Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings
16 May Property & Estates

Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings

Forget break-out spaces and collaboration zones, many civil service offices of the past were ugly, impractical and unpleasant to work in. Jim Dunton explores the history of some of government’s most notorious buildings – and pays homage to some of the pioneering ones too
by Jim Dunton
‘Devastating’: Why are hundreds of DWP staff at risk of losing their jobs and ability to stay in the UK?
15 May HR
‘Devastating’: Why are hundreds of DWP staff at risk of losing their jobs and ability to stay in the UK?
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
14 May Civil Service Reform
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
A perm sec refresh is a moment of opportunity for ministers to shape Whitehall’s leadership
13 May Civil Service Reform
A perm sec refresh is a moment of opportunity for ministers to shape Whitehall’s leadership
'We can do great things when we work together': The best of the 2024 perm secs roundup
02 Jan Leadership
'We can do great things when we work together': The best of the 2024 perm secs roundup
CSW’s perm secs round-up for 2024 provided insight from leaders across government looking back on a year of historic change. Here are some of the themes and highlights
Alive and kicking: Mark Cheeseman on achieving a 15-year-long aspiration in 2024
31 Dec 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Alive and kicking: Mark Cheeseman on achieving a 15-year-long aspiration in 2024
Public Sector Fraud Authority chief also discusses getting the right work-life balance and the rising fraud threat
'Acknowledging uncertainty and unknowns': Laurence Rockey reflects on 2024 at the Scotland Office
31 Dec 2024 Local & Devolved
'Acknowledging uncertainty and unknowns': Laurence Rockey reflects on 2024 at the Scotland Office
Bringing female Afghan medical students to Scotland was among the Scotland Office director's highlights of the year
'Political leaders deserve more credit': AGO's Douglas Wilson reflects on a transitional year
30 Dec 2024 Legal
'Political leaders deserve more credit': AGO's Douglas Wilson reflects on a transitional year
Plus, the Attorney General's Office director general takes a risk with his worst present anecdote
Need for speed: Co-working commercial chiefs look ahead to busy 2025
27 Dec 2024 Commercial
Need for speed: Co-working commercial chiefs look ahead to busy 2025
Joint interim government chief commercial officers Clare Gibbs and Marco Salzedo also reflect on "incredible opportunity" to lead the Government Commercial Function
Seven new ministers and a MoG change: Marcus Bell reflects on his third government transition
27 Dec 2024
Seven new ministers and a MoG change: Marcus Bell reflects on his third government transition
Plus, equality for all – presents too! Office for Equal Opportunity boss defends bad gifts
Climbing Kilimanjaro, becoming a grandad and getting the job – Mark Bourgeois races through 2024 highlights and challenges ahead
26 Dec 2024 Property & Estates
Climbing Kilimanjaro, becoming a grandad and getting the job – Mark Bourgeois races through 2024 highlights and challenges ahead
The Government Property Agency chief exec takes us back to 1976 for his best and worst gift
The Rewire – Dax Harkins gives update on NS&I's transformation programme
26 Dec 2024 Economics
The Rewire – Dax Harkins gives update on NS&I's transformation programme
The chief exec charts year’s progress on making the state-owned bank “modern, accessible and sustainable” and looks ahead to 2025
New priorities, new puppy and a knighthood: DWP's Peter Schofield recalls eventful 2024
24 Dec 2024 Leadership
New priorities, new puppy and a knighthood: DWP's Peter Schofield recalls eventful 2024
Plus, the Christmas gift the perm sec loves but gets teased about
'The relentless effort required to motivate teams to do extraordinary things': Antonia Romeo on the MoJ's biggest challenges of 2024
24 Dec 2024 Justice & Home Affairs
'The relentless effort required to motivate teams to do extraordinary things': Antonia Romeo on the MoJ's biggest challenges of 2024
Resilience and courage were needed amid prison-capacity pressures and this summer's violent disorder, says the MoJ perm sec
