grapple with’: Matthew Rycroft on Rwanda, Windrush and transforming the Home Office
‘Permacrisis’ may have been Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2022, but it’s been part of the Home Office lexicon for decades. What’s it like leading such a closely scrutinised department while trying to transform its culture at the same time?
'Salary is only one of the factors people look at': Gisela Stuart on civil service pay, recruitment innovation and government's 'porosity agenda' Exclusive
17 Mar 2023 Civil Service Reform
'Salary is only one of the factors people look at': Gisela Stuart on civil service pay, recruitment innovation and government's 'porosity agenda'
Baroness Gisela Stuart has been in post as first civil service commissioner for a year. With ambitions to improve the recruitment process and make the senior civil service more representative, has she managed to get her house in order?
Blazing a trail: trade commissioner Natalie Black marks International Women’s Day
08 Mar 2023 Economy
Blazing a trail: trade commissioner Natalie Black marks International Women’s Day
UK PLC’s top official in the Asia Pacific region tells CSW about the importance of role models and asking for advice
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
07 Mar 2023 Civil Service Reform
Every improvement is a change – but not every change is an improvement
NAO's Alec Steel reflects on learning from working with 120 services across government and offers practical advice on making improvements, rather than just changes
The ICO's collaborative approach shows multi-million pound fines aren't the only route to effective regulation
06 Mar 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
The ICO's collaborative approach shows multi-million pound fines aren't the only route to effective regulation
Regulation works best when we work alongside organisations – an approach that has paid off for DfE, the information commissioner writes
HMRC 'regularly has to persuade people not to retire'... and six other things we learnt at PublicTechnology Live
06 Mar 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC 'regularly has to persuade people not to retire'... and six other things we learnt at PublicTechnology Live
Tech roadblocks for driving theory tests, how government online services can improve and more
On a journey: DWP’s Helen Roberts unpacks department’s digital priorities
27 Feb 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
On a journey: DWP’s Helen Roberts unpacks department’s digital priorities
Digital-delivery director says department is “moving away from seeing someone as a benefit recipient – and asking how we can respond to their circumstances”
'We never use the word digital' – inside the Welsh Government’s design doctrine
16 Feb 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
'We never use the word digital' – inside the Welsh Government’s design doctrine
Ahead of speaking at PublicTechnology Live, Jo Goodwin discusses how the Centre for Digital Public Services is encouraging a focus on users across the public sector