'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
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
Shifts and ruptures: Heywood fellow on how the UK should respond to a changing global economic order
24 Apr Economics
Shifts and ruptures: Heywood fellow on how the UK should respond to a changing global economic order
Infrastructure and Projects Authority chief exec Tony Meggs on improving Whitehall delivery and undertaking a scheme of his own
30 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Infrastructure and Projects Authority chief exec Tony Meggs on improving Whitehall delivery and undertaking a scheme of his own

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
2017 review: National Savings & Investments Ian Ackerley reveals his Christmas car passion
29 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
2017 review: National Savings & Investments Ian Ackerley reveals his Christmas car passion

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman on inspection reform and her Christmas passion for bread sauce
29 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman on inspection reform and her Christmas passion for bread sauce

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Government commercial chief Gareth Rhys Williams on boosting Whitehall procurement capability and binge watching The Thick of It
29 Dec 2017 Commercial
Government commercial chief Gareth Rhys Williams on boosting Whitehall procurement capability and binge watching The Thick of It

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
National Crime Agency DG Lynne Owens on how to stay a step ahead of serious and organised criminals in 2018
28 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
National Crime Agency DG Lynne Owens on how to stay a step ahead of serious and organised criminals in 2018

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Land Registry chief Graham Farrant reveals a successful response to an IT crisis that risked the smooth functioning of the property market
28 Dec 2017 Digital, Data & Technology
Land Registry chief Graham Farrant reveals a successful response to an IT crisis that risked the smooth functioning of the property market

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Government Equalities Office director Hilary Spencer on introducing world leading gender pay gap legalisation in 2017
28 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Government Equalities Office director Hilary Spencer on introducing world leading gender pay gap legalisation in 2017

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
GDS chief Kevin Cunnington on moving offices in 2017 and delivering the Government Transformation Strategy
27 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
GDS chief Kevin Cunnington on moving offices in 2017 and delivering the Government Transformation Strategy

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Charity Commission chief Helen Stephenson reflects on her first six months at the watchdog
27 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Charity Commission chief Helen Stephenson reflects on her first six months at the watchdog

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Treasury solicitor Jonathan Jones on ensuring a nimble response to government priorities and finally joining Twitter in 2017
27 Dec 2017 Leadership
Treasury solicitor Jonathan Jones on ensuring a nimble response to government priorities and finally joining Twitter in 2017

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Innovate UK chief executive Dr Ruth McKernan on a decade of helping businesses grow
26 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Innovate UK chief executive Dr Ruth McKernan on a decade of helping businesses grow

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Government Communications executive director Alex Aiken on significant progress for the comms profession in 2017
26 Dec 2017 Communications
Government Communications executive director Alex Aiken on significant progress for the comms profession in 2017

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
HMRC perm sec Jon Thompson on doing Brexit and transformation at once and Christmas cinema visits
26 Dec 2017 Brexit
HMRC perm sec Jon Thompson on doing Brexit and transformation at once and Christmas cinema visits

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
FCO perm sec Sir Simon McDonald on delivering a ‘one government’ response to crises in 2017
25 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
FCO perm sec Sir Simon McDonald on delivering a ‘one government’ response to crises in 2017

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
MoD perm sec Stephen Lovegrove reveals the tough decisions facing the department in 2018
25 Dec 2017 Leadership
MoD perm sec Stephen Lovegrove reveals the tough decisions facing the department in 2018

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
NAO auditor general Sir Amyas Morse on how audit helped Whitehall improve in 2017 and priorities in response to Brexit
25 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
NAO auditor general Sir Amyas Morse on how audit helped Whitehall improve in 2017 and priorities in response to Brexit

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas with
DfT perm sec Bernadette Kelly on how 2016 got HS2 on track
24 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
DfT perm sec Bernadette Kelly on how 2016 got HS2 on track

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Home Office permanent secretary Philip Rutnam reflects on his first year since moving from the Department for Transport
24 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Home Office permanent secretary Philip Rutnam reflects on his first year since moving from the Department for Transport

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Treasury second perm sec Charles Roxburgh on a challenging year and 2018’s productivity challenge
24 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Treasury second perm sec Charles Roxburgh on a challenging year and 2018’s productivity challenge

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Jeff James: the keeper of the National Archives on the importance of digital preservation... and Christmas with a real tree
24 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
Jeff James: the keeper of the National Archives on the importance of digital preservation... and Christmas with a real tree

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Antonia Romeo: Department for International Trade perm sec on her first year in the top job
23 Dec 2017 Leadership
Antonia Romeo: Department for International Trade perm sec on her first year in the top job

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
MoJ perm sec Richard Heaton praises the hard work of prison staff and taking forward court and tribunal reforms in 2018
23 Dec 2017 Leadership
MoJ perm sec Richard Heaton praises the hard work of prison staff and taking forward court and tribunal reforms in 2018

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
'Alexa, show me Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency chief executive Oliver Morley’s 2017 review'
23 Dec 2017 Government Tax Profession
'Alexa, show me Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency chief executive Oliver Morley’s 2017 review'

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without
Chief medical officer Prof. Dame Sally Davies on a year tackling antimicrobial resistance and acting on childhood obesity
22 Dec 2017 Leadership
Chief medical officer Prof. Dame Sally Davies on a year tackling antimicrobial resistance and acting on childhood obesity

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without