WHITEHALL

Whitehall speed dating

Diary is a bit old-fashioned when it comes to dating.

Diary is a bit old-fashioned when it comes to dating.

We are more about tenderness than Tinder, can be found bumbling around rather than on Bumble and are keener to talk about match funding than Match.com.

It seems even Whitehall is leaving us behind, with Diary told about – but not invited to - a recent ‘speed dating' event.

On closer investigation, it turns out that this was not designed to engineer a new super-breed of civil servant nor introduce a sprinkling of love to the stuffy corridors of Whitehall.

Rather, the event was a way of recruiting new blood to the civil service, with officials from various departments selling their offer to potential mandarins.

Presumably, culture vultures might be attracted to DCMS, country bumpkins would be keen to check out what Defra has to offer while do-gooders would be intrigued about working for DFID.

It got Diary wondering how sexy is the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)?

The answer from one insider: ‘I know it's sad but local government is actually pretty interesting. Sadly, it's hard to sell local government.'

Perhaps Diary has found its match.

WHITEHALL

Ministers should be transparent over NIC support

By Ian Miller | 03 January 2025

Ian Miller puts Government funding for national insurance contributions under the microscope.

WHITEHALL

Goodbye to all that

By Martin Ford | 20 December 2024

Ann McGauran and Martin Ford take a look back at the highs and lows of a pacy and action-packed year for local government.

WHITEHALL

Fixing councils' financial distress

By Andy Pike | 20 November 2024

Andy Pike and Jack Shaw examine the reasons for local authorities’ financial challenges, and say it’s time for a set of principles, including the power to ma...

WHITEHALL

EXCLUSIVE: Council chiefs told settlement will be 19 December

By Dan Peters | 14 November 2024

Council chiefs have been told by Whitehall officials they may have to wait until less than a week before Christmas to receive the finance settlement, The MJ ...