GET APPY How Covid tracing tech was developed YES, MINISTER? How officials and politicians Issue 304 | March 2021 | www.civilserviceworld.com should work together

SUZANNE HEYWOOD REMEMBERS THE IN SONGS AND POLICIES

TOP WORK Full details of the Civil Service Awards winners

01 CSW304 cover.indd 1 10/03/2021 13:28:35 Championing Diversity, Accelerating Inclusion

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RED BOX 5 INBOX Editor’s letter and readers’ comments 6 NEWS Sir settles his constructive dismissal claim, and crit- icises his successors’ mistakes

OPINION 8 FAREWELL TO WELFARE? DWP should change how it talks about the support it provides 9 CRACKING THE CODE Making bullying a question of intent un- dermines trust and the 10 SHOOT FOR THE MOON For Aria to succeed, the research agency must have freedom to set its own mission 11 SOCIAL SKILLS How departments can use pro- curement to build social value

FEATURES 12 LIFE OF A CAB SEC Suzanne Heywood remembers her late husband and talks about her book What does Jeremy think? 16 16 RELATIONSHIP GOALS Ex-DExEU perm sec and former minister Caroline Flint discuss the politicial-official relationship 24 WORLDLY WISDOM As the UK works to curb the spread of Covid-19, how have other na- tions responded to the pandemic?

DIGITAL AND DATA 20 TRACE VALUE How the Covid-19 contact-tracing app was designed and rolled out 22 LAST CALL 20 24 Two tools sharing data with departments and the public are leaving GOV.UK

civilserviceworld.com | March 2021 | 3

03 CSW304 contents.indd 3 10/03/2021 10:35:17 ❯ RED BOX EDITOR’S COLUMN Edited by ❯ RED BOX Sarah Astion FROM THE EDITOR

ast month in this space, However, the resolu- I wrote about the cease- tion of Rutnam’s departure Lfi re in the government’s will not alone be enough to war on Whitehall, and how draw a line under the aff air. ministers should now priori- An investigation into Patel’s tise reducing the tension with behaviour concluded she offi cials and working with the had failed to treat civil serv- grain of the civil service to im- ants with consideration and plement their vision for reform. respect in a way that “could The weeks since have seen be described as bullying”. a further de-escalation of the fe- The probe said Patel’s healthy, and, as the FDA takes us up on our off er. Be- brile atmosphere in some parts behaviour may have been union’s Dave Penman writes cause whatever the outcome of of government, with the an- unintended – and the prime in this month’s CSW, also the legal arguments and inter- nouncement that former Home minister decided she had not contrary to Johnson’s own pretations, it is this damage to Offi ce Sir breached the ministerial code. foreword in the ministe- confi dence that should really Philip Rutnam had ended his He said he had full confi dence rial code, which simply states worry the prime minister, who constructive dismissal claim in the and that “there will be no bully- is after all, also minister for the against the government. considered the matter closed. ing and no harassing…”. civil service.” Penman writes. The out-of-court settlement But injecting the question As a result, the FDA, who And not, indeed, only to concludes this chapter of a of intent into the code means advised Rutman in his case, that. The relationship between saga that began with Rutnam’s the issue cannot be left to rest. is seeking a judicial review ministers and civil servants is unprecedented resignation On the face of it, this puts min- of Johnson’s actions, which best founded on honesty and statement in February last isters – who can now claim that it says could allow ministers trust. If the government has year, in which he said he had they did not know that their to get away with unaccep- wisely taken steps to end the been the “target of a vicious behaviour was causing distress table behaviour in future. openly hostile briefi ng against and orchestrated briefi ng – on a diff erent disciplinary The case is underway only offi cials that has character- campaign” from allies of plane from the civil servants after, Penman says, the FDA ised much of the last year, it home secretary . they work with every day. As sought to work with govern- still needs to take action to Following the agreement, civil service guidance states: ment to amend the ministerial rebuild these dual pillars of a Home Offi ce spokesper- “Bullying is not about whether code to refl ect the defi nition the system, which have been son said Rutnam and the the perpetrator of the acts in- of bullying that applies in degraded by the Patel case and government had “jointly tended them or not, but about the civil service, but agree- much besides. Recognising – concluded that it is in both the impact on the recipient ment was not forthcoming. and addressing – the disparity parties’ best interests to reach and how it makes them feel.” “I hope, even at this late in the ministerial code would a settlement at this stage”. This distinction is un- stage, that the government be a good place to start.

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(Jessica Bowie and Suzannah Brecknell are on maternity leave)

4 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

04-5 CSW304 leader and comments.indd 4 10/03/2021 13:21:00 ❮ CORRESPONDENCE RED BOXEdited by ❯ RED BOX Winnie Agbonlahor

small, revealing all the screw suit,” John Hatton wrote. holes for previous nameplates. Gill Standen said the INBOX At least they’ve learnt that deal is “not only great for the [email protected] lesson,” The Dissident Civil vast majority of our incred- twitter.com/CSWNews Servant wrote on Twitter. ible HMRC staff, it was actu- ally designed by them”. TALK IS CHEAP “Over 20,000 staff took Hancock was also the target the opportunity to contrib- FINN OR LOSE service review and you’ll get of readers’ ire after saying ute their views and ‘wish list’ Readers were cynical about the answers about civil service that civil servants “don’t wants, through workshops, No.10 deputy chief of staff reform. They wouldn’t be the get enough praise” for their focus groups, dial-ins, surveys, Simone Finn’s ideas for civil answers you wanted, of course.” work in the vaccine rollout. online discussion forums. This service reform – including Martin Basil agreed pay “Platitudes don’t pay our really is a home made deal “breaking up” the tradi- was the problem. “You have bills,” Margi McMullen said. that represents all their top tional career ladder and to get promoted to earn a “Maybe he can convince ‘asks’ and paves the way for becoming less risk averse. decent salary. Pay more and the chancellor to give us a HMRC to make real progress “Oh dear, here we go people might stay in post.” cost of living pay rise too,” in future on those asks that again… Maude mark 2,” Mark Ryan suggested. just couldn’t be squeezed in Barbara Baker wrote. ABSENT MINDED this time round,” she said. Alan Ramsay suggested Nor were they impressed FROZEN OUT “In 28 years as a civil serv- the changes may never happen: by health secretary Matt The chancellor’s pay freeze, ant I have never witnessed such “Every year, a new, dynamic, Hancock and Cabinet Of- which unions say would a collaborative effort by staff, young superstar proposes a fice minister ’s cost civil servants dearly management and trade unions fundamental shake up of the decision to turn down a after the Office for Budget to get this reform right. I have civil service. ‘This will be a request to appear before Responsibility forecasted worked for four government grass roots, bottom to top the Public Administration an increase in the rate departments, but HMRC has al- reform and will bring real and and Constitutional Affairs of inflation, continued to ways felt the most like my real much needed, radical change Committee, which earned cause a lot of frustration. career “home”. I am so proud to the civil service,’ they say. A them a rebuke from the MPs. “I am absolutely disgusted of this deal, and I really hope year later, they’ve moved on, “More lack of transparency with this government who it sets the blueprint for other never to be heard from again.” and respect for parliamen- think that civil servants are departments to follow suit.” George Reid agreed it was tary sovereignty and scrutiny. easy prey to do what they nothing new. “I’ve lost count There is so much which is very like to. These same servants MOVE ALONG of the number of times I’ve wrong about the conduct of got them through a hor- Chancellor Rishi Sunak re- heard this same nonsense – this government,” Geoff Eales rible and work tire- ceived a mixed response when expressed in a variety of ways wrote. “The secretary of state, lessly through this pandemic.,” he announced in the Budget – over the years. We should who was found by the courts Peter Drummond wrote. that the Treasury had se- value and celebrate our civil to have acted unlawfully in Martin Clements added: lected Darlington as the home service, rather than disdain clouding transparency, further “All this and the govern- of its new northern base. it simply because the hon- clouds it yet again by refusing ment still continue to fund “Good, and not before time. est and frank advice it gives to appear before parliament.” huge numbers of ‘contrac- It has taken too long to doesn’t appeal to ministers.” Neil T. said the minis- tors’ to ‘assist’ with the move London based jobs,” “Is it that the civil ser- ters showed “contempt for pandemic. Disgusting.” Barbara Baker said. vice is risk averse or rather parliament, and legitimate But Paul Mason wrote: “I that government ministers scrutiny and oversight yet PAY UP thought that it was because (of whatever party) are risk again. Truly disgusting.” More welcome was the Darlington is the biggest town averse when they – at least news that unions had voted next to his own constituency used to – be held account- BRAND NEW through a freeze-busting and is a Tory marginal seat.” able for decisions that were Business secretary Kwasi pay deal for HMRC staff, wrong?” Alastair East asked. Kwarteng’s hints that he despite mixed opinions on And Mark Ryan said the might be planning to rename the accompanying overhaul suggestion of offering two-year the Department for Business, of terms and conditions. secondments to profession- Energy and Industrial Strat- “It’s an exceptionally well- IN THE NEXT ISSUE als from outside government egy came as a shock to some. run organisation, staffed CSW takes a look at the would never work. “What “Oh my goodness. Please don’t with loyal, committed and development of Defence Digital ‘professionals’ would work for rename the department yet highly capable people. I was ON THE WEBSITE the civil service for two years again! I remember walking past delighted to learn that they Coverage of the integrated on the salaries we pay and the that very door not long after have decided to recognise this review of security, defence, wage freezes... Put an inde- it was made into BIS and as I after years of under-par pay and foreign policy pendent body in charge of a recall the nameplate was rather awards. Hoping the rest follow

civilserviceworld.com | March 2021 | 5

04-5 CSW304 leader and comments.indd 5 10/03/2021 13:21:00 ❯ RED BOX NEWS Edited by ❯ RED BOX Sarah Astion

the GOV.UK website, saying it regretted the circumstances surrounding his resignation and was “pleased that a set- Ex- perm sec settles tlement has been reached”. A Home Office spokes- person said Rutnam and the government had “jointly constructive dismissal case concluded that it is in both parties’ best interests to reach Priti Patel spared employment tribunal appearance a settlement at this stage”. “The government does as ex-official reaches “six figure settlement” over not accept liability in this departure from government. By Jim Dunton matter and it was right that the government defended ormer Home Office the case,” they said. permanent secretary The government also pub- FSir Philip Rutnam has lished the 29 February 2020 let- reached a substantial settle- ter from then-cabinet secretary ment with the government fol- Sir to Rutnam lowing his resignation last year, accepting his resignation with which prompted the probe that regret and thanking him for found home secretary Priti his “devoted public service”. Patel had bullied her staff. Sedwill wrote: “I appreciate The move means an em- that this has been a decision ployment tribunal that had you have reached reluctantly been due to hear Rutnam’s and I am sorry that despite constructive dismissal claim our efforts this week, we against the government, which were unable to agree a mutu- named Patel as a respondent, ally satisfactory outcome. will no longer take place. “I am grateful for your When he made his unprec- devoted public service and edented resignation state- claims that I brought against of the ministerial code. excellent contribution over ment in February last year, them and which were due to FDA general secretary the course of your long and Rutnam said he had been be heard in an employment Dave Penman said Rutnam had distinguished career in the the “target of a vicious and tribunal in September,” he said. made a “brave and principled” civil service. I am grateful, orchestrated briefing cam- “I have received excel- decision to resign and pursue too, for the commitment and paign” and did not believe lent support during this a constructive dismissal case dedication with which you have Patel’s denials of involvement. process and I would like to against the government. approached the significant Rutnam, whose sal- express warm thanks to the “I’m pleased that we’ve been senior leadership roles you ary bracket for 2019-20 was FDA and to my legal team, able to assist in finding a set- have undertaken in the course £190,000-£195,000, said in Slater and Gordon and Gavin tlement to his claims,” he said. of your career, particularly as his resignation statement Mansfield QC. I also want to The government updated the permanent secretary of that he had been offered a record my appreciation and Rutnam’s biography page on the Department of Transport financial settlement by the thanks to the many individu- and the Home Office. but had turned als, known and unknown to “I am pleased to say “You have ever been it down to “make a stand” me, who have expressed that the government mindful of the civil in maintaining the quality their support throughout. service values, demon- of government in the UK. “This settlement resolves has settled the claims strated in the way you Rutnam’s settlement my own case. The FDA is con- that I brought against have conducted yourself has not been revealed, but tinuing to pursue in separate them” Philip Rutnam in your roles. You should CSW understands that proceedings the wider issues be proud of the differ- it is a six-figure sum. that have been raised.” ence you have made as a In a statement released Last month, the FDA highly regarded col- by the FDA, which has been launched a High Court chal- league and a corporate supporting the former perm lenge to prime minister Boris leader upholding our sec, Rutnam thanked the Johnson’s decision not to values as the civil ser- union, former colleagues sack Patel after an investiga- vice disability champion and his legal team. tion commissioned by the and member of the civil “I am pleased to say that Cabinet Office found she had service board and senior the government has settled the bullied staff, which is a breach leadership committee.”

