'We are redoubling our efforts': Angela MacDonald on the Civil Service Pension Scheme recovery
26 Jun HR

'We are redoubling our efforts': Angela MacDonald on the Civil Service Pension Scheme recovery

Six months on from the disastrous transfer of the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita, Angela MacDonald, who was parachuted in to turn the crisis around, tells the inside story
by Tevye Markson
'Not just a policy department': Emran Mian on how the integration of Government Digital Service has transformed DSIT culture
25 Jun Digital, Data & Technology
'Not just a policy department': Emran Mian on how the integration of Government Digital Service has transformed DSIT culture
Read the summer 2026 issue of Civil Service World
23 Jun Civil Service Reform
Read the summer 2026 issue of Civil Service World
Ten years on from the vote to leave the EU, how has Brexit shaped the civil service?
23 Jun Civil Service Reform
Ten years on from the vote to leave the EU, how has Brexit shaped the civil service?
Douglas Wilson on seeking justice for atrocities in Ukraine – and the Christmas the AGO boss spent in Baghdad
05 Jan 2023 Legal
Douglas Wilson on seeking justice for atrocities in Ukraine – and the Christmas the AGO boss spent in Baghdad
The Attorney General's Office DG unpacks legal support being offered to Ukraine and the challenges of balancing resources
The Queue and the Commonwealth Games: Sarah Healey on DCMS's proud moments in a 'difficult year for the civil service'
04 Jan 2023 Culture
The Queue and the Commonwealth Games: Sarah Healey on DCMS's proud moments in a 'difficult year for the civil service'
As she wishes for a "precendented" year, the DCMS perm sec sets out the importance of valuing staff
'Some of the Treasury's hardest decisions are yet to come': Cat Little looks ahead
04 Jan 2023 Economics
'Some of the Treasury's hardest decisions are yet to come': Cat Little looks ahead
The Treasury second perm sec says resilience is needed after "what feels like concurrent crises over an extended period"
Energy aid and staff pay: BEIS boss Sarah Munby on a frenetic year
03 Jan 2023 Energy & Environment
Energy aid and staff pay: BEIS boss Sarah Munby on a frenetic year
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy perm sec says retaining and rewarding civil servants must be a focus in 2023
‘Major policy projects are a marathon, not a sprint’ – National Infrastructure Commission chief James Heath’s lessons from 2022
03 Jan 2023 Project Delivery
‘Major policy projects are a marathon, not a sprint’ – National Infrastructure Commission chief James Heath’s lessons from 2022
The NIC chief exec reflects on delivering the National Infrastructure Assessment and securing a new office in Leeds
Perm secs round-up 2022: Civil service leaders reflect on their highs and lows
30 Dec 2022 Leadership
Perm secs round-up 2022: Civil service leaders reflect on their highs and lows
Civil service leaders share their highlights and toughest calls, and remember Christmases past
Continuing to fight Covid and celebrating women in science: UKHSA’s Jenny Harries looks back on 2022
30 Dec 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Continuing to fight Covid and celebrating women in science: UKHSA’s Jenny Harries looks back on 2022
The UK Health Security Agency’s first national conference was a highlight for the chief exec
‘It took the most heroic of efforts from a whole cast of players’: Ofqual chief regulator Jo Saxton on the return of exams
30 Dec 2022 Education
‘It took the most heroic of efforts from a whole cast of players’: Ofqual chief regulator Jo Saxton on the return of exams
It’s been a year of milestones for the qualifications and exam regulator, Saxton says
‘I’ve only been here three months, but I’m hugely impressed’: New Environment Agency chair on filling big shoes, extreme weather and a worrying skills gap
29 Dec 2022 Energy & Environment
‘I’ve only been here three months, but I’m hugely impressed’: New Environment Agency chair on filling big shoes, extreme weather and a worrying skills gap
Alan Lovell, who began role as chair of the agency in September, sets out his aims for the year ahead
Keeping pace with interest rate changes and saying goodbye: NS&I’s Ian Ackerley on 2023’s challenges
29 Dec 2022 Finance
Keeping pace with interest rate changes and saying goodbye: NS&I’s Ian Ackerley on 2023’s challenges
National Savings & Investments chief discusses a new savings landscape, five years in charge and his beef with summertime Christmases
Procuring services and equipment for the period of mourning and turning heads with a net-zero initiative: Gareth Rhys Williams’ 2022 highlights
29 Dec 2022 Commercial
Procuring services and equipment for the period of mourning and turning heads with a net-zero initiative: Gareth Rhys Williams’ 2022 highlights
The government chief commercial officer also looks back on earring dilemmas and water-pistol duels
Decision on extra pay increase ‘was the hardest call this year’, National Audit Office chief says
28 Dec 2022 Analysis
Decision on extra pay increase ‘was the hardest call this year’, National Audit Office chief says
