UK Civil Service

Last week, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald visited the British High Commision in Singapore (UK in Singapore). What he saw there illustrates the kind of Civil Service we’re building for the future. The High Commission is a hub for the region and is one of the most diverse UK missions. Whether it’s trade, investment, science, or research, it helps position the UK as a partner of choice for Singapore. With 10 Government Departments on site, ranging from Invest Northern Ireland to the UK Hydrographic Office, they support delivery of all the government’s missions: from creating jobs for British citizens by growing exports and investment, to keeping our people safe at home and overseas. High Commissioner Nikesh Mehta welcomed the Cabinet Secretary who addressed colleagues at the High Commission and praised their problem-focused, cross-departmental way of working. The Cabinet Secretary said: "The British High Commission in Singapore stands as a model of cross-departmental collaboration, with teams seamlessly coming together as one to advance the UK's interests across the region and forge stronger bilateral relationships." Sir Chris Wormald was in Singapore as part of a UK Civil Service delegation for the second SG-UK Public Service Roundtable, an annual exchange on shared challenges. This partnership is about delivering better for our citizens across the government’s missions. Our exchange, learning and sharing with Singapore supports our work to create a Civil Service that is faster, more agile, and far better at using technology.

How did Department for Culture, Media and Sport support the Lionesses to EURO 2025 victory? ⚽️🏆 You might be surprised to learn how many teams were involved. When Sarina Wiegman's squad retained their crown after that nail-biting penalty shootout in Basel, there was a whole government machine working behind the scenes. Here's what we actually did: 1. Built the infrastructure: Years of sustained investment created the foundation for success – from grassroots facilities to the Women's Football Taskforce. Our £400 million investment in upgraded facilities (announced in June) removes barriers for women and girls at grassroots level. 2. Delivered player welfare improvements: in February, the team landed a series of concrete actions to improve conditions for players, ensuring they could focus on what they do best – winning tournaments. 3. Orchestrated the victory celebration: When the final whistle blew, our Major Sporting Projects Delivery team, Women's Sport Policy team, and colleagues across finance, commercial and communications sprang into action. Working with The FA, Home Office and Met Police, DCMS delivered that spectacular parade down The Mall and a live celebration at Buckingham Palace. 4. Secured the legacy: They're more than doubling priority slots for women and girls at grassroots facilities, launching new Football Foundation grants for accessible facilities, and establishing a Women's Sport Taskforce to drive change towards our 2035 World Cup bid. The Lionesses didn't just win a tournament – they've kickstarted a golden decade for women's sport. And that takes a whole team effort, on and off the pitch. #Lionesses #WomensFootball #Euro2025 #DCMS #WomensSport #Champions

❓Are you a civil servant working in the grants profession? The government Grants Profession is now live - join a community of grant-making professionals, access tailored training, networking opportunities, and career pathways. Whether grants is your primary focus or you work across disciplines, there's a place for you. Find out more and join one of 32 government professions 👉 https://lnkd.in/eW3Zfi88 Read about the day in the life of a grants professional 👉 https://lnkd.in/ehtAFdya 

🔬 Celebrating Civil Service contributions to groundbreaking health research Civil servants are joining the UK's largest-ever health research programme, Our Future Health, helping to revolutionise how we prevent, detect and treat diseases for generations to come. With 59% of people aged 65+ in England living with at least two serious health conditions – rising to 70% by 2035 – this vital programme aims to change how we approach health and wellbeing. By gathering information from millions of volunteers across the UK, researchers will be able to make discoveries that benefit everyone. Crucially, Our Future Health is prioritising diversity to ensure all communities are represented in health research. What does taking part involve? A simple 15-20 minute appointment at a local clinic where you'll complete a questionnaire, have basic measurements taken, and provide a blood sample. You'll receive health insights like your weight, heart rate and blood pressure, plus a £10 voucher. As Civil Servant Jo explains: "I'm excited to see how early detection impacts the prevention and treatment of serious illness. My dad has Alzheimer's Disease, diabetes and prostate cancer. By the time his Alzheimer's was diagnosed it was too advanced for medication to slow the progress... I hope Our Future Health enables people in the future to live in better health, have longer careers and enjoy their retirement when the time comes." The Civil Service's diverse workforce – spanning all areas, ages, ethnicities and lifestyles – can make an excellent contribution to building this crucial health resource. Ready to make a difference? Sign up: at https://lnkd.in/e-XEGsks

🌟 Breaking down barriers to opportunity in the Civil Service 🌟 Exciting news! The government is launching a new Summer Internship Programme to boost social mobility and get more working class students into the Civil Service. Starting in summer 2026, this paid programme will offer around 200 undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds the chance to experience life in government departments. From writing ministerial briefings to shadowing senior civil servants, participants will gain invaluable experience whilst contributing to policy development. What makes this scheme special? Participants receive tailored support including a Fast Streamer buddy and skills sessions. Those who excel will be fast-tracked to the final stages of Fast Stream selection - opening doors to accelerated leadership roles in government. As Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, explains: "We need to get more working class young people into the Civil Service so it harnesses the broadest range of talent and truly reflects the country. Government makes better decisions when it represents and understands the people we serve." This builds on other diversity initiatives including the Career Launch apprenticeship scheme and the commitment to offer 50% of Fast Stream placements outside London by 2030. Applications open in October - a genuine opportunity to help re-wire the state and deliver the Plan for Change from the heart of government. https://lnkd.in/eJrd6ne3

