Scottish Government decision making can be 'rushed and unclear', ex-officials warn
03 May 2023 Project Delivery

Scottish Government decision making can be 'rushed and unclear', ex-officials warn

Financial rules are sometimes seen as "bureaucratic or optional", former civil servants tell committee
by Beckie Smith
Starmer acknowledges skills challenges facing civil service
20 Dec Project Delivery
Starmer acknowledges skills challenges facing civil service
Treasury offers £200k a year for new infrastructure body chief
17 Dec Project Delivery
Treasury offers £200k a year for new infrastructure body chief
Cabinet Office scraps 'ambitious and expensive' vetting transformation programme
19 Nov Project Delivery
Cabinet Office scraps 'ambitious and expensive' vetting transformation programme
‘Lean thinking’: How to supercharge a team’s ability to secure efficiencies Sponsored
11 May 2021 Project Delivery
‘Lean thinking’: How to supercharge a team’s ability to secure efficiencies
In this case study, MI-GSO | PCUBED explain how departments can use the voice of the team to make efficiencies and improvements
PM to set up No.10 unit to strengthen policy delivery
22 Apr 2021 Project Delivery
PM to set up No.10 unit to strengthen policy delivery
Blair-style team will be headed up by coronavirus vaccination lead Emily Lawson
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
29 Mar 2021 Project Delivery
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
More than 20 million UK citizens have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app. One of the leaders of the development process discusses its impact and future plans with Sam Trendall
Think Differently: Three neurodiversity questions to ask when setting up a new project Sponsored
03 Mar 2021 Project Delivery
Think Differently: Three neurodiversity questions to ask when setting up a new project
The diversity of people, skills and experience is a necessary component to improving project delivery across government. But MI-GSO | PCUBED asks – are we missing the importance of neurodiversity?
PM signals more civil service reform as Michael Barber to lead delivery review
13 Jan 2021 Project Delivery
PM signals more civil service reform as Michael Barber to lead delivery review
Rapid review to make delivery more “focused, effective and efficient”
Cabinet Office ‘doesn’t have the data’ to fix civil service skills gaps
11 Dec 2020 Project Delivery
Cabinet Office ‘doesn’t have the data’ to fix civil service skills gaps
MPs say crisis has been exacerbated by short-termism, pay restrictions and significant salary disparities between departments
Green light: IPA chief Nick Smallwood on the Covid response, building back better, and his Get To Green mantra
17 Nov 2020 Project Delivery
Green light: IPA chief Nick Smallwood on the Covid response, building back better, and his Get To Green mantra
Nick Smallwood joined the Infrastructure and Projects Authority with a plan to improve project delivery across government. Despite the impact of coronavirus, it remains on track, he tells Richard Johnstone
Home Office seeks SRO for troubled emergency services comms network programme
16 Nov 2020 Project Delivery
Home Office seeks SRO for troubled emergency services comms network programme
Official expected to strike "appropriate balance between delivering at pace and managing operational risk" on delayed and over-budget programme
Government mulls in-house ‘Crown Consultancy’ to cut use of private firms
09 Nov 2020 Project Delivery
Government mulls in-house ‘Crown Consultancy’ to cut use of private firms
Report reveals plans after Lord Agnew says overuse of consultants "infantilises" officials
Opinion: Dominic Cummings is keen to make the UK a technology superpower. He should change procurement rules to make it happen
13 Oct 2020 Project Delivery
Opinion: Dominic Cummings is keen to make the UK a technology superpower. He should change procurement rules to make it happen
Innovation is stifled by public sector procurement rules. Brexit, and the Integrated Review, offer a chance to change that, says Simon Harwood, the head of defence and security at Cranfield University
Civil Service Fast Stream kicks off recruitment round for over 800 posts
25 Sep 2020 Project Delivery
Civil Service Fast Stream kicks off recruitment round for over 800 posts
Selection of available jobs includes 244 roles for generalist officials
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
18 Sep 2020 Project Delivery
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
Civil servants told that go-ahead from new cabinet secretary is only assurance they need to work on controversial legislation
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
21 Aug 2020 Project Delivery
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
Move comes as Crossrail bosses reveal line will cost an extra £450m and not open until 2022
Government ‘messed up royally’ over PPE as MPs demand plan for potential second Covid-19 spike
08 Jul 2020 Project Delivery
Government ‘messed up royally’ over PPE as MPs demand plan for potential second Covid-19 spike
PAC also calls for plan on how the NHS will function after the coronavirus crisis, including how services will operate under social-distancing rules
PM unveils infrastructure spending and planning reforms to ‘build, build, build’ out of Covid-19 crisis
30 Jun 2020 Project Delivery
PM unveils infrastructure spending and planning reforms to ‘build, build, build’ out of Covid-19 crisis
"Times demand” interventionist policies to aid UK's economic recovery, Boris Johnson says
Learn from the army and cut down excessive meetings, civil service told
04 Jun 2020 Project Delivery
Learn from the army and cut down excessive meetings, civil service told

Report by ex-No.10 spad sets out how officials can learn from the armed forces after the coronavirus outbreak
Departmental taskforces to chart routes out of lockdown for sectors closed by coronavirus
13 May 2020 Project Delivery
Departmental taskforces to chart routes out of lockdown for sectors closed by coronavirus

Minister-led groups to tackle changes faced by aviation industry, shops, pubs and other sectors affected by coronavirus
Former homelessness tsar to lead coronavirus rough sleeping taskforce
05 May 2020 Project Delivery
Former homelessness tsar to lead coronavirus rough sleeping taskforce

Dame Louise Casey will lead unit to ensure "as few people as possible return to life on the streets" after the crisis
Business department gets ministerial direction for coronavirus grants
29 Apr 2020 Project Delivery
Business department gets ministerial direction for coronavirus grants

Perm sec Alex Chisholm said it was impossible to determine if the scheme would deliver value for money under Treasury guidance
Defence and foreign policy review must be delayed, ex-national security adviser says Exclusive
30 Mar 2020 Project Delivery
Defence and foreign policy review must be delayed, ex-national security adviser says
Comprehensive spending review and Brexit transition should also be pushed back, former Foreign Office perm sec Lord Ricketts says
Thousands of DWP staff move to handle surge in Universal Credit
27 Mar 2020 Project Delivery
Thousands of DWP staff move to handle surge in Universal Credit

Perm sec says demand levels mean policy changes such as cutting five-week payment delay for those affected by Covid-19 would be ‘operationally unfeasible



 
Sedwill sets out expectations for minister-perm sec relationship after Rutnam resignation
10 Mar 2020 Project Delivery
Sedwill sets out expectations for minister-perm sec relationship after Rutnam resignation

Making it easier for ministers to remove perm secs risks turning civil servants into "yes men or yes women", cab sec warns
£4.4bn spent on departmental Brexit prep by 31 January, NAO finds
05 Mar 2020 Project Delivery
£4.4bn spent on departmental Brexit prep by 31 January, NAO finds

Nearly £100m of spending written off, watchdog finds
Infrastructure watchdog should audit business cases for big projects, think tank says
05 Mar 2020 Project Delivery
Infrastructure watchdog should audit business cases for big projects, think tank says

Call to open appraisals process to the National Infrastructure Commission ahead of possible Budget boost