'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
Lessons from America: should the UK consider US-style government transitions?
20 Jan 2021 Leadership
Lessons from America: should the UK consider US-style government transitions?
If Joe Biden had won a general election in the UK rather than the US, he would have assumed office immediately and his administration would now be in its third month. But is such a swift transition of power a good thing? And is it effective from the point of view of the civil service? Geoffrey Lyons reports
January 2021 CSW digital issue available to read
19 Jan 2021 Leadership
January 2021 CSW digital issue available to read
Exclusive interviews with Simon Case, Jonathan Jones, and winners of the Diversity and Inclusion Awards revealed
Leading into 2021: 21 civil service leaders preview the year ahead
19 Jan 2021 Leadership
Leading into 2021: 21 civil service leaders preview the year ahead
With the coronavirus still affecting the country, but immunisation on the way, 2021 could be a year of both challenges and of recovery. As part of our online roundup, CSW asked senior leaders for their thoughts on the 12 months ahead. Here are 21 of their reflections
'The scientific community came together to innovate’: how one BEIS-backed institute responded to Covid
15 Jan 2021 Coronavirus
'The scientific community came together to innovate’: how one BEIS-backed institute responded to Covid
Covid-19 has pushed science to the front pages, Dr Peter Thompson, chief executive of National Physical Laboratory, writes about science’s role in aiding economic recovery
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
12 Jan 2021 HR
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
FDA research reveals many civil servants want to hold on to home working even after the coronavirus emergency. Ministers must catch up to where their workforce is
National Infrastructure Commission chief on joining during lockdown: ‘I look forward to being able to hold an all staff meeting in person’
11 Jan 2021 Project Delivery
National Infrastructure Commission chief on joining during lockdown: ‘I look forward to being able to hold an all staff meeting in person’
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
'This year has been a tremendous reminder of the importance of the union': civil service COO Alex Chisholm reflects on 2020
04 Jan 2021
'This year has been a tremendous reminder of the importance of the union': civil service COO Alex Chisholm reflects on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘EU exit is going to put us right into the spotlight’: Food Standards Agency chief Emily Miles looks ahead
23 Dec 2020 Brexit
‘EU exit is going to put us right into the spotlight’: Food Standards Agency chief Emily Miles looks ahead
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘I am proud of the way the Government Communication Service has come together under difficult circumstances to deliver exemplary public communication’: Government comms chief Alex Aiken on 2020
23 Dec 2020 Communications
‘I am proud of the way the Government Communication Service has come together under difficult circumstances to deliver exemplary public communication’: Government comms chief Alex Aiken on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘There was exceptional teamwork and rigour’: Head of the government finance function Cat Little reflects on her first Spending Review in 2020
23 Dec 2020 Finance
‘There was exceptional teamwork and rigour’: Head of the government finance function Cat Little reflects on her first Spending Review in 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
Net zero, a new supercomputer, COP26 and a Met Office restructure: Prof Penelope Endersby looks ahead to 2021
22 Dec 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Net zero, a new supercomputer, COP26 and a Met Office restructure: Prof Penelope Endersby looks ahead to 2021
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
DVLA chief Julie Lennard on keeping NHS staff on the roads, and why digital has been so important to their Covid response
22 Dec 2020
DVLA chief Julie Lennard on keeping NHS staff on the roads, and why digital has been so important to their Covid response
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘Charities’ work saves, sustains and enriches life in countless ways’: Charity Commission’s Helen Stephenson on sector’s Covid response
22 Dec 2020
‘Charities’ work saves, sustains and enriches life in countless ways’: Charity Commission’s Helen Stephenson on sector’s Covid response
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
357m vaccine doses, £65bn in loans, nine industry guides and more: Sarah Munby reflects on 'a busy year' for BEIS
22 Dec 2020
357m vaccine doses, £65bn in loans, nine industry guides and more: Sarah Munby reflects on 'a busy year' for BEIS
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘The pandemic has highlighted the importance of public information’: National Archives keeper Jeff James on the Covid response
22 Dec 2020
‘The pandemic has highlighted the importance of public information’: National Archives keeper Jeff James on the Covid response
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘We have balanced the urgent response to the pandemic with the legal requirements that underpin civil service appointments’: Civil Service Commission chief Pete Lawrence on 2020
22 Dec 2020 HR
‘We have balanced the urgent response to the pandemic with the legal requirements that underpin civil service appointments’: Civil Service Commission chief Pete Lawrence on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
'2020 was truly a tipping point for HS2': DfT perm sec Bernadette Kelly on a year of getting 'shovels in the ground', and frustrating media battles
22 Dec 2020
'2020 was truly a tipping point for HS2': DfT perm sec Bernadette Kelly on a year of getting 'shovels in the ground', and frustrating media battles
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘The most isolated people who don’t have LGBT+ support around them are the ones that need support the most’: Kate Hughes, chair of the Civil Service LGBT+ Network, on 2020
22 Dec 2020
‘The most isolated people who don’t have LGBT+ support around them are the ones that need support the most’: Kate Hughes, chair of the Civil Service LGBT+ Network, on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘The whole of society needs a break this Christmas’: Environment Agency’s Emma Howard Boyd on 2020
22 Dec 2020 Energy & Environment
‘The whole of society needs a break this Christmas’: Environment Agency’s Emma Howard Boyd on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
'At times like this people want to feel a sense of belonging': Welsh Government perm sec Dame Shan Morgan on 2020
22 Dec 2020
'At times like this people want to feel a sense of belonging': Welsh Government perm sec Dame Shan Morgan on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘Our work this year has been the culmination of four years of building a global department’: Department for International Trade perm sec Antonia Romeo on 2020
22 Dec 2020 Leadership
‘Our work this year has been the culmination of four years of building a global department’: Department for International Trade perm sec Antonia Romeo on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘The complexity of the problem is the thing that first hit me’: cabinet secretary Simon Case on Covid, his return to No.10, and working with Dominic Cummings Exclusive
21 Dec 2020 Civil Service Reform
‘The complexity of the problem is the thing that first hit me’: cabinet secretary Simon Case on Covid, his return to No.10, and working with Dominic Cummings
After two years at the royal household, Simon Case returned to government this summer to head up its coronavirus response. Now cabinet secretary, he tells Beckie Smith and Richard Johnstone what it’s been like steering the civil service through a pandemic
'Brexit means most of my Zoom calls will be for business rather than festive fun': HMRC chief Jim Harra reflects on 2020
18 Dec 2020 Brexit
'Brexit means most of my Zoom calls will be for business rather than festive fun': HMRC chief Jim Harra reflects on 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
‘It is important that leaders are visible, approachable, and prioritise the wellbeing of their colleagues’: Defra perm sec Tamara Finkelstein's 2020 leadership lessons
18 Dec 2020
‘It is important that leaders are visible, approachable, and prioritise the wellbeing of their colleagues’: Defra perm sec Tamara Finkelstein's 2020 leadership lessons
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021