Leadership

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Paula Sussex, chief executive officer of the Charity Commission, takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Government communications executive director Alex Aiken takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites.Clare Moriarty, permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

From "trusted adviser" to "shock absorber", the cabinet secretary has a job description like no other. Matt Foster listened in as Sir Jeremy Heywood and his five predecessors reflected on 100 years of the post – and asked what it takes to serve as Britain's top official. Main image credit: Institute for Government

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) chief executive Oliver Morley takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Stephen Lovegrove, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, kicks off our annual perm secs round-up​

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. This list will be updated throughout December, so check back regularly!

DIT officials say Whitehall has trebled its trade policy staff numbers since the referendum, and stress focus on training up existing staff rather than drafting in outsiders

Whitehall's annual people survey provides a moment of catharsis – but, Jane Dudman wonders, is it asking the wrong questions?

New recruit be responsible for managing a £50m annual IT budget

After three years away from Whitehall, Ian Watmore is back — this time as head of the organisation upholding the very values of the civil service. The new first civil service commissioner sits down with Matt Foster to talk reform, diversity, and why, as a departmental leader, you can no longer "just draft your way out of a problem”

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