Civil service Articles
NEED MINI SPONSOR LOGO
Each UK government department gets dedicated delivery unit in latest civil service reform
A dedicated delivery unit is to be formed in every department in the UK government in an effort to build capacity across the civil service. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, said the approach would be flexible depending on the needs of departments, but that there was a need…
‘A blueprint for how the UK government deploys AI at scale’: HMRC signs deal to boost data, analytics and AI firepower
The UK’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has appointed UK-headquartered company Quantexa on a contract – potentially worth £175m (about $234m) over 10 years – to boost its data, analytics and artificial intelligence firepower. Quantexa, which describes itself as providing “decision intelligence to help organisations make confident decisions with contextual data”, said in an announcement…
Digital ID and civil service reform among UK government’s legislative priorities as pressure mounts on PM
Parliamentary bills to introduce a voluntary digital ID for public services and boost cybersecurity are among the UK government’s latest legislative priorities. Thirty-seven bills in total were presented on 13 May in the King’s Speech – the set-piece occasion that marks the start of a new parliamentary year – which has been overshadowed by speculation…
UK government creates new ‘future civil service’ role to lead on transformation
The UK government has created a new senior role focused on leading civil service and workforce reform. Jerome Glass has been appointed to the new role of director general, future civil service, and will focus on improving delivery, innovation, productivity, culture and pride across government. Announcing the move, Glass said that he will be leading…
UK civil service trade union sets out demands for use of AI in government
A UK civil service trade union has set out seven elements for negotiation with government as part of “substantive national‑level discussions” on how artificial intelligence should be used in government. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union highlighted that AI is being introduced into a range of civil service functions, and has written to the…
New UK cabinet secretary responsibilities include developing ‘curious and engaged civil service’
The key responsibilities of the new UK cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo have been published by government, highlighting the priorities for the year ahead include acting as the prime minister’s principal policy adviser and leading an impartial, curious and engaged civil service. The objectives have been agreed with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and published…
Civil Service AI & Data Challenge finalists revealed
Four teams have been selected to go through to the Civil Service AI & Data Challenge finals, in which they will compete for £50,000 worth of digital product development to bring their ideas for improving government through the use of data and artificial intelligence to life. The Civil Service AI & Data Challenge is…
UK cabinet secretary to help cut government ‘sludge’ as new measures announced
The UK government has launched a new programme with the aim of clearing up the ‘consultation culture’ that traps government in outdated regulations and overlapping consultations. Under the programme, ministers will work closely with the new cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo to speed up decision-making and tackle government “sludge”. A series of immediate measures will be…
Civil service Events, Conferences & Summits - In-Person
Civil service Webinars
Civil service Research
Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
Partnerships
Partner with us to connect with senior government leaders, policymakers, public sector professionals and the organisations shaping the future of AI in public services.
Our partnership opportunities are designed to facilitate meaningful collaboration, knowledge sharing and engagement across the public sector. Whether you are a government department, local authority, public body or industry organisation, we help you share expertise, showcase innovation and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across public services.
Join the Civil service Community
Be part of the growing community shaping the future of AI across government and the public sector.
Sign up to receive the latest AI news, research, events, webinars and practical insights from GGF and our partners. You'll be the first to hear about new reports, conferences, networking opportunities and thought leadership from government and industry experts.
Latest News
