What do you need to know to work in government?

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The Institute for Government has launched IfG Academy to give ministers, civil servants and people working in and around government the knowledge and skills they need to improve government effectiveness.  

There is currently little in the way of formal training for people who take on government roles. From first-time ministers to those promoted to cabinet, and from non-executive directors to special advisers, many people in government are expected to learn on the job. There is not much in the way of support to help people get up to speed, learn the inner workings of Whitehall and develop in their role.   

So what more could be done to change the culture and practice of support for those in government? Why has it been so difficult to reform the current approach? And how is IfG Academy going to fill the gap?  

To discuss these questions and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel including:

• Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government
• David Gauke, former Secretary of State for Justice, and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
• Philip Rycroft, former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union
• Salma Shah, Partner at Portland Communications, former special adviser to Sajid Javid 

The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government. 

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