Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings
16 May Property & Estates

Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings

Forget break-out spaces and collaboration zones, many civil service offices of the past were ugly, impractical and unpleasant to work in. Jim Dunton explores the history of some of government’s most notorious buildings – and pays homage to some of the pioneering ones too
by Jim Dunton
‘Devastating’: Why are hundreds of DWP staff at risk of losing their jobs and ability to stay in the UK?
15 May HR
‘Devastating’: Why are hundreds of DWP staff at risk of losing their jobs and ability to stay in the UK?
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
14 May Civil Service Reform
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
A perm sec refresh is a moment of opportunity for ministers to shape Whitehall’s leadership
13 May Civil Service Reform
A perm sec refresh is a moment of opportunity for ministers to shape Whitehall’s leadership
IPA chief Nick Smallwood discusses looming change and the ultimate Christmas gift
12 Dec 2024 Project Delivery
IPA chief Nick Smallwood discusses looming change and the ultimate Christmas gift
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority boss also reflects on a "remarkable" 2024
JP Marks looks back on a year of partnership in Scotland
11 Dec 2024 Local & Devolved
JP Marks looks back on a year of partnership in Scotland
The Scottish Government perm sec cites progress on child poverty, delivering digital transformation and supporting a greener economy among his 2024 highlights
Growth spurt: Sarah Munby on a year of expansion at DSIT
09 Dec 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
Growth spurt: Sarah Munby on a year of expansion at DSIT
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology permanent secretary talks potential, prioritisation and prezzies
Modest respite: NAO boss reflects on calmer 2024
09 Dec 2024 Leadership
Modest respite: NAO boss reflects on calmer 2024
Gareth Davies discusses challenges ahead and remembers the best Christmas gifts he's given and received
'I might have helped make our planet safer' – Met Office chief exec looks back on a blustery year
06 Dec 2024 Science & Engineering
'I might have helped make our planet safer' – Met Office chief exec looks back on a blustery year
Prof Penny Endersby talks solar storms, supercomputers, cider-making and sticky gift situations
A year of challenge and change: Susanna McGibbon reflects on 2024's highlights
06 Dec 2024 Legal
A year of challenge and change: Susanna McGibbon reflects on 2024's highlights
Treasury solicitor and Government Legal Department permanent secretary unpacks 12 months of being a leader through turbulent times – then drops a Yuletide bombshell
Why fixing the broken system of civil service reward is key to rewiring the state
05 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Why fixing the broken system of civil service reward is key to rewiring the state
With a new government and a new cabinet secretary the time for pay reform is now, argues the FDA union’s assistant general secretary
We need a higher bar: How, and why, we should overhaul the Fast Stream
04 Dec 2024 HR
We need a higher bar: How, and why, we should overhaul the Fast Stream
The civil service needs to radically rethink how it attracts and manages top talent - and reforming the Fast Stream is the essential first step in that process
Meet the new boss: Positive reaction to Chris Wormald's appointment as cab sec
03 Dec 2024 HR
Meet the new boss: Positive reaction to Chris Wormald's appointment as cab sec
PM's top civil servant pick "suggests willingness to take public sector reform seriously" but unions warn of need for pay reform
Devolving employment support for vulnerable people is welcome, but let’s make sure we get it right
29 Nov 2024
Devolving employment support for vulnerable people is welcome, but let’s make sure we get it right
Can a personalised employment service replicate its success across the country? Nadine Smith and Niall O’Reilly sing the praises of Individual Placement and Support
Is DESNZ’s HQ the government’s most crowded office?
28 Nov 2024 HR
Is DESNZ’s HQ the government’s most crowded office?
CSW takes a look at recently-released data on desk space across government
How civil servants can overcome the challenges to managing risks in government
15 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
How civil servants can overcome the challenges to managing risks in government
Risk management is fundamental to delivering resilient and effective public services, argues the National Audit Office's Russell Heppleston
SR25: What did Reeves's first Budget tell us about next year’s Spending Review?
11 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
SR25: What did Reeves's first Budget tell us about next year’s Spending Review?
Late spring Spending Review will set out new “long-term” approach to delivering public services
Learning from crisis: How to embed mission-led government Partner Content
11 Nov 2024 Leadership
Learning from crisis: How to embed mission-led government
Now that the budget has set the ‘what’ of government, we encourage focus to shift to the ‘how’
A new era for government contracts
11 Nov 2024 Commercial
A new era for government contracts
The Procurement Act 2023 marks the most significant overhaul of public sector procurement in decades. As civil servants prepare for the changes, experts from the Cabinet Office and Crown Commercial Service outline the key objectives, share practical advice for implementation, and offer insights into managing cultural shifts across the public sector
What new data laws mean for central government
06 Nov 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
What new data laws mean for central government
PublicTechnology's Sam Trendall outlines how key measures in the Data Use and Access Bill could impact public sector organisations
The best medicine: How the MHRA is embracing AI as a way to protect and prosper
05 Nov 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
The best medicine: How the MHRA is embracing AI as a way to protect and prosper
After tech helped the MHRA play a starring role in government’s coronavirus response, digital chief Claire Harrison tells Sam Trendall where the watchdog’s story went next
A guide to the counter-fraud profession and function
04 Nov 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
A guide to the counter-fraud profession and function
In this series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Each briefing looks at a different group, offering a glimpse at what they do and how they work with other parts of government
'On reflection I feel more optimistic': Tech experts debate impact of moving digital functions to DSIT
01 Nov 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
'On reflection I feel more optimistic': Tech experts debate impact of moving digital functions to DSIT
Government’s core digital units have relocated from their long-standing base in the Cabinet Office to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Sam Trendall talks to sector experts to assess the impact of the move
West Midlands mayor says Whitehall is 'resistant' to devolution
29 Oct 2024 Local & Devolved
West Midlands mayor says Whitehall is 'resistant' to devolution
Richard Parker urges civil servants to “adopt a new approach and demonstrate that they are committed to devolution”
Why is the civil service so far behind in reporting greening government progress?
24 Oct 2024 Energy & Environment
Why is the civil service so far behind in reporting greening government progress?
Mark Rowe looks into departments' progress on the Greening Government
Commitments
'I haven’t always got jobs that I applied for. Looking back, I’m glad.' Lunch with... Dame Sue Owen
22 Oct 2024 Civil Service Reform
'I haven’t always got jobs that I applied for. Looking back, I’m glad.' Lunch with... Dame Sue Owen
The former DCMS perm sec breaks bread with Suzannah Brecknell
‘It's such a fast-evolving area’: Government counter-fraud boss on a decade of leading the charge against economic crime
18 Oct 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
‘It's such a fast-evolving area’: Government counter-fraud boss on a decade of leading the charge against economic crime
Public Sector Fraud Authority chief executive Mark Cheeseman speaks to Tevye Markson about improving cross-government capability, tackling insider fraud and modernising counter-fraud work
Special delivery: How has government’s approach to implementation evolved?
17 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
Special delivery: How has government’s approach to implementation evolved?
As CSW was launched in 2004, Tony Blair’s Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit was hitting its stride. Jim Dunton looks at how the centre of government’s approach to implementation has evolved