Building blocks: National Infrastructure Commission chief James Heath on taking the reins during lockdown
23 Sep Economy

Building blocks: National Infrastructure Commission chief James Heath on taking the reins during lockdown

As the National Infrastructure Commission begins work on its next assessment of the UK’s future needs, chief executive James Heath talks to Richard Johnstone about taking a long-term perspective, the impact of Covid, and monitoring government commitments
by Richard Johnstone
Any complaints? How government can use public feedback to improve services
24 Sep Operational Delivery
Any complaints? How government can use public feedback to improve services
Opinion: what makes a reform?
22 Sep Health & Social Care
Opinion: what makes a reform?
Opinion: As the government considers its approach to regulation, here’s how it could improve scrutiny
13 Sep Policy
Opinion: As the government considers its approach to regulation, here’s how it could improve scrutiny
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
19 May Health & Social Care
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
In his first column for CSW, health policy expert Andy Cowper reviews Simon Stevens’s Whitehall legacy, and considers the changes being wrought by the new round of health reforms the NHS boss authored
Read the May 2021 edition of Civil Service World
18 May
Read the May 2021 edition of Civil Service World
Inside: an interview with Sherin Aminossehe, the Ministry of Defence’s director of infrastructure, a look at digital transformation in the MoD, and reflections on the Whitehall legacy of departing NHS England chief Sir Simon Stevens
‘We were far stronger than we would have been individually’: Job sharing in a pandemic
17 May Civil Service Reform
‘We were far stronger than we would have been individually’: Job sharing in a pandemic
Two former directors general – now leadership coaches – share their observations of job-share partnerships in demanding times
Fit for the future: how defence is embracing digital
14 May Security & Defence
Fit for the future: how defence is embracing digital
Increasing digital skills in defence has been named among the government’s top policy priorities. Richard Johnstone speaks to the team making it happen
Civil Service Awards: Delivering benefits technology fit for the 21st century
11 May
Civil Service Awards: Delivering benefits technology fit for the 21st century
DWP staff won the Project Delivery Excellence Award for a project to upgrade systems delivering jobseekers’ allowance and many other benefits during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. Mark Bell tells CSW how it was done
Civil Service Awards: How the Citizenship Award winner reached out to people most in need
10 May
Civil Service Awards: How the Citizenship Award winner reached out to people most in need
DWP official Sarah Morton has been recognised for her voluntary work with organisations that support homeless people in Liverpool. She tells CSW how staff from across the department’s Belle Vale service centre support the HOPE Project
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
07 May Local & Devolved
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
A prominent MP has been appointed as the prime minister’s adviser on levelling up. What does it mean for the next stage of this agenda?
Civil Service Award winners: Breaking new ground with support networks
07 May
Civil Service Award winners: Breaking new ground with support networks
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Gillian Whitworth won the 2020 Health & Wellbeing Award in recognition of her extraordinary commitment, courage and compassion in raising greater awareness of eating disorders. She tells CSW about the background to her nomination
Civil Service Award winners: Supporting communities through a year like no other
06 May Coronavirus
Civil Service Award winners: Supporting communities through a year like no other
In the second of our series of interviews with Civil Service Awards winners, CSW spoke to MHCLG senior policy adviser Abigail Agyei,. who won the Rising Star Award for her work with marginalised communities during the coronavirus pandemic. She spoke to CSW about her work, winning the award, and trying to celebrate during lockdown
Ciaran Martin: Six security tests for the new cyber strategy
06 May Digital, Data & Technology
Ciaran Martin: Six security tests for the new cyber strategy
The government’s Integrated Review revealed that the government planning to publish a new cyber security strategy. Ciaran Martin, the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, tells us what to look out for in it
Opinion: Could Covid unlocking help levelling up too?
05 May Coronavirus
Opinion: Could Covid unlocking help levelling up too?
In this month’s CSW editor’s letter, Richard Johnstone wonders if there’s an opportunity to reset the UK’s economic geography as the country emerges from the pandemic
Civil Service Award winners: Leading the way to better lives for victims of the Troubles
05 May Local & Devolved
Civil Service Award winners: Leading the way to better lives for victims of the Troubles
There was no shortage of talented individuals and teams recognised in this year’s Civil Service Awards. In this series, CSW talked to some of the winners about their work and how it felt to win. First up is Chris Atkinson, who won the Inspirational Leadership Award for his work coordinating the delivery of long-stalled plans for a payments scheme to help people left with permanent disabilities as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. He tells CSW about the background to the project
A closer look: what now for the government’s vaccine passport plans?
30 Apr Coronavirus
A closer look: what now for the government’s vaccine passport plans?
CSW's sister title PublicTechnology examines the government’s strategy for offering a digital certification tool, and its key advantages and challenges
How America got its civil service of appointees
28 Apr Foreign Affairs
How America got its civil service of appointees
The United States changes its top civil service leaders with every new president. Lorenzo Castellani offers an insight on how this system came to be, drawing on research from his new book
Opinion: How can policymakers help improve the wellbeing of local communities?
26 Apr Economy
Opinion: How can policymakers help improve the wellbeing of local communities?
The coronavirus and the stalled European Super League should teach policymakers the same lesson: there is an urgent need to engage local communities in policy and delivery
Switching off: time to tackle ‘always on’ work culture
23 Apr HR
Switching off: time to tackle ‘always on’ work culture
Many civil servants have embraced working from home during the pandemic, but it also means the lines between work and home life have been blurred. The government should set out rules around out of hours engagement – but employers don’t have to wait
How to transform a government agency: IPO launches five-year reform plan
22 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
How to transform a government agency: IPO launches five-year reform plan
Today, the Intellectual Property Office has launched its One IPO Transformation programme, a 5-year drive to transform intellectual property services and enhance the value IPO adds to the UK economy. Deputy chief executive David Holdsworth shares details of the plans
Read the April 2021 edition of Civil Service World
21 Apr
Read the April 2021 edition of Civil Service World
Inside: What the Integrated Review means, Civil Service Awards winner stories, how the how the United States got its civil service of appointees
Julia Lopez: Data is fundamental to government. Let me know your ideas to use it better Exclusive
19 Apr
Julia Lopez: Data is fundamental to government. Let me know your ideas to use it better
The Cabinet Office minister writes for CSW to launch a new Dragons' Den-style competition to transform government data for citizens and society
Alex Thomas: Skills and spills in the civil service
19 Apr Civil Service Reform
Alex Thomas: Skills and spills in the civil service
The government is keen to boost the skills of civil servants and, even in the midst of the Greensill scandal, Whitehall needs to think about both internal training and bringing in external expertise. Here’s some ideas for reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
14 Apr Civil Service Reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
Giving departmental boards a stronger role would help government become more effective
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
13 Apr Civil Service Reform
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
The prime minister and chancellor have both begun encouraging people back to the workplace after Covid. But government would be much better served learning the flexible working lessons of the pandemic
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
12 Apr Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
Further reform of the way the government manages resources to achieve its goals is vital, says the former government lead non-executive director Sir Ian Cheshire
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
09 Apr Civil Service Reform
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
In the first of a new series of articles exploring developments in public sector management, Colin Talbot looks at how one social care organisation is challenging the assumptions of service delivery