6 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

06-7 CSW304 news.indd 6 09/03/2021 10:52:13 ❮ NEWS RED BOXEdited by ❯ RED BOX Winnie Agbonlahor

not a role that needed to be undertaken by a politician. “Your equivalents in, for instance, the United States are Ex-PM Cameron criticises appointed civil servants, and that’s an absolutely crucial relationship. So I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. successors’ Whitehall ‘mistakes’ “The great thing is that you don’t have to have an Coalition-era PM slams “very bad” error of combining cab sec and FCO diplomat, you can have someone coming out of the national security adviser roles plus merger of DfID and FCO military. You could have the former permanent secretary avid Cameron has of the Ministry of Defence. strongly criticised You could have someone from Dhis two successors as prime minister for changes they made to the opera- “I’m delighted that tions of Whitehall. from the Ministry of Defence is going to be The former PM, who national security adviser. I think that will quit government in 2016 following the Brexit bring a new perspective” David Cameron referendum, did not mince his words in outside government describing Theresa altogether. Someone who May’s decision to is an expert in strategy, combine the roles you can bring them in.” of cabinet secre- Cameron also criti- tary and national cised ’s security adviser. decision to push ahead Cameron said with the merger of the allowing Sir Mark Department for Interna- Sedwill to retain the tional Development and NSA role when he the Foreign and Com- became cabinet secre- monwealth Office last year. tary in 2018, following the “I think abolishing DfID is death of Sir Jeremy Heywood, a mistake too, for all sorts of was “a very bad mistake” reasons,” Cameron said. “But that had damaged the stand- one of which is having the ing of the National Security Foreign Office voice round Council. The move has been the table and the DfID voice reversed by Boris Johnson. round the table is important Cameron’s words came because they’re not neces- in an evidence session to were a cross of Einstein, Lovegrove from the Ministry of sarily the same thing. parliament’s National Secu- Wittgenstein and Mother Defence is going to be national “Having that deep devel- rity Strategy Committee on Teresa, you couldn’t possibly security adviser. I think that opment expertise about what 1 March. The former PM also do both jobs and I think that will bring a new perspective. we could do to help with the offered views on the creation temporarily weakened the “But I do think you need humanitarian situation in Syria of the Foreign, Commonwealth National Security Council.” a prime minister who wants [or] helping development in and Development Office Cameron told MPs and to use that machinery, and Afghanistan. Can you really last year and the UK’s pan- peers that there were a selec- a national security adviser expect the to demic preparedness, based tion of well-qualified individu- who feels bold and muscu- be able to do all of the dip- on his experience from six als who could have served the lar enough to be a sort of lomatic stuff and be able to years in . nation as a dedicated NSA. plenipotentiary diplomat speak to the development brief “I think it was a very “You need a good national as well as a bureaucrat.” as well? That’s quite a task. I bad mistake combining security adviser,” he said. Cameron was subse- think it’s good to have both.” cabinet secretary and na- “Britain’s got lots of incred- quently asked whether he He added that the NSC tional security adviser – they ible top diplomats and senior believed the NSA could be a should have input from are two jobs,” he said. military figures and others, politician. He did not reject both diplomats and de- “One person, even if you and I’m delighted that Stephen the idea, but suggested it was velopment experts.

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06-7 CSW304 news.indd 7 09/03/2021 10:52:14 ❯ OPINION STEPHEN BRIEN DWP SHOULD END TALK OF WELFARE CORONAVIRUS HAS REVEALED THE their out-of-work benefit claim. This could be achieved through a number of ways, such as starter payments, helping more indi- EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTRY viduals take up contributory benefits to which they are entitled, RELIES ON THE DEPARTMENT FOR and a more generous treatment of those with financial assets. WORK AND PENSIONS. GOVERNMENT The most important emerging challenge in 2021 is to man- age the return to full employment, given the economic shifts that SHOULD HARNESS THIS TO CREATE Covid has created and exacerbated. There is an important role for A SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE a number of government departments – and local authorities – to CHALLENGES OF A POST-PANDEMIC play, in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions, in bringing this about. This is understood within Whitehall, but a fully ECONOMY, WRITES STEPHEN BRIEN coordinated response is essential, especially around training and t’s almost a year since the first national lockdown began. re-skilling. Another point of learning from the last year will be to Then it was impossible to imagine the full extent of the expand the online services that are made available to those seek- challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic would pose and the ing work, including those not on benefits as well as those who are. support that the government would need to put in place We also have an overarching proposal. There is also a strong in response. As has been widely Iacknowledged – including by the Social Security Advisory Committee, which I chair – the Department for Work and Pensions responded impressively and at pace in improving policy and getting support out to huge numbers of people, with well over a million new claims for Universal Credit in the first fortnight of lockdown. It is far from clear that the legacy benefit system would have coped. The health, social and economic im- pacts of the pandemic have also thrown up deeper questions about the underlying structure of the working-age social secu- rity system. These include the nature of financial support provided to working age individuals, for example when they experi- ence temporary adverse shocks; and the key features of a social security system with flexibility to respond rapidly to market conditions and to a new set of claimants, many of case for the government to reassess what the benefit system is whom are different from those who were receiving social security for and to change the language used to describe it – re-adopting in the past, in order to help support individuals across the coun- the language of social security in place of the widespread use of try to return to paid work and to progress in the labour market. “welfare”. We have a social security system that is for many who We were delighted that Nicholas Timmins and Gemma are in work as well as those currently out of it, and it is also for Tetlow of the Institute for Government agreed to work in part- those who face the risk of unemployment when the next major shock hits. The language used to “While the current social security system has held up describe it should reflect this. extremely well in the face of the pandemic, there are ways Our specific suggestions to in which it could be fine-tuned to make it more effective” work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey serve to illustrate nership with us on a project to rapidly explore these issues. We a direction of travel, rather than providing a complete blueprint to also benefited from a set of roundtable discussions with a group be implemented, and is designed to inform her department’s own of former senior civil servants, academics and other experts. work in this area. We hope that our report will be seen as a use- The report we have published sets out the conclusions from ful contribution to the debates in this area, and we look forward this work. So what did we learn? While the current social security to receiving the government’s response to our conclusions. system has held up extremely well in the face of the pandemic, there are ways in which it could be fine-tuned to make it more Stephen Brien is the chair of the Social Security effective. For example, we propose ways in which any potential Advisory Committee. The report, Jobs and benefits: additional support could be targeted at providing greater help the Covid-19 challenge was produced jointly by to those losing their jobs in the first few weeks and months of the SSAC and the Institute for Government.

8 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

08 CSW304 IfG_opinion.indd 8 09/03/2021 10:51:37 ❯ OPINION COLUMNIST ❮ OPINION DAVE PENMANSORTING THE MINISTERIAL CODE BORIS JOHNSON’S BACKING FOR The ministerial code could not be clearer. Not only do we have the paragraph inserted by , but also in the foreword THE HOME SECRETARY DESPITE to the current version, Johnson chose to highlight this issue, stat- EVIDENCE OF BULLYING MEANS ing that ”there will be no bullying and no harassing”. However, the MINISTERS NOW HAVE TO MEET A consequence of his decision is that the prime minister has determined “Across the LOWER STANDARD OF CONDUCT that intent must be shown for a THAN CIVIL SERVANTS. THIS minister to be in breach of the code. civil service and CAN’T GO UNCHALLENGED This is not the case across beyond, bullying the civil service. Both the Home and harassment n the wake of the Me Too movement, with scandal rock- O ce’s own policy and that of ing the government, we were told that Theresa May, the the Cabinet O ce state: “Bul- is defi ned by the then-prime minister, sought to send a clear message lying is not about whether the consequences that bullying and harassment would not be tolerated. perpetrator of the acts intended of the actions, The FDA met with the Cabinet O ce to discuss them or not, but about the not the intent of Ichanges to the ministerial code, which would include, impact on the recipient and for the fi rst time, explicit references to bullying and how it makes them feel.” the perpetrator” harassment. This would of course mean such behav- Across the civil service iours would be considered a breach of the code. and beyond, bullying and harassment is defi ned by the I was a little cynical at the time; indeed, some may consequences of the actions, not the intent of the perpe- say it’s one of my fi ner qualities. Ministers, I con- trator. Our view, therefore, is that the prime minister tended, should not need an explicit paragraph misinterpreted the ministerial code and that the of the code to tell them not to bully and references to harassment, bullying and discrimina- harass. As is my style in these meetings, tion refer to workplace standards upheld across I sought to take an extreme example to government and beyond. That is why we have make my point. It does not, I said in my sought a judicial review of this decision. best sarcastic tone, say that ministers If the prime minister’s decision stands, it should not microwave their civil serv- will have a number of profound consequences. ants, but presumably they don’t need a Firstly, ministers will be held to a di erent and paragraph in the code to make this clear. lower standard of conduct than civil servants. My point was that we were way Secondly, ministers may use the interpreta- beyond simply making clear that bully- tion of intent as a mechanism for avoiding the ing and harassment wasn’t acceptable, consequences of their conduct in the future. ministers knew this. What we needed Thirdly, it potentially creates confusion in the was for any enforcement mechanism to civil service – if a Home O ce civil servant have teeth. What would happen, I asked, if a is found to have bullied a colleague, can they minister who was politically unsackable was now claim that intent should be a factor in this found to have bullied sta ? Given the lack of a determination as it was for the home secretary? transparent process for investigating and deter- And fi nally, this whole sorry saga has fatally mining these issues, the danger was that a prime undermined trust in the process for addressing minister could block an investigation in the fi rst complaints against ministers. This was already place, or ultimately ignore the fi ndings. They damaged by public statements of support from the are solely responsible for both these decisions. prime minister before he had seen any evidence Who knew that witty, sarcastic commen- and by his delay in making a decision, which tary was only my second-most impressive qual- was only forced from him by inevitable leaks. ity, behind predicting the future? The debacle This is why we sought to avoid a judicial review over the investigation into the home secretary’s and o ered the government a way out. Amend conduct was, therefore, entirely predictable. the code to refl ect the defi nition of bullying that As we now know, despite the evidence that the applies in the civil service and we would not home secretary had bullied civil servants includ- proceed. Unfortunately, that o er was rejected. ing shouting and swearing at them, the prime Whatever the outcome of the legal arguments minister determined that she had not breached and interpretations, it is this damage to confi dence the ministerial code, prompting the resigna- that should really worry the prime minister, who tion of his adviser on the code, Sir Alex Allen. is, after all, also minister for the civil service. In explaining his decision, the prime minister sought to give weight to the home secretary’s Dave Penman is the general secretary of assertion that her actions were unintentional. the FDA union. He tweets @FDAgensec

