Just over 1,600 civil servants from across the North of England and Scotland came to the Sage Centre in Gateshead on Monday 9 March for the first ever regional Civil Service Live event. They came together to hear how even in times of economic turmoil the Civil Service is still innovating to deliver excellent public services, and learn how they can have an impact on continuing to improve the services they deliver themselves.
Civil Service Live, which is organised by Whitehall and Westminster World in partnership with the Cabinet Office and the National School of Government, is now in its second successful year. The one day Gateshead event was aimed squarely at civil servants on the operational front line. Over 37,000 civil servants work in North East and the majority work in customer facing roles at DWP, Jobcentre Plus and HMRC.
On the day delegates heard from a wide variety of speakers, including Sir Gus O’Donnell, Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones, Sir Leigh Lewis, Alexis Cleveland and First Civil Service Commissioner Janet Paraskeva. Delegates also had an opportunity to take part in workshops on public service reform, digital engagement and the customer journey.
Gus and Peter Jones had a packed itinerary in Gateshead, taking time meet Civil Service apprentices at special reception hosted by DIUS Permanent Secretary Ian Watmore and visiting Gateshead Jobcentre Plus.
Speaking about the event, Gus said:
“A lot of people think the Civil Service is all about Sir Humphreys tucked away in Whitehall, but 83 per cent of Civil Servants actually work outside London. The vast majority work on the frontline, delivering public services that have a vital role to play in helping the country through the downturn.
“The civil servants I met in Gateshead, both at the JobCentre Plus and at Civil Service Live, are real unsung heroes, dedicated men and women who process benefits, inform people about the tax credits they can claim, or find work for the unemployed.” For more information about what happened at the event and to register your interest in the next Civil Service Live which will be held at London Olympia between 7-9 July, please visit: www.civilservicelive.com
