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
MoD planning 'phased approach' to Ajax restart
28 Apr Commercial
MoD planning 'phased approach' to Ajax restart
Long-troubled programme to resume “under very controlled circumstances" after investigation indicates no single cause for noise and vibration symptoms
Civil Service Pension Scheme: Cabinet Office explains decision to outsource contract
15 Apr Commercial
Civil Service Pension Scheme: Cabinet Office explains decision to outsource contract
Cabinet Office update says Capita won contract based on past performance, price and value for money
Digital, Data & Technology All
Public sector AI productivity claims 'require more robust evidence'
11 May Digital, Data & Technology
Public sector AI productivity claims 'require more robust evidence'
Paper picks out "recurring weaknesses" in AI evidence-building in the public sector
AI curiosity and climate change: What a global survey of public officials tells us about 2026’s big issues
11 May Digital, Data & Technology
AI curiosity and climate change: What a global survey of public officials tells us about 2026’s big issues
Civil Service World grabs five takeaways from the latest boil-down of sentiment from Apolitical’s 500,000-plus members in the UK and further afield
Operational Delivery All
Operational Delivery Profession Awards winners announced
24 Apr HR
Operational Delivery Profession Awards winners announced
Team who made theory test booking system accessible to deaf people and HMRC official who transformed how the department approaches staff safety are among this year's winners
Pension crisis: Renewed calls to end Capita contract after Royal Mail decision
23 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Pension crisis: Renewed calls to end Capita contract after Royal Mail decision
Unions urge government to review Civil Service Pension Scheme contract after ministers decide to end Capita's administration of Royal Mail pension scheme
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
'UK and global first': Zoe Gascoyne becomes head of Fraud Investigation Service
11 May Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
'UK and global first': Zoe Gascoyne becomes head of Fraud Investigation Service
Gascoyne appointment follows retirement of Richard Las
DWP rejects call for ‘more ambitious’ fraud and error reduction target
07 Apr Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP rejects call for ‘more ambitious’ fraud and error reduction target
Department accepts MPs’ recommendation that it has more work to do on cross-government data-sharing
HR All
Harriet Harman to help 'drive culture shift' in civil service through new women-focused role
11 May HR
Harriet Harman to help 'drive culture shift' in civil service through new women-focused role
Keir Starmer names veteran parliamentarian and ex-PM Gordon Brown as advisers after local election losses
Civil Service Pensions Taskforce head Angela MacDonald to retire
08 May Digital, Data & Technology
Civil Service Pensions Taskforce head Angela MacDonald to retire
Cabinet Office will appoint an operational director to serve as a permanent successor but HMRC says it has “no plans” for a new second perm sec
Legal All
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
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, Michael Padfield, director and deputy head, Attorney General’s Office, explains what it takes to do his job
Union questions PM’s comments on impact of FCDO restructure
30 Apr Foreign Affairs
Union questions PM’s comments on impact of FCDO restructure
“No evidence” to support Starmer’s assertion that international law unit’s work will “simply be done by a different team”, PCS says
Project Delivery All
Departments can learn from success of Bank of England tech programme, MPs say
01 May Digital, Data & Technology
Departments can learn from success of Bank of England tech programme, MPs say
Public Accounts Committee urges Cabinet Office and DSIT to produce new guidance based on Real-Time Gross Settlement System modernisation
CQC Gambling Harms Team among winners at regulation awards
02 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
CQC Gambling Harms Team among winners at regulation awards
The Care Quality Commission, the Office for Environmental Protection and the North Sea Transition Authority took home prizes at the Institute of Regulation's annual conference
Property & Estates All
‘Sensitive and highly functional’: Historic Whitehall building wins accessibility accolade
01 May Digital, Data & Technology
‘Sensitive and highly functional’: Historic Whitehall building wins accessibility accolade
DSIT HQ wins award following refurb which included introduction of power-assisted doors, step free-access, accessible showers and changing rooms and universal single-sex toilets
Cabinet Office reports £450m savings from greener public buildings
28 Apr Property & Estates
Cabinet Office reports £450m savings from greener public buildings
Latest State of the Estate report says sale of surplus land and structures netted a further £367m in 2024-25
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
Scrap 60% office mandate, union demands amid rising living costs
27 Mar Civil Service Reform
Scrap 60% office mandate, union demands amid rising living costs
PCS says scrapping the civil service-wide hybrid working policy will reduce costs for both civil servants and departments
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
Science & Engineering All
Bring science and engineering in early – a new strategy to support officials across government
06 May HR
Bring science and engineering in early – a new strategy to support officials across government
The new science and engineering strategy places greater emphasis on how capability is developed and sustained throughout the civil service
What can policy professionals learn from evidence-based policing?
22 Apr Justice & Home Affairs
What can policy professionals learn from evidence-based policing?
Matt Bland highlights examples of evidence-based innovation on the front line, and what policy professionals across the civil service can learn from this experience
Policy All
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
Jenny Bates sets out how she’s using her Heywood fellowship to propose new “policy tramlines” for government
Universal Credit migration deadline extended as transition nears end
01 Apr Civil Service Reform
Universal Credit migration deadline extended as transition nears end
As Department for Work and Pensions announces extension to transition from two legacy benefits, IfG report outlines lessons from the 15-year programme
Energy & Environment All
MPs back ex-perm sec Helen Ghosh as environment watchdog chair
30 Apr Energy & Environment
MPs back ex-perm sec Helen Ghosh as environment watchdog chair
But committees urge the former Defra and Home Office boss to improve relations with farmers and environmentalists
Ex-Defra perm sec Helen Ghosh put forward to chair environment watchdog
20 Apr Energy & Environment
Ex-Defra perm sec Helen Ghosh put forward to chair environment watchdog
Ghosh, who also led the National Trust, named as preferred candidate for Office for Environmental Protection job