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09 CSW304 penman.indd 9 09/03/2021 10:50:51 OPINION❯ ❯ COLUMNISTOPINION DANIEL KORSKI MAKING ARIA SING THE GOVERNMENT’S NEW Areas where detail is less clear include on leadership. With a recruitment campaign to launch shortly, the “visionary scientist” RESEARCH AGENCY NEEDS THE chosen will have a key role, not just in setting Aria’s agenda, but FREEDOM TO SET ITS OWN also its structures. The challenge will be to identify a candidate MISSION, SAYS A FORMER DOWNING that balances scientific credentials with skills more often seen in private sector R&D or finance. Investors like Kate Bingham, STREET ADVISER the vaccine czar, and Balaji S. Srinivasan, who predicted much ast month saw formal confirmation of the launch of the Covid-19 crisis, are the sort of people that should be ap- of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency pointed. The more international its leadership the better as well. (Aria). Often controversial, seen as a pet project It may be tempting for legislators to codify an operating model of former No.10 advisor , and similar to that of DARPA. BEIS will no doubt be considering the thought to have stalled following his departure, the “programme manager” model that has been so effective for DAR- Lagency – modelled on the US Defense Advanced Research PA, thanks to the staff there and their efforts to coordinate projects Projects Agency (DARPA) – will finally launch in 2022. and partnerships with teams within the US Department of Defence. For the agency to succeed, Aria’s designers will need to decide Budget may still present a challenge, too. The £800m an- key aspects now, at this formative stage, to allay concerns that it nounced so far should be seen as a good first tranche; Aria’s might be just another R&D agency with no unique selling point. ambition is to deliver funding quickly to high risk-projects and The government has of- this will be expensive. This figure, fered reassurance against spread out over five years, may not be many of the concerns, sufficient to achieve but questions of leader- all that the agency’s ship, delivery model “Ministers sponsors hope for. and funding remain. Then there is the Firstly, however, Aria’s must resist the question of purpose. leaders must be empow- temptation to While the Commons ered to embrace a signifi- outline this mission Science and Technol- cantly enhanced appetite ogy Committee report for financial risk. Those prematurely – an on the new agency was who spend public money independent Aria favourable, the com- should do so responsibly, must be free to set mittee’s chair, Greg but few would argue that Clark suggested that there are many private its own mandate” Aria may become “a sector organisations bet- brand in search of a ter placed than those in product”. Here, minis- the public sector to take ters must resist the temptation to out- on high-risk “moonshot” line this mission prematurely. An inde- innovation projects. pendent Aria must be free to set its own Embedding this mandate; it should be equipped with appetite in Aria would the skills and staff it needs to forge its create a UK body uniquely own path – pioneering, yet accountable. well placed to take on There is much to be thankful for in such issues. Early re- the news of Aria’s launch; those work- ports had suggested this ing on plans for its creation have clearly might become a legal been listening to warnings over the commitment. While no risks of creating simply Innovate UK Leading the way reference to this was An entrant to a 2.0, and have taken steps to prevent this. made in the announce- DARPA robotics Yet, the devil will be in the ment of the agency, those challenge details. To get Aria right, gov- responsible clearly see ernment will need to provide it this as a defining characteristic for Aria; as the press notice as- with the tools it needs to do the job without subjecting it to serted: “freedom to fail is often also the freedom to succeed”. the traditional restrictions that – for its new leader – may The agency will be “led independently by our most ex- feel like they are trying to drive forward and fund innova- ceptional scientists”; protection perhaps from the short- tive projects with one arm tied behind their back. termism sometimes seen in government-led projects. It will take experimental approaches to delivering funding “flex- Daniel Korski is chief executive of Public, a venture ibly and at speed”; this will “complement the work of UK capital investor focused on govtech start-ups. Research and Innovation”, Aria’s closest UK analogue. He is also a former senior Downing Street adviser.

10 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

10 CSW304 Opinion Korsi ARIA.indd 10 09/03/2021 10:53:30 ❯ OPINION COLUMNIST ❮ OPINION SOCIAL VALUE TIME TO GRASP THE OPPORTUNITY • Engage with your supply chain GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND Suppliers often have a close ear to the ground in terms of what OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR BODIES opportunities are available and achievable in their industry – IT suppliers are able to recommend sustainable, environmentally- CAN USE PROCUREMENT TO HELP friendly solutions including refurbished or remanufactured BUILD SOCIAL VALUE. CHARLENE hardware. Speak to suppliers and users of the particular goods MAGINNIS FROM THE CROWN or services you’re buying to gain a balanced and realistic view COMMERCIAL SERVICE SETS OUT of what social value options can make a real difference. SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GO ABOUT IT • Decide what themes and outcomes you’re working towards The latest PPN (06/20) sets out social value themes you should very time a local authority, central government consider and the kinds of outcomes you might be able to de- department or healthcare organisation signs a liver – from supporting the recovery of local communities from contract with a supplier, there are opportunities the effects of the pandemic to tackling workforce inequality. to increase the value delivered for UK citizens. The public sector needs to recognise this • Understand your options Eopportunity and understand what their options are to Local government, healthcare, and education organisations can boost social value in their area. More than that, it’s actu- now choose to reserve their procurements for small businesses ally now a requirement for central government to ex- or social enterprises to support their local economy, thanks to plicitly evaluate social value in its procurement. a recent change to procurement rules. Make sure you under- As an active member of the National Social Value stand what your options are to get the maximum benefit. Taskforce, Crown Commercial Service is work- ing with buyers and suppliers to make it easier for public bodies to measure the value they are helping to deliver through their procurement. There are many opportunities to integrate so- cial value into central government procurement. For instance: public bodies can now ask that suppliers sign up to schemes that offer support for their workers’ mental health – a serious issue for employees in industries that suffer from uncertainty about where the next contract is coming from. And NHS bodies can enhance sustainabil- ity and reduce their environmental footprint when procuring technology by moving to greener en- ergy sources and reusable hardware, having a positive impact in their local area and beyond. In September, the Cabinet Office published Procure- ment Policy Note (PPN 06/20): taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts. The guidance note requires all central government “It’s actually now a requirement for departments to explicitly evaluate social value in their new procurements, where the requirements are relevant central government to explicitly evaluate and proportionate to the subject matter of the contract. social value in its procurement” The PPN also includes a new social val- ue model, which contains a menu of priority social • Be bold in how you measure delivered value value themes and policy outcomes that can be ap- Social value delivers benefits that go so much further than plied in new procurements and contracts. pounds and pennies. You can measure and quantify social value delivery using financial proxies, but don’t forget that What departments need to consider each initiative tells a story of an impact on individuals, com- • Build from the ground up munities or the environment – and these should shine though Social value in procurement doesn’t work when it’s treated when you talk about how you’ve delivered social value. as an afterthought – it needs to be baked into frameworks You can find out more about social value and mak- and contracts from the start, for instance, by taking account ing responsible buying decisions on the CCS website. of mental health support for workers in the construction sec- tor. Consider how each of your contracts can be maximised Charlene Maginnis is Crown Commercial Service’s head to generate additional social value, and who will benefit. of policy delivery – supply chain and service offering

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11 CSW304 11 Opinion CCS.indd 11 09/03/2021 14:18:11 COVER FEATURE ❯ SUZANNE HEYWOOD INTERVIEW

ON JEREMY’S LIFE Suzanne Heywood’s biography of Jeremy Heywoods gives an extraordinary insightNote into the late cabinet secretary’s time in government and at home. She speaks to Beckie Smith about recording her husband’s life, what he would have made of the coronavirus crisis, and the music he loved

And it was one of his favourite songs, so it had to go somewhere,” Heywood says. Readers learn early on in What does Jeremy think? that one of his prized posses- sions when he went to university was a turn- table his parents had given him. That love of music carried on strong throughout his life, so the chapter titles were, says Heywood, a way to “bring a little bit more Jeremy in”. But the playlist from which the book’s titles are borrowed was compiled near the end of Jeremy’s life, when he was undergo- ing treatment for lung cancer. Heywood recalls: “When he started doing radio- therapy, he had to go into this big machine oshimi Battles the Pink Robots may not and lie there quite still for quite a long time. strike you as the most likely track to And he came back and he said he hated it. appear on a cabinet secretary’s playlist And I said, ‘Why did you hate it?’ He said he of favourites. Nor would the Flaming hated the whine of the machine – he hated Lips’ dreamy synth-pop hit put most all medical things anyway – and just to make people in mind of the 2000 fuel crisis. it all worse, he had to listen to terrible music YBut when it came to dividing her late playing through the speakers. I thought, husband’s life into chapters, Suzanne ‘I can’t do anything about the fi rst couple Heywood says it seemed only natural that of things, but I can sort out the music.’” Jeremy Heywood’s favourite songs provided So Heywood bought him an MP3 the titles. Each chronicles a crisis, a change player, taught him to use Spotify and made of government, the development of a new a playlist of 20 songs. “He came out say- policy or a step towards civil service reform. ing, ‘Well, that was a lot better. The only Yoshimi – who has a black belt in karate problem is that they told me off because and is fi ghting to defeat the “evil machines” I’m not allowed to hum during radio- – marks the government’s handling of the therapy because it upsets the machine.’” protests sparked by rising fuel costs. “It did For the next year and a half – the remain- feel like that was quite a battle, as it were. der of Jeremy’s life – the pair continued

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12-15 CSW304 Suzanne Heywood.indd 12 10/03/2021 13:21:20 “I was either going to write it then and interview him then or try later without the benefi t of his memories. That seemed like a loss”

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12-15 CSW304 Suzanne Heywood.indd 13 10/03/2021 13:21:23 COVER FEATURE ❯ SUZANNE HEYWOOD INTERVIEW

to add to the playlist as he listened to it out the positives – “he would have loved on repeat during his many hospital visits. the open policy bit, involving SAGE, the From it, Heywood would later choose REM’s Vaccine Taskforce, bringing in outsid- Everybody Hurts to recount the strife of ers like Kate Bingham to run that” – and negotiating a ; Franz interrogating the rest. “He’d want to ask, Ferdinand’s Take Me Out for a reshuffle; ‘Okay, once we get through this and we’re the Bee Gees’ How Deep Is Your Love for stabilised, let’s really look at what worked, and David Cameron’s pledge to what didn’t work, what can we learn from hold a referendum on EU membership. it? How do we make government better?’” This was a theme of Jeremy’s career. The eywood, an executive and former book tells of his efforts to reorganise Down- Treasury civil servant, always knew ing Street, beef up the No.10 Policy Unit, and Hshe wanted to write her husband’s build skills the civil service lacked. Hey- biography. “I never had any doubt about wood says he had a “constant dissatisfaction that, I told him for many years,” she says. with the status quo, always asking what can Of course, she didn’t picture doing it be improved, always demanding change”. under the circumstances she did – inter- This was a frequent talking point at viewing Jeremy in his final few months of home. Suzanne Heywood’s own four years life, hurrying to write so she could show in the civil service – where she started chapters to him, and conducting scores of as a fast streamer, before becoming pri- interviews after his death for a book that vate secretary to the Treasury financial would be published just a couple of years secretary – meant she understood first- after he stepped down as cab sec. “In an hand the structures Jeremy was working ideal world, we would have done exactly with, while her move to McKinsey after what Jeremy’s predecessors have done: he that gave her an outside perspective. would have stepped down after a period “We used each other as sounding of time, which he hadn’t decided on; then boards,” she says. “The people things are would have done radio interviews and TV, often harder to solve than the policy things commentating – as his predecessors do, – trying to find a way through things with and they do a fabulous job of that – and the various different personalities, or situa- in doing so, he would have shared a lot of tions where Jeremy wanted to create change the learnings that he got from his time in and it was a question of how to get that government, and also be able to comment change embedded within the civil service.” on the issues of the day. Then after a due She describes Jeremy as a “magpie” period, we would have done his biography.” for new ideas. He used an idea she shared While there are mixed opinions on the from McKinsey, where associates vied extent to which former top civil servants to share their best ideas in a prestigious should opine on the government’s choices quarterly publication, as the blueprint for once they have left, there is certainly no the Civil Service Quarterly. “We talked a doubt that after more than 30 years in lot about ideas like that,” Heywood says. government, Jeremy Heywood had accrued Jeremy would later learn from his a huge amount of knowledge and experi- own experience in the private sector too, ence from which civil servants could learn. after leaving government for a four-year CSW wonders what Jeremy might stint at Morgan Stanley in the 2000s. have made of the government’s handling Returning to the Cabinet Office in 2007, of the coronavirus pandemic, and what and then Downing Street, he would draw his contribution might have been. Hey- on that experience when he was help- wood says that if Jeremy were around ing to deal with the financial crisis. today, he could “absolutely” have contrib- Heywood adds: “By the way, he stole uted to the response. “Having somebody ideas from everybody else as well. At with that depth of experience would, you every dinner party, or every event that he hope, have been helpful,” she says. went to, he would come away with two or But she says if he had left govern- three ideas, or four or five people he was ment, he wouldn’t criticise the response. going to connect with somebody else, or “He wouldn’t have thrown stones from something that he was going to do. That’s outside because he would have known the kind of restless curiosity he had.” from bitter experience how hard these things are to manage with things chang- n summer 2017, soon after Jeremy was ing at pace, particularly against this diagnosed with lung cancer, the Hey- unknown virus that for a lot of the Iwoods began working on a book about time was only partially understood.” his life. “We didn’t get a choice on when But he would have wanted to see gov- to write it, because I was either going to ernment learn from the crisis by drawing write it then and interview him then or,

