Analysis All
‘The opportunity to have organisations of all types publishing data to common standards is really exciting’: why stats regulators' new award matters
21 Oct 2020 Analysis
‘The opportunity to have organisations of all types publishing data to common standards is really exciting’: why stats regulators' new award matters
The first ever award to recognise the voluntary application of the Office for Statistics Regulation code has been awarded jointly to MHCLG and the Scottish Fiscal Commission, with UCAS named highly commended.
Buried Treasury? What changes to the chancellor’s special advisers mean for officials
11 Mar 2020 Analysis
Buried Treasury? What changes to the chancellor’s special advisers mean for officials

Plans to merge the Treasury and No.10 teams of political advisers have led to questions about where power lies in the centre of government. Richard Johnstone seeks answers
Commercial All
Sponsored by Proxima
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How the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper is set to impact public sector procurement
22 Dec 2020 Commercial
How the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper is set to impact public sector procurement
The publication of the government’s green paper setting out the post-Brexit future for public procurement is a historic moment. Proxima’s John Collington sets out what it means
Less ‘just in time’, more ‘just in case’: How government can be a better customer when the next crisis hits
16 Dec 2020 Commercial
Less ‘just in time’, more ‘just in case’: How government can be a better customer when the next crisis hits
There have been some government procurement successes during Covid-19, but there are also many lessons to be learned, says Aidan Shilson-Thomas, a senior researcher at the think-tank Reform
Digital, Data & Technology All
DfE laptops for home-schooling found to contain malware
26 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
DfE laptops for home-schooling found to contain malware
‘Small number’ of machines affected by what users say is a worm that contacts Russian servers
Opinion: What Covid revealed about government’s legacy IT, and what to do next
26 Jan Coronavirus
Opinion: What Covid revealed about government’s legacy IT, and what to do next
The coronavirus pandemic pressed unprecedented stress on government’s technology systems. Many parts of the system coped well, but it also revealed problems that must be addressed to avoid future crisis, says Reform's director of research, Eleonora Harwich
Operational Delivery All
Sponsored by PA Consulting
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Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
25 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
Last year saw public protests about the use of predictive analytics in decision making. As the technology becomes more widely used in many public services, Sam Trendall asks experts about the implications for government, the law – and the citizens affected
Hampshire County Council: Speeding up support for over 50,000 vulnerable people shielding at home from Covid-19
19 Jan Operational Delivery
Hampshire County Council: Speeding up support for over 50,000 vulnerable people shielding at home from Covid-19
With over 50,000 vulnerable people shielding at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, Hampshire County Council urgently needed to understand their support needs. PA Consulting explain how a 7-day programme of changes dramatically enhanced the Council's ability to reach those most in need.
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
HMRC targets furlough fraudsters after up to £3.5bn wrongly paid out via scheme
08 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
HMRC targets furlough fraudsters after up to £3.5bn wrongly paid out via scheme
Perm sec Jim Harra tells MPs the scheme's fraud and error rate "could be between 5% and 10%" of £35.4bn bill
Crooks hijack Government Legal Department's phone number
25 Aug 2020 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Crooks hijack Government Legal Department's phone number
GLD issues warning about enquiry number showing up on calls from fraudsters
HR All
'Compassionate leader with sharp intellect' sought to lead Attorney General's Office
26 Jan HR
'Compassionate leader with sharp intellect' sought to lead Attorney General's Office
£120,000 on offer for AGO's next director general
Government shakes up digital leadership
14 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Government shakes up digital leadership
Home Office tech chief Davinson appointed leader of newly created Central Digital and Data Office while Read arrives from MoJ to head up GDS
Legal All
Closing argument: ex-legal chief Jonathan Jones on Brexit, Covid and leaving government
21 Jan Brexit
Closing argument: ex-legal chief Jonathan Jones on Brexit, Covid and leaving government
Jonathan Jones’s three-decade civil service career came to an abrupt end in September when he quit over controversial elements of the internal market bill. The government’s former top lawyer tells Beckie Smith about his departure, cocktail recipes, and the legal side of the Covid crisis
GLD offers £180,000 for government's next top lawyer
29 Oct 2020 HR
GLD offers £180,000 for government's next top lawyer
Recruitment firm to get up to £45,000 to assist in search for Treasury solicitor to succeed Sir Jonathan Jones
Project Delivery All
PM signals more civil service reform as Michael Barber to lead delivery review
13 Jan Civil Service Reform
PM signals more civil service reform as Michael Barber to lead delivery review
Rapid review to make delivery more “focused, effective and efficient”
Green light: IPA chief Nick Smallwood on the Covid response, building back better, and his Get To Green mantra
17 Nov 2020 Leadership
Green light: IPA chief Nick Smallwood on the Covid response, building back better, and his Get To Green mantra
Nick Smallwood joined the Infrastructure and Projects Authority with a plan to improve project delivery across government. Despite the impact of coronavirus, it remains on track, he tells Richard Johnstone
Property & Estates All
'Relocations can be expensive and disruptive': four tests for moving civil servants out of London
11 Nov 2020 Civil Service Reform
'Relocations can be expensive and disruptive': four tests for moving civil servants out of London
Moving jobs out of London will not automatically level up the country, IfG says
HM Land Registry offers £120k for digital chief to lead transformation
26 Oct 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
HM Land Registry offers £120k for digital chief to lead transformation
Tech leader will oversee digitisation of platforms and infrastructure upgrades
Communications All
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
11 Jan Communications
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
November stats show another increase in call-waiting times and new struggles with answering online and postal queries
No.10 seeks prime minister's next spokesperson in ongoing comms shake-up
17 Dec 2020 Communications
No.10 seeks prime minister's next spokesperson in ongoing comms shake-up
£120,000 on offer for the successor to James Slack, who was promoted to comms director
Finance All
‘There was exceptional teamwork and rigour’: Head of the government finance function Cat Little reflects on her first Spending Review in 2020
23 Dec 2020 Finance
‘There was exceptional teamwork and rigour’: Head of the government finance function Cat Little reflects on her first Spending Review in 2020
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
Priorities for every department and new FCDO and Treasury hubs: what the Spending Review means for the civil service
25 Nov 2020 Civil Service Reform
Priorities for every department and new FCDO and Treasury hubs: what the Spending Review means for the civil service
What are your department’s new priorities?
Science & Engineering All
'The scientific community came together to innovate’: how one BEIS-backed institute responded to Covid
15 Jan Coronavirus
'The scientific community came together to innovate’: how one BEIS-backed institute responded to Covid
Covid-19 has pushed science to the front pages, Dr Peter Thompson, chief executive of National Physical Laboratory, writes about science’s role in aiding economic recovery
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
08 Jan Science & Engineering
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
Transparency around how SAGE works has improved, but lessons have been applied "inconsistently"
Policy All
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
15 Jan Economics
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
But government rejects MPs’ call for sector breakdowns and a headline uncertainty figure
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
12 Jan HR
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
FDA research reveals many civil servants want to hold on to home working even after the coronavirus emergency. Ministers must catch up to where their workforce is
Energy & Environment All
Rishi Sunak promises ‘eco-friendly economic recovery’ with £3bn injection for green jobs
07 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Rishi Sunak promises ‘eco-friendly economic recovery’ with £3bn injection for green jobs
Environmental groups say plans fall short of what was needed to create jobs in response to the coronavirus outbreak and tackle the climate crisis.
Sedwill salutes ‘unparalleled’ efforts of civil servants
09 Apr 2020 Energy & Environment
Sedwill salutes ‘unparalleled’ efforts of civil servants

Cabinet secretary also encourages departmental staff to make time to relax – safely – over the Easter weekend