Comments on: #SCS2020 – Unlocking the Senior Civil Service and Cuts

By: no-one

no-one — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:21:35 +0000

One word for this site and it is “refreshing”. Keep up the posts. People need to know this stuff. That civil servants aren’t faceless. That they are trying to do a hard job in difficult circumstances. Keep up the good work!

By: TS

TS — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:32:30 +0000

I would like to add to your comments about the SCS itself. There are some exceptions to the rule, and I include myself in that. No degree, let alone Oxbridge. No A-levels, left school with 5 ‘O levels. My father was a factory worker (although skilled). Although I wasn’t aware of us being on the bread line, my parents did worry about money and I can remember only having mashed potate with an egg broken over it for dinner. And yes I have been on strike in the past.

My point is that it is possible to get into the SCS but there are amny barriers to get through. There is also the slight feeling of alienation when people are talking about which university they went to 9even if that was 20 or more years ago). There is also another barrier I have come across which you haven’t mentioned, postcode.

There is though, hope for the future if like minded people do show the mould can be broken. What is disappointing though is that an event organised by a trade union didn’t do that

By: SmallCasserole

SmallCasserole — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:18:15 +0000

An interesting view from the inside, I worked as a university lecturer until 6 years ago I then moved to my current employer (who have about 200,000 employees world wide and sell food, home and personal care products). I work in the research division. So I sort of gave up my job for life, comparisons here: http://bit.ly/bZNOhi

It certainly feels like I have more mobility within the company than I did within a university and the pathways are clearer. We have fairly regular restructuring / downsizing (once every 2-3 years). We seem to manage 10% loses voluntarily, a big chunk through early retirement but even last year people left voluntarily (some of whom had only just joined).

The issue of using modern communications within an organisation is an interesting one. We regularly get mid-year restrictions on our travel budget. We’re getting better at telepresence and webcasting as a replacement for travel. However, social media are still a bit of a minority sport – uptake of things like yammer and blogs is pretty low.

By: Baskers

Baskers — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:10:11 +0000

Hi Julia, he spoke about his experience in and out of DFID, his career path and was refreshingly direct and honest. I’m not sure you or I will have the same ‘opportunities’ to get the wide range of experience as other SCS have, but it would good to hear him speak.

Loved it when he said “don’t speak management speak. Make complex things simple to understand. Say it simply, say it plainly”

Sounds like a DG I wouldn’t mind working for.

By: juliac2

juliac2 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:46:42 +0000

Strange days indeed!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the session from my DG – what did he talk about?

By: Against Easy

Against Easy — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:20:44 +0000

It’s seniority over capability all the time. This anti-pattern is dying out and the Senior Civil Service know it. That’s why they keep trying to shore up their position with old school ideas.

There will be blood!