Leadership and analysis

Suitable for all Civil Service grades

Smarter Ways of Working

This course will cover the smarter working pillars of:

• people and culture
• leadership
• workspaces
• technology improvements

Format and course length

This is a blended learning course that can be completed in 2 hours.

How to access the course

You can access the ‘Smarter Ways of Working’ course on Civil Service Learning. You must be signed in to access this course.

Non-analytical leadership and management learning pathway

This learning pathway matches relevant training offered on the Civil Service Learning website. Although labelled ‘non-analytical’, this learning pathway is relevant to all leaders, including analytical leaders.

Format and pathway length

The courses in this pathway can all be completed online. They are each different in length.

How to access the pathway

Access the ‘Non-analytical leadership and management learning pathway’.

Suitable for Higher Executive Officers (HEOs) to Grade 7

Strategies for Managing Technical Teams

This course will help you develop your understanding of how to manage technical teams effectively. Learn to:

• overcome unique challenges
• encourage people to work together
• lead geographically dispersed teams to success

Format and course length

This is an online course that can be completed in 1 hour.

How to access the course

You can access the ‘Strategies for Managing Technical Teams’ course on Codecademy. You will need to register for an account, but the course is free to access.

Nurturing the Creative Power of Your Team

Learn how to unleash your team’s creativity for competitive advantage. Learn strategies to encourage a culture of innovation, excellence, and learning from failure.

Format and course length

This is an online course that can be completed in 1 hour.

How to access the course

You can access the ‘Nurturing the Creative Power of Your Team’ course on Codecademy. You will need to register for an account, but the course is free to access.

Unleashing Personal and Team Creativity

Unlock creativity in the workplace. Learn how to:

• overcome personal barriers
• encourage team innovation
• implement strategies for enhancing creative thinking

Format and course length

This is an online course that can be completed in 1 hour.

How to access the course

You can access the ‘Unleashing Personal and Team Creativity’ course on Codecademy. You will need to register for an account, but the course is free to access.

Civil Service leadership schemes and resources

There are several Civil Service-wide schemes and resources.

Civil Service Accelerated Development Schemes

These schemes aim to develop high-potential individuals to build a strong and diverse pipeline to the most senior and critical Civil Service roles. There are several schemes, including:

• Beyond Boundaries
• Fast Stream
• Future Leaders Scheme (FLS)
• Senior Leaders Scheme (SLS)
• the Directors Leadership Programme (DLP)

You can find information about the Accelerated Development Schemes on GOV.UK.

How to enrol on a development scheme

Any civil servant who would like to apply for one of the schemes should speak to their line manager and have a look on their departmental intranet for more information.

Leadership in Action

Learn about the eight attributes of leadership we see in action everyday across the Civil Service when leaders are at their best.

Format

This course consists of online videos, written guidance, presentation slides and other supporting resources.

How to access the course

You can access the ‘Leadership in Action’ course on Civil Service Learning. You must be signed in to access this course.

Suitable for Higher Executive Officers (HEOs) and above

Managing Analytical Projects

The workshop uses delegates’ own projects and experience to introduce methods for managing analytical projects from end-to-end, using relevant tools along the way. It also emphasises the people management aspects needed to ensure stakeholders support and engage with analysts.

Format and course length

This is an in-person course that takes place in Central London. The course takes 2 days to complete.

Cost

The course fee is £1,070, excluding VAT. There is a discount available for delegates who work in the public sector.

How to enrol on the course

You can enrol on the ‘Managing Analytical Projects’ course on the LSR training website.

Performance Coaching Skills for Managers in the Government Analytical Service

This course:

• develops the coaching skills of managers to enhance the performance of their staff and their teams, and to help others achieve their goals
• explores basic and advanced principles of coaching
• helps attendees create their own framework for good coaching practice
• demonstrates how the use of negative and positive information can reinforce or change the behaviour of others

Format and course length

This is an in-person course that takes place in Central London. The course takes 1 day to complete.

Cost

The course fee is £640, excluding VAT.

How to enrol on the course

You can enrol on the ‘Performance Coaching Skills for Managers’ course on the LSR training website.

Suitable for Senior Executive Officers (SEOs)

Preparing for Grade 7 in the Government Analytical Service

This course is for experienced members of the Government Analytical Service  who are responsible for managing staff and starting to have a representation role in the Analytical Service.

Format and course length

This is an in-person course that takes place in Central London. The course takes 2 days to complete.

Cost

The course fee is £1,200, excluding VAT. There is a discount available for delegates who work in the public sector.

How to enrol on the course

You can enrol on the ‘Preparing for Grade 7 in the Government Analytical Service’ course on the LSR training website.

