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
Events on special advisers
Spads under Starmer: How can Labour’s special advisers do the job well?
Join us to discuss how special advisers can be most effective in government.
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.
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
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