Ministerial reshuffles and the centre of government: What should civil servants expect now?
12 Sep Civil Service Reform

Ministerial reshuffles and the centre of government: What should civil servants expect now?

What’s changed? What does it mean for the centre of government? And how should civil servants and ministers adapt?
by Patrick Diamond and Vijay K. Luthra
If delivery is the government's focus, stability is one of the best ways to deliver it
09 Sep Operational Delivery
If delivery is the government's focus, stability is one of the best ways to deliver it
Home Responsibilities Protection – how a lack of trust and fear of scams can undermine government’s intentions
09 Sep
Home Responsibilities Protection – how a lack of trust and fear of scams can undermine government’s intentions
From missions to milestones: what the Mission Delivery Unit’s move to No.10 tells us about delivery from the centre
08 Sep Civil Service Reform
From missions to milestones: what the Mission Delivery Unit’s move to No.10 tells us about delivery from the centre
Scenario-based learning is crucial for successful AI adoption across government Partner Content
12 Sep Digital, Data & Technology
Scenario-based learning is crucial for successful AI adoption across government
AI promises to transform public services, but without the right skills, that promise risks falling flat. Lewis Hodges, Senior Consultant at AtkinsRéalis, shares how scenario-based learning could be the missing link between bold ambition and real-world impact
Human-centric by default: What it means and why it matters Partner Content
11 Sep Digital, Data & Technology
Human-centric by default: What it means and why it matters
A technically flawless system can still fail if it doesn't work for the people using it. A human-centric by-default approach means: Designing and/or delivering for real-world scenarios, not just ideal workflows, recognising emotional and cognitive factors like stress, fatigue, and multitasking all impact how people interact with systems
In praise of the process: Laurie Magnus’s report on Angela Rayner
08 Sep Politics & Constitution
In praise of the process: Laurie Magnus’s report on Angela Rayner
Magnus's report exemplified the kind of rigorous, fair process that underpins democratic integrity
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
04 Sep HR
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
A smaller Fast Stream – laser-focused on developing future leaders – would deliver more for the civil service and the country
A charity just for you Partner Content
04 Sep HR
A charity just for you
When life takes an unexpected turn, civil servants don’t have to handle it alone
Celebrating success and shifting the dial on diversity – nominate now for the 2025 Women into Leadership Awards
02 Sep Leadership
Celebrating success and shifting the dial on diversity – nominate now for the 2025 Women into Leadership Awards
With a week to go until nominations close for the Women into Leadership Awards 2025, the Government Legal Department's Mel Nebhrajani reflects on the importance of visible leadership and why you should nominate a colleague for the Awards
Building the foundations for agentic AI in government Partner Content
02 Sep Digital, Data & Technology
Building the foundations for agentic AI in government
At a recent roundtable discussion, hosted by Civil Service World and Capita, senior civil servants explored the challenges and opportunities presented by agentic AI and how leaders can prepare for its use in government. Marco Segna reports
Why chasing productivity won’t save our public services
01 Sep Civil Service Reform
Why chasing productivity won’t save our public services
Private firms are broadening their metrics beyond simple efficiency – public services should be even more cautious about allowing productivity alone to dominate reform narratives
Voluntary madness: Whitehall’s obsession with exit schemes is hollowing out the wrong people while dodging real reform
27 Aug Civil Service Reform
Voluntary madness: Whitehall’s obsession with exit schemes is hollowing out the wrong people while dodging real reform
History tells us voluntary exit schemes take far too long to run and almost always fail to deliver the necessary impact
Not all problems require 'more' – sometimes, the smartest fix is by thoughtful subtraction
22 Aug Digital, Data & Technology
Not all problems require 'more' – sometimes, the smartest fix is by thoughtful subtraction
DfE perm sec Susan Acland-Hood shares her approach as co-champion of this year's Innovator Award at the 20th Civil Service Awards
The AI disconnect: Why employee reality doesn't match leadership vision Partner Content
18 Aug HR
The AI disconnect: Why employee reality doesn't match leadership vision
As organisations rush to implement AI solutions, Indeed's latest research reveals they could create the very workplace dysfunction they sought to eliminate. CSW speaks with Matt Burney, senior talent strategy advisor at Indeed, to find out what leaders can do to bridge the gap