Cost-of-living crisis and audit reform are biggest challenges to come this year, says Gareth Davies – who also recalls challenging days working as a postie at Christmas
‘A key priority for the Welsh Government has been resetting and refocusing after a sustained period in crisis-response mode’: Andrew Goodall on 2022
28 Dec 2022 Health & Social Care
‘A key priority for the Welsh Government has been resetting and refocusing after a sustained period in crisis-response mode’: Andrew Goodall on 2022
This year has tested the Welsh Government’s organisational resilience, but its reputation has grown, the perm sec writes
Securing commitments to do better: David Black on Ofwat's progress in a ‘tough’ year
28 Dec 2022 Energy & Environment
Securing commitments to do better: David Black on Ofwat's progress in a ‘tough’ year
Ofwat chief exec praises "swift progress" in pursuing action against water companies and discusses the challenge of telling people what the regulator does
Impact through collaboration - Crown Prosecution Service chief Max Hill reflects on a year of 'real progress' and difficult decisions
23 Dec 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
Impact through collaboration - Crown Prosecution Service chief Max Hill reflects on a year of 'real progress' and difficult decisions
Director of public prosecutions for England and Wales says the CPS, through collaboration, has made real progress in improving how rape and sexual violence cases are handled
Abortion access, the Northern Ireland Protocol and other knotty issues: Madeleine Alessandri on a year in the life of the NIO
23 Dec 2022 Leadership
Abortion access, the Northern Ireland Protocol and other knotty issues: Madeleine Alessandri on a year in the life of the NIO
From dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s troubled past and helping the devolved government’s civil service keep essential services running, the NIO faces a unique set of challenges, says its permanent secretary
‘The hardest decision? Deciding what hybrid working is’: Government property chief Mark Chivers reflects on 2022
23 Dec 2022 HR
‘The hardest decision? Deciding what hybrid working is’: Government property chief Mark Chivers reflects on 2022
Government’s chief property officer looks back on his highlights from the last year and ongoing challenges
Colleagues rallied round to support the people of Ukraine – but Ajax and rogue birds proved challenging: David Williams on the MoD’s 2022 highs and lows
22 Dec 2022 Security & Defence
Colleagues rallied round to support the people of Ukraine – but Ajax and rogue birds proved challenging: David Williams on the MoD’s 2022 highs and lows
“This year has shown us the demanding and increasingly uncertain nature of the world we live in,” writes the Ministry of Defence perm sec
‘I thought my heart would burst out of my chest’ – HMPPS boss Amy Rees’s proudest 2022 moments
22 Dec 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
‘I thought my heart would burst out of my chest’ – HMPPS boss Amy Rees’s proudest 2022 moments
The HM Prison and Probation Service chief exec looks back on an eventful twelve months, and ahead to a challenging year
For the Scottish Government, 2022 was about making progress together in hard times
22 Dec 2022 HR
For the Scottish Government, 2022 was about making progress together in hard times
After becoming perm sec this year, JP Marks talks about the importance of living civil organisational values
Joe Biden ‘delight’, working through Christmas and maintaining a relentless focus on the future – NICS chief recalls ‘another exceptionally challenging year’
21 Dec 2022 Leadership
Joe Biden ‘delight’, working through Christmas and maintaining a relentless focus on the future – NICS chief recalls ‘another exceptionally challenging year’
NICS chief Jayne Brady: “When faced with many immediate challenges, it could be easy to lose sight of the longer-term missions”
‘We have to hold to our values’: Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft reflects on tough decisions and the need to inspire colleagues in 2022
21 Dec 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
‘We have to hold to our values’: Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft reflects on tough decisions and the need to inspire colleagues in 2022
From supporting fleeing Ukrainians to breaking the business model of people smugglers - the work of the Home Office is never easy, and perm sec Matthew Rycroft takes pleasure in standing with "conscientious, hard-working" colleagues to meet those challenges
'I want to build a truly inclusive culture across the ONS': Sir Ian Diamond's hopes for 2023
21 Dec 2022 Analysis
'I want to build a truly inclusive culture across the ONS': Sir Ian Diamond's hopes for 2023
Enabling more frequent population statistics and fostering greater diversity in the Office for National Statistics are twin priorities for the national statistician
Cost-of-living crisis ‘means extremely challenging times ahead’– Charity Commission chief Helen Stephenson
20 Dec 2022
Cost-of-living crisis ‘means extremely challenging times ahead’– Charity Commission chief Helen Stephenson
Financial pressures will continue to put pressure on the charity sector in 2023, the chief exec predicts