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12-15 CSW304 Suzanne Heywood.indd 14 10/03/2021 13:21:28 because he had a terminal illness, I would to – to keep their spirits up with have to try and write it later but without humour during five failed rounds of IVF. the benefit of his memories. And that The same chapter also details the just seemed like a loss,” Heywood says. work Jeremy became absorbed in at the Were there any lessons Jeremy was time – the prime minister’s 10-year plan adamant she should get across in the for the NHS, a spending review, the G7 book? Heywood says he was happy for summit. Heywood writes of feeling “jeal- her to tell his story as it unfolded, but she ous of his ability to compartmentalise our noticed some “very clear themes” emerg- grief” and to throw himself into work. ing. “He was a passionate believer of Former colleagues and friends have evidence-based policymaking, and I think often commented admiringly on Jer- that becomes very clear – the first place he emy Heywood’s devotion to his work. goes is to try and work out what’s going He was a dedicated public servant who on,” she says. “He really strongly believed continued working even after being in open policymaking as well, which is diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. making sure that you involve a wide group “In a bizarre sort of way, for me, his of people when you’re thinking about a character became really clear as he became policy, particularly those who are close sicker,” Heywood says. “His determina- to the front line of what’s happening.” tion to keep working and keep helping the Heywood also interviewed more prime minister right through to pretty much than 200 of Jeremy’s former colleagues the end was absolutely extraordinary.” and friends – aided by long texts from “Also infuriating,” she adds. “He just her husband with suggested lines of did not want to stop. But his character was questioning. “I learned a lot during very vivid in that last bit, so it was really those interviews; I was hugely privi- important to tell that bit of the story.” leged to be able to do that,” she says. Before embarking on the final chap- ters that follow that diagnosis, readers “His determination to might need a stiff drink, Heywood says. keep working through I don’t want to talk about it is an apt soundtrack for the penultimate chapter: to pretty much the end the diagnosis is quickly followed by a blur was extraordinary. of failed cancer treatments; investigating Also infuriating” sexual misconduct allegations against Damian Green; Brexit preparations; a trial She learned a huge deal about policy for an experimental drug; a reshuffle; an – Jeremy had a long and varied govern- investigation into the Novichok poison- ment career, and the book covers his role ings in Salisbury. The final chapter is even in everything from negotiations over the tougher reading – documenting the cabinet Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992 (Money) secretary’s final days and his family’s grief. to the aftermath of 9/11 (Nothing Will Ever It’s hard not to wonder why someone Be The Same) and preparations for Brexit would choose to put themselves through after the 2016 referendum (Begin Again). that relentless work schedule amid the whirl- But she also learned more about the wind of gruelling treatments and bad news. man she was married to for more than two “He really thought he was making decades. “What was interesting was learning a difference,” Heywood says. “Mrs May how people saw him. Several people said to needed his help and he felt he was making me that they prepped more thoroughly for a a difference. One thing that really upset meeting with Jeremy than even when they him when he finally did have to stop was were going in front of a select committee in just watching the television and going, ‘I the House of Commons. And when I said really want to help; I really want to be there.’ to them ‘Why, were you scared?’ they said, “And then I think it was a displace- ‘No, we weren’t scared, we loved him. But we ment thing as well,” she adds. “So people really want to impress him, we wanted him can criticise [his decision], but for him, it to think we’d done a really good job. And he was immensely helpful to focus on some- also had this unerring ability to know which thing that he knew he did tremendously piece was the weakest bit of our presenta- well and was making a difference doing, tion’. People made huge efforts because and not focus on something that was re- they wanted him to think well of them.” ally so awful. The book served a similar But Heywood’s book is not just a purpose, actually, at the same time.” biography of an official. It is also a deeply personal account of her life with Jeremy. What Does Jeremy Think? Jeremy It recounts the couple’s struggles to con- Heywood and the Making of Modern ceive, and attempts by Jeremy – then PPS Britain is published by William Collins

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12-15 CSW304 Suzanne Heywood.indd 15 10/03/2021 13:21:34 FEATURE ❯ WORKING WITH MINISTERS

OFFICIAL

The relationship between ministers and civil servants ADVICEis the most important in government. CSW sat down with one former minister and one former permanent secretary to find out how it works in practice

aroline Flint was the Labour CSW: What is the first day MP for Don Valley from 1997 as a minister like? to 2019, and held a host of Caroline Flint: Exciting and daunting. If ministerial and shadow min- I go back to my first ministerial job, I was isterial positions, including on a plane flying back from Kuwait, hav- minister for Europe, housing minister and ing been with the parliamentary armed Cemployment minister. Philip Rycroft is a forces scheme in in June 2003. former permanent secretary at the Depart- We were on the plane with other par- ment for Exiting the EU, and has held other liamentary colleagues, and we knew there civil service roles including being head of was a reshuffle going on, but we weren’t the UK governance group in the Cabinet sure what was going to happen. I landed at Office. He has also worked for the Scottish Heathrow Airport, and I got a message from Government in a number of roles, including my husband to ring No.10, and get up there director general for education. In this exclu- as quick as I could. I was wearing my chinos sive interview, they discuss the relationship and my fatigues, having been with the army between ministers and the civil service. out in Iraq, and was carrying my rucksack.

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16-19 CSW304 Philip Rycroft.indd 16 09/03/2021 10:54:07 with this. David very quickly got all of and what their priorities are is absolutely us in the ministerial team together, and critical to getting that right. But the civil that was a regular activity. We would service can feel the tension a little bit in meet as a team of ministers with the those first few days, as new ministers get permanent secretary, but also on our their feet under the desk to get settled in. own politically too. And that is helpful because you need to have that sense CSW: Do you feel that you had that kind of: what is it your goal, and what does of support and working relationship es- the secretary of state, what does the tablished fairly early in the department? prime minister want? That acts as a CF: Phil’s absolutely right that you need in- sort of compass for how you proceed. formation on the need to know basis. If they Then you’re working on your own just pile everything on you, you would have a lot with officials, and they provide a nervous breakdown. So the way you get you with briefings on each of the areas information has to be customised to the in- you’re covering. So you get the headlines, dividual. I always used to say I want 10 killer and that helps you get on with the job facts, something that is tangible that I can quickly. One thing I made very clear refer to in each of the areas of my portfolio. early on was: if there’s something going I was a minister who didn’t live in wrong, please don’t wait until five to mid- London, I lived in Doncaster in my constitu- night to tell me. Let me know if there’s a ency. So I would arrive on a Monday and go problem brewing earlier in the process, back to Doncaster every Thursday, and I did rather than when it’s all hitting the fan. So I was summoned to No.10. I walked down Downing Street and none of the CSW: And how does the civil ser- media gathered there had a clue who vice prepare for new ministers? I was, as I clearly wasn’t dressed for a Philip Rycroft: It depends quite a lot on the new appointment. I remember them circumstances. So you can have ministers shouting out to [former Labour MP and coming into government for the first time, defence minister] Ivor Caplin, ‘what do or indeed, from a party that has never been you think you’re going to get, Ivor?’. in government before – I have experience of I got nothing like that, because obvi- the SNP as a minority government in 2007 ously nobody recognised who I was. in Scotland. That’s a very different business I met the prime minister, Tony Blair, than if you’re in a reshuffle context where in my chinos and my dusty jacket and he somebody has been promoted, maybe told me I was going to the Home Office. from within the department, or come from “If there’s something From there, I went and got tidied up and another ministerial job, and they know the then you go straight into the depart- ropes and they know their way around. going wrong, please ment and start meeting your private Ahead of an election, you’ve got time to don’t wait ’til it’s office. People come through, obviously, think about it, with lots of work going on all hitting the your other colleagues on the ministerial preparing the brief for incoming ministers. team, and for me the secretary of state That’s part and parcel of what the civil fan to tell me” was David Blunkett. It was exciting. I was service does. Sometimes, you get no time Caroline Flint covering the brief of organized crime at all. So in my last job [as DExEU perm [and the interactions with] justice and sec], I had a fairly rapid turnover among that pretty much all through my ministe- home affairs in the European Union. secretaries of state. And these were resigna- rial career. So early on people used to pile It was daunting. In my first fortnight I tions, so not planned – people suspected up stuff for Thursday for me to either take had to deal with questions in the House of they might be coming, but they couldn’t home to Doncaster or have a box delivered Commons, I had an adjournment debate be certain they were coming. So an incom- on the weekend. And I had to make clear and I also had to take over a bill in commit- ing secretary of state needed to be on top that, I wanted to work long hours, definitely, tee. So you have to hit the ground running. of the brief absolutely from day one – as Monday to Thursday, but I couldn’t have all Caroline said, this is very daunting stuff. the submissions piled up on for Thursday CSW: So what do ministers want from Not only do you need to understand what’s lunchtime to take away with me. I didn’t civil servants on their first day, and in going on in the department to be able think that was a good use of my time. So I those early weeks in the department? to deal with ministerial colleagues, but did say early on that, for the routine submis- CF: It’s hugely important to get to you’re in front of the media pretty much sions – signing parliamentary question know your private office. They are your from the moment you step into the job. answers, signing letters – I wanted to get gatekeepers. They are the people you’re The civil service responsibility in that everything cleared before I left for Doncas- going to spend most time with as a space is to make sure that the minister ter on a Thursday and only the really urgent minister and those early relationships or the secretary of state has got the right stuff would I deal with over a weekend. are important. I think the other aspect briefing at the right time. There’s a great which is incredibly useful is knowing temptation to throw everything at them, PR: The civil service could sometimes what your secretary of state wants, and but that’s just impossible. A human un- be more sensitive early on, so that they David Blunkett was brilliant at helping derstanding of what the minister is facing don’t have to be told how to work with

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16-19 CSW304 Philip Rycroft.indd 17 09/03/2021 10:54:09 FEATURE ❯ WORKING WITH MINISTERS

a minister sensibly. Everything piling up was very limited. That was because within on a Thursday or Friday afternoon is for the Foreign Office at that time, it might the convenience of the people produc- have changed since, there were rules about ing it. They want it off their desk at the how long you could stay in a post in the weekend, they don’t think about the poor UK, as opposed to overseas, so it was a minister or permanent secretary – who quite a large turnover. You want fresh ideas is also often at the receiving end and has coming in, but understanding about the to wade through it on a Friday night. role of private office, and the relationship I also never stayed in London, I was to parliament, does require experience. always commuting from Scotland in my I was at the Department of Health as 10 years down in Whitehall. So I had the public health minister for two years, but advantage of a Friday night four-hour when I moved to what was then the Depart- journey home where I knew I could get ment for Communities and Local Govern- through stuff. The team understood that ment, there was a vacancy for a diary secre- but I’d say to them that if I’ve not done tary and I wanted my diary secretary from it by the time I get into Dunbar station health to come with me. I actually succeed- on a Friday night, I’m not looking at it ed in encouraging that to happen. However, until I get on the train again on a Sunday by the time that was done, I was then being evening. You’ve got to have that strength moved on to the FCO. So DCLG inherited of mind to be disciplined, or to require this wonderful woman who still works in that discipline of the civil service, oth- the civil service, she’s in No.10 now. I felt I’d erwise your good nature as a minister done my best for DCLG and then lost a very will maybe get stretched a little bit. good support person moving to the FCO.

