NEWS FEATURE

'Test-and-learn' approaches among proposed new additions to evaluation handbook
16 Apr 2025 Analysis

'Test-and-learn' approaches among proposed new additions to evaluation handbook

Evaluation Task Force seeks feedback from across government on potential updates to the Magenta Book
by Tevye Markson
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
DSIT analysis director becomes joint head of Government Economic Service
29 Jun Analysis
DSIT analysis director becomes joint head of Government Economic Service
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
Test of the best: The past, present and future of civil service entrance exams
21 Jul 2023 Analysis
Test of the best: The past, present and future of civil service entrance exams
How we decide who joins the civil service has a profound impact on the work of government, argues Andrew Greenway. If there wasn’t a good reason before to think hard about how we assess and predict civil servants' competence, there certainly is now...
Power to the people: How we can deliver open government
21 Jul 2023 Analysis
Power to the people: How we can deliver open government
Greater public involvement in shaping, implementing and evaluating policy is a clear goal of open government. Tim Gibson examines how it can be done, as well as its potential to help shape better policy and restore trust in the working of democracy
Book review: How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt
20 Jul 2023 Analysis
Book review: How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt
This detailed exploration of Whitehall and Westminster offers a peek into the corridors of power and starts a valuable conversation about the need for reform
Analysis: Public sector cyber contracts have doubled since Covid
22 Jun 2023 Analysis
Analysis: Public sector cyber contracts have doubled since Covid
Procurement records show 250 deals being signed each year, including engagements to support incident response and promote security-aware culture
'We want to equip government to deliver better': IfG director sets out vision for think tank's future
25 May 2023 Analysis
'We want to equip government to deliver better': IfG director sets out vision for think tank's future
Dr Hannah White, the director of the Institute for Government, offers her expert view on the current state of the civil service
Government's ‘top down-approach’ to net zero 'holding back progress'
02 Feb 2023 Analysis
Government's ‘top down-approach’ to net zero 'holding back progress'
Government needs to give mayoral authorities powers to deliver net zero goals, think tank says
Decision on extra pay increase ‘was the hardest call this year’, National Audit Office chief says
28 Dec 2022 Analysis
Decision on extra pay increase ‘was the hardest call this year’, National Audit Office chief says
Cost-of-living crisis and audit reform are biggest challenges to come this year, says Gareth Davies – who also recalls challenging days working as a postie at Christmas
Government's property plans 'in disarray' as 'plague of ageing, inadequate data systems strikes again', MPs warn
21 Dec 2022 Analysis
Government's property plans 'in disarray' as 'plague of ageing, inadequate data systems strikes again', MPs warn
Public Accounts Committee questions value for money of hubs programme, and ambitions to raise £2bn through property sales and efficiency savings
'I want to build a truly inclusive culture across the ONS': Sir Ian Diamond's hopes for 2023
21 Dec 2022 Analysis
'I want to build a truly inclusive culture across the ONS': Sir Ian Diamond's hopes for 2023
Enabling more frequent population statistics and fostering greater diversity in the Office for National Statistics are twin priorities for the national statistician
Evaluation, managing demand and investing in digital the path to saving public money, watchdog says
12 Dec 2022 Analysis
Evaluation, managing demand and investing in digital the path to saving public money, watchdog says
NAO head Gareth Davies suggests how departments can get more out of their budgets amid mounting pressures
Driving value for money for everyone: Meeting the challenge of ‘Yes’ for public sector commercial directors Partner Content
01 Dec 2022 Analysis
Driving value for money for everyone: Meeting the challenge of ‘Yes’ for public sector commercial directors
By challenging established processes and embracing new ways of working, significant savings and enhanced efficiencies are achievable, say Sarah Ashley and John Thompson from Baringa
Sunak 'should consider enabling OBR to probe departmental spending plans'
22 Nov 2022 Analysis
Sunak 'should consider enabling OBR to probe departmental spending plans'
Think tank’s growth proposals urge PM to consider Vaccine Taskforce-inspired interventions for key goals
A civil servant’s guide to the Open Data Institute’s fuel poverty risk index
08 Nov 2022 Analysis
A civil servant’s guide to the Open Data Institute’s fuel poverty risk index
Fuel poverty is a public health emergency. Up-to-date data will help policymakers to target support amid the cost of living crisis
Pandemics, plastic bags and planning: What can data tell us about government policy? Partner Content
02 Nov 2022 Analysis
Pandemics, plastic bags and planning: What can data tell us about government policy?
How do we know if a policy works and gives value for money, or has unintended consequences? The longitudinal data of Understanding Society can help to find the answers
Don’t rush into decisions on spending cuts, Hunt warned
27 Oct 2022 Analysis
Don’t rush into decisions on spending cuts, Hunt warned
IfG and CIPFA urge Hunt to wait on detailed plans for cuts in fiscal statement
Civil servants warned Kwarteng about mini-budget fallout, MPs told
27 Oct 2022 Analysis
Civil servants warned Kwarteng about mini-budget fallout, MPs told
Debt Management Office chief says Treasury was told disastrous £45bn tax-cuts plan would push up borrowing
UK ranked No.5 in global public-services league table
03 Oct 2022 Analysis
UK ranked No.5 in global public-services league table
United Arab Emirates is top performer in human-centred design analysis
Home Office delays job market review over data hiccup
21 Sep 2022 Analysis
Home Office delays job market review over data hiccup
Shortage occupation list review may end up using 2010 stats if issue with ONS dataset is not resolved quickly
Treasury rejects call for OBR forecast alongside mini-budget
21 Sep 2022 Analysis
Treasury rejects call for OBR forecast alongside mini-budget
MPs' request for "vital" assessment rejected, with Treasury citing need to move at "immense speed"
Delivering data dividends: lessons from the pandemic Partner Content
08 Jun 2022 Analysis
Delivering data dividends: lessons from the pandemic
Data proved to be a pivotal weapon in the fight against Covid-19, but it is vital to draw important lessons from this period to help strengthen the response to future public health challenges. BAE Systems’ Andy Lethbridge chronicles his experiences navigating uncharted waters at the heart of the UK’s pandemic response
Data black hole means government lacks grasp on two-thirds of local spending
04 May 2022 Analysis
Data black hole means government lacks grasp on two-thirds of local spending
Government does not understand why local authority performances vary due to £10bn data gap, think tank says
MoD's Ajax armed vehicle troubles 'may prove insurmountable', NAO warns
21 Mar 2022 Analysis
MoD's Ajax armed vehicle troubles 'may prove insurmountable', NAO warns
The National Audit Office says the department's approach to the £5.5bn programme was “flawed from the start”
Levelling up department 'has wasted opportunities’ to learn where spending could have biggest impact
02 Feb 2022 Analysis
Levelling up department 'has wasted opportunities’ to learn where spending could have biggest impact
NAO warns billions could be wasted if DHLUC does not improve its evaluation
Most government projects not properly evaluated – NAO
02 Dec 2021 Analysis
Most government projects not properly evaluated – NAO
Government “cannot have confidence” billions of pounds of spending “is making a difference”