Features

The growing friction between bilingualism and other forms of inclusion in Canada

A letter from Ottawa: The state’s commitment to the French and English languages is rubbing against hopes for greater inclusion, writes Michael Wernick, former clerk of the Privy Council. But […]

From retrofits to investment vehicles: building the infrastructure for green growth

To ‘build back better’, governments must oversee the creation of new infrastructures to decarbonise their economies. At a recent webinar, senior officials from the OECD, Estonia and the Czech Republic […]

The politics of personalities: how three bad behaviours shaped Brexit

Analysis: Politics may be fought in the language of principles and philosophies, but personality often decides the victor. Digging through a new set of interviews on Britain’s Brexit journey, Matt […]

Moving mindsets and offices: how to successfully relocate civil servants

The UK government has pledged to move 22,000 civil service jobs out of London by 2030 as part of its ‘levelling up’ agenda. At a recent webinar, experts discussed the […]

Secret story: inside the delivery suite with the reluctant midwives of Brexit

In-depth interviews with Conservative special advisers and ministers reveal the moments that shaped Britain’s exit from the EU. Matt Ross explores the strategic errors and political calculations that led two […]

Hope springs for a new wave of public sector transformation: a letter from Ottawa

Opinion: There is a chance to apply the lessons learned from the immediate response to COVID-19 to tackle a wide range of reforms in Canada. Michael Wernick, former clerk of […]

The next diversity frontier: supporting ‘neurominority’ professionals in the civil service

Neurodiverse people have extraordinary skills and are huge assets to their teams. Chartered psychologist Dr Nancy Doyle and business psychologist Uzma Waseem explain how departments can put the right help […]

Common data standards are essential for governments – but so is public trust

Standards and infrastructure are central to improving data-sharing across government, a recent GGF webinar found. But equally important is a less tangible asset: public confidence and engagement. Adam Green reports […]

How strengths-based recruitment can help civil services attract neurodiverse talent

When considering how to build balanced teams, it can be more beneficial to recruit based on individual characteristics rather than focusing on diagnoses, write chartered psychologist Dr Nancy Doyle and […]

How the Tories’ new direction left government directionless, and other Brexit stories

Brexiteers have long accused civil servants of hampering the UK’s exit from the EU. But new interviews with leading Tory ministers and advisers paint a very different picture – one […]