News

The forthcoming Spending Review must focus on outcomes and delivery, and also be the springboard for an honest debate about the very nature of our public sector, argues CIPFA's Rob Whiteman

After over a decade in Whitehall – and 12 different roles – Antony Cousins switched officialdom for the fast-paced world of tech start-ups. Here he explains what he has learnt, and why it might be useful for civil servants

James Sutherland, one of the three co-founders and directors of start-up The Publishing Foundry, shares his perspectives on the BT Infinity Labs competition, improving processes in education and the future of innovation in the public sector

BT explore the the way in which customers want to engage is changing, and how the public sector can keep up

New report shows rise in successful applications to graduate scheme from black and minority ethnic candidates, but slight dip in proportion of women accepted onto the programme

How and why government must utilise the data they collect and hold

Keela Shackell-Smith describes how she helped break the Environment Agency’s glass ceiling and increase the percentage of women in senior roles 

Catherine Arnold, Britain's ambassador in Mongolia, on promoting 'Brand GB' in east-central Asia – and why challenging perceptions is so important

An adult social worker discusses how budget cuts and legislative changes mean those in his profession now spend more time on paperwork than looking after people in need

Treasury minister Greg Hands tells pay review bodies to target higher rises in areas which would improve recruitment and retention

By taking an agile approach and turning to the public for help with a new property app, the Land Registry scooped last year’s Civil Service Award for Innovation. Colin Marrs finds out more

As co-founders of the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership, the Ministry of Defence is at the forefront of efforts to tackle the rising threat of cyber attack. Sarah Aston talks to the MoD’s cyber industry deputy head Daniel Selman

The Office of National Statistics will now be able to compare progress of families who have taken part in the programme with those who have not

As the DfE vows to accelerate its flagship school reform programme, Mark Rowe asks whether government has the capacity to deliver

Wholesale adoption of full-featured cloud services will make engagement with the public easier and faster, says Systems Up's Richard Ingram

Recruitment drive for job centre staff on temporary contracts slammed by PCS in the wake of departures of permanent staff

Opinion: The Trade Union Bill ignores the positive role that unions can play

Successful bidders for government contracts will see agreed commitments to apprentice recruitment written into contracts above £10m from next month

Modern government pulls ministers in every direction at once, which makes the officials in charge of their diaries indispensable. But as former civil servant Dunstan Hadley explains, fitting it all in can be tough

Crown Commercial Service says extension of licensing deal with Oracle lays the foundation of a “more collaborative” relationship

Three new members join former DfE non-executive Sir Theodore Agnew as Ministry of Justice’s non-executive board

Colin Marrs speaks to Tom Woodroffe – former adviser to William Hague – about the Foreign Office’s mission to put tackling sexual violence in conflict at the top of the international agenda

Images of journeys, food and friends work wonders in speeches – but phrases like “accelerating reform” are a definite turn-off. Oliver Rowe reviews Simon Lancaster’s Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership

Four former members of the Number 10 staff recall the highs and lows of their time at the centre of government