Smart state: Can AI deliver a better future? Sponsored
23 Dec 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Smart state: Can AI deliver a better future?
As officials face pressure to improve services and reduce budgets, they must make the most of the opportunities presented by AI. Mark Rowe reports on a day designed to cut through hype and offer practical advice on using new technologies to rethink services
'We can do great things when we work together': Julie Harrison reflects on the NI Executive's return
23 Dec 2024 Local & Devolved
'We can do great things when we work together': Julie Harrison reflects on the NI Executive's return
The NIO perm sec reflects on an eventful first year at the department
Growing conflicts and core objectives – export boss Tim Reid looks back on past 12 months
23 Dec 2024 Finance
Growing conflicts and core objectives – export boss Tim Reid looks back on past 12 months
Reid also outlines challenges ahead in 2025, including the need to innovate at pace
‘Heartbreaking’: DE&S chief Andy Start reflects on toughest moment of 2024
20 Dec 2024 Security & Defence
‘Heartbreaking’: DE&S chief Andy Start reflects on toughest moment of 2024
Start also discusses progress in delivering “the biggest change to DE&S in a decade”
Making an impact: DCMS perm sec Susannah Storey looks back on year full of highlights
20 Dec 2024 Culture
Making an impact: DCMS perm sec Susannah Storey looks back on year full of highlights
From the Paralympics to art in mental health settings, Susannah Storey says she has loved seeing the real world impact of DCMS’s work
‘Collaboration will be critical’: Sir Ian Diamond looks ahead to 2025
20 Dec 2024 Statistics
‘Collaboration will be critical’: Sir Ian Diamond looks ahead to 2025
National statistician also discusses survey challenges
Reaching beyond the bubble: Government comms chief Simon Baugh looks ahead to 2025’s big challenges
19 Dec 2024 Communications
Reaching beyond the bubble: Government comms chief Simon Baugh looks ahead to 2025’s big challenges
Plus, Baugh picks out a worthy contender for the worst Christmas present
Gareth Davies on DBT's 'incredibly busy' year and getting into Christmas scrapes
19 Dec 2024
Gareth Davies on DBT's 'incredibly busy' year and getting into Christmas scrapes
The perm sec looks back on highlights of 2024 and forward to a year developing the industrial strategy
'An incredible privilege every day': Cat Little on her first year as Cabinet Office perm sec
18 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
'An incredible privilege every day': Cat Little on her first year as Cabinet Office perm sec
Little says delivery and implementation will be "at the heart of the year ahead"
Why we should all be more proactive in declaring potential conflicts of interest
17 Dec 2024 HR
Why we should all be more proactive in declaring potential conflicts of interest
National Audit Office director Joshua Reddaway says civil servants should make time to ensure they're up to speed on disclosure requirements
HMRC's Jim Harra on a year of exceeded targets and tough decisions
16 Dec 2024 Finance
HMRC's Jim Harra on a year of exceeded targets and tough decisions
Outgoing first permanent secretary unpacks present challenges and banging Christmases past
Ringside seat: Sarah Healey reflects on an exciting 12 months
13 Dec 2024 Local & Devolved
Ringside seat: Sarah Healey reflects on an exciting 12 months
MHCLG perm sec Sarah Healey looks back on a challenging but thrilling year – and recalls her husband's best and worst Christmas gift efforts
‘I've learned to accept I won’t always have all the answers’: New CCS chief Sam Ulyatt looks back on 2024
13 Dec 2024 Commercial
‘I've learned to accept I won’t always have all the answers’: New CCS chief Sam Ulyatt looks back on 2024
Sam Ulyatt became the Crown Commercial Service chief exec in July
‘I couldn’t be prouder’: Susan Acland-Hood on a year of collaborative success at the DfE
12 Dec 2024 Education
‘I couldn’t be prouder’: Susan Acland-Hood on a year of collaborative success at the DfE
Department for Education perm sec also reflects on missions and recalls Christmas "gnome wars"