Explore a collection of inspirational Analysis Function career stories. These stories are based on the career histories of government analysts and aim to showcase the variety of entry points and career progression routes available.

You can also find out more about your government analyst colleagues and their leadership stories by reading the following blog posts:

• ‘Ensuring that analytical leadership is fit for the future’ — Paul Matthews from the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) blogs about Scottish Government’s approach to improve the leadership capability of statisticians in Scottish Government through its ‘Fit for the Future’ leadership programme
• ‘Why does analytical leadership matter? What we’ve found so far’ —Nicky Pearce blogs about OSR’s work on analytical leadership so far and the next steps
• ‘Lessons I’ve learned from managing change’ — Julie Stanborough from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) blogs about her career and leading ambitious change
• ‘How to drive innovation’ — Matt Gurden from the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) and Adrian Richards from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) blog about the pressure to produce demanding analysis at pace and how it can get in the way of improvement and innovation
• ‘Insights from shadowing the National Statistician’ — Emily Holford from the Department for Education (DfE) blogs about what she learned about leadership from shadowing the National Statistician
• ‘My career in analysis’ — Jane Naylor, Chief Statistician at the Department for International Trade (DIT) blogs about her career
• ‘My leadership and learning journey’ — Lisa Eyers from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) blogs about her career as a statistician
• ‘Statistical leadership: make your analytical insights count’ — Oliver Fox-Tatum from OSR blogs about the importance of effective statistical leadership
• ‘My leadership journey as a statistician’ — Beck Keane from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) blogs about her career as a statistician
• ‘Why I stayed with the Civil Service as a statistical leader’ — Ian Knowles, Head of Profession for Statistics in the Department for Transport (DfT) blogs about his career

Discover insights from senior leaders in the Analysis Function by watching the following videos:

• an interview with Professor Sir Ian Diamond (11:51) — Sir Ian is Head of the Analysis Function, National Statistician, and Head of the Government Statistical Service (GSS)
• an interview with Jenny Dibden (7:53) — Jenny is Head of Profession for the Government Social Research (GSR) profession and is based in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
• an interview with David Wood (12:12) — David is Head of Profession for the Government Geography Profession and is based in Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• an interview with Tony O’Connor (8:46): Tony is Head of Profession for the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) and is based in the Ministry for Defence (MOD)

Learn more about great leadership by watching the following TED Talks:

• ‘How great leaders innovate responsibly‘ (12:20) — business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it takes to enact positive, enduring change, and why it’s more important than ever to invest in responsible innovation that uplifts people and centres equality and fairness
• ‘How to be a great leader’ — this TED Talks playlist offers surprising, nuanced approaches on how to inspire and empower others to do their very best

Discover more about evidence-based, digital, and analytical leadership by reading the following reports and articles:

• ‘We are all digital leaders in government’ — Megan Lee Devlin from Civil Service World talks to Cat Little, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, about leadership, AI and how to provide better services
• ‘Analytical leadership: achieving better outcomes for citizens’ — this report sets out the findings from the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) review of analytical leadership and considers how analytical leadership can be demonstrated and enabled across government
• ‘7 lessons in mobilising the digital community – building a single definition of roles and skills’ — the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) talk about their work with the Capability Framework Design Council (CFDC) and share how they had a positive impact on transparency, accountability and participation
• ‘Analytical leadership: achieving better outcomes for citizens’ — this 2024 report sets out the findings from the Office for Statistics Regulation’s (OSR’s) review of analytical leadership, considers how analytical leadership can be demonstrated and enabled across government and offers actionable suggestions for people in different professions and levels of seniority

The following resources and opportunities are important for senior leaders to be aware of:

• Senior Civil Service (SCS) Capability Framework — this framework presents an opportunity for individuals in SCS roles, or individual considering working at SCS level in the future, to consider their own capabilities, the capabilities required by analytical SCS and those capabilities they might wish to develop further
• Innovation Masterclass — senior leaders across all government departments are invited to attend this one day course, which is now part of the Director Leadership Programme (DLP) and fulfils the requirements of the Digital Essentials for Senior Civil Service (SCS) standard
• Royal Statistical Society (RSS): effective leadership for analysts — this two day course takes place in London on the 11 and 12 November 2025 and explores the required range of knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet the changing global business agenda
• Analysis Function Strategy for 2022 to 2025 — this is the current strategy for the Analysis Function and our analytical leaders. Our refreshed Analysis Function strategy for 2025 to 2028 will be published in the Spring of 2025.
• Senior Leaders in the Government Analytical Service: Creating Analytical Impact – This training course is for Grade 7 equivalents and above, who lead mixed analytical units and teams, or who aspire to do so. The fee for each module is £1,200, excluding VAT. There is a discount available for delegates who work in the public sector.