Leadership

The role of private secretary is a well-beaten path to power. but what’s so special about being a secretary? Andrew Greenway explores

Taking up the roles of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service at a time of seismic change, Sir Mark Sedwill is leading a 400,000-strong team that is growing fast and working hard amid deep uncertainty. He talks to Jess Bowie and Suzannah Brecknell about his priorities, and what he thinks will define his time as government’s top official

Move aims to help managers and applicants understand range of opportunities

Last year’s novichok attacks in Salisbury brought global threats to the doorstep of the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Chief executive Gary Aitkenhead tells Richard Johnstone how it is responding to the changing world

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Has the age of Twitter changed the Foreign Office – or just what we expect from documentaries? Sue Cameron considers the BBC’s recent exploration of the FCO

IfG session also hears from Lord Robin Butler that internal competition has made managers “impotent” in planning their workforce.

Annual report flags hike in numbers but shows many ministries come up short

Public appointments review author also praises training among civil service professions as "light years" ahead of his time

There’s some Brexit semantic skirmishes as the cabinet secretary and the civil service chief exec appear before PACAC. Dave Penman watches it so you don’t have to

Fiona Spencer joins agency from the Home Office, where she was chief portfolio officer.

Rapid job changes across government costs money and is bad for policy. So why does it persist?

IfG finds staff move on more rapidly in the UK than in other civil services and puts cost of churn at £74m a year

UK Supreme Court rejects request for NI attorney general for clarification on powers, saying they should be addressed in court case.

Twelve months on from the collapse of one of the government’s biggest contractors, Richard Johnstone looks at how the Cabinet Office has responded and reformed its approach to outsourcing

Reports claim the bloc could reopen exit talks if a clear parliamentary consensus emerges in Westminster.

Unions urge members to continue to bring forward complaints and “expect that the Scottish Government will handle their complaint properly”.

Government Legal Department perm sec is one of just six lawyers recognised for non-court work

Interim CDIO Simon McKinnon provides insight into department's agenda for the year ahead

New infrastructure profession leader earn around £190,000, job advert says.

Scottish Government perm sec Leslie Evans apologises "to all involved for the failure in the proper application of this one particular part of the procedure"

Gareth Davies has been selected to replace Sir Amyas Morse, whose term as auditor general is set to end at the end of May

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Digital agency lays out plans for working with private companies and other departments over the next 18 months