The government wants public sector workers to come together and set up their own companies, embarking on a new life as contractors. Joshua Chambers looks at the obstacles in their way, and how they can be overcome.

This week we meet a hospital doctor, who discusses changes to the medical career ladder

With civil service compensation reformed, managers must now oversee an orderly exit programme to reduce their workforces while upholding morale and retaining the right skills and people. Suzannah Brecknell reports.

The Office for Civil Society’s new chief, Gareth Davies, is leading the Big Society agenda – and that means knocking through the walls between government, the voluntary sector and local communities. Matt Ross meets him.

Darra Singh has had a year to get used to running the vast agency Jobcentre Plus. Now for the difficult bit: turning this traditionally insular body into a pioneer of local co-location and collaboration. Matt Ross meets him.

This week, an architect explains why school design matters – and warns that current policies will damage pupils’ education.

There is life after Whitehall, even if you leave a little earlier than planned. Suzannah Brecknell speaks to former Treasury permanent secretary Lord Burns, who believes that civil service skills have real value in the jobs market.

BIS permanent secretary Martin Donnelly would like to protect an insipid image while his department handles some political hot potatoes and sheds staff. But Joshua Chambers finds that his job is anything but bland.

Schools have improved in recent years, says a primary school teacher, but the renewed emphasis on testing won’t work for all pupils – and the cuts present a danger to many children’s education

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude is overseeing a wide range of organisational, process and management change programmes – at breakneck speed. He takes Matt Ross on a gallop through his reform agenda.

A council officer responsible for assembling project funding explains why even EU schemes are suffering from Whitehall reforms

Ever-diplomatic, ever-smiling, but with a hard-edged reputation for delivering reform, David Normington is leaving the Home Office for pastures new. He speaks to Suzannah Brecknell about his roles - past and future.

This week’s public servant is a technician working for the BBC World Service

Chief operating officer, Efficiency and Reform Group, Cabinet Office

Government chief information officer, Cabinet Office

Chief executive, Jobcentre Plus

Permanent secretary, Department for International Development

Second permanent secretary, HM Treasury

Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Secretary to the Executive, Northern Ireland Executive

Permanent secretary, Home Office

Permanent secretary, Welsh Assembly Government

Permanent secretary, Department for Work and Pensions

Permanent secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government

HM Procurator-General, Treasury Solicitor and Head of the Government Legal Service, Treasury Solicitor’s Dept