Perm secs round-up 2021: top officials say goodbye to a tumultuous year and look ahead to 2022
31 Dec 2021 Leadership

Perm secs round-up 2021: top officials say goodbye to a tumultuous year and look ahead to 2022

Government leaders share the highs and lows of 2021 and set out their priorities for next year in CSW's annual round up
by Civil Service World
London in the rear view mirror: we need to get the basics right when relocating civil servants
25 Jan Civil Service Reform
London in the rear view mirror: we need to get the basics right when relocating civil servants
Read the January 2022 issue of Civil Service World
24 Jan Civil Service Reform
Read the January 2022 issue of Civil Service World
All the major Covid backlogs government must 'get a grip' of in 2022
04 Jan Coronavirus
All the major Covid backlogs government must 'get a grip' of in 2022
The PM has asked Simon Case to investigate the No.10 Christmas party claims. What happens now?
10 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
The PM has asked Simon Case to investigate the No.10 Christmas party claims. What happens now?
CSW breaks down what the cabinet secretary's probe will cover and asks former Whitehall insiders what we can expect to find out next
'The big thing is unleashing people’s adaptivity': how departments should plan the future of work
02 Dec 2021 HR
'The big thing is unleashing people’s adaptivity': how departments should plan the future of work
As departments and agencies look beyond the pandemic to plan their future approaches to hybrid working, industry professionals, academics and unions share what they should be considering
Why embracing messy data can help us make better policy
26 Nov 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Why embracing messy data can help us make better policy
It is time for government to fill its data gaps via more alternative and disruptive information sources, argues Keren Pakes
House style: Jacob Rees-Mogg on working with civil servants, and how they can better engage with parliament
24 Nov 2021 HR
House style: Jacob Rees-Mogg on working with civil servants, and how they can better engage with parliament
The leader of the House shares the training on offer for officials; his conversion to civil service fandom; and his infamous style guide
How DWP hired 13,500 new work coaches – without meeting a single one
23 Nov 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
How DWP hired 13,500 new work coaches – without meeting a single one
Faced with a Herculean hiring drive as coronavirus restrictions took hold, the department could not recruit candidates in the usual ways. So what did it do instead?
Civil service’s national diversity hides local differences
22 Nov 2021 Analysis
Civil service’s national diversity hides local differences
Welsh Government sets targets to recruit more disabled staff, while defence organisations in south-west England have low proportions of female and gay employees
A practical approach to net zero targets in the public sector Partner Content
22 Nov 2021 Energy & Environment
A practical approach to net zero targets in the public sector
Setting and achieving the net zero targets set by the Scottish and UK governments is an ongoing journey, and the clock is ticking. Daniel Botterill, chief executive of Rio ESG, sheds light on how to take the first, crucial steps
Budget 2021: What we know, and what we don't
18 Nov 2021 Finance
Budget 2021: What we know, and what we don't
As the dust settles on the first multi-year spending review since 2015, CSW explores the known knowns and the known unknowns
An open door to DDaT and a surfeit of sign-ins: what next for digital government?
05 Nov 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
An open door to DDaT and a surfeit of sign-ins: what next for digital government?
Government’s digital leaders discussed challenges and plans for the months ahead at techUK’s annual public sector tech conference. We listened in
Read the October 2021 edition of Civil Service World
04 Nov 2021
Read the October 2021 edition of Civil Service World
CSW takes a look at the civil service’s role in hosting the landmark COP conference
Read the September 2021 edition of Civil Service World
04 Nov 2021
Read the September 2021 edition of Civil Service World
The impact of coronavirus is still being felt across government, even now that ministers have lifted many of the restrictions put in place during the pandemic. September’s edition of CSW looks at what some of the longer-term impacts will be.
First principles: Ian Watmore’s reflections on his time as first civil service commissioner
04 Nov 2021 Brexit
First principles: Ian Watmore’s reflections on his time as first civil service commissioner
The outgoing first civil service commissioner reveals what made him proudest – and what still causes him regret – during five tumultuous years
Andrew Hudson: The real Treasury view of the Spending Review
03 Nov 2021 Economy
Andrew Hudson: The real Treasury view of the Spending Review
The Treasury will be pleased with how the Spending Review has been received in Whitehall. But longer term issues will still worry it
Cool like the other side of the pillow: the thinking technique that can help solve Whitehall problems
02 Nov 2021 Civil Service Reform
Cool like the other side of the pillow: the thinking technique that can help solve Whitehall problems
A Japanese teaching device has helped Colin Talbot think through some of government’s enduring problems. He explains how it can help you too
Cop26: Can Whitehall help pave the way to net zero?
01 Nov 2021 Energy & Environment
Cop26: Can Whitehall help pave the way to net zero?
The government is due to set out new targets to make the civil service carbon neutral. Mark Rowe takes a look at what progress has been made so far, and what still needs to be done
Garry Graham: As the pay freeze ends, ministers must enact real reform
27 Oct 2021 HR
Garry Graham: As the pay freeze ends, ministers must enact real reform
Increasing budgets and more leeway on pay gives ministers a chance to enact much-needed pay reform argues Garry Graham. Whether they do so will show how committed they are to building and supporting a skilled civil service
Spending reviews: a short history
27 Oct 2021 Economy
Spending reviews: a short history
As chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out his latest spending review, Colin Talbot digs into the history of this deceptively simple fiscal event
Delivering change across the public sector Partner Content
27 Oct 2021 Civil Service Reform
Delivering change across the public sector
It’s a bit of cliché, but it’s still true that most change efforts fail. Asking three simple questions can significantly improve the chances of success, argues Subash Viroomal
Changing places: What it's really like to work in the Treasury, and the inside story of its Darlington campus
26 Oct 2021 Finance
Changing places: What it's really like to work in the Treasury, and the inside story of its Darlington campus
The Treasury has a long history, and its reputation as Whitehall’s most intimidating department casts a long shadow. But two DGs tell Richard Johnstone that perception doesn’t match reality
‘Cutting edge’ or a ‘security nightmare’? Government anti-espionage unit on the tech behind Bond gadgets
21 Oct 2021 Security & Defence
‘Cutting edge’ or a ‘security nightmare’? Government anti-espionage unit on the tech behind Bond gadgets
As No Time To Die smashes box-office records, technical experts from the UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping tell us whether 007’s favourite spy toys are rooted in reality
How to Cop: Senior civil servants reveal the planning for the Glasgow climate conference, and how the landmark talks will run Exclusive
19 Oct 2021 Energy & Environment
How to Cop: Senior civil servants reveal the planning for the Glasgow climate conference, and how the landmark talks will run
The Cop26 summit will be the biggest ever international event held in the UK. Richard Johnstone speaks to two senior civil servants about the planning for the conference, and the long nights ahead
Andy Cowper: Learning the lessons from Covid-19
18 Oct 2021 Coronavirus
Andy Cowper: Learning the lessons from Covid-19
At a time of taxing politics – and politicising taxes – a government review of NHS management mustn’t get in the way of learning from the pandemic
Black History Month: Minorities shouldn’t need to excel to be accepted
15 Oct 2021
Black History Month: Minorities shouldn’t need to excel to be accepted
In a personal opinion, civil servant Ayo Awoyungbo explains why he’s not celebrating this Black History Month
Opinion: Ministers risk becoming leaden-footed luddites as work from home row rumbles on
14 Oct 2021 HR
Opinion: Ministers risk becoming leaden-footed luddites as work from home row rumbles on
Every day seems to bring new jibes at hard working civil servants over office returns. But eventually reality will catch up with