CSW: Did private offices work PR: From a permanent secretary point of similarly cross departments? view, knowing that you’ve got really smart CF: There are norms across the civil ser- people in a private offices is a very good vice, but every department is like another investment of your time. Good private country in terms of its culture and how it secretaries are absolutely critical as the oil works. So there is a civil service, but it is in the machine to help it all work together. maybe quite different from one department It’s a brilliant training ground. A lot of to another. When I went to the Foreign senior civil servants who get how minis- Office, I inherited a private office in which ters work, if you look back in their careers, the experience of being in a private office you’ll find they had a stint at some point

18 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

16-19 CSW304 Philip Rycroft.indd 18 09/03/2021 10:54:09 on, and you’re on your own. That happened on a couple of occasions, and that really isn’t the best in terms of your relationship.

PR: A big part of the job is supporting the secretary of state and ministers in navigating those relationships, particu- larly if they’re newer to the department than you. Some secretaries of state would do their best to work with the grain of No.10, some would sometimes find No.10 a bit arbitrary in its decisions. Sometimes the No.10 grid [for schedul- ing government announcements] could be a bit of a tyrant stopping them doing what they wanted to do. There were one or two secretaries of state to whom I’d have to say, you can’t announce that, because it’s not on the grid and No.10 has said no. And they would say “yeah, well, maybe, but what are they going to do about it, if I do announce it?” It is important to know what the limits are of that sort of behaviour and how you could manage that, trying to get the best of understand that and we’re on your side. I both worlds. But what you can’t do is ignore think is just absolutely central to the role No.10,and allow your department to slip out of the permanent secretary, the instinct to of view, even if that’s what the secretary of understand where ministers coming from, state thought was best for them[[[. Because and how they can support that agenda. No.10 is ever watchful, ever present, and you never quite know when they’re go- CSW: Where does the PM and ing to come in and demand something or No.10 fit into this relationship? comment on something, or try and divert CF: Both at the Home Office and health, attention in a particular direction. I used to do quarterly reports to the prime minister and his officials and political advisers in No.10 about a new This interview was conducted in partner- strategy we had between the Home Of- ship with Dods Training. Dods specialises fice and health to tackle acquisitive crime in policy development and parliamentary “No.10 is ever watchful, for drug use – we developed a strat- training, including communications and ever present, and you egy about getting people into treatment leadership skills related to those topics. never quite know when earlier. It was an exciting programme. Good policy making improves outcomes At these quarterly meetings, we’d have for citizens and Dods works to help civil they’re going to come in our statistics about how we were doing, with servants develop the skills they need to and demand something” all those traffic lights and indicators. It was deliver better outcomes for citizens. Philip Rycroft daunting, but I enjoyed it for two reasons. Our associates have close experience One, it said to me the prime minister of working within the civil service in senior in a ministerial private office, because it thinks this work was important enough to policy, communications, HR, and operational gives you just such a great insight into spend time on, and second it allowed us to roles. This experience mans we understand that nexus between the political world develop some of those relationships with the culture and challenges of the civil service. and the world of the civil service. some of the people in No.10, both political Dods Training is delighted to support the DExEU had a lot of a lot of ministers, advisers and officials, that could help us civil service, as a member of KPMG’s con- comparative to the size of the depart- with some of the problems we were hav- sortium of learning specialists. Under the ment, and we had quite a rapid turnover. ing, as well as sharing the good outcomes. Civil Service Learning framework, we will be So almost every two or three months, I As I said earlier, knowing what your supporting better government by improv- was having to get to know incoming new boss’s view is on something – whether it’s ing the skills, knowledge and networks of ministers as well as the secretary of state. your secretary of state or the prime minister public servants. But I made it a priority to be pretty much – is really important, and I didn’t find that We join other industry leaders to deliver first in the office with a sort of contact intrusive or wearing, I found outstanding learning under the new learn- to say: “Hello, I’m here. Here’s my phone it really positive. What you don’t want is a ing framework, whilst helping the UK Civil number, this is what I do and we’re here to situation where you think you’ve got some Service build the people capability they help”. And to also say that we know this is direction from No.10, and maybe it doesn’t need for the future. For more information a tough agenda, and we know the politics go quite as well as expected, and then they pleasecontact Alice McDavid or Tina Seth. is really, really difficult around this, we act like they didn’t know what was going

civilserviceworld.com | March 2021 | 19

16-19 CSW304 Philip Rycroft.indd 19 09/03/2021 10:54:10 Edited by ❯ DIGITAL & DATA Sam Trendall

Produced in association with CSW’s sister title PublicTechnology

as the app previously was – and the launch of isolation payments of up to £500. The app has also been amended to MAKING reflect the more widespread usage of lateral flow tests, which are quicker but somewhat less reliable than PCR tests. Users who enter a positive lateral flow test result are now encouraged to take a further PCR test to confirm the result. CONTACT But PublicTechnology missed these More than 20 million UK citizens have new features because, as we tell Wolfgang downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app. One of the Emmerich, UK chief executive of Zühlke UK, the main commercial partner in build- leaders of the development process discusses its ing the technology, we always dread open- impact and future plans with Sam Trendall ing the app and have not done so in weeks. He laughs in recognition, and says or the 20 million citizens in October and aimed to reduce in- our experience of app-ordered confine- that have downloaded the stances of so-called ghost notifica- ment – which lasted for nine full days, NHS Covid-19 app, a digi- tions – contact alerts which disappeared concluding at midnight on Christmas Eve tal service has surely never when users tried to open them. – came during a particularly busy period reassured and terrified Further code updates have been im- for notifications. (He is yet to receive one, them so much at the same time. plemented more recently to integrate with he reveals – although his daughter has.) FLaunched across in Sep- and support the introduction of policies Further improvements to the app may tember, the app is updated weekly. Its such as the tiering system – which is split cover the provision of information on most significant revamp took place by local authority areas, and not postcodes, whether users have been vaccinated or

20 | March 2021 | | civilserviceworld.com

20-21 CSW304 PT covid.indd 20 09/03/2021 16:37:10 ❮ DATA BREACHES DIGITAL & DATAEdited by ❯ DIGITAL & DATA ❯ DIGITAL & DATA Sam Tredall

Produced in association with CSW’s sister title Public Technology

not, Emmerich says, although no defini- assess the outcome of the first trial, on in Europe who use the Google and Apple tive plans for this have yet been made. the Isle of Wight,” he says. “As much as API – such as NearForm, which built the In the nearer term, a focus will we would have liked that to succeed, we Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish app,” be aligning technological opera- came to the conclusion that it was in the Emmerich says. “And we reused code from tions more closely with the manual best interests of the country to stop. This Germany, whose app was built by SAP.” contact-tracing programme. was no fault of the development team… it He adds: “We brought policy into the “The role the app plays is that we can was not possible to fight [Apple’s] policy. development to ensure we worked together do contact tracing extremely cheaply “The first app was stopped on our very closely with the policy team and user – orders of magnitude smaller than the recommendation and… [we then] rolled researchers. What is unique here is that cost of manual contact tracing,” he says. out a national feasibility study and we we had to bring together a team within “But there is a case for manual contact developed the second app using the con- a day or two and build the first release of tracing and the app to work together, tract that was set aside for the first app.” the app within six weeks… which is very and we have built some of those mecha- unusual in a government development.” nisms. For example, when you scan your Working together When its initial contract with the QR code [to enter a venue]…. the app can After the initial app was ditched, the Department of Health and Social Care detect outbreaks, without contact trac- programme to develop a second was ran out in September, the company was ers having to go into the back end.” moved from NHSX to then-recently awarded a further £9m deal which is due Emmerich adds: “But there is also a launched Test and Trace programme. to conclude at the end of this month. need for manual contact tracing because Development work was conducted Emmerich says that his firm’s engage- not everybody will be able to run the ment with the gov- app or have the technology to do so.” ernment is likely Zühlke’s involvement in the pro- to continue for a gramme began a year ago; between March while yet, as focus and May 2020 it was awarded three con- increases on driv- tracts worth a cumulative total of almost ing further uptake £3m to work on the development of the of the technology. original app, which was ultimately ditched. Capacity is not Unlike many deals entered into by a problem, he adds, government organisations over the last with the Amazon year, these contracts were awarded follow- Web Services ing a full competitive process in which environment in the Switzerland-based firm beat a num- which the app is ber of other bidders, Emmerich says. hosted allowing it NHSX led the process to develop the to grow “more or original app, which the government hoped less infinitely”. would allow data gathered to be pooled in The importance a centralised reposito- of ensuring even ry for study by public- “As much as we would wider adoption is health authorities. have liked the first app demonstrated by This technology was recent research from ultimately scrapped in to succeed, we came to The Alan Turing June after it was dis- the conclusion that it Institute that found covered to work only was in the best interests the app’s average patchily on Android of 4.4 close-contact devices, and barely of the country to stop” notifications per at all on iPhones. Wolfgang Emmerich positive case could The Exposure Noti- have prevented as fication system jointly developed by Apple by a large team that included 70 staff many as 900,000 extra cases this win- and Google was then used as the basis for form Zühlke, alongside civil servants, ter when compared with purely manual the development of a second app, which representatives of other suppliers such tracing. For every percentage point runs on a decentralised model, where data as Accenture, and various external par- increase in the proportion of app users, is only stored on individual users’ phones. ties that contributed along the way. the amount of infections is liable to be Emmerich says that the Apple-Google This included the incorpora- reduced by 2.3%, the research claims. technology was not available until April tion of a QR code-generating feature Emmerich says: “We are trying to – by which time work was already well developed by Rush Digital and the encourage people to use the app be- underway on the government-led app. New Zealand Ministry of Health for cause of the superlinear impact that “We provided independent field test- use in the NZ Covid Tracer app. has on cases… 56% of the population ing on the first app and also helped them “We also worked with organisations has it – but that still leaves 44%.”

publictechnology.net | | March 2021 | 21

20-21 CSW304 PT covid.indd 21 09/03/2021 16:37:18 Edited by ❯ DIGITAL & DATA Sam Trendall

Produced in association with CSW’s sister title PublicTechnology FINAL PERFORMANCE Government is closing two centralised tools to make data available to departments and the public. Sam Trendall he GOV.UK Performance A note recently added to each site says Platform, which collates that “GDS is deprecating the Performance finds out more and publishes data on Platform effective from 15 March 2021”. almost 800 services Historical data from each will be made across departments, is available via the National Archives. to be closed this month. Users of the Registers platform are The site brings advised to “ensure you have downloaded together in one place the latest version” of all the informa- a range of information tion they need prior to 15 March. designed to offer a snap- In the case of the Performance Plat- shot of the performance form, organisations are advised that of 777 citizen services, as “future performance data hosted by ser- well as tools such as the vices will be available via data.gov.uk.” Digital Marketplace procurement platform, It is understood that the move to close and the Verify identity-assurance product. the platform is intended to place greater Information includes usage, cost-per- responsibility on individual departments Ttransaction, digitisation rate, completion to publish and maintain publicly available percentage, uptime and user satisfaction. data, rather than a single repository that Also being retired is the Registers ser- is run by the central digital agency. Any vice, which brings together a number of da- information that continues to be pub- tabases to provide information for use in the lished on data.gov.uk will also be publicly design of government services and online downloadable in spreadsheet form. forms. This includes various comprehensive It is not known how service perfor- lists, including local and central govern- mance data will be presented or col- ment organisations, education providers, al- lated on data.gov.uk, and whether it will lergens, and countries and their demonyms. be housed in a single, easily navigable Both platforms were created and are place as it is now – or if it will be dis- run by the Government Digital Service. persed across multiple sections.

