With entries from leaders across government, the full roundup is well worth a visit. Below you’ll find a flavour of some of the themes and highlights
Scan the QR code to go to our full 2023 perm secs round-up
ce “As more people have come back to the o ce, I’ve realised how much I missed giggling with colleagues over something on the telly, or one of our misadventures (in love or otherwise).” Paul Willgoss, vice-chair, Civil Service Disability Network
Returning to the o On being brave
“We need to be bold and innovative, which can mean making brave choices. Over the summer we switched our self-assessment service to online, webchat and chatbot support... we’re evaluating the lessons from that trial and they’re really encouraging” Angela MacDonald, second perm sec, HMRC
Pay New departments and new faces
“It’s been absolutely brilliant getting to know a whole load of new colleagues, and building a new department that covers some of the most important and interesting areas of policy in government… I’ve seen people do really amazing things this year.” Sarah Munby, permanent secretary, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
“I was excited and honoured to be asked to lead the new department at the start of the year. I grew up in Liverpool in the ‘80s and saw firsthand what happened to communities “It’s essential we get our pay and reward strategy right. We need to strike the right balance between delivering value to the taxpayer, while still attracting the top talent that the civil service needs, and the public deserves.” Fiona Ryland, civil service chief people o cer
“Our colleagues are what makes GLD a precious place to work and this year I was thrilled to secure a beneficial pay case for many of our lawyers in delegated grades. I was sad that we were not successful on behalf of our other professions, but I am committed to continuing to work to make improvements through our pay and reward modernisation project.” Susanna McGibbon, perm sec, GLD when investment dries up, businesses close and people lose their jobs. It’s been rewarding to see the impact we’ve had over the last year. But most of all, it’s felt non-stop!” Gareth Davies, permanent secretary, Department for Business and Trade
“Moving from the banking sector to Whitehall has been eye-opening, but UKEF’s uniqueness for feeling, like you’ve got one foot in the civil service and the other in the private sector, has helped quite a bit. It’s been a busy, demanding year but incredibly enjoyable.” Tim Reid, chief executive, UK Export Finance
The tools you need
“The GOV.UK team’s new approach, combining social media, generative AI and short-form video, will help us to build trust in democracy and tackle misinformation.” Tom Read, chief executive, Government Digital Service
“What truly astonished me in 2023 was the ingenuity and innovation of many of my colleagues in quickly incorporating new tools into their work.” Fiona Ryland, CPO
It never rains but it pours…
“2023 has been a year when NI civil servants have again demonstrated incredible professional resilience. We commenced the year with optimism and a focus on rebuilding postpandemic. The reality was quite di erent as we entered 2023 against a backdrop of global conflict, cost-of-living issues, stretched public services, the absence of our governing institutions and a very challenging financial position. Despite – or perhaps because of – these tests, we asked even more of our people, who continued to deliver their best for those we serve.” Jayne Brady, head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
“Nothing ever goes exactly to plan […] so the autumn started o dominated by our work to manage RAAC [an aerated concrete used in schools and other buildings, now coming to the end of its lifespan]. I’m proud of how quickly we moved, and how few schools saw significant disruption – and that we’ve got a clear path to removing it all.” Susan Acland-Hood, permanent secretary, Department for Education
“Brexit, Covid, Cop26, Russia/Ukraine and now Israel/Gaza: these and the myriad other challenges of this era have made us more agile, imaginative and resourceful in our approach. We have greatly enhanced our expertise in digital, data and delivery. We should feel confident we can cope with whatever tomorrow asks of us.” Alex Chisholm, civil service chief operating officer and Cabinet O ce permanent secretary
So long, farewell Family
“One of our central conclusions is that government must make faster decisions and ambitious goals must be backed up by policies of su cient scale to move the dial. There are no perfect solutions and inaction – as well as action – has costs.” James Heath, chief executive, National Infrastructure
Commission “Outside work, my personal priority is to spend as much time as possible with my teenage girls. I can suddenly see the moment coming when they’ll spread their wings – and though that’s wonderful, I’m realising how much I’ll miss them.” Susan Acland-Hood, DfE
“The real treat for me will be spending lots of time with my kids, who are now both teenagers, watching classic Christmas movies. My 13-year-old thinks he’s old enough for Die Hard, but honestly the jury is out on that one.” Tom Read, GDS
“I would have to say my favourite festive ‘treat’ is starting Christmas morning with a (sometimes rather chilly) run followed by watching my son play football on Boxing Day. I might even end up refereeing a match” Sir Ian Diamond, national statistician “My personal priorities before I finish my term in April are threefold. First, to help pull together a compelling reform and productivity plan for the next era. Secondly, to manage a smooth handover to my successor. And thirdly, to get ready to walk the Camino.” Alex Chisholm, civil service COO
“The commission has existed for over 170 years, and I’m aware that my time as CEO has been just another chapter in that long history. I am very proud of what we have achieved over the years that I have been here.” Helen Stephenson, chief executive of the Charity Commission
“2023 is my last full calendar year at the National Archives as my term will conclude by next summer. Having had the privilege of being chief executive and keeper since 2014, the organisation I will leave is very di erent from the one I joined.” Je James, chief executive of the National Archives
A call to be bold in 2024
“I am reminded of the words of Seamus
Heaney: ‘Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for.’” Jayne
Brady, NICS