Civil Service Reform

An in-depth review of the effectiveness of the civil service has focused in on the relationship between officials and political leaders as the key fault line. If it can be improved, so can policy delivery, Andrew Kakabadse tells Richard Johnstone

New mechanisms required to enable all four governments to jointly agree post-Brexit policy, according to think tank

Foreign Affairs Committee argues FCO must develop a strategy and commit resources to the network of former British territories

As mega-deal with Capgemini and Fujitsu nears conclusion, department advertises for professional to lead management of contracts with up to 200 technology suppliers 

Transferring data policy to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is a welcome move, but the government needs to be clear about what it wants to do with all this data

Housing agency appoints FutureGov founder Dominic Campbell as interim chief digital officer

Some 2,000 staff to move to Salford in 2022, with 2,500 more to follow in 2027

Hartley was a senior officer in the RAF and now works in cyber security for BT. Ahead of the BT Cyber Security Careers Insight, the Officers' Association asked him to share his transition story.

It’s too early to say if shared services are coming of age or another false dawn. But I’d probably keep the champagne in the fridge for now

Department also takes over BEIS remit for digital signatures in policy shake-up

The government’s Inclusive Economy Unit was set up less than two years ago to deliver social impact by collaborating across sectors. Tom Le Quesne, the unit’s head, tells Geoffrey Lyons about how government can support a changing business landscape that wants to achieve a social purpose as well as financial returns

Revised Government Estate Strategy, which will “represent a step-change in government’s property ambitions”, expected in weeks

Sir Jeremy Heywood defends civil service from Brexit attacks as he sets out the progress made since triggering of Article 50

A project aimed at measuring the legitimacy of government revealed some lessons for politicians and civil servants alike. Suzannah Brecknell considers how to improve the connection between the governing and governed

MPs criticise “airy and irrelevant” responses from the department after committee raises questions over the projected employment boost from benefit reform​

BT's Andy Rowland on technological risk, and how the systems fundamental to modern life are under attack

ONS reveals new profession for analysts and data scientists after being challenged by Sir Jeremy Heywood to become more visible

BT's Mike Pannell on the different ways of anonymising information and their application to IoT data​

Government’s shared services lead issues update on progress towards improving substandard back-office digital services in Whitehall

How far are the massive changes brought on by Brexit accelerating the reversal of 1990s decentralisation, and will they usher in a more centralised machinery of government in the long term?

Jon Thompson has brought openness to change and challenges to the post of HMRC chief executive. The one-time apprentice tells Richard Johnstone how he’s still learning as the head of one of government’s biggest departments

A flagship industrial policy has made government think afresh about how it should support the economy. But will the plan have the staying power to influence decisions in the years to come?

Ministerial talks also lead to hope of breakthrough on agreement on devolved powers as part of EU exit