Civil service
We look at how the civil service works and ways to make it more effective.
Our latest analysis
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Sunak's Captain Marble act falls flat
PoliticsHome editor Laura Silver joins the podcast team to catch up on the extraordinary row over the Elgin Marbles.

IfG response to the Maude review on civil service reform
The Maude review will be an important reference document for whoever lives in No.10.

How to appoint a cabinet
This guest paper from Tim Leunig outlines a more cohesive way to approach cabinet formation
Find out more
Size, structure and location of the civil service
Find the latest information about the size, structure, location and make-up of the civil service.
Civil service reform and accountability
Our recommendations for how the civil service can be improved, including on the accountability between the civil service, ministers and parliament.
Commission on the Centre of Government
How to radically improve the centre of government.
Our recent events
Government 2024: IfG's annual conference
The IfG will bring together influential speakers and experts to explore the key questions for government in 2024.
Fixing Whitehall: Is the Maude review the right plan for government reform?
The Rt Hon Lord Maude joined the IfG's Alex Thomas for an in conversation event.
Is the Darlington Economic Campus a blueprint for successful civil service relocation?
Baroness Penn and Beth Russell joined us to discuss the impact of the Darlington Economic Campus on the civil service.
Civil service impartiality: what can the UK learn from abroad?
The future of civil service impartiality is in the spotlight. What can the UK learn from other countries?
Whitehall Monitor 2023
Our annual, data-driven assessment of the UK civil service – how it has changed and performed, and its priorities for the future.
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Our explainers

Civil Service People Survey
What does the Civil Service People Survey tell us about civil servants' experience of working in government departments?

Civil Service Code
The Civil Service Code outlines the values and standards of behaviour that civil servants are expected to follow.

Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office forms part of the centre of government, alongside 10 Downing Street and the Treasury. But what does it do?

Permanent secretaries
This explainer looks at the role of permanent secretaries, the most senior rank of civil servant.

Grade structures of the civil service
Broadly, there are five civil service job grades. We explain what they are and how civil service grade composition varies by department.

Sexual orientation in the civil service
What proportion of civil servants are LGB+ – and how does this vary by seniority and department?

Access talks with the civil service
Access talks are meetings between the civil service and opposition parties, held in the run-up to a general election.

Faith in the civil service
The diversity of faith in the civil service, and the steps being taken to support different faiths.

Age of the civil service
The age of the civil service can have consequences on the skills available to the civil service.
Our civil service team

Alex Thomas
Programme Director
Revamping government reform

Rhys Clyne
Associate Director
What does the Office for Local Government need to succeed?

Jordan Urban
Researcher
Revamping government reform

Jack Worlidge
Senior Researcher