Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

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Civil service

We look at how the civil service works and ways to make it more effective.

Our research, events and commentary look at what civil servants do to support ministers and oversee public services.

We develop ideas about how the civil service can work better, across the whole of the organisation and in individual departments. We look at the centre of government, the accountability of ministers and civil servants, the leadership role of the cabinet secretary and head of the civil service and the reform programmes that shape the effectiveness of the hundreds of thousands of civil servants across the UK. 

Our latest analysis

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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

Whitehall Monitor 2024

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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The front cover of Whitehall Monitor 2024.

Our explainers

15 AUG 2024 Explainer

Civil service pay

How much are civil servants paid across government departments?

31 MAR 2023 Explainer

Civil Service People Survey

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

22 JAN 2021 Explainer

Civil Service Code

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

21 SEP 2020 Explainer

Cabinet Office

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

12 MAR 2020 Explainer

Permanent secretaries

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

23 NOV 2017 Explainer

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.

Our civil service team