Lord Bichard: Inquiry chairs should not feel pressured to make recommendations that are ‘convenient’ to officials
01 May Civil Service Reform

Lord Bichard: Inquiry chairs should not feel pressured to make recommendations that are ‘convenient’ to officials

Highlights from a House of Lords debate into the effectiveness of statutory inquiries
by Susan Allott
'We have two separate eggs here': Are job-shares all they're cracked up to be?
02 May HR
'We have two separate eggs here': Are job-shares all they're cracked up to be?
Software update: What's new in the 'new GDS'?
29 Apr Civil Service Reform
Software update: What's new in the 'new GDS'?
Trust yourself: What can civil servants gain from becoming charity trustees?
28 Apr
Trust yourself: What can civil servants gain from becoming charity trustees?
NAO chief Gareth Davies on Covid: ‘We adjusted to fully remote auditing without compromising on quality’
18 Dec 2020 Leadership
NAO chief Gareth Davies on Covid: ‘We adjusted to fully remote auditing without compromising on quality’
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
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
Opinion: There is evidence of workplace bias in the civil service – we need some way of addressing that
16 Dec 2020 HR
Opinion: There is evidence of workplace bias in the civil service – we need some way of addressing that
If the government is determined to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, then it’s time we saw the evidence, says Prospect’s Garry Graham
Perm secs round-up 2020: Reflections from the top of government on a year like no other
16 Dec 2020 Leadership
Perm secs round-up 2020: Reflections from the top of government on a year like no other
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
'Changes at the top of departments always present exciting opportunities': Attorney General's Office DG Shehzad Charania reflects on the 'privilege' of leadership during a challenging year
15 Dec 2020 Leadership
'Changes at the top of departments always present exciting opportunities': Attorney General's Office DG Shehzad Charania reflects on the 'privilege' of leadership during a challenging year
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
'Our people didn’t just manage, they excelled': Peter Schofield on how DWP handled the pandemic
15 Dec 2020 Leadership
'Our people didn’t just manage, they excelled': Peter Schofield on how DWP handled the pandemic
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
'We have paid a heavy price in healthcare postponed': Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty on a year fighting Covid-19
15 Dec 2020 Leadership
'We have paid a heavy price in healthcare postponed': Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty on a year fighting Covid-19
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
‘2020 has been the most testing time I’ve experienced as a leader’: Scottish Government perm sec Leslie Evans looks back at a ‘volatile’ and ‘complex’ year
15 Dec 2020 Leadership
‘2020 has been the most testing time I’ve experienced as a leader’: Scottish Government perm sec Leslie Evans looks back at a ‘volatile’ and ‘complex’ year
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
Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft reflects on taking over the department in lockdown
15 Dec 2020 Leadership
Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft reflects on taking over the department in lockdown
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
‘We must rebuild Britain’: IPA chief Nick Smallwood reflects on 2020 and looks to the year ahead
15 Dec 2020 Leadership
‘We must rebuild Britain’: IPA chief Nick Smallwood reflects on 2020 and looks to the year ahead
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
‘One of the hardest things has been to retain a sense of community’: GIAA chief Elizabeth Honer on 2020
14 Dec 2020 Leadership
‘One of the hardest things has been to retain a sense of community’: GIAA chief Elizabeth Honer on 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
‘We’ve had to update guidance daily’: Acas chief executive Susan Clews on the impact of Covid
14 Dec 2020 Leadership
‘We’ve had to update guidance daily’: Acas chief executive Susan Clews on the impact of Covid
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
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman on a challenging year for education, and how the department will get back to business as usual in 2021
14 Dec 2020 Leadership
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman on a challenging year for education, and how the department will get back to business as usual in 2021
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
‘We were not set up for this’: How financial regulators are adapting to Covid
07 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
‘We were not set up for this’: How financial regulators are adapting to Covid
As part of a series of virtual roundtable discussions, Civil Service World and Hitachi Solutions examined the impact of the pandemic on financial regulators. Geoffrey Lyons reports
How the government’s Covid-19 response revealed the real barriers to transformation
02 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
How the government’s Covid-19 response revealed the real barriers to transformation
The government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic saw projects rolled out at unprecedented speed. A panel of officials came together to share how they did it – and what the lessons are. By Charlotte Newbury and Richard Johnstone
Opinion: Civil service relocations should not be driven by “levelling up”
30 Nov 2020 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Civil service relocations should not be driven by “levelling up”
As possible moves for government departments hit the headlines again, Sarah Nickson from the Institute for Government says decisions should be made based on the skills a location can offer, not based on things like whether it voted to leave the EU.
Populists in power: the impact on public administration
30 Nov 2020 Leadership
Populists in power: the impact on public administration
Academics are studying the impact of populists in power. Colin Talbot looks at the research and whether it can provide a perspective of Whitehall’s churn of top jobs
Spending Review 2020: Do outcomes for departments point to a new way of measuring performance?
27 Nov 2020 Finance
Spending Review 2020: Do outcomes for departments point to a new way of measuring performance?
New frameworks and metrics to judge how well departments work could form the building blocks of a reformed approach to managing public spending, but more detail is needed, says Martin Wheatley
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?
Probation inspector Justin Russell on coronavirus, Transforming Rehabilitation and the Spending Review
20 Nov 2020 Finance
Probation inspector Justin Russell on coronavirus, Transforming Rehabilitation and the Spending Review
After years of funding cuts and the looming renationalisation of outsourced probation services, Russell calls for extra funding to be “baked into the baseline” for the Spending Review
Opinion: rethinking public services in a time of Covid-19
20 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Opinion: rethinking public services in a time of Covid-19
Public services are facing a unforeseen and mammoth challenge in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, changing demands for users also create a challenge to create more user-centred services, say Dr Edwina Yida Zhu, Prof Stephen P. Osborne, and Dr Kirsty Strokosch, of the University of Edinburgh.
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
‘I didn’t make it to cabinet secretary but I got close’: Jonathan Slater on leading – and leaving – DfE
10 Nov 2020 Education
‘I didn’t make it to cabinet secretary but I got close’: Jonathan Slater on leading – and leaving – DfE
Jonathan Slater was one of the nation’s top civil servants until he was asked to leave by Boris Johnson in August after the A-Levels grades row. In an exclusive interview with Beckie Smith, he reflects on his time in government.
‘What is it that can only be done by us?’: preparing your team for a difficult winter
09 Nov 2020 Leadership
‘What is it that can only be done by us?’: preparing your team for a difficult winter
The months ahead are going to be challenging. Now is the time for civil service leaders and their teams to discuss how they keep their resilience, say Hilary Douglas and Peter Shaw