The UK's top civil servants describe their highlights of 2024 and tell us about the hardest part of being a leader over the last 12 months. They also set out the main challenges facing their organisations in the coming year – and how they are planning to meet them. 

It has been another tough year for civil service leaders, but there have been achievements to celebrate too. In the 2024 edition of CSW's annual perm secs round-up, permanent secretaries and leaders across government reflect on an eventful year and share their goals for the next one. Plus, we ask them to share the best Christmas present they've ever given or received – and the worst.