Major projects: With NISTA now up and running, there is an opportunity to shift from episodic reform to sustained transformation
12 Aug Project Delivery
Major projects: With NISTA now up and running, there is an opportunity to shift from episodic reform to sustained transformation
By bringing strategy and delivery expertise under one roof, the centre gains a platform to integrate purpose, pounds and people from day one
Rewiring government: The AI opportunity and overcoming barriers Partner Content
08 Aug Digital, Data & Technology
Rewiring government: The AI opportunity and overcoming barriers
A snippet from a key speaking session by TechMarketView that will take place at Capita's Future Gov Summit on 16 September
Only 1% of managers call their hiring 'very effective' – Civica research shows why Partner Content
08 Aug Digital, Data & Technology
Only 1% of managers call their hiring 'very effective' – Civica research shows why
As government continues its ambitious programme of transformation to reshape the way it attracts and retains its people, new Civica research identifies the opportunities that could accelerate reform success
Why on earth do civil servants need their own charity? Partner Content
05 Aug HR
Why on earth do civil servants need their own charity?
As Jonathan Freeman MBE approaches his first year as CEO of the Charity for Civil Servants, he reflects on the many reasons the civil service needs a charity
Small but mighty: Priming SMEs for success in defence Partner Content
04 Aug Security & Defence
Small but mighty: Priming SMEs for success in defence
With government launching measures to provide small and medium enterprises with better access to the defence supply chain, Lindsey Hartley, director at AtkinsRéalis, discusses how primes can create more opportunities for SMEs to play their part in national security
From the editor: Has the government become mission-oriented?
31 Jul Civil Service Reform
From the editor: Has the government become mission-oriented?
In the end, the Spending Review did not put mission-based working front and centre, but look closely and it's clear that the five missions did still exert some influence on the chancellor's allocations
Shame in itself is not an effective tool – the government’s standards regime shakeup should have gone further
23 Jul Civil Service Reform
Shame in itself is not an effective tool – the government’s standards regime shakeup should have gone further
When it comes to standards oversight, it’s not the acronym that matters – it’s the powers that go with it and the independence to make politically difficult decisions
Five lessons: How public bodies can use data analytics to save billions in fraud and error
22 Jul Civil Service Reform
Five lessons: How public bodies can use data analytics to save billions in fraud and error
Prioritising prevention, the power of multidisciplinary teams, and three other tips public bodies should consider when implementing data analytics in their counter-fraud efforts
Purpose, platforms and people: What’s driving recruitment reform in the civil service Partner Content
21 Jul HR
Purpose, platforms and people: What’s driving recruitment reform in the civil service
Appointing the right people with the right skills to the right roles remains a challenge due to speed and effectiveness concerns. At the inaugural CSW Summer Reception, senior leaders from the Cabinet Office explained the new approaches – and the tech – designed to improve how the civil service attracts and retains talent
The view from the 83 bus: Why place matters for health and how mayors are getting it right
18 Jul Health & Social Care
The view from the 83 bus: Why place matters for health and how mayors are getting it right
Central government still lacks a joined-up approach to supporting places to act on the building blocks of health, but regional leaders are showing what leadership can look like
Civil Service Awards: With one week until nominations close – here's why they matter so much
17 Jul Leadership
Civil Service Awards: With one week until nominations close – here's why they matter so much
Recognising and celebrating our colleagues’ achievements is incredibly important
Civil servants should get on the road and be ready to listen – reflections from a civil servant who moved into civil society
17 Jul
Civil servants should get on the road and be ready to listen – reflections from a civil servant who moved into civil society
As government launches its Civil Society Covenant, here are three ways civil servants can get better at working with civil society
Final call: Get your Civil Service Awards nominations in and let your success shine
16 Jul
Final call: Get your Civil Service Awards nominations in and let your success shine
Here's what I'm looking for as co-champion for the Delivering for Citizens Award