Day 1, 5th July

9.45 - 10.45
Opening  plenary:  Setting the scene – Will tough times lead to future opportunities?

Since the General Election in May 2010, the Civil Service has embarked on a period of major change.  The Coalition Government has had to make some difficult decisions and all Government Departments have had to make significant savings as we have begun to tackle the deficit.  At the same time, the Government has set out a radical vision for the future of public services which will require us to innovate, develop new partnerships across the public sector and beyond, learn new skills and be more accountable to the communities we serve.  
 
In meeting these tough challenges we need to recognise that change brings opportunity for the future.  We are already beginning to develop new ways of working.  Speakers will briefly outline what they see as key challenges and opportunities for the future and highlight some of the changes already underway before taking questions from the floor and engaging delegates in debate across the full range of issues facing the Civil Service and public service delivery.
 
The panel members for this session are:

• Simon Fraser, Permanent Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Dame Helen Ghosh, Permanent Secretary, Home Office
• Sir Bob Kerslake, Permanent Secretary Department for Communities and Local Government
• Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary
• Ian Watmore, Permanent Secretary, Efficiency and Reform Group, Cabinet Office

16.30 -17.30
The Civil Service of the Future

With Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service and Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office; Paymaster General

  Day 2, 6th July

9.45  - 10.45
Social mobility

Helen Newlove published her report ‘Our vision for safe and active communities’ on 29th March and is now working in DCLG, who have responsibility for co-ordinating the Government’s response to this report.

Helen is keen to explore how public sector volunteering can be increased, described in her report as the need to ‘Get public servants out and into communities, and volunteering their time and expertise to support local groups’. Helen is particularly keen on the need to put civil servants’ professional skills at the disposal of grass-roots community activists.

This session will showcase what the Civil Service is doing in support of the active citizenship agenda and the key role that Helen’s report has in driving this important agenda item forward. It will provide an important opportunity for you to hear about the value in the personal development value to volunteering.

16.30 -17.30
Leadership coaching : How to make a bigger difference

Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service in conversation with leadership expert, Steve Radcliffe, best known for his Future - Engage - Deliver approach to helping anyone grow as a leader.

They will explore topics including:

• What leadership means to them and how it's different to management
• What the effect on people and results can be when it's present
• Why it's crucially important for the future of the Civil Service
• Why it's relevant to all in the Civil Service, not just a chosen few, and
• How you can make an even bigger difference by growing yourself as a leader.

   Day 3, 7th July

9.45 - 10.45
Leadership coaching : How to make a bigger difference

Robert Devereux, Permanent Secretary, DWP in conversation with leadership expert, Steve Radcliffe, best known for his Future - Engage - Deliver approach to helping anyone grow as a leader.

In an frank and direct session, they will explore topics including:

• What leadership means and how it's different to management
• What the effect on people and results can be when it's present
• Why it's crucially important for the future of the Civil Service
• Why it's relevant to all in the Civil Service, not just a chosen few
• How you can make an even bigger difference by growing yourself as a leader.

16.30 - 17.30
Have I Got Question Time For You

This is to ask if you would like to submit a question to the panel at the closing session of Civil Service Live on 7 July at 16.30.

The panel will consist of:

• Baroness Sarah Hogg, Lead Non-Executive Director, HM Treasury
• Peter Jones, Entrepreneur and TV Dragon
• Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and head of the Home Civil Service
• Paula Vennells, Managing Director, Post Office Ltd

Mary-Louise Clark from The Innovation Space at The Department for Business will act as chair of the panel.

The panel will be taking questions on:

• change
• efficiency
• how all sectors of the economy can stimulate economic growth
• improving public services
• innovation
• leadership

If you would like to submit a question to the panel please send it to:

   helpline@civilservicelive.com

no later than 2.00pm on Wednesday 6 July.  A list of questions to be put to the panel will be chosen from those submitted.  If your question is chosen we will try to inform you before the session.  Please bring a copy of the question with you on the day.