For PenHolders

Page last updated: Tuesday 2 September 2025

Welcome, PenHolder!

You’re the steady hand keeping public sector writing standards consistent and reliable. Whether you’re updating templates, watching tone, or quietly fixing grammar gremlins – you care about clarity, quality, and getting things right.

You’re not chasing big revolutions. But you know the quiet work of maintaining standards matters. And sometimes, that’s exhausting.

This page is here to help. It’s a landing space for the questions PenHolders often ask – plus tools, tips, and practical resources to make the job a little lighter. Sign up to the newsletter or pop back here whenever suits – I’ll be adding new FAQ answers regularly.

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🧡 Cover sheets and summaries

• What’s the difference between the cover sheet and the main paper?
• What are the basic compliance and quality checks to make on a cover sheet?
• What makes a cover sheet “good”?
• What makes a good executive summary?
• What makes a good recommendation section?
• How do I complete the “compliance” fields well on the cover sheet, e.g. Risk / Quality / Equality, Diversity and Inclusion?

🧡 Board or Committee papers

• NEW: What are the rules and conventions around confidential meeting papers?
• How long should a formal paper be?
• What’s the right structure for a formal paper?
• What makes a paper “good”?
• What are the rules and conventions around appendices?

🧡 Formatting and Accessibility

• What are the basic requirements for accessible formatting?
• What’s the correct way to number papers and pages?
• Do I need to use headings and subheadings?
• Should I avoid using tables or images in my papers?

🧡 Templates

• What makes a good template?
• What do I do if people are not using a template correctly?

🧡 Writing skills and grammar

• What are some quick, practical tips to help people simplify their writing?
• Are there any free resources to help improve their grammar or other writing skills?

🧡 Risk registers

• How can I make a complex risk report interesting and readable for committees?
• How do I articulate a complex risk and its mitigations in a meaningful and readable way?
• What’s the difference between a simple operational risk and a complex, systemic one – and how should I write them differently?

Check back here as we add more answers, or join the mailing list to be the first to know when new pieces go live.