'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
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
Helping hands: Peter Schofield on a year of delivering for people in need
20 Dec 2022 Operational Delivery
Helping hands: Peter Schofield on a year of delivering for people in need
The Department for Work and Pensions perm sec tells CSW of his pride in the professionalism and commitment of staff
'Our inspectors have been clear-eyed about standards, while recognising the impact of Covid': What made Ofsted's Amanda Spielman proud in 2022
20 Dec 2022 Education
'Our inspectors have been clear-eyed about standards, while recognising the impact of Covid': What made Ofsted's Amanda Spielman proud in 2022
Resource constraints and cost-of-living concerns will affect all the sectors Ofsted oversees next year, the chief inspector predicts 
Gisela Stuart: ‘These exceptional times have demonstrated the value of an impartial civil service to vital democratic checks and balances’
19 Dec 2022 Civil Service Reform
Gisela Stuart: ‘These exceptional times have demonstrated the value of an impartial civil service to vital democratic checks and balances’
The first civil service commissioner reflects on her first year in the role and recalls the 'Millennium bug'
Equality Hub director Marcus Bell on sign language success, a tough ‘media climate’ – and why Slade makes him shudder
19 Dec 2022 HR
Equality Hub director Marcus Bell on sign language success, a tough ‘media climate’ – and why Slade makes him shudder
"Diminishing resources” will be the Cabinet Office Equality Hub's biggest challenge ahead
DfT boss Bernadette Kelly: ‘I could write a book on the journey to opening Crossrail – but I always believed it would come good in the end’
19 Dec 2022 Leadership
DfT boss Bernadette Kelly: ‘I could write a book on the journey to opening Crossrail – but I always believed it would come good in the end’
It was “pleasing and poignant” that the Elizabeth Line opened in time for the Queen to open it, the Department for Transport perm sec writes
'In a world of hybrid working, organisational culture matters' – Jeff James on a year in the life of The National Archives
16 Dec 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
'In a world of hybrid working, organisational culture matters' – Jeff James on a year in the life of The National Archives
The head of the National Archives reflects, and looks ahead to the transfer of the Parliamentary Archives from Westminster to Kew
Antonia Romeo on delivering a ‘game changer for victims’ and balancing the MoJ's competing priorities
16 Dec 2022 Justice & Home Affairs
Antonia Romeo on delivering a ‘game changer for victims’ and balancing the MoJ's competing priorities
Inflationary pressures will continue in 2023, but the Ministry of Justice has made some great strides forward 
'I am impressed at colleagues’ resilience, but 2023 is unlikely to bring much respite': Chris Whitty’s New Year predictions
16 Dec 2022 Health & Social Care
'I am impressed at colleagues’ resilience, but 2023 is unlikely to bring much respite': Chris Whitty’s New Year predictions
England’s chief medical officer praises health workers and civil servants, but warns winter will be tough
'Major projects can boost growth, but picking the right ones isn't simple': IPA boss Nick Smallwood reflects on 2022
15 Dec 2022 Project Delivery
'Major projects can boost growth, but picking the right ones isn't simple': IPA boss Nick Smallwood reflects on 2022
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority chief exec lauds successes like the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and discusses the importance of supporting teams that have been affected by Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis
'The biggest challenge for 2023? Tempering my ambition in the face of reality’: FSA’s Emily Miles looks ahead
15 Dec 2022 Leadership
'The biggest challenge for 2023? Tempering my ambition in the face of reality’: FSA’s Emily Miles looks ahead
There’s always more the Food Standards Agency could do, but it must first deal with its most pressing priorities, its chief exec says
Angela MacDonald shares HMRC's 2022 highlights – including capturing Britain’s most wanted woman
15 Dec 2022 Government Tax Profession
Angela MacDonald shares HMRC's 2022 highlights – including capturing Britain’s most wanted woman
The tax agency’s second perm sec contemplates the careful and compassionate leadership that will be required to prepare for the challenges of 2023
Sadness, pride, and complex judgements: GLD boss Susanna McGibbon looks back on 2022
14 Dec 2022 HR
Sadness, pride, and complex judgements: GLD boss Susanna McGibbon looks back on 2022
The Government Legal Department permanent secretary reflects on a challenging year – and the unglamorous tasks of Christmases past
'Anything but routine': Met Office boss Penelope Endersby on a record year
14 Dec 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
'Anything but routine': Met Office boss Penelope Endersby on a record year
The Met Office chief executive on 12 months of global achievements, soaring temperatures and public protection