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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Greensill has exposed the inherent risks of supply chain finance – how can the public sector address these?
12 Apr Commercial
Greensill has exposed the inherent risks of supply chain finance – how can the public sector address these?
The revelation of Greensill Capital’s presence at the heart of Government has highlighted some fundamental structural risks in its supply chains, writes Proxima
The small island with big ambitions
08 Mar Commercial
The small island with big ambitions
To mark International Women’s Day, Proxima asked Maria Benbow, Group Director Commercial Services at the Government of Jersey to reflect on 2020 and what lies ahead this year.
Digital, Data & Technology All
Better integration could save government £850k per digital service, minister claims
07 May Digital, Data & Technology
Better integration could save government £850k per digital service, minister claims
Work to ensure tasks are not replicated across different tools could deliver significant financial benefits
HMRC shared 5,000 citizen records with local councils in pilot ‘to analyse vulnerable and overlapping debtors’
07 May Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC shared 5,000 citizen records with local councils in pilot ‘to analyse vulnerable and overlapping debtors’
Newly published information-sharing register reveals programme took place last autumn
Operational Delivery All
Sponsored by PA Consulting
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How an adaptive approach can help secure information advantage for the UK
11 May Operational Delivery
How an adaptive approach can help secure information advantage for the UK
As the future frontiers of cyberspace, emerging technology, data and space evolve, so will the UK’s collaboration needs, according to experts from PA Consulting
The Integrated Review: Implementing the IR through closer integration of Government, business, and industry
04 May Operational Delivery
The Integrated Review: Implementing the IR through closer integration of Government, business, and industry
PA's defence and security expert, Cate Pye, shared insight on the IR during an interview on Sky News' Ian King Live, ahead of the publication of the Integrated Review of Defence, Security, International Development and Foreign Policy
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
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
27 Apr Communications
Ministers need new rules for the WhatsApp age, ex-cab secs say
O’Donnell and Sedwill says ministers should not communicate with businesses and press without an official record
‘It's about ensuring quality’: New Chartered Management Consultant Award launches
20 Apr HR
‘It's about ensuring quality’: New Chartered Management Consultant Award launches
Tamzen Isacsson of the Management Consultants Association (MCA) explains what this award means – and why it’s backed by both government and the industry
Legal All
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
16 Apr Legal
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
Think tank argues policymaking processes should be improved before rules on High Court challenges are changed
Former Government Legal Department head Jonathan Jones joins top law firm
05 Mar HR
Former Government Legal Department head Jonathan Jones joins top law firm
Appointments watchdog Acoba admits potential risks exist but clears new role with Linklaters
Project Delivery All
‘Lean thinking’: How to supercharge a team’s ability to secure efficiencies
11 May Project Delivery
‘Lean thinking’: How to supercharge a team’s ability to secure efficiencies
In this case study, MI-GSO | PCUBED explain how departments can use the voice of the team to make efficiencies and improvements
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
29 Mar Coronavirus
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
More than 20 million UK citizens have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app. One of the leaders of the development process discusses its impact and future plans with Sam Trendall
Property & Estates All
Liz Truss to move into Ian Fleming's old office as DIT moves to Old Admiralty Building
07 Apr HR
Liz Truss to move into Ian Fleming's old office as DIT moves to Old Admiralty Building
Move intended to "bring the department closer together operationally and geographically"
Government leases office and co-working space for temporary jocentres and 'hybrid' working
06 Apr Civil Service Reform
Government leases office and co-working space for temporary jocentres and 'hybrid' working
Contract will provide space for DWP's temporary jobcentres and give officials access to co-working spaces
Communications All
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
12 Apr Communications
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
Government will not make public announcements or issue press releases unless they are necessary for public safety
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
07 Apr Communications
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
Market-research companies will poll public and businesses on EU exit, coronavirus and other No.10 priorities
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
Innovation agency gets first permanent chief exec in three years
06 May Science & Engineering
Innovation agency gets first permanent chief exec in three years
Former Watchstone head Indro Mukerjee takes over from Ian Campbell
Industrial strategy to be scrapped, Sunak and Kwarteng confirm
31 Mar Civil Service Reform
Industrial strategy to be scrapped, Sunak and Kwarteng confirm
May's flagship strategy being "transitioned" into government's Plan for Growth
Policy All
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region
05 Feb Culture
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region
The annual State of the State report has revealed regional differences in attitudes towards the Levelling Up agenda. Government must work with local areas to get the best results, writes Ed Roddis, director of Public Sector Research at Deloitte.
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
Energy & Environment All
Enough modelling, start building - why it is time for Engineering Net Zero
25 Feb Energy & Environment
Enough modelling, start building - why it is time for Engineering Net Zero
Dr David Cole, market director in Power at Atkins, explains why the time for modelling Net Zero scenarios has passed - and why the UK must instead move into action
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.