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For today’s civil servants, says Defra permanent secretary Bronwyn Hill, success rests on the ability to work across organisational boundaries. Suzannah Brecknell hears her explain her philosophy – with plenty of examples.

The UK government buys a huge variety of goods and services – most of which are governed by EU rules on procurement. Suzannah Brecknell reports on the latest attempts to reform this wide-ranging legislation.

The HR profession is adapting to help other parts of the civil service respond to challenging times. Suzannah Brecknell reports on a session exploring the likely future of the civil service's HR systems and staff.

With gargantuan computer projects a thing of the past, 'agile' development is very much the buzz word in government. Suzannah Brecknell reports on two sessions at Civil Service Live which explored the new approach.

The coalition wants to buy a quarter of its goods and services from small and medium-sized companies. Suzannah Brecknell listened in at a discussion on how departments can achieve this aim in the field of IT.

The Stabilisation Unit is already a well-established cross-departmental partnership, and its role is set to grow. Suzannah Brecknell meets its head to discuss conflict prevention – both overseas, and within Whitehall.

Whether civil servants are pursuing external policy goals or internal reforms, they are dropping regulatory methods in favour of a different approach. Suzannah Brecknell reports on the spread of behaviour change.

As departments seek to make more use of payment by results contracts, a panel of experts at Civil Service Live discussed the elements which will decide whether they're a success. Suzannah Brecknell listened carefully.

A university lecturer discusses the importance of good decision-making and a holistic education

After a year of frantic reform and restructuring, cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell tells Suzannah Brecknell that he wants civil servants to focus on developing skills for the future, staying creative, and learning from failures.

A college business manager complains that government endlessly changes the rules

As government tries to turn the civil service into a civic service, Suzannah Brecknell examines the results of a a Civil Service World survey of 2,500 officials. How many currently volunteer – and how many would like to?

Charged with overseeing all government information & communications technology and the delivery of the coalition's new over-arching strategy, Joe Harley is a man with a big job. Suzannah Brecknell meets him.

As the government encourages more use of payment by results Rob Wormald, the DWP’s outgoing head of market development, tells Suzannah Brecknell about his long journey to outcome-focused contracting.

From this month, every big scheme run by Whitehall departments will be overseen by the Major Projects Authority. Suzannah Brecknell meets David Pitchford – the man charged with overseeing and improving your projects.

A sixth form modern languages teacher thinks that schools and teachers should be given more powers to shape their curricula.

These three people have successfully left the civil service for senior jobs in the private and voluntary sectors. But it’s not always easy to cross that divide: Suzannah Brecknell gathers advice on how to follow their lead

Broadening the focus of environmental monitoring, the PM is ‘mainstreaming’ sustainability into all management and policymaking. Suzannah Brecknell gets an explanation from Defra director-general Mike Anderson.

A mental health activity facilitator at an acute psychiatric ward is worried that cuts are causing patient care to be diluted

Una O’Brien has taken the helm at the Department of Health as the NHS undergoes the most fundamental reforms in its history. She tells Suzannah Brecknell that persistence and partnership working will make those reforms work.

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.

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.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has announced the closure of the Central Office of Information (COI), following a review of government direct communications published earlier this year.

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.

As the National Security Strategy recognised, cyber attacks represent a real danger to the UK. Suzannah Brecknell learns that civil servants should respond with security-conscious policy work and old-fashioned diligence.

It’s Jonathan Slater’s job to transform the justice system. He tells Suzannah Brecknell about the unprecedented approach he’s taking to encouraging preventative interventions, payment by results and voluntary sector delivery.

A local authority employee shares his thoughts on finding savings and driving innovation

The voluntary and community sector lies at the centre of the coalition’s plans to promote the Big Society, but the cuts are hitting it hard. Suzannah Brecknell examines how civil servants can work better with the VCS.

For years, the civil service has been urged to embrace innovation. Now shrinking budgets, the push for public sector reform and greater political appetite for risk are making this essential. Suzannah Brecknell reports.

An appearance before the public accounts committee need no longer fill officials with dread, says its new chair, Margaret Hodge. She tells Suzannah Brecknell that she wants a more constructive relationship with civil servants

We’ve heard a lot recently about the ‘Big Society’ – but what does it mean for civil servants? Lord Wei, the government’s new adviser on the subject, tells Suzannah Brecknell that he wants to see a fundamental shift in the work of government.

With pressure on the use of ministerial cars, ministers are taking humbler forms of transport. But there are far bigger savings to be made by reforming civil service travel expenses. Suzannah Brecknell reports.

This week’s interviewee is a school business manager responsible for the financial and legal compliance aspects of an inner city school

Michael Gove’s flagship reform of the school system is well under way, but questions have been raised over the pace of change and the funding to back up long-standing policy pledges. Suzannah Brecknell reports.

Big changes are afoot in the NHS, and a refocused Department of Health will follow. Suzannah Brecknell reports.