Civil Service World

Be visible, be robust: An open letter to the new cabinet secretary You have the experience, the credibility, and, for now, the political backing to drive genuine reform. The window will not stay open indefinitely

"You have the experience, the credibility, and, for now, the political backing to drive genuine reform. The window will not stay open indefinitely"
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Counter-fraud function delivers £7.5bn savings across public sector Cabinet Office lauds fraud savings, which were achieved in 2024-25

The £7.5bn savings across the public sector include almost £4bn generated by HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, and £2bn by DWP
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Hybrid working: GPA helping departments to meet 60% mandate Responding to House of Lords report, government says 60% approach “offers the best balance for most employees”

Responding to House of Lords report, government says 60% approach “offers the best balance for most employees”
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

People Survey 2025: Civil servants happier with pay and more ‘engaged’ But officials also express concerns over learning and development opportunities and bosses’ change-management skills

People Survey 2025: Civil servants happier with pay and more ‘engaged’, but express concerns over learning and development opportunities and bosses’ change-management skills
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Capita wins £700m civil service payroll contract Union raises concerns over contract award in light of current Civil Service Pension Scheme issues

Union raises concerns over contract award in light of current Civil Service Pension Scheme issues
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Civil service leaders share the public's frustrations over the pace of delivery – courage is the cure Senior officials understand the urgent need to speed up the pace of delivery, and are energised to do so

"Whatever the result in Greater Manchester, public frustration with the state of the state is clear for all to see. The good news is that public service leaders see that, and we largely know the steps needed to change it"
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

New awards launched to recognise prevention of violence against women and girls Award categories include Frontline Delivery Award for provision of exceptional frontline services to survivors of violence against women and girls

Organisations and individuals are invited to submit entries highlighting outstanding achievement, impactful initiatives and inspirational leadership in preventing violence against women and girls
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Treasury calls in private sector to help departments scale up AI use IBM, Faculty AI and the Tony Blair Institute will also advise on improving public-sector efficiency and productivity through the wider deployment o...

HM Treasury has created a new panel of outside expertise to aid the adoption of artificial intelligence in departments and the wider public sector
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

DSIT offers £174k for AI and emerging tech DG Perm sec Emran Mian says department is seeking candidates with “deep technical curiosity, strong judgement, and the ability to empower experts”

DSIT perm sec Emran Mian said the job is "a rare chance to help shape the UK as a serious global player in the technologies that will define the next decade and beyond"
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

DWP pay ballot falls short of strike threshold PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote says 'thousands backed industrial action despite a system designed to suppress participation'

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote says "thousands backed industrial action despite a system designed to suppress participation"
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Civil Service Pension Scheme: Cat Little delivers hardship-loan update Cabinet Office says 116 employers have confirmed emergency payment arrangements are in place

Cabinet Office says 116 of 223 employers have confirmed emergency payment arrangements are in place
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Entries open for award celebrating statistical excellence in civil service Nominations also open for award championing trustworthiness, quality and value

It's time to get your nominations in
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

PM asks ethics adviser to investigate Cabinet Office minister Probe to look at whether Josh Simons breached ministerial code

Probe to look at whether Josh Simons breached ministerial code
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Civil Service Pension Scheme: Advice from a barrister on compensation and redress The dos and don'ts to protect your position and preserve your right to redress, according to pensions barrister Paul Newman KC

Here are the dos and don'ts to protect your position and preserve your right to redress, according to pensions barrister Paul Newman KC
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Why supply-chain warnings stall before they become decisions The problem is rarely a lack of foresight. It is that acting on warnings requires spending real money today to prevent a problem that still feels t...

"The question for leaders is not whether they have the right risk registers, but whether their governance makes early action feel permissible"
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

Professional standards should be 'championed at heart of government' Letter to ministers says partnering with chartered bodies “will ensure public policy has long-term credibility”

Letter to ministers says civil service partnering with chartered bodies “will ensure public policy has long-term credibility”
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

‘Excellent choice’: Six ex-cab secs back Antonia Romeo pick Former civil service bosses praise Romeo’s track record after Starmer appoints her to top job

Robin Butler, Richard Wilson, Andrew Turnbull, Gus O’Donnell, Mark Sedwill and Simon Case said: “We believe that Dame Antonia Romeo is an excellent choice as cabinet secretary"
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

ONS perm sec writes to BBC boss over Industry 'impersonation' Darren Tierney says staff have expressed distress that their work may be 'inadvertently compromised' by TV show's portrayal

Darren Tierney said many staff had expressed distress that their work, and the trust placed in them, may be "inadvertently compromised" by the Industry portrayal
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Why is it so hard to do government well – and who’s trying to change that? CSW speaks to Civic Punks founder Derek Alton about his global quest to find the people who are building the future of government
open.spotify.com/episode/2oRN...

HMT launches search for next OBR chair OBR needs new boss after Richard Hughes resignation which followed budget leak probe

OBR's top position has been vacant since Richard Hughes resigned in December after a budget leak investigation found systemic failures
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Leadership, flexible working and board games – Antonia Romeo in her own words CSW rustles through the archives to find the new cab sec's best quotes

As Antonia Romeo becomes the first woman to be cabinet secretary, CSW has trawled the archives to give you some of her finest commentary
www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

‘I will stand up strongly for the civil service’: Antonia Romeo delivers first message to officials 'I want us to be known for excellence in delivery', new cabinet secretary tells civil servants

"No one will be a stronger advocate of the civil service than I am," Romeo pledges
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

‘Ridiculous it has taken until 2026’: Reaction as first female cab sec appointed Mark Sedwill says Antonia Romeo will bring 'dynamism and confidence' to cabinet secretary and head of civil service role

Mark Sedwill says Antonia Romeo will bring "dynamism and confidence" to the role, while unions say the appointment is crucial for the government's reform agenda
www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

Antonia Romeo appointed as cabinet secretary Home Office perm sec takes up top role with immediate effect, following Sir Chris Wormald's departure last week

The prime minister has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as the cabinet secretary and head of the civil service
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

DWP urged to target staff mistakes in fraud-and-error crackdown MPs tell department it must look beyond claimant behaviour to reduce multi-billion-pound losses

MPs tell department it must look beyond claimant behaviour to reduce multi-billion-pound losses
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Cross-government report shows quadrupling of detected fraud and error in two years Report says counter-fraud performance is improving but departments can go further

Most of the increase is due to fraud associated with extraordinary events, including the Covid-19 pandemic
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Shorter, better, fairer, stronger: Why the new Green Book is an encouraging update The revised Green Book looks better. But the key to seeing more productive investment in all parts of the country is political will in Westminster ...

"This should be a better Green Book. How it plays out in the country and in practice is still to be seen. For that, we need more than just changes to the rules of the game"
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

The boys' club at the top of government isn't just a culture problem – it's a capability crisis A state that draws its decision-makers from too narrow a pool will consistently fail to anticipate the consequences of its own policies

"A state that draws its decision-makers from too narrow a pool will consistently fail to anticipate the consequences of its own policies"
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

Can the government trust AI to answer citizens’ questions? The government has been here before. To retain control of its relationship with citizens, it must ensure AI prioritises GOV.UK info over other sour...

"AI should be treated as part of service design rather than as a standalone product and integrated carefully where it demonstrably improves outcomes"
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Union ballots members over DfE office-closure plans Hundreds of Department for Education staff will be affected by proposals to shut six regional bases, PCS says

PCS said hundreds of DfE staff would be affected by the proposals to move officials out of bases in locations including Exeter, Newcastle and Leeds
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...