'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
Experts reflect: what are the biggest threats to cybersecurity in 2022?
11 Apr 2022 Security & Defence
Experts reflect: what are the biggest threats to cybersecurity in 2022?
The global threats faced by the UK are increasingly digital. Amid reports of cyberwarfare in Ukraine, CSW hears from key voices on the biggest threats and what the public sector can do to minimise them
Mark Goldsack on the growing and evolving role of UK Defence and Security Exports
05 Apr 2022 Security & Defence
Mark Goldsack on the growing and evolving role of UK Defence and Security Exports
UK Defence and Security Exports last spoke to CSW in March 2020. One rebrand and one global pandemic later, Jess Bowie catches up with UKDSE director Mark Goldsack
An official of the golden generation
04 Apr 2022 Security & Defence
An official of the golden generation
A collection of the late Sir Patrick Nairne’s writings provides a fascinating counterbalance to breathless accounts of recent events, says Sir Richard Mottram
In the hot seat: how do you prepare for a select committee appearance?
31 Mar 2022 Politics & Constitution
In the hot seat: how do you prepare for a select committee appearance?
Select committees have grown in importance so it’s all the more crucial to prepare properly when it’s your turn to give evidence, as Stewart Jackson explains
A real shot in the arm: the highs, lows and lessons of delivering the Vaccines Programme
29 Mar 2022 Health & Social Care
A real shot in the arm: the highs, lows and lessons of delivering the Vaccines Programme
In a bleak and challenging time, the breath-taking speed and success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout provided much-needed hope across the country. Beckie Smith meets Antonia Williams and Leila Tavakoli, who worked on the programme, to discuss what they learned from this award-winning endeavour
Thinker Taylor: the policing chief scientific adviser on police dogs, facial recognition and digital forensics Exclusive
28 Mar 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Thinker Taylor: the policing chief scientific adviser on police dogs, facial recognition and digital forensics
Paul Taylor was named the first national policing chief scientific adviser last year. He tells Beckie Smith how he’s working to improve the way science and technology is used in policing – and the “Del Boy moments” he’s had along the way
Gearing up government for levelling up? Good DLUHC with that…
24 Mar 2022 Economics
Gearing up government for levelling up? Good DLUHC with that…
The Department for Levelling Up is the latest in a line of Whitehall bodies that has gone through many fusions and fissions over the last 20 years. How will this new iteration fit in with the rest of government – and the wider UK? Colin and Carole Talbot explain
FCDO IT system branded ‘inept’ as Afghanistan Task Force chief admitted regularly deleting emails to save space
23 Mar 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
FCDO IT system branded ‘inept’ as Afghanistan Task Force chief admitted regularly deleting emails to save space
MPs 'don't buy' officials' explanations of Afghanistan evacuation of Nowzad staff and animals
The Bollom line: the outgoing DE&S chief exec reflects on his time leading some of government's most complex and costly projects
21 Mar 2022 Security & Defence
The Bollom line: the outgoing DE&S chief exec reflects on his time leading some of government's most complex and costly projects
As he steps down as chief executive of Defence Equipment and Support, Simon Bollom talks to Tevye Markson about handling criticism, tips for his successor and semi-retirement plans
Read the March 2022 edition of Civil Service World
17 Mar 2022 Security & Defence
Read the March 2022 edition of Civil Service World
Defence Equipment & Support chief exec Sir Simon Bollom on the "pinnacle" of his 40-year career and experts reflect on cyber threats in this month's Security & Policing focus
'I’ve experienced bullying and discrimination, absolutely': Simon Tse on championing racial diversity in the civil service Exclusive
14 Mar 2022 HR
'I’ve experienced bullying and discrimination, absolutely': Simon Tse on championing racial diversity in the civil service
The Cabinet Office race champion explains why he's "passionate about wanting to make a change" in the civil service
At your service: CCS chief Simon Tse on procurement, PPE and being the 'silent partner' in times of crisis
14 Mar 2022 Commercial
At your service: CCS chief Simon Tse on procurement, PPE and being the 'silent partner' in times of crisis
The chief exec gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Crown Commercial Service's role during the fall of Kabul and the coronavirus pandemic
'Trade teams have traditionally been male dominated': meet the women representing the UK at DIT
09 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
'Trade teams have traditionally been male dominated': meet the women representing the UK at DIT
From leading on historic trade negotiations, to navigating complex legal issues, these women represent the UK when facing counterparts from around the world
Northcote-Trevelyan and the journey to a 'permanent, professional and impartial civil service'
08 Mar 2022 HR
Northcote-Trevelyan and the journey to a 'permanent, professional and impartial civil service'
A whistlestop tour of civil service conduct and ethics
Stop! Evaluate and listen
07 Mar 2022 Internal Audit
Stop! Evaluate and listen
The Declaration on Government Reform was trumpeted as a plan to rewire and renew government. But how well has government delivered on its promise to improve the way government evaluates policy?
Is the levelling up white paper fit for purpose?
02 Mar 2022 Finance
Is the levelling up white paper fit for purpose?
Weighing in at more than 300 pages, the government’s flagship policy document is not short of words. But is it short on substance?
Read the February 2022 issue of Civil Service World
28 Feb 2022 Commercial
Read the February 2022 issue of Civil Service World
CCS's chief executive Simon Tse on procurement during crisis response, and a deep-dive into the levelling up white paper
EXCL: Government urged to tackle 'public health risk' of poor-performing private Covid tests Exclusive
23 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
EXCL: Government urged to tackle 'public health risk' of poor-performing private Covid tests
As the government prepares to end most free Covid testing on 1 April, experts tell CSW the validation process for commercial tests is failing to ensure they are sufficiently reliable, or to enable people to make informed choices about which tests to buy
Wall of secrecy surrounds DCMS's Counter-Disinformation Unit
22 Feb 2022 Communications
Wall of secrecy surrounds DCMS's Counter-Disinformation Unit
Department remains tight-lipped on its fake-news-battling operations, in the face of intervention from the Information Commissioner's Office
'The most challenging summit anybody’s ever held': Cop26 COO Wasim Mir on last year's climate conference
15 Feb 2022 Energy & Environment
'The most challenging summit anybody’s ever held': Cop26 COO Wasim Mir on last year's climate conference
Organising a climate summit amid a pandemic was a massive logistical and diplomatic undertaking. Wasim Mir takes us behind the scenes of Cop26
Civil service churn is a ‘core part’ of government’s long term problems, says IfG
11 Feb 2022 HR
Civil service churn is a ‘core part’ of government’s long term problems, says IfG
Think tank director Bronwen Maddox warns lack of institutional memory could jeopardise levelling up agenda
Levelling up: all the civil service relocations out of London announced so far
03 Feb 2022 Civil Service Reform
Levelling up: all the civil service relocations out of London announced so far
Close to 10,000 new relocations were announced in yesterday's levelling up white paper, bringing the running total to more than 15,000
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire Exclusive
03 Feb 2022 Civil Service Reform
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire
Second perm sec Angela MacDonald reflects on HMRC's role in the Covid response and EU transition, and what its massive office rationalisation programme means for levelling up
Broken norms, reforms and ‘doing the right thing’ – examining a scandal-hit government
31 Jan 2022 HR
Broken norms, reforms and ‘doing the right thing’ – examining a scandal-hit government
After a year of almost constant scandals, the government is facing calls for resignations and reform. How could the standards system and culture of government change?