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
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
'Big questions need deep thinking' – new Heywood fellow sets his goals for research post
15 Feb 2023
'Big questions need deep thinking' – new Heywood fellow sets his goals for research post
Jonathan Black is taking special leave from the civil service to research the intersection of economic prosperity and national-security policy
Striking the right balance: How regulators are adapting to a fast-changing landscape
14 Feb 2023 HR
Striking the right balance: How regulators are adapting to a fast-changing landscape
Good regulation is about more than just enforcement, experts and watchdogs say
Full disclosure: DBS chief Eric Robinson on smashing milestones, local government lessons and the joy of hybrid working
06 Feb 2023 HR
Full disclosure: DBS chief Eric Robinson on smashing milestones, local government lessons and the joy of hybrid working
DBS chief exec Eric Robinson talks transformation, the cost-of-living crisis, adapting to Covid and how he unwinds
'One crisis and I will be homeless': view from the civil service picket line
01 Feb 2023 Civil Service Reform
'One crisis and I will be homeless': view from the civil service picket line
CSW visited the Cabinet Office picket line, where PCS members are striking over pay amid the cost-of-living crisis
'There have to be consequences for civil service pay erosion': Mike Clancy on Prospect's strike ballot
27 Jan 2023 HR
'There have to be consequences for civil service pay erosion': Mike Clancy on Prospect's strike ballot
"Moral purpose doesn't pay the mortgage," the union general secretary says
Starting the year with inclusivity: how civil servants can become disability allies
23 Jan 2023 Communications
Starting the year with inclusivity: how civil servants can become disability allies
GDS apprentice Samaira Uddin shares her thoughts on the importance of bringing one’s whole self to work, and how colleagues and managers can be true allies to civil servants with disabilities
Connect Four: Top networking tips from a Civil Service Awards winner
16 Jan 2023 HR
Connect Four: Top networking tips from a Civil Service Awards winner
The Junior Leaders Networking Events Team won the Developing and Supporting People Award at the 2022 Civil Service Awards. Funke Oham offers civil servants advice on how to network effectively and leave a lasting impression on colleagues
Accents, qualifications and recruitment: how the Government Socio-Economic Diversity Network will challenge barriers and biases in 2023
10 Jan 2023 HR
Accents, qualifications and recruitment: how the Government Socio-Economic Diversity Network will challenge barriers and biases in 2023
Work will continue this year to make the civil service better and more attractive to working class people
‘Transformation won’t come easy’: Megan Lee on keeping a 'razor-sharp focus’ at CDDO and tackling recruitment challenges head on
09 Jan 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
‘Transformation won’t come easy’: Megan Lee on keeping a 'razor-sharp focus’ at CDDO and tackling recruitment challenges head on
Achieving the Central Digital and Data Office's commitments will be hard but the benefits are incalculable, its chief strategy and transformation officer says
‘Deciding where to cut staff was hard’ – Simon Baugh on restructuring GCS and reacting to once-in-a-generation events
06 Jan 2023 Communications
‘Deciding where to cut staff was hard’ – Simon Baugh on restructuring GCS and reacting to once-in-a-generation events
The Government Communication Service chief exec is proud of how staff responded to Omicron and Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Fast forward: Louise Smyth’s year of accelerated change at Companies House
06 Jan 2023 Economy
Fast forward: Louise Smyth’s year of accelerated change at Companies House
Chief exec tells CSW how responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw staff step up work to deliver a new business-transparency regime
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