Analysis All
The funding illusion: Why money alone won't build public sector capability
04 Feb Analysis
The funding illusion: Why money alone won't build public sector capability
Governments across developed economies face the same dynamic: ambitious funding commitments that outrun the capacity to deliver
Give those you lead what they need: How to be an emotionally intelligent leader
30 Jan Analysis
Give those you lead what they need: How to be an emotionally intelligent leader
The best leaders inspire great effort from their teams instead of just demanding it. But what does that effort look like, and how can leaders harness it effectively?
Commercial All
Cabinet Office told Capita to prepare for six-figure pensions backlog, firm acknowledges
26 Mar Commercial
Cabinet Office told Capita to prepare for six-figure pensions backlog, firm acknowledges
Cat Little tells MPs the outsourcer was instructed to plan for up to 100,000 work in-progress cases before Civil Service Pension Scheme handover
Public interest test 'will end outsourcing by default' of government contracts
26 Mar Civil Service Reform
Public interest test 'will end outsourcing by default' of government contracts
Government departments will now have to conduct public interest tests on whether £1m-plus outsourced service contracts can be delivered more effectively in house
Digital, Data & Technology All
The wrong suspect: Why tech is rarely the issue when digital transformation goes wrong
25 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
The wrong suspect: Why tech is rarely the issue when digital transformation goes wrong
The system works exactly as designed — and that’s the problem
Civil servants should be more involved in shaping AI adoption, report says
24 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Civil servants should be more involved in shaping AI adoption, report says
Two-thirds of officials want to be more involved in shaping how their organisation introduces artificial intelligence, according to survey
Operational Delivery All
MoJ announces funding for 1,300 extra probation officers
20 Mar HR
MoJ announces funding for 1,300 extra probation officers
New recruitment to come on top of 2,300 pledged since Labour came to power
'We must never forget that every customer interaction counts': DVLA chief Tim Moss on joining-up services and delivering for citizens
18 Mar HR
'We must never forget that every customer interaction counts': DVLA chief Tim Moss on joining-up services and delivering for citizens
CSW visits Swansea for a wide-ranging conversation with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency boss
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
Departments’ use of banking-style anti-fraud checks set for review
13 Mar Finance
Departments’ use of banking-style anti-fraud checks set for review
HM Treasury tells MPs “cross-government stocktake” will explore which organisations seek identity validation for payments and whether new guidance is needed 
Home Office and NCA to lead new online crime squad
10 Mar Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Home Office and NCA to lead new online crime squad
Online Crime Centre, a new public-private partnership, will bring together specialists from government, policing, intelligence agencies and private sector
HR All
Ex-HMRC boss Harra drafted in to run NS&I
26 Mar Finance
Ex-HMRC boss Harra drafted in to run NS&I
Shakeup comes as state-owned bank admits that up to £476m may not have been paid to the families of customers who died
The valley of death – how the state systematically hollowed out its own delivery capacity
26 Mar Civil Service Reform
The valley of death – how the state systematically hollowed out its own delivery capacity
The APPG for Project Delivery’s first report has generational implications – which go far beyond infrastructure
Legal All
'My priorities? Delivery, innovation and productivity': Long-read interview with cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo Exclusive
16 Mar Civil Service Reform
'My priorities? Delivery, innovation and productivity': Long-read interview with cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo
Days after meeting CSW at Heathrow to talk about her priorities for the Home Office, Dame Antonia Romeo became cabinet secretary. Here, she reflects on both roles and explores how her experience of leading large departments will shape her leadership of the civil service
New awards launched to recognise prevention of violence against women and girls
26 Feb Justice & Home Affairs
New awards launched to recognise prevention of violence against women and girls
Award categories include Frontline Delivery Award for provision of exceptional frontline services to survivors of violence
Project Delivery All
Good financial management is key to delivery – NAO boss
10 Feb Finance
Good financial management is key to delivery – NAO boss
Davies to argue in annual speech that better financial management is needed for government achieve savings targets and better services
Treasury unveils streamlined Green Book guidance
06 Feb Economy
Treasury unveils streamlined Green Book guidance
Updated appraisal bible is 40% shorter than previous edition and geared to support place-based budgeting
Property & Estates All
Manchester Digital Campus gets Treasury approval
19 Mar HR
Manchester Digital Campus gets Treasury approval
Campus to bring together 8,800 staff from multiple government departments
Hybrid working: GPA helping departments to meet 60% mandate
27 Feb HR
Hybrid working: GPA helping departments to meet 60% mandate
Responding to House of Lords report, government says 60% approach “offers the best balance for most employees”
Communications All
The line has been crossed – government must stop using X
15 Jan Communications
The line has been crossed – government must stop using X
If the prime minister and his political colleagues aren’t prepared to vote with their feet now, then when?
Government appoints lead media agency
23 Dec 2025 Communications
Government appoints lead media agency
WPP will lead government media strategy and support high-impact public sector campaigns across the public sector
Finance All
FCDO sets out detail on overseas aid cuts
20 Mar Finance
FCDO sets out detail on overseas aid cuts
Changes “make the whole world more vulnerable”, International Development Committee chair warns
MPs express doubts over plan to halve consultancy spend
11 Mar Civil Service Reform
MPs express doubts over plan to halve consultancy spend
Public Accounts Committee warns of inconsistent data on consultancy spending across government
Science & Engineering All
MHCLG recruits for new ‘chief construction and scientific adviser’ role
16 Mar HR
MHCLG recruits for new ‘chief construction and scientific adviser’ role
Department offers up to £139k for “unified” post, which forms part of its ongoing response to the Grenfell Tower disaster
DSIT offers £174k for AI and emerging tech DG
25 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
DSIT offers £174k for AI and emerging tech DG
Perm sec Emran Mian says department is seeking candidates with “deep technical curiosity, strong judgement, and the ability to empower experts”
Policy All
Regulation ‘too often the default response’ to policy problems, report warns
18 Mar Civil Service Reform
Regulation ‘too often the default response’ to policy problems, report warns
Re:State report calls for sweeping reforms to regulatory system, including returning the brief to the Cabinet Office
'Innovation and ideas are everywhere': Interview with former Policy Lab head Vasant Chari
16 Mar Policy
'Innovation and ideas are everywhere': Interview with former Policy Lab head Vasant Chari
Chari, who is now director of regional and local growth at Connected Places Catapult, offers advice on how to do testing and learning well – and what civil servants can do to support growth and innovation
Energy & Environment All
Natural England boss to retire
17 Mar Energy & Environment
Natural England boss to retire
Marian Spain has led the Defra-sponsored agency since 2018
Ofgem boss appointed as new DESNZ perm sec
06 Mar Energy & Environment
Ofgem boss appointed as new DESNZ perm sec
Jonathan Brearley says it is "a real privilege" to be appointed to the role "at such a defining moment across UK energy"