22 | March 2021 | | civilserviceworld.com

22-23 CSW304 PT performance.indd 22 09/03/2021 16:37:34 ❮ DATA BREACHES DIGITAL & DATAEdited by ❯ DIGITAL & DATA ❯ DIGITAL & DATA Sam Tredall

Produced in association with CSW’s sister title Public Technology

It also remains to be seen the extent to which departments will continue to collect and publish this information Date that the without the impetus of being expected Performance to contribute to a centralised platform. Platform Previously, new services developed by departments or agencies were required and Data to integrate with the platform in order to 777Number of services with a 15 Register will be comply with the GDS-managed 14-point March ‘deprecated’ Service Standard checklist – which must performance dashboard be passed as a service passes through the various stages of the development process. The ‘About’ section of the platform also makes clear that, as well as provid- Number of registers available – including ing useful information for researchers, comprehensive lists of world countries, UK local journalists and the public, maintain- authorities and jobcentres, and allergen groups ing a dashboard offers valuable data for the government entity in question. “If you’re a government service 51 manager, you can see how your service is doing by using a performance dashboard,” cated across many other services. “[GDS] have also thought quite it says. “A dashboard lets you quickly The Performance Platform spent deeply about the future of the Performance spot problems with your service so you several weeks “closed for maintenance” in Platform,” he added. “Some of the data can take action to improve it. You need the latter part of 2019. Some speculation at had not been updated very recently.” to integrate your service with a perfor- the time suggested that this was a precur- According to Freeguard, a key question mance dashboard to… avoid spending sor to the service shuttering for good. now is the extent to which departments time manually collecting data about your On that occasion it did come back will be required to follow standards for service, make decisions on the latest data online – albeit without any visual rep- publishing data, how this will be enforced, available about your service, compare how resentations of data or graphs allowing and by whom. The recently-created Data your service is doing with other public users to study performance over time. Standards Authority – a cross-government services, [and] be open to the public. entity that sits within If you work on a government service, GDS but works closely we can help you create a dashboard.” with the Office for It adds: “The performance dashboards National Statistics and are just another way the government is “Even if this is major Whitehall depart- opening up data to the public. If you’re a ments – is one candidate service manager, you may be concerned only temporary, it to take on this job. about presenting facts about how your is not great from Whatever approach service is doing so openly. In general, is taken, Freeguard said the novelty of open data has worn off. a transparency this year could be a There is nothing sensational about see- landmark year for use ing how many people are satisfied with perspective – an of digital and data in a government service, or how many government, with new people completed an application.” issue which is facing leadership figures at some challenges” GDS, the beginning A mixed picture of the rollout of the The data currently available through the Gavin Freeguard National Data Strategy, platform is mixed in its comprehensive- and some high-profile ness and recency; the dashboard for the global government most-used government service of all, Ve- events, such as the hicle Tax Checks by Individuals, contains For the last year, all information has COP26 climate change conference. quarterly-usage and digital-uptake stats no been presented solely in text form. “Even if this is only temporary until a more recent than those that date from 2017. Gavin Freeguard, an independent new system comes in, it is not great from a But other data – including completion digital and data consultant and former pro- transparency perspective – an issue which rate and user satisfaction – continues to be gramme director at the Institute for Gov- is facing some challenges,” Freeguard said. published in weekly or monthly tranches. ernment think tank, said that the closure of “The world looks at the UK for open gov- This mix of outdated, new and the registers has “been a long time coming ernment and digital government – what incomplete information is repli- – as it has not had the buy-in it needed”. face does the UK want to put forward?"

publictechnology.net | | March 2021 | 23

22-23 CSW304 PT performance.indd 23 09/03/2021 16:37:35 XXXX FEATURE ❯ XXXXX

As the NHS performs the diffi cult balancing n interesting, if obvious, lesson from act of carrying out a nationwide vaccine the pandemic is that viruses aren’t very respectful. They don’t respect status, as rollout while trying to mitigate the spread over a dozen world leaders have discov- of new Covid variants, Geoff rey Lyons ered; they don’t respect time, as critics of Aformer US president Donald Trump anxiously peers beyond British borders to review cautioned during his three-month presidential fi ve innovative and relatively inexpensive transition; and they don’t respect borders. To responses to Covid from foreign governments Covid-19, there’s no Switzerland or Hong Kong, Mexico or Nepal. There’s no Europe or Asia or, for that matter, western or eastern hemispheres. There are just hosts, human or otherwise (ac- cording to a study in Science, cats and ferrets are “highly susceptible” to the disease). And yet borders are useful in a pandemic because they provide a framework to deter- mine what’s eff ective. Each country is like a separate laboratory, with some producing undeniably good results (New Zealand, Sin- gapore), some tragic failures (the US, Brazil), and the majority something in between. A GLOBAL While success seems to hinge on the same fundamentals – like how early a gov- ernment intervenes, how strict its lockdown measures are – it’s in the details that we fi nd policy inspiration: what are the specif- ics that countries do that help contribute to success, and that others can learn from? The fi ve examples below were selected from among hundreds that have been ap- plauded the world over for their ingenuity. EFFORT Readers who want to learn about others can fi nd catalogues of innovative responses to Covid on the websites for global institutions like the UN and OECD. Oxford’s Blavatnik’s School of Government also has an online tool that allows users to track and compare policy responses from around the world.

Play time Berlin’s fi rst temporary play street ance with social distancing. GERMANY Level playing fi eld It’s a textbook example of what some are calling Like most who have endured one could relate to”. “tactical urban- long lockdowns, Berliners have Counted among those ism”: low-cost felt that their home has lost once familiar sounds is that of interventions much its character. As one children playing, which was ef- that achieve blogger put it, “the sounds of fectively muted by the govern- long-term chatting in restaurants, ment’s temporary outcomes (other glasses touch- ban on outdoor examples include ing the tables in group exercise. youngsters to play in, the artsy miniature libraries and “seed- bars and pubs, As a direct result, borough of Friedrichshain- bombing” neglected patches music from clubs, playgrounds across Kreuzberg was especially of soil). Hopefully the outcome and broken bottles Berlin were taped aff ected. Luckily, the district won’t stretch too far into long- in front of Spätis off and children offi ce had a clever workaround: term, however, so the kinder [late-night con- restricted to it opened 30 streets on Sun- of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, venience stores] indoor activity. days for the creation of tem- one of Europe’s most densely were transformed With few porary playgrounds, managed populated urban areas, can into a silence no green spaces for by residents to ensure compli- return to their usual play.

24 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

24-26 CSW304 global covid lessons.indd 24 09/03/2021 16:40:17 In the room Officials meet up

INDIA Corona, meet CARUNA

Talk about cross-departmental field operatives with training, collaboration. In April 2020, facilitated delivery of PPE, and officials spanning different even set up temporary shelter braches of 22 of India’s civil for frontline workers. It has services joined forces to create also assigned officers to sup- the Civil Services Association port prime minister Narendra Reach to Support National Dis- Modi’s “11 empowered groups”, asters (CARUNA), an initiative which are teams led by senior that pools data on migration, representative from the prime essential supplies, and PPE minister’s office and the cabi- assist, support and supplement civil servants are spread out to assist district-level efforts net secretariat that focus on the government efforts with across the country, this net- to tackle Covid. specific areas of the regard to coronavirus using our work can be used to create a Launched on the pandemic response networks, skills and resources,” database of information.” heels of the world’s (such as medical Indian Administrative Service India has so far had 154,000 largest lockdown, equipment and vice president Sanjeev Chopra, deaths from COVID, which CARUNA has human resources). who launched CARUNA, told is third highest in the world already helped “We are here to newspaper ThePrint. “Since behind the USA and Brazil.

Right steer A drive-thru Covid testing centre

SOUTH KOREA Drive-through open

What’s fuelling Korea’s piloted in early March 2020 city of Goyang, at coronavirus success? What’s and quickly scaled up to the city hall car South Korea’s secret to keeping include hundreds of locations park. Drivers were Covid deaths down to 1,496? across the country. The booths, registered, checked Headlines pose these ques- which effectively increased the for symptoms, and tions daily, and yet there’s no number of people being tested swabbed before code to crack. The answer lies tenfold, immediately relieved their car was thor- in an effective three-pillared hospital capacity and were oughly disinfected approach: expansive tracing, hailed as a success not only – all in about ten minutes. through their window. The zero-tolerance isolation of the by Koreans but also by other Three days later they received biggest advantage of the tents most severe cases, and fast and countries looking to follow suit. their results via text message. was their cost: one tent costs free testing. While the tracing Not everyone had easy ac- Officials experimented up to fifty times less than a set and mandatory isolation meas- cess to these booths, however, with different iterations of of containers. Unsurprisingly, ures have been impressive, it’s so Jaemyung Lee, the governor the drive-through. Some sites most drive-throughs currently the testing that has garnered of Gyeonggi province, came up were container-based, where operated by local govern- the most media attention. with the idea of drive-throughs. drivers would pull up to a ments employ the tent model. And for good reason: by early They first emerged in the registration container followed These early developments March 2020, South by a health-check in South Korea led to the Korea had already container and so development of drive-through tested 145,000 on. The contain- testing centres in many people, which by ers took up a lot countries around the globe, then was more of space, however, but not every country has than the UK, US, and required driv- been able to mimic this suc- France, Italy, and ers to leave their cess. As one study highlights, Japan combined. vehicles, so a more South Korea’s highly con- One way South efficient alterna- nected population and thriv- Korea achieved tive developed that ing software industry make it such remarkable used a single open especially well positioned to results was by medical tent where deploy mobile apps, making pioneering the doctors could eas- the execution of such large- walk-in booth, ily swab drivers scale programmes seamless.

civilserviceworld.com | March 2021 | 25

24-26 CSW304 global covid lessons.indd 25 09/03/2021 16:40:21 FEATURE ❯ GLOBAL COVID RESPONSE

Safety first Quarantine in Rawalpindi

PAKISTAN All aboard

Travel has been one of the most into Covid wards, each with a conspicuous casualties of the capacity of about 36 patients. pandemic, so much so that The best part about these global carbon emissions fell retrofitted wards, besides the by a peak of 17% in April last fact that they took in thousands year. While many cheered this of patients, was their mobility. news, scientists cautioned that They could easily be sent to carbon concentrations are still any part of the country with high, and that a deadly virus rail access so that local areas in is by no means a sustainable dire need of help could have a solution to a warming planet. small hospital on their doorstep But that doesn’t mean all within hours. In cases of emer- sia also implemented similar begun its vaccina- those unused vehicles can’t gency, patients could be swiftly programmes, examples of what tion campaign on 3 February, be put to use, which is exactly shuttled to the nearest hospital. observers call “frugal innova- administering the first of half a what Pakistan’s railway officials The first train ward was tion”: creative efforts to do more million doses of China’s Sinop- were thinking when their trains established in Rawalpindi, with less despite institutional harm vaccine. The World Health screeched to a halt. As soon as just a few kilometres outside voids and resource constraints. Organisation’s COVAX pro- travel was suspended, state- . Shortly after that Distilleries using their ma- gramme, which aims to provide owned Pakistan Railways im- Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, chinery to churn out hand equitable global access to vac- mediately got to work convert- Shakkar, Quetta, and Multan sanitiser is another example, cines, ranks Pakistan as among ing air-conditioned sleeper and followed suit. Other countries as well as sports stadiums the top three priority recipients business class train carriages like China, India, and Indone- used as temporary hospitals. along with India and Nigeria.