From Civil Service challenge to 300 school-based nurseries in 12 months   One year ago, we faced a huge task: create 3,000 school-based nurseries across England to give children the best start in life writes Jasmine Hussain and Jessica Crawley from the Department for Education.   With 1 in 3 children starting school not ready to learn, we knew this mattered. What happened next:   ✅ Built our team from scratch   ✅ Launched £150k Capital Grants for schools   ✅ Received 600+ applications   ✅ Awarded 300 grants in phase one The secret? Cross-departmental teamwork across the Department for Education. Finance, digital, communications and policy teams all working together.   As head teacher Alex Armstrong put it: "This funding will help us turn unused space into a vibrant, welcoming baby room offering year-round childcare from birth to five."   Imagine that child walking confidently into their first day of school, ready to learn and eager to explore. That moment? That's everyone's success.   What’s next? From September 2025, eligible working parents get 30 hours of government-funded childcare from 9 months to school age. Our nurseries are helping make this vision reality. giving parents the childcare they need where they need it, and helping children arrive school-ready.   The momentum continues. 📈 Sometimes the biggest changes start with the smallest hands. 👐

❓ There are 31 “government professions”, but what is a profession anyway? 💡 Professions bring civil servants together across government. They’re more than just networks – they’re professional communities that support your training and development, help you excel in your role, and connect you with colleagues who understand your work and its challenges. Samantha Merret, Senior Accessibility Specialist, Ministry of Justice is one of the many civil servants who has joined a profession, and said; ''Being part of the digital and data profession in government means you have the unique opportunity to drive impactful change and improve public services that benefit society as a whole. It's a role where my expertise not only shapes the future of our services and technology but also improves the lives of our users every day - there is something incredibly humbling and empowering about that.’’ If you’re interested in connecting, sharing knowledge and building your network, join a network today 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3FvigjZ

Emergency Alerts Test: Sounding the Alarm The second-ever national test of the Emergency Alert system will take place on Sunday 7 September at around 3pm. This important system ensures we can communicate critical safety information during emergencies. 📣 A loud siren will sound from millions of mobile phones across the UK at 3pm on Sunday 7 September as the government conducts its second nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System – a vital tool that has already proven its worth in real-life emergencies. Since the first national test of the system in April 2023, Emergency Alerts have helped protect communities during five genuine crises, including warning residents about an unexploded World War II bomb in Plymouth and providing critical safety information during localised flash flooding in Cumbria. During the test on 7 September, your mobile phone will: Make a loud siren sound for about 10 seconds (even if on silent) Vibrate Display a clear message stating this is only a test 📱 This test alert is expected to reach approximately 87m compatible mobile phones and tablets across the UK. The date of the national test was announced alongside the government's comprehensive new Resilience Action Plan, designed to strengthen the UK's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. A public information campaign will run nationwide ahead of the test, with specific communications for vulnerable groups including domestic abuse victims and materials in British Sign Language. For more information, visit gov.uk/alerts.

📢 7 cities, 24,882 attendees, 1,217 mentoring sessions and 700 expert speakers delivering 2000 interactive sessions and workshops. That was Civil Service Live 2025 – our annual educational roadshow. Spanning every corner of the UK, from Glasgow to Exeter, Belfast to London, we gained valuable insights into how the Civil Service is delivering the Government’s missions and Plan for Change, as well as announcements about our journey to be a Civil Service fit for the future. Expert speakers from up and down the country delivered inspiring sessions on everything from AI, pensions and tackling organised crime, to fake news, interview skills and delivering EURO 2028. The events were an opportunity for us to celebrate the work of civil servants across the UK and around the world, and equip ourselves with new skills to deliver brilliant public services every day. If you attended any of our events this summer, let us know what you thought and what you learnt in the comments below #CivilServiceLive 📚

💼 🦷 Brushing Up on Partnerships: Civil Servants Secure 23 Million Toothbrushes for Children’s Health What happens when bold policy meets innovative thinking? A first-of-its-kind collaboration that’s improving children’s health and tackling inequalities — one toothbrush at a time. Flynn Hickey and Dan Sorensen from DHSC share how a transformative partnership with Colgate-Palmolive came to life — delivering 23 million toothbrushes and toothpastes over five years to children in the UK’s most deprived communities. 🦷 🚸 The goal? Prevent tooth decay — currently the leading cause of hospital admissions among 5–9-year-olds — and give 600,000 children a year a healthier start in life. 🤝 The result? A creative, cross-government, and brand-safe partnership that channels private sector resources for public good — at no cost to the taxpayer. 📣 A new ‘supporting NHS’ brand ensures trust and transparency while paving the way for future health collaborations. This is not just a story about toothbrushes. It’s about what’s possible when commercial, policy, and branding teams across government come together with purpose. ➡️ Learn more about out supervised tooth-brushing programme here.https://https://lnkd.in/e9bbE32X Part 3 of 4 in our series celebrating delivery of government Missions. You can read the full story on the Civil Service blog. https://lnkd.in/eCHMTa67