Permanent secretary, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
In a year of political and economic change, what was your highlight of 2010?
For me, it was the chance to take over as permanent secretary at BIS, working with our ministers to develop and deliver the government’s growth agenda. I started the day after the spending review, so work to make the best use of our resources by increasing our flexibility and confidence is my top priority. There is a great sense of commitment across BIS which makes every day rewarding.
What’s the biggest opportunity that coalition policies have created for the civil service?
I believe we now have the stability to develop and then implement policies for the medium term. There is also an openness across government to work on the conditions for growth, help small and medium-sized enterprises by reducing regulation, and link our domestic and international business and trade objectives really effectively.
What’s the most challenging management task facing the civil service now?
The civil service benefits from a huge number of committed, professional and skilled people. In the current financial climate we have to draw on our resources of professionalism and imagination to find more flexible ways of delivering better with less resource. In a department like BIS that means reorganising ourselves to become better connected internally and externally. It also means developing a culture which welcomes change, innovation and flexible teamworking.
And what’s the key to succeeding in that task?
I and my board colleagues have to lead by what we do, more than by what we say. So for me the key to change is for our senior leadership team to become more innovative, less hierarchical, to welcome change and be constantly open to the good ideas of others across the department.
What was the best Christmas present that you’ve ever given or received? And the worst?
The best ever was my Tottenham Hotspur shirt, the first Christmas after my family moved to London from Newcastle when I was 10. I like all my presents.