Analysis All
Complaints are a gift: Why departments must listen to the voice of the service user
13 Jul Analysis
Complaints are a gift: Why departments must listen to the voice of the service user
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Paula Sussex calls on departments to make better use of the insights they already have to drive better services and outcomes
DSIT analysis director becomes joint head of Government Economic Service
29 Jun Analysis
DSIT analysis director becomes joint head of Government Economic Service
Alison Kilburn will work alongside Prof Brian Bell in the professional body for civil service economists
Commercial All
Covid Inquiry: UK needs ‘pool of officials’ trained in emergency procurement
15 Jul Commercial
Covid Inquiry: UK needs ‘pool of officials’ trained in emergency procurement
Panel blasts billions wasted on PPE and “misguided” creation of a VIP lane for would-be suppliers
New guidance aims to 'rebuild' departments' in-house capability
17 Jun Civil Service Reform
New guidance aims to 'rebuild' departments' in-house capability
Departments given new public interest test and asked to create roadmaps to build in-house capability, as Cabinet Office says cleaning and security services will be brought in house
Digital, Data & Technology All
Ex-senior civil servant among seven new Information Commission NEDs
16 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
Ex-senior civil servant among seven new Information Commission NEDs
Scott McPherson was previously a director general at four UK government departments
GDS to reinvent Service Standard in ‘shift from a static assessment to living system’
14 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
GDS to reinvent Service Standard in ‘shift from a static assessment to living system’
Framework will be re-imagined so that it 'reflect the reality of end-to-end services, including operational and non-digital elements'
Operational Delivery All
Angela MacDonald and Susanna McGibbon among 2026 King's Birthday Honours recipients
15 Jun HR
Angela MacDonald and Susanna McGibbon among 2026 King's Birthday Honours recipients
Jon Cunliffe and Sarah Munby also receive awards as scores of current and former civil servants are honoured
‘Make it happen, make it better, make it count’: Cabinet secretary asks civil servants to adopt new mindset
01 Jun Civil Service Reform
‘Make it happen, make it better, make it count’: Cabinet secretary asks civil servants to adopt new mindset
Antonia Romeo also announces new AI Innovation Award
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
Former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald to become a peer
16 Jul HR
Former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald to become a peer
Wormald among 26 nominees set to join House of Lords
Cabinet Office and HM Treasury urged to ‘up their game’ on workforce planning
16 Jul HR
Cabinet Office and HM Treasury urged to ‘up their game’ on workforce planning
National Audit Office says departments should expand cross-government support to aid further improvement
Legal All
Olly Robbins launches legal challenge over Mandelson vetting sacking
13 Jul Foreign Affairs
Olly Robbins launches legal challenge over Mandelson vetting sacking
Former perm sec said proceedings would have been "unnecessary" if Starmer had apologised
DVLA staffer jailed for defrauding agency
08 Jun HR
DVLA staffer jailed for defrauding agency
Agency says it has strengthened internal controls in response
Project Delivery All
HS2 reset: Lovegrove report unpacks lessons for civil service
20 May Civil Service Reform
HS2 reset: Lovegrove report unpacks lessons for civil service
Recommendations include more realistic salaries for officials working on major projects and a culture shift away from “automatically” appointing career civil servant as SRO
Treasury publishes ‘significantly revised’ Magenta Book
18 May Economics
Treasury publishes ‘significantly revised’ Magenta Book
Cross-department Evaluation Task Force describes updated guidance as “major milestone” for evidence-based policymaking
Property & Estates All
Moving No.10 north will not fix the centre of government
30 Jun Civil Service Reform
Moving No.10 north will not fix the centre of government
Burnham will need to show that his No.10 for the North will be different
Work starts on Great British Energy’s new HQ
28 May Energy & Environment
Work starts on Great British Energy’s new HQ
Publicly-owned energy firm set to move into corporate offices in Aberdeen
Communications All
The correspondence system is adrift from its purpose – here's how to change that
16 Jul Civil Service Reform
The correspondence system is adrift from its purpose – here's how to change that
This status quo does not serve ministers signing each letter, nor the civil servants drafting and coordinating
‘The best decisions I’ve taken have required risk’: Five minutes with former intelligence director Andrew Pike
21 May Communications
‘The best decisions I’ve taken have required risk’: Five minutes with former intelligence director Andrew Pike
Ex-No.10 and GCHQ comms director on why the next generation of leaders are going to have to learn a whole new skill set
Finance All
Imperial College professor nominated by Reeves as next OBR chair
24 Jun Economics
Imperial College professor nominated by Reeves as next OBR chair
The pick will now be scrutinised by the Treasury Committee, which has the final say
NAO lauds Government Finance Function for ‘strong foundations’ with 2030 strategy
19 Jun Digital, Data & Technology
NAO lauds Government Finance Function for ‘strong foundations’ with 2030 strategy
Public spending watchdog also flags “significant opportunity” for function to bolster its influence through leadership on the adoption of artificial intelligence
Science & Engineering All
New fellowships to support 'future national resilience' go live
16 Jun Energy & Environment
New fellowships to support 'future national resilience' go live
This year's UKRI policy fellowships will fund research on natural hazards within government
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
Policy All
Alternative People Survey 2026 launches
15 Jun Civil Service Reform
Alternative People Survey 2026 launches
Civil Servants are being asked for their views on the issues shaping their working lives as think tank Re:State and CSW launch the Alternative People Survey 2026, in partnership Public First
NEETs report flags departments’ failure to ‘join dots’ for young people
29 May Economy
NEETs report flags departments’ failure to ‘join dots’ for young people
Interim findings of the Milburn review say cumulative cost of young people not being in education, employment or training is £125bn a year
Energy & Environment All
Nuclear Waste Services confirms appointment of permanent chief exec
14 Jul Energy & Environment
Nuclear Waste Services confirms appointment of permanent chief exec
Seth Kybird takes on role after 15 months serving as chief exec on an interim basis
Defra DG set to become development corporation chief exec
18 Jun Energy & Environment
Defra DG set to become development corporation chief exec
David Hill served as interim perm sec of the environment department in 2025 but will start new Greater Cambridge role in September