trian Startups Community and passengers peace of mind. sponsored by the country’s Other submissions also AUSTRIA Hacking away Ministry of Digital and Eco- stood out for their ingenuity, nomic Affairs, the Austrian including Safe Glove Pack, government’s financing bank, a new design for non-sterile, Hackathons are exciting for sev- communities of Covid hack- and dozens of corporate part- single-use medical glove boxes. eral reasons, not least of which ers is Hack the Crisis, which ners. It took place over three Gloves are removed at the is that they generate several is currently comprised of 68 days last March with over 500 cuff rather than the palm or ideas in a short span of time. different hackathons. There’s people participating to create fingers, leaving the surface of The typical hackathon lasts Hack La Crise in France, Mega 52 projects. Entries included the glove uncontaminated. The a mere 24 to 48 hours, when Hack in Brazil, Hack the Virus an automated health hotline, designers believe their idea teams of software developers in Moldova, and dozens with a dashboard that bundles and could considerably reduce the frantically compete to create the the community’s namesake updates information from the transmission of pathogens in best prototype. A winner is ulti- (e.g. Hack the Crisis Cyprus, federal government, and a hospitals and nurseries, where mately selected, but in the end Hack the Crisis Poland). web-based video platform to 90% of viruses and bacteria are all entries are shared, making Hack the Crisis Austria link self-employed people like transmitted by human hands. hackathons an ideal medium was organised by the Aus- therapists and coaches with Austria has had several for situations (like a their customers. innovative policy responses pandemic) in which The winner was to the pandemic, including fresh thinking is so Public Spacers, a assigning men from the Zivil- desperately needed. mobile app that pro- dienst, the mandatory alterna- So far, hun- vides load-balancing tive community service for mil- dreds of virtual control for trains. itary draftees, to assist health hackathons have By allowing users workers, and a collaboration occurred as a to see the number between the healthcare sector direct response of people who have and companies with 3D print- to Covid, with already booked ers to print facial protection names like #Hack- each train, the shields. The country is general- CoronaGreece and app makes it easy ly seen to have been successful #CodeVsCovid19. to avoid crowded in mitigating Covid’s impact, One of the biggest Righ track An Austrian app keeps people Covid safe on trains services and gives with just over 8,000 deaths.

26 | March 2021 | civilserviceworld.com

24-26 CSW304 global covid lessons.indd 26 09/03/2021 16:40:27 Awards

Civil Service Awards Winners

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 1 08/03/2021 10:48:10 CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 2

© 2021 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. EYG No. 001505-21Gbl. ED None. ey.com/uk/govt very proud to of a part be celebrating. citizen, and that is something we are making adifference for each and every of every civil servant across the are UK Every day of the year, the achievements of the Civil Service Awards Congratulations to the winners Awards Service Civil Proud sponsors of the 08/03/2021 10:48:12 Awards

Contents 4 Category Champions

5 The Citizenship Award

7 The Collaboration Award

5 The Commercial Award

9 The Communication Award

10 The Developing People Award

13 The Digital, Data & Technology Award

15 The Diversity & Inclusion Award

17 The Health & Wellbeing Award

Proud sponsors of the 19 The Innovation Award

Civil Service Awards 20 The Inspirational Leadership Award

Congratulations to the winners 21 The Policy & Use of Evidence Award of the Civil Service Awards 23 The Project Delivery Excellence Award Every day of the year, the achievements of every civil servant across the UK are 24 The Public Service Award making a difference for each and every citizen, and that is something we are 25 The Resilience & Rapid Response Award very proud to be a part of celebrating. ey.com/uk/govt 26 The Rising Star Award

27 The Science Award © 2021 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. EYG No. 001505-21Gbl. ED None.

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 3 08/03/2021 10:48:13 Category Champions

Alex Aiken Madeleine Alessandri Jim Harra Sarah Healey Executive Director, Permanent Secretary, Permanent Secretary Permanent Secretary, Government Northern Ireland Offi ce and Chief Executive, HM Department for Communications Service Revenue and Customs Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Simon Case Stephen Lovegrove Dame Shan Morgan Cabinet Secretary and Civil Service Chief Permanent Secretary, Permanent Secretary, Head of the Civil Service Operating Offi cer Ministry of Defence Welsh Government and Cabinet Offi ce Permanent Secretary

Mike Driver Sarah Munby Director General, Permanent Secretary, Permanent Secretary, Permanent Secretary, Managed Quarantine Department for Department for Ministry of Justice Service, Department of Environment, Food Business, Energy and Health and Social Care and Rural Affairs Industrial Strategy

Elizabeth Gardiner Sue Gray Sir Patrick Vallance CB QC Permanent Secretary, Peter Schofi eld Government Chief First Parliamentary Department of Permanent Secretary, Scientifi c Adviser Counsel and Finance, Northern Department for and Head of the Permanent Secretary Ireland Executive Work and Pensions Government Science and Engineering Profession

Fo ow us @UKCivilService Join the conversation #CSAwards

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 4 08/03/2021 10:48:14 The Citizenship Award Awards

Recognising exceptional individuals who go way beyond what could reasonably be expected of them, to improve the lives of citizens or communities. Their contributions could be in the workplace, or as volunteers outside work, or both.

Sarah Morton Department for Work and Pensions Working with local communities in Liverpool, Sarah supports homeless people, assists with food banks, and works to eliminate period poverty. She encourages her work colleagues to recognise the hardships faced by vulnerable citizens, organises charity drives, and enables colleagues to assist in their communities. Sarah has worked alongside local councillors, gaining valuable insight into the economic pressures they face, particularly during the pandemic. This insight guaranteed she focused her efforts where need was greatest. Sarah is fully committed to enhancing quality of life for all and works tirelessly to ensure everyone can live the best life possible.

Follow us @UKCivilService Join the conversation #CSAwards 5

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 5 08/03/2021 10:48:15 Proud sponsors of the Collaboration Award Congratulations to all the award winners

As a joint venture between the Cabinet Office and TDX Group, Indesser collaborates across the private and public sectors to help government use the best available data, technology and analytics to collect debt responsibly, fairly and ethically.

Working in partnership with central and local government, we continually develop fair and effective ways to tackle debt, error and fraud. More than 50 public bodies trust Indesser to look after their debt and the people that owe it. With Indesser’s support, people and businesses have paid back over £2.3 billion in public sector debt since 2015.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.

Indesser_CivilServicesAwards_FINALBH v3 post event.indd 1 02/03/2021 12:47:29 CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 6 08/03/2021 10:48:16 Supported by The Collaboration Award Awards

Recognising excellent collaboration that spans the boundaries between sectors, Proud sponsors of the administrations, or layers of government. Collaboration Award Congratulations to all the award winners

Shielding As a joint venture between the Cabinet Office and TDX Group, Indesser collaborates across the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government private and public sectors to help government use the best available data, technology and analytics to On the 22 March 2020, the government introduced new shielding health guidance and a support offer to help collect debt responsibly, fairly and ethically. protect the people most vulnerable to COVID-19. What made this task truly remarkable was not only the Working in partnership with central and local government, we continually develop fair and effective scale and pace of the programme, but the unprecedented collaboration across MHCLG, DHSC, NHSE, NHSD, ways to tackle debt, error and fraud. More than 50 public bodies trust Indesser to look after their debt GDS, DEFRA, DWP, CO, local government and local delivery partners. Over four months, 2.2 million people and the people that owe it. With Indesser’s support, people and businesses have paid back were contacted by the programme, 1.2 million signed up to the website, and 4.7 million food boxes were over £2.3 billion in public sector debt since 2015. delivered to over 500,000 people, with every department pulling together to help protect people’s health.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.

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Indesser_CivilServicesAwards_FINALBH v3 post event.indd 1 02/03/2021 12:47:29 CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 7 08/03/2021 10:48:17 The Commercial Award Awards

Recognising exemplary commercial skill and sound business judgement in delivering an exceptional outcome, with value for money for government.

Complex Transactions Team - COVID-19 Response Cabinet Office To support DHSC and NHSE&I during the COVID-19 crisis, the Complex Transactions Team (CTT) enabled the delivery of 15,154 ventilators designed and built within 4.5 months, operationalisation of testing from a daily testing capacity of 3,000 to 100,000 in six weeks, and 32 billion items of PPE equipment. This was achieved by deploying 57 commercial specialists to all COVID-19 cells (Ventilation, Testing, Nightingale Hospitals and PPE) and the Civil Contingencies Secretariat. The team took a leadership role in delivering the commercial arrangements to secure supplies and services, working at rapid pace under highly pressurised conditions.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 8 08/03/2021 10:48:19 The Communication Award Awards

Recognising exceptional performance by a communications team to deliver a highly effective national or international communications campaign.

DVLA Vehicle Tax Evasion Campaign 2020 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency This nomination is to recognise DVLA’s work to tackle vehicle tax evasion. The agency has a long- term strategy to keep vehicle tax evasion low, and uses a wide range of prevention and enforcement measures to remind motorists of their legal duties to pay vehicle tax on time. Using an evidence-based approach, DVLA planned and delivered a fully integrated behaviour change communications campaign at the start of 2020 using communications targeted to the highest evasion areas in the UK.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 9 08/03/2021 10:48:20 PROXIMA CSW award advert 230 x 300.qxp_Layout 1 20/01/2021 14:07 Page 4

The Developing Awards People Award Recognising excellence across all areas of learning, skills development, strengthening capability, and talent management.

Proud sponsors

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WORTHY WINNERS.

At Proxima we work alongside public sector commercial teams to deliver value for money. We know the difference that effective procurement makes to public services. It’s what inspires us every day. Inclusion Apprenticeship Programme Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Offi ce How can we become the most inclusive employer by 2020? By designing an inclusive resourcing process focusing on equity of opportunity for all applicants, regardless of their social or educational background. The Civil Service recruitment principles encourage this type of approach but apprenticeship schemes typically follow a traditional selection route. Removing minimum entry requirements, targeting marginalised candidates, linking with local authorities and schools, holding outreach events, running a social media campaign, outlining the selection process at an open day and partnering with the department’s Social, Economic Diversity and Inclusion Network, the team delivered an apprentice cohort which refl ects the Civil Service’s desire to be the most inclusive employer. www.proximagroup.com

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Proud sponsors

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WORTHY WINNERS.

At Proxima we work alongside public sector commercial teams to deliver value for money. We know the difference that effective procurement makes to public services. It’s what inspires us every day.

www.proximagroup.com

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 11 08/03/2021 10:48:23 Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Digital, Data& Technology Awards - DWP: Get Your State Pension!

Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) provides critical business support services for 17 government departments, the Metropolitan Police Service and Defence.

We design innovative digital solutions that enhance our customers’ experience.

We understand the importance of smarter thinking, digital transformation and innovation to enable smarter services, quicker - and better value solutions for end users. That’s why we were delighted to sponsor this award.

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 12 08/03/2021 10:48:24 Supported by The Digital, Data & Awards Congratulations to Technology Award Recognising excellence in the application of digital technologies or data to solve a problem the winners of the or make things better for users and celebrating people whose commitment to data-driven 2021 Digital, Data& and technological improvements reach measurable outcomes. Technology Awards - DWP: Get Your State Pension!

Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) provides critical business support services for 17 government departments, the Metropolitan Police Service and Defence.

We design innovative digital solutions that enhance our customers’ experience.

We understand the importance of smarter thinking, digital transformation and innovation to enable smarter services, quicker - and better value solutions for end users. That’s why we were delighted to sponsor this award. Get Your State Pension Department for Work and Pensions The Get your State Pension (GySP) digital service has transformed the way citizens claim their state pension. Developed in 2018, within two years it has progressed from being a mainly form-based service to become the fi rst benefi t which can award and pay the customer without any agent intervention, in a process called Citizen Straight Through Processing (CSTP). In 2018, 25% of customers invited to claim their state pension did so online. Today, that fi gure is 75%. Over 60% of customers are now paid using CSTP. Through collaborative working across departmental boundaries, the customer experience has been transformed in a positive way.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 13 08/03/2021 10:48:27 ai1614958815137_Dods Events Advert for CSA 230x300-Winners.pdf 1 05/03/2021 15:40:21

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We are an events, training and political information company dedicated to supporting the public sector.

