Welcome to the Heywood Quarterly
Established in 2024, the Quarterly is an independent publication dedicated to championing innovation in public policy and delivery.
We invite civil servants, public sector professionals, and the wider private sector to share their experiences and insights on what has and hasn’t worked. Our goal is to create a ‘safe space’ for honest, constructive, and politically neutral discussions.
To learn more about us, read our Editor-in-Chief Tim Dickson’s introduction, or check our story and meet our team.
Keep scrolling to see our editions and articles so far…
Fifth Edition
Editor’s Letter
In his Editor’s Letter, Tim Dickson, Editor in Chief of Heywood Quarterly, introduces our 5th Edition: ‘The State of trust’.
Round-Up – Fifth Edition
A summary of recent news and views that you might have missed – from the GOV.UK app to AI usage in the Civil Service.
Why economic dynamism matters
Stephen Aldridge, Director, Analysis and Data at the MHCLG highlights three charts with a striking message for the UK.
Public policymakers under scrutiny
Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, reviews books challenging our response to Covid and our alleged neglect of the future.
In conversation with… Sir Philip Barton
In this edited summary of an extensive discussion, Peter McDonald talks to the former Permanent Under-Secretary of the FCDO, Sir Philip Barton.
Policy imperatives for reducing sickness in old age
Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, demonstrates how people who live longer do not necessarily spend more time in ill health.
Money, trust and the institutions of the state
Mario Pisani on the importance of trust in institutions and a history lesson that is relevant to all civil servants.
Impartiality in the Civil Service
Amanda Spielman, former Chief Inspector of Schools, describes how she approached the challenge of impartiality at Ofsted.
A day in the life of… Britain’s Ambassador to Slovenia
Lucy Heywood describes a day in the life of Victoria Harrison – and her “Ambassadog”, Otto.
A new industrial strategy built on partnership
Fred Perry describes how business, the regions and even other countries were involved in shaping a key government policy.
Fourth Edition
Editor’s Letter
Tim Dickson, Editor in Chief of Heywood Quarterly, introduces our 4th Edition: ‘Adapting government to a changing world’.
Why the UK needs to be better at long-term strategy
Lucy Smith, Heywood Fellow, explains the importance of long-term strategy for the UK – and how other countries may be leading the way.
How attendance data can transform pupil lives
Susan Acland-Hood and Simon Blake explain how Covid prompted a new approach to tackling absence rates in schools in England.
From gut feeling to ‘grounding’ the truth: Policing’s quiet revolution
Matt Bland highlights examples of evidence-based innovation on the front line, and what policy professionals across the Civil Service can learn from this experience.
Is blending hard and soft power the UK’s secret ‘superpower’?
Catriona Laing explains the importance of blending hard and soft power, inspired by the thinking of Joseph Nye and Jeremy Heywood.
In conversation with… Helen MacNamara
In this edited summary of an extensive discussion, Peter McDonald talks to Helen MacNamara about the lessons she took from being at the centre of government, and having a ringside seat during Brexit and the Covid pandemic.
The art of horizontal government
True digital transformation requires reimagining the citizen experience from scratch, argues Victor Dominello, CEO of the Future Government Institute and a former New South Wales Minister for Customer Service.
Science and scientists to the fore…
Penny Endersby, CEO of the Met Office, talks to Tim Dickson about her journey from specialist researcher to running the Met Office.
Editor’s Letter
Our Editor in Chief, Tim Dickson, introduces the Heywood Quarterly’s Third Edition: Doing things differently with data.
How the UK Civil Service can learn from other countries
Gus O’Donnell and Kathy Hall review what the latest Blavatnik Index has to show us about the UK’s comparative strengths and weaknesses.
How childbearing patterns have changed
Ian Diamond, the UK’s National Statistician, explains why UK policymakers need to understand the significance of recent trends.
No, Minister: The long and lamentable shadow of Sir Humphrey
Alex Thomas explains the looming legacy that depictions of figures like Sir Humphrey and Malcolm Tucker have left.
Dissecting public services for a digital age
James Plunkett reviews Platformland: An anatomy of next-generation public services, by Richard Pope, 2024.
Why government needs a fresh ‘nudge’
David Halpern, founder of the world’s first behavioural insights unit, says it’s more important than ever that policymakers understand human behaviour.
Why the Policy Profession must embrace AI
Michael Padfield explains the benefits of a range of tools that will drive better strategy, greater democracy and improved delivery.
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy
Doug Gurr, newly appointed interim Chair of the UK’s Competition watchdog and Director of the Natural History Museum, warns that the UK is missing out on the fruits of scientific research.
Second Edition
Issue Two of Heywood Quarterly – Ideas for the New Government – covers a range of topics, from the importance of policy making for the long-term, innovation in Whitehall, and the art of crisis management, to the future of English devolution, the benefits of mutualisation as a form of ownership, and the role of financial watchdogs. Read the individual articles here or click on the PDF to access the full edition
Editor’s Letter
Editor in Chief, Tim Dickson, introduces the Second Edition of Heywood Quarterly: ‘Ideas for the New Government’.
In conversation with… Lord (Terry) Burns
In this summary of an extensive discussion, Peter McDonald talks to the former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury about responding to crises, working with Ministers, solving problems and other reflections from a multifaceted career.
The risks of accountability sinks
Donald Marshall reviews The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Machines Make Terrible Decisions, and How the World Lost its Mind by Dan Davies.
First Edition
How do we encourage innovation in the Public Sector? The introductory issue of Heywood Quarterly, featuring a welcome from Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, includes articles on the top traits of a great civil servant, the future of the policy profession, the importance of AI in government and A Day in the Life of Britain’s Ambassador to Qatar.
Editor’s Letter
Our Editor in Chief, Tim Dickson, introduces the First Edition of Heywood Quarterly, which explores innovation in the public sector.
Making a difference to country and community
Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, on what it means to serve.
The ten traits of a great civil servant
Suzanne Heywood on the qualities valued by her late husband Jeremy, Cabinet Secretary from 2012 to 2018.
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