Working to make government more effective

Government buildings along Whitehall

Support for private office teams

All civil servants need to understand how ministers think and what their priorities are.

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The civil servants who work closest with ministers – their private office – have a huge impact on how effective ministers are. But all civil servants need to understand how ministers think and what their priorities are.

Private offices support ministers by overseeing the advice that goes to them, helping manage their time and communicating their priorities to the wider department. The role is key in helping ministers to be as effective as possible, helping the wider department understand what exactly their ministers care about and making sure that the minister gets through all the work they need to.

We arrange confidential workshops, away days and other sessions for private office teams to help them think about how they work and how they can better support their minister. We also provide training for civil servants in non-private office roles about what ministers care about and why it should matter to them.

Take a look at our work on private office and get in touch via ifgacademy@instituteforgovernment.org.uk to find out how we can support you and your team.

Ministers’ ways of working: A guide for private office

This resource for private office teams is a guide for a conversation with your minister about how they want things to work in the office.

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Ministers' ways of working front cover

Strengthening private office

How the civil service should improve support for ministers.

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A front cover for a report on the private office. The main image is of a Whitehall street sign.

IfG Academy team