Alex Chisholm talks civil service reform, plus a look inside the ONS Data Science Campus
In this month's issue, cover star Alex Chisholm reflects on the many challenges and opportunities that reform brings. The civil service COO and Cabinet Office perm sec shares his excitement about creating a more "UK-wide", "data-confident" civil service that rewards people for having the right skills – but sounds a note of caution for anyone who hopes that a reduction in overall numbers will lead to big salary increases.
We also go behind the scenes at the ONS's Data Science Campus, which wants to become a "powerhouse" while still retaining its innovative edge. Arthur Turrell explains the opportunities to help solve major policy and societal challenges is huge, saying: "I want us to make a contribution to the cost-of-living crisis and levelling up."
Also in this issue:
- Outgoing Institute for Government associate director Graham Atkins on the need to fill gaps in data on the performance of local services
- Former civil servant and crisis comms expert Lydia Martin shares her eight rules for handling government communications in a crisis, gleaned from the horsemeat scandal, swine flu and Covid
- FDA general secretary Dave Penman on why civil servants are sick of "woke-ing from home" criticism
- Karen Bradley MP reviews Dr Hannah White's "impressive debut", Held in Contempt, a "timely and fantastic tool for unpicking the workings of parliament"
Read the issue as a PDF here.
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