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Corporate report

Review into the Organisation, Performance and Transformation of the Permanent Civil Service

Published 1 July 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-into-the-organisation-performance-and-transformation-of-the-permanent-civil-service/review-into-the-organisation-performance-and-transformation-of-the-permanent-civil-service

Context and Objective

The Civil Service serves the duly elected Government of the day and supports it to develop and implement its policies and in delivering public services, in line with the Civil Service Code.

The Government has outlined its intention to strengthen the delivery, accountability, innovation and productivity of the Civil Service, and to consider proposals to safeguard its impartiality and core values within the constitution, to enhance trust and confidence in the institutions of government.

The Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service will lead a wide-ranging, fundamental review into the constitution, organisation and performance of the permanent Civil Service, with the aim of setting out a vision for its future as a world class institution serving the duly elected government of the day, building on its existing strengths.

Scope

The review will consider the wide range of activities undertaken by the Civil Service, at home and abroad, in every organisation and department.

The final report will include proposals on:

  • strengthening accountability and capability to deliver for the country and for citizens, now and for the future, focusing on:
    • delivery,
    • innovation and productivity, and
    • pride and trust;
  • safeguarding its impartiality and core values, including refreshing the Civil Service Code; and
  • enhancing trust in the Service by Ministers, Parliament and the public.

The review will consider:

  • size, shape, and structure of the future Service;
  • AI and technology as enablers of delivery and transformation;
  • current and future capabilities;
  • performance management;
  • accountabilities and reporting lines;
  • reward, remuneration, and incentives;
  • recruitment systems to attract and retain the best talent in all regions across the country;
  • core values and the Code; and
  • statutory basis of the Service.

Approach

The review will consider a range of evidence, including but not limited to document analysis and interviews with relevant individuals within and outside government, and will consider best practice globally.

The review will draw on a wide range of expert advisers from academia, private, public, civil society, and international spheres. It will welcome views and input from across Parliament, and engage with the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Lords Constitution Committee. An external expert advisory panel will be constituted to inform the review.

Outputs and reporting

The review will culminate in a report setting out a vision for the future Civil Service as a world class institution, to deliver for Ministers and the public. The final report will include a set of recommendations to reform the Civil Service to achieve this.

The review will report before summer 2027, and the report will be made available to the public.

Alongside this fundamental review, swift work to reform the Civil Service to improve delivery, performance, innovation, productivity and pride will continue, led by the Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretaries in support of the Government.

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