A state rewired? Civil service digital transformation, data, and artificial intelligence

A state rewired? Civil service digital transformation, data, and artificial intelligence

Author: Institute for Government April 14, 2026 Duration: 46:53
The second webinar in our three-part series focusing on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026. The webinar featured: Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 Becky Noble, Public Services AI Lead at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026 The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026. Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG’s annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025. We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event.

Ever wondered what really happens behind the doors of Whitehall? Institute for Government pulls up a chair at the table where policy is made and governance gets tested. This isn't about partisan politics or headlines; it's a deeper, more practical conversation about how the machinery of the UK government actually works-or sometimes, why it doesn't. Each episode brings you the experts from the Institute itself, along with senior civil servants, ministers, and analysts, for frank discussions that dissect the challenges of running a country. You'll hear specific case studies, analysis of major events as they unfold, and explorations of long-term issues like public service reform or the complexities of Brexit implementation. The goal is to move beyond theory and into the tangible details of effectiveness and accountability. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining access to a privileged briefing, one that demystifies the processes that shape daily life. It’s for anyone curious about the structures of power, the art of the possible in policy, and the ongoing effort to improve how the nation is governed. Expect thoughtful, evidence-based dialogue that cuts through the noise to examine the levers of statecraft.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Institute for Government
Podcast Episodes
Rewiring the state: Panel discussion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:49
This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to…
How can government be transformed? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:05
Keir Starmer has said that “nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state” is needed for the public sector – and in particular the civil service – to deliver the government’s agenda. So what should this t…
Government reviews: Dither and delay, or route to reform? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:37
Keir Starmer commissioned a number of high-profile reviews into difficult policy areas on taking office, but the prime minister seems to have become more sceptical about their value in recent weeks. At this event, to mar…
A keynote speech by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:58
The IfG was pleased to welcome Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, to deliver a keynote speech on how the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) plans to use its expanding powers and spending freedoms…
A keynote speech by Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:14
The IfG was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to set out how smarter decision-making methods in government can reduce waste and deliver for the taxpayer. In a speech at the IfG…
The state of the civil service: location, grade, pay and morale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:21
Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government’s flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its abi…

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