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Supported by The Diversity & Awards Inclusion Award A winner of winners from the Civil Service Diversity & Inclusion Awards; an award that recognises real achievement and success at all levels of the Civil Service.

onrtutons to the nners of the ere rds

ods are roud to hae een the organiser o these awards or the ast ears heling our goernent elerate eellene in uli serie

We are an events, training and political information company dedicated to supporting the public sector.

We specialise in:

• High profile conferences, exhibitions and awards • Intimate policy and breakfast briefings irtual eents weinars worshos suits and deates Campaign & Projects Leeds D&I Group • CPD certified Diversity and Inclusion events HM Revenue & Customs ent areting awardwinning ontent rodution and data analtis Campaign and Projects, Leeds, is a new office of over 400 people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The Diversity & Inclusion Group was formed by 11 volunteers who aim to ensure that staff recognise everyone’s individuality, with different values, skills and ways of thinking. They promote the benefits these differences For more information, please contact: bring to HMRC, and raise awareness of a range of topics; in the last year, the group has delivered over 30 awareness campaigns. Their ‘Time to Talk Day’ events promoted better understanding of mental health, and for ustoereredodsroupo Inclusion Week, the group organised engagement workshops such as exploring identities and ‘speed-inclusion’. Recognising the potential wellbeing impact of working from home due to COVID-19, the group developed online weekly group tasks to promote inclusion, bring teams together and combat feelings of isolation.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 15 08/03/2021 10:48:29 Proud sponsors of the HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD Congratulations to all nominees and winners In a year like no other, you’ve done so well. Whatever the future brings, we’re still here for you.

Supporting all civil servants, past and present, throughout their lives. We listen without judgement, offering practical, financial and emotional support that helps to deal with life’s challenges. foryoubyyou.org.uk

A charity registered in England and Wales no. 1136870 and in Scotland SC041956.

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 16 08/03/2021 10:48:30 Supported by Proud sponsors of the HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD The Health & Awards Congratulations Wellbeing Award Recognising people who have made a highly effective contribution to promoting or to all nominees and winners improving health and wellbeing within the Civil Service. In a year like no other, you’ve done so well. Whatever the future brings, we’re still here for you.

Gillian Whitworth Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Gillian demonstrates extraordinary commitment, courage and compassion in raising greater awareness of eating disorders, an issue often stigmatised and overlooked. At BEIS, she collaborated with colleagues to form the first Eating Disorder Support Group across the Civil Service and has continued to raise awareness at the FCDO. She has spearheaded work to highlight how eating disorders may present in the workplace and how we can be more inclusive, providing clear constructive advice on eating disorders, body image and diet culture. Colleagues have welcomed Gillian’s empathetic approach, creating spaces for colleagues to share, connect and learn about this difficult, emotional issue.

Supporting all civil servants, past and present, throughout their lives. We listen without judgement, offering practical, financial and emotional support that helps to deal with life’s challenges. foryoubyyou.org.uk Follow us @UKCivilService Join the conversation #CSAwards 17 A charity registered in England and Wales no. 1136870 and in Scotland SC041956.

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 17 08/03/2021 10:48:31 Civil Service Awards 2021 INNOVATION AWARD The new and increasingly complex challenges in the world around us can only be addressed through fresh thinking, broad vision, and a human touch.

We are proud to support this award.

www.oliverwyman.com Twitter: @OliverWyman [email protected]

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 18 08/03/2021 10:48:39 Supported by The Innovation Award Awards

Recognising the outstanding advancement or application innovation to improve policy, service delivery or public administration.

Civil Service Awards 2021 INNOVATION AWARD The new and increasingly complex challenges in the world around us can only be addressed through fresh thinking, broad vision, and a human touch. Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) Home Offi ce The Home Offi ce’s ACE team solve public safety challenges from data and digital technology, at the We are proud to support this award. pace demanded by a fast-changing world. ACE challenged conventional problem-solving, introducing agile, collaborative ways of working that accelerate solution-fi nding from years to months or weeks. This imaginative, entrepreneurial team found a new, cost-effective way to drive start-ups, SMEs, the not- for-profi t sector and academia to bring cutting-edge expertise to bear on these challenges. The team won the Institute for Collaborative Working’s 2019 innovation award, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology cited ACE as an effective model which should be replicated across government.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 19 08/03/2021 10:48:40 The Inspirational Awards Leadership Award Recognising individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, regardless of grade or role.

Chris Atkinson Northern Ireland Office Chris Atkinson led work to establish a scheme for payments to recognise and support those seriously injured through no fault of their own during the troubles in Northern Ireland (NI). For years it seemed impossible to get agreement for this scheme. Chris’s passion for making a difference to the lives of these vulnerable people is commendable. In putting people at the heart of his approach, he pitched a way forward focused on practical action and a sensitive framework for managing political differences.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 20 08/03/2021 10:48:41 Supported by The Policy & Awards Use of Evidence Award Recognising excellence in policymaking.

GO-Science COVID SAGE Secretariat Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) secretariat delivers scientific advice to decision- makers during emergencies. Co-chaired by Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, and Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, SAGE first met in January to discuss an outbreak of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan. The secretariat has since delivered over 60 meetings and released 400 papers, convening hundreds of experts and leading specialists from the UK’s diverse scientific community to provide timely, impactful advice to the Cabinet. The secretariat has championed independence, proactivity and transparency, welcomed challenges, and provided an authoritative, unified voice to inform the UK’s response.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 21 08/03/2021 10:48:43 Proud sponsors of The Civil Service Awards: The Project Delivery Excellence Award

www.newtoneurope.com

CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 22 08/03/2021 10:48:43 Supported by The Project Delivery Proud sponsors of Awards Excell ence Award The Civil Service Awards: Recognising outstanding contributions to the successful delivery of government projects. The Project Delivery Excellence Award

Virtual Machine Environment, Replacement (Jobseekers Allowance) Department for Work and Pensions The project to replace DWP’s benefi t systems within the UK’s National Critical Infrastructure was the biggest in Europe. As well as these systems being old, replacement of the systems was necessary to enable future welfare policy changes to be implemented. This was undertaken as an in-house exercise between DWP Digital and Service Planning and Delivery colleagues, requiring precision in planning and execution with zero disruption to DWP benefi t operations. The latest system, Jobseekers Allowance, was to be replaced in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes achieved have been independently recognised by Internal Audit and Senior Offi cials.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 23 08/03/2021 10:48:44 The Public Service Award Awards

Recognising exceptional service delivery.

Joint HMRC/HMT CJRS, SEISS and EOHO Teams Cross-government HMRC and HMT delivered HMG’s flagship economic interventions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect businesses and jobs. CJRS (or the furlough scheme) has helped employers pay the wages of nine million people across the UK - over a quarter of the workforce. Over 2.7 million people have been supported by the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), and hundreds of thousands of businesses have been supported, including through Eat Out To Help Out (EOHO). These schemes have all been delivered as a partnership between experts from HMT and HMRC, who have operated as a single virtual team. They have been delivered successfully at a rapid pace.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 24 08/03/2021 10:48:46 The Resilience & Awards Rapid Response Award Recognising excellence in crisis management, contingency planning, or major incident response.

The Isolation Note; DHSC (Alexander Peck), DWP (Ailsa McGinty, David Long), NHSX, (Diane Baynham), NHSD (James Higgott) Cross-government Nominated for the Health Tech Awards 2020, the Isolation Note is an example of Civil Service collaboration at its best. The Isolation Note was introduced at the start of the pandemic as a digital means by which individuals can certify absence from work for COVID-19 reasons via NHS111 Online, and is pragmatic, creative and flexible solution to mitigate complications arising from COVID-19 for citizens, GPs, employers and benefit claimants. Available UK- wide, more than 2 million Isolation Notes have been issued (correct as of December 2020) and the system has been adapted and adjusted to reflect the latest requirements and guidance from the Government. The Isolation Note’s introduction has empowered citizens; protected GP clinical time; safeguarded access to and payment of benefits; and given needed reassurance to employers and employees. The initiative has also provided valuable lessons and acted as a springboard for future government improvements around certification requirements.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 25 08/03/2021 10:48:47 The Rising Star Award Awards

Recognising a civil servant who has made a significant impact within the first eight years of their Civil Service career.

Abigail Agyei Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Abigail has passion and commitment to public service and has made a significant impact to communities, dedicating her career to supporting marginalised and minority communities and amplifying their voices. She has worked with Grenfell victims and survivors, and supported children being brought safely to the UK from Calais and is currently working in MHCLG engaging with faith and BAME communities following COVID-19. Abigail has been instrumental in leading on race in the Civil Service and enabled uncomfortable conversations to happen, in order to create an inclusive, safe and accountable culture particularly with the Black community with the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority ethnic people and the witnessing of the death of George Floyd and many others.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 26 08/03/2021 10:48:48 The Science Award Awards

Recognising the outstanding advancement or application of science to improve policy, service delivery or public administration.

International Travel Risk Assessment Team Animal and Plant Health Agency The International Travel Risk assessment team engaged in cross-disciplinary science, working with Public Health England (PHE) to develop innovative models to inform the UK government on the risk of entry of SARS-CoV-2 to the UK via international travel. Delivering at pace, the team provided robust results that fed into policy discussions, identifying countries from which the risks are highest and alternative health measures to 14-day self-isolation. The team stepped outside their scientific comfort zone and displayed fantastic teamwork in order to aid PHE at this demanding time.

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 27 08/03/2021 10:48:50 Awards

Congratulations to our winners!

With thanks to our sponsors

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CSA Winners 2020 230x300.indd 28 08/03/2021 10:48:52 divorce of the century

Issue 254 | March 2016 | www.civilserviceworld.com Issue 258 | July 2016 | www.civilserviceworld.com Columnists Peter riddell, Jane Dudman and Dave OLD AGE Penman give their take TENSIONS JANE DUDMAN ON LESSONS FROM MYCSP economist’s LOOSENING outlook An interview with THE GRIP Vicky Pryce WHAT DOES THE PATCHWORK OF DEVOLUTION DEALS MEAN FOR WHITEHALL?

PAPA JOHN CIVIL SERVICE where next? CEO ON LEADERSHIP AND In-depth Brexit report featuring TRANSFORMING , , GOVERNMENT NATURAL LEADER Simon Fraser, and more Clause FRESH and effeCt FEEDING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW we don’t need to invoke WITH THE PERMANENT Article 50 straight away – if GROUNDS SECRETARY OF THE at all, says Bernard Jenkin WHY GDS NEEDS DEPARTMENT FOR TO REDISCOVER ITS ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND NEVER KILLER INSTINCT RURAL AFFAIRS

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Issue 263 | January 2017 | www.civilserviceworld.com Issue 274 | January 2018 | www.civilserviceworld.com MISS AN DEFENCE OF THE REALM AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ALL CHANGE WITH THE MOD Where do top officials PERMANENT go when they leave AN EXCLUSIVE SECRETARY government? INTERVIEW WITH ISSUE STEPHEN LOVEGROVE GENTLY DOES IT SURGE AND British Council chief RESCUE Ciarán Devane on soft We meet the team MEG crossing boundaries power and hard data to serve in a crisis BREXIT STAGE LEFT Sue Cameron on the REASONS TO row BE CHEERFUL HILLIER Andrew Greenway CHAIR OF THE ALL WELL? PUBLIC ACCOUNTS O cials are taking fewer is thankful that sick days – but managers COMMITTEE shouldn’t be complacent 2017 is over

01 cover - Jan 2017.indd 1 09/01/2017 15:18:42 1 CSW cover 274.indd 1 08/01/2018 16:28:43

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CSW subscriptions page.indd 4 09/03/2021 10:47:45 A WORD IN YOUR EAR In our new podcast we speak to the biggest figures in government, and experts from across the country, to get the lowdown on key issues affecting the civil service. Presented by CSW editors Jess Bowie and Suzannah Brecknell, The Civil Service World Podcast is an essential tool for navigating the challenges facing public servants today.

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