Antonia Romeo’s first steps as cabinet secretary
04 Mar Civil Service Reform

Antonia Romeo’s first steps as cabinet secretary

What did the first 24 hours look like for the UK's new cabinet secretary? Some agenda-setting messages to civil servants, several meetings, and a lot of books
by Suzannah Brecknell
Leadership, flexible working and board games – Antonia Romeo in her own words
20 Feb Leadership
Leadership, flexible working and board games – Antonia Romeo in her own words
‘Ridiculous it has taken until 2026’: Reaction as first female cab sec appointed
19 Feb HR
‘Ridiculous it has taken until 2026’: Reaction as first female cab sec appointed
‘This is a human crisis’ – MPs shine light on Civil Service Pension Scheme failures
05 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
‘This is a human crisis’ – MPs shine light on Civil Service Pension Scheme failures
Which departments need to improve their recruitment practices? The results are in
09 Dec 2025 HR
Which departments need to improve their recruitment practices? The results are in
Civil Service Commission's government-wide audit of recruitment finds six departments and agencies need to improve recruitment methods
Fancy a BREW? John Fletcher on winning the 2006 Programme and Project Management Award
08 Dec 2025 Project Delivery
Fancy a BREW? John Fletcher on winning the 2006 Programme and Project Management Award
In the week of the 2025 Civil Service Awards ceremony, we invite past winners to look back at the work which helped them stand out from the crowd, reflecting on their memories of winning, how the experience shaped their careers, and their biggest lessons learned
‘No two days are the same’ – why civil servants should volunteer as magistrates
05 Dec 2025 HR
‘No two days are the same’ – why civil servants should volunteer as magistrates
Civil servant Athos Ritsperis tells CSW why he has been volunteering as a magistrate for the last 15 years – and why you should consider doing the same
Trailblazing Women: Celebrating a century of progress in the civil service
04 Dec 2025 Civil Service Reform
Trailblazing Women: Celebrating a century of progress in the civil service
Civil Service World’s new Trailblazing Women project will shine a light on the leaders who broke barriers and shaped government, while offering inspiration and insight into the evolving face of public service leadership
High tax, low strategy: What the 2025 Budget tells us about the British state
02 Dec 2025 Economics
High tax, low strategy: What the 2025 Budget tells us about the British state
This Budget was another chapter in the story of a state that has not yet learned to think and act strategically
The Civil Service Awards is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate excellence in delivery
01 Dec 2025 Local & Devolved
The Civil Service Awards is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate excellence in delivery
Scottish Government permanent secretary on turning policies into tangible improvements
‘We’ve got a long way to go but the recovery is under way’: Interview with new ONS perm sec Darren Tierney
25 Nov 2025 Civil Service Reform
‘We’ve got a long way to go but the recovery is under way’: Interview with new ONS perm sec Darren Tierney
New boss of Office for National Statistics talks to CSW about his first impressions of the stats body, prioritisation and addressing cultural issues at the department
Defra reviewing 33 offices and a second DBT office in SW1: Departments reveal property plans
24 Nov 2025 HR
Defra reviewing 33 offices and a second DBT office in SW1: Departments reveal property plans
HMRC gives hubs programme update and DHSC says it is working on a Manchester Health hub in strategic asset management plans
How can the Fast Stream get better?
20 Nov 2025
How can the Fast Stream get better?
