Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

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Support for special advisers

Special advisers play a key role supporting ministers, but the role is not well understood and advisers themselves often get little support.

If you’re interested in the IfG Academy’s support for private office teams, sign up to our bespoke newsletter.

Special advisers provide important support to the ministers they work for, but are often given little support themselves.

The IfG can help new and potential future special advisers understand how government works, what ministers want from their teams and how they can get the best out of the officials in their departments. Here you can find our resources for how to hit the ground running as a special adviser – get in touch via ifgacademy@instituteforgovernment.org.uk if you would like to know more about how we can help.

Quick guides for special advisers

Events on special advisers

13 JUN 2023 Hybrid event
13 June 2023

What makes a successful special adviser?

An expert panel featuring Sonia Khan and Baroness Sally Morgan considered what skills are needed to be an effective special adviser.

01 DEC 2020 Online event
1 December 2020

Where next for special advisers?

Peter Cardwell, Salma Shah and John McTernan joined us to explore the role of spads following Dominic Cummings' departure from government.

SpAdCast: What is it really like to be a special adviser? – podcast series

This special four part podcast series lifts the lid on what SpAds do, how they do it, and why they’re indispensable to modern government.

Listen to the episodes
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Further reading for special advisers

Special advisers

How special advisers (also known as “spads”) work, what their responsibilities are and who they are.

Find out more
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IfG Academy team