'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
'BEIS's biggest challenge has been a long and unpredictable to-do list': Sarah Munby reflects on 2021
20 Dec 2021 Energy & Environment
'BEIS's biggest challenge has been a long and unpredictable to-do list': Sarah Munby reflects on 2021
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The BEIS perm sec tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
'We demonstrated how adaptable and innovative we can be': Andrew Goodall on how the Welsh Government tackled Covid
20 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
'We demonstrated how adaptable and innovative we can be': Andrew Goodall on how the Welsh Government tackled Covid
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The Welsh Government perm sec tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
'The biggest challenge we’ve faced has been responding to the increase in gender-based violence': Cross Government Gender Network
20 Dec 2021 HR
'The biggest challenge we’ve faced has been responding to the increase in gender-based violence': Cross Government Gender Network
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The Cross Government Gender Network tells us about 12 more months of dealing with the impact of Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
'An oracle would be handy': Chief medical officer Chris Whitty's New Year's wish
17 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
'An oracle would be handy': Chief medical officer Chris Whitty's New Year's wish
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The government's top medic tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
'After Cop26, the Scottish Government must go further and faster': Leslie Evans looks ahead
17 Dec 2021 Energy & Environment
'After Cop26, the Scottish Government must go further and faster': Leslie Evans looks ahead
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The Scottish Government's top official tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
'DWP must continue to adapt': Peter Schofield on 2022 – and the celebrity he'd get to cater his NYE party
16 Dec 2021 Leadership
'DWP must continue to adapt': Peter Schofield on 2022 – and the celebrity he'd get to cater his NYE party
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. DWP's permanent secretary tells us about 12 more months of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic at the same time as pushing ahead with new challenges
Jayne Brady on 2021's 'testing mix of circumstances' for Northern Ireland and becoming the first female NICS head
16 Dec 2021 Leadership
Jayne Brady on 2021's 'testing mix of circumstances' for Northern Ireland and becoming the first female NICS head
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The Northern Ireland Civil Service head tells us about 12 more months of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic at the same time as pushing ahead with new challenges
What we know about the FCDO's handling of the Afghan crisis – and what we don’t
16 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
What we know about the FCDO's handling of the Afghan crisis – and what we don’t
Unanswered emails, irresponsible holidays and “chaotic” processes: these are some of the accusations levelled against the Foreign Office over its handling of the Afghan crisis in August. Here's what we know – and what we don’t
Nightingale courts and remote hearings – how the MoJ adapted to Covid challenges
15 Dec 2021 Justice & Home Affairs
Nightingale courts and remote hearings – how the MoJ adapted to Covid challenges
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. Ministry of Justice permanent secretary Antonia Romeo tells us about 12 months of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic at the same time as pushing ahead with new challenges
‘2022 is about delivering on our promises’ – Alex Chisholm on his priority for the coming year
15 Dec 2021 Leadership
‘2022 is about delivering on our promises’ – Alex Chisholm on his priority for the coming year
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The Cabinet Office perm sec and civil service COO tells us about 12 more months of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic at the same time as pushing ahead with new challenges
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