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.
Quick guides for special advisers
Working effectively with ministers as a special adviser
How to effectively support and advise your minister.
Handling submissions as a special adviser
A lot of your time will be spent helping manage the flow of information to the minister. But how do you deal with submissions as a special adviser?
Working with the department as a special adviser
You may liaise with officials even more than you speak to your minister. But how can you work with them effectively?
Events on special advisers
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.
What do you need to know to work in government?
IfG Academy gives ministers, civil servants and people working in and around government the knowledge they need to improve government.
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.
The scrutiny of special advisers
Special advisers play an essential role throughout government. But is their role about to change?
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
Further reading for special advisers
Special advisers and the Johnson government
How Boris Johnson's changes to the role of special advisers disempowered ministers and undermined the quality of decision making in government.
WhatsApp in government
Government must introduce rigorous WhatsApp guidance for ministers, special advisers and officials.
The unelected lynchpin: Why government needs special advisers
How special advisers drive through policy by reconciling many different interests.
In defence of special advisers
The life of a special adviser and how the role might be made more effective.
Special advisers
How special advisers (also known as “spads”) work, what their responsibilities are and who they are.
Find out more
IfG Academy team
Catherine Haddon
Programme Director
Tim Durrant
Programme Director