Ex-Fast Stream boss and other experts discuss how the programme can be improved and efforts that are already under way
Here are the champions: Catching up with past Civil Service Award winners
19 Nov 2025
Here are the champions: Catching up with past Civil Service Award winners
In a series of articles to mark the Civil Service Awards 20th Anniversary, we meet a selection of winners from across the years to find out more about work behind their achievements, how their careers have evolved since, and their wisdom for this year's top teams
Things do change for the better, however slowly: What I learnt as a union official
14 Nov 2025 HR
Things do change for the better, however slowly: What I learnt as a union official
Former FDA assistant general secretary Lucille Thirlby shares why patience and looking after your own wellbeing are crucial when pushing for progress
Violence against women and girls: Far more focus on prevention is needed
10 Nov 2025 Justice & Home Affairs
Violence against women and girls: Far more focus on prevention is needed
This parliament is a unique window to lay the foundations for lasting progress on VAWG
Ombudsman on a mission: Interview with Paula Sussex
05 Nov 2025 HR
Ombudsman on a mission: Interview with Paula Sussex
Paula Sussex is the new ombudsman responsible for looking into complaints from the public about services provided by the UK government and the NHS in England. She talks to CSW about her leadership style, listening to customers and the long road to reform
Director's Cut: Defra's Edward Barker on risk-taking, shirt-shuttling and why a civil service career is hard to beat
03 Nov 2025 Energy & Environment
Director's Cut: Defra's Edward Barker on risk-taking, shirt-shuttling and why a civil service career is hard to beat
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, Edward Barker, director, natural environment, trees and landscapes, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, explains what it takes to do his job
Director's Cut: Office of Government Property's Saurabh Bhandari on tenacity, AirPods and celebrating civil servants
31 Oct 2025 HR
Director's Cut: Office of Government Property's Saurabh Bhandari on tenacity, AirPods and celebrating civil servants
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, Saurabh Bhandari, director, property delivery and transformation, Office of Government Property, explains what it takes to do his job
Director's Cut: Defra's Tessa Jones on job-sharing, cheese and 'problem solving over posturing'
30 Oct 2025
Director's Cut: Defra's Tessa Jones on job-sharing, cheese and 'problem solving over posturing'
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, Tessa Jones, director, agri-food chain, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, explains what it takes to do her job
Interview: Ex-perm sec Moira Wallace on tackling youth disadvantage under New Labour – and lessons for driving change today
28 Oct 2025 Education
Interview: Ex-perm sec Moira Wallace on tackling youth disadvantage under New Labour – and lessons for driving change today
With the government aiming to break the link between a young person’s start in life and the opportunities they have, Wallace tells CSW about the work she led to tackle entrenched social problems
Childcare champions: The Ofsted team that delivered essential insights for policymakers and public
27 Oct 2025 Education
Childcare champions: The Ofsted team that delivered essential insights for policymakers and public
The head of a multi-award-winning Ofsted team tells us about a project to map childcare oases and deserts
Fax machines and 'opposition' civil servants – how the UK civil service compares to others around the world
22 Oct 2025 Civil Service Reform
Fax machines and 'opposition' civil servants – how the UK civil service compares to others around the world
Three surprises from a year studying for an Executive Masters in Public Administration alongside public servants from around the world
'Every day throws up different opportunities': Q&A with government chief commercial officer Andrew Forzani
21 Oct 2025 Commercial
'Every day throws up different opportunities': Q&A with government chief commercial officer Andrew Forzani
Andrew Forzani, head of the commercial and grants management functions, on the Procurement Act and building skills. Words by Suzannah Brecknell
'I completely trust his judgement': The secrets of a successful job-share
20 Oct 2025 HR
'I completely trust his judgement': The secrets of a successful job-share
The benefits of job-sharing their DG role at the Department for Business and Trade have surpassed all expectations for Gavin Lambert and Caleb Deeks
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Alice Hurrell
17 Oct 2025 Energy & Environment
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Alice Hurrell
Hurrell, chief people officer at DESNZ, was awarded a CBE for public service 
Connecting policy and delivery: How Sheffield is getting stuck into the opportunity mission
15 Oct 2025 Civil Service Reform
Connecting policy and delivery: How Sheffield is getting stuck into the opportunity mission
Earlier this year, ministers announced plans for a new grassroots approach to policymaking for the opportunity mission – focused on South Yorkshire but aiming to influence the whole nation. Jim Dunton finds out more
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Rose Moore
15 Oct 2025 HR
Going, going, gong: Five minutes with King's birthday honours recipient Rose Moore
DWP advanced customer support senior leader Moore was awarded an OBE for services to vulnerable people