Ellie Ashman
@ellayanor.bsky.social
Exeter | Director - Public Sector Practice @ Torchbox
Often to be found looking for a snack and/or saying pspsps to the nearest available cat. Always have too many tabs open.
Often to be found looking for a snack and/or saying pspsps to the nearest available cat. Always have too many tabs open.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Good morning, I am once again reminding you all that we are going to keep pushing and we are going to win:
January 16, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Good morning, I am once again reminding you all that we are going to keep pushing and we are going to win:
my first job was in a greengrocer and I am weirdly comforted that this 400 year old rendering pretty accurately captures the mood. Didn't have a shop cat though :(
Woman ever so carefully selecting her fruit while saleswoman (and cat) struggle to remain patient. By Louise Moillon, 1631. Today is her day.
January 14, 2026 at 3:55 PM
my first job was in a greengrocer and I am weirdly comforted that this 400 year old rendering pretty accurately captures the mood. Didn't have a shop cat though :(
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Technical design *is* business process design *is* team design *is* service design *is* user centred design. If you insist that one is superior to another or that you don’t need to concern yourself with all aspects, you’re doing your organisation and your users a disservice. This course looks great!
Many Product Owners view software architecture as a technical concern, something strictly for the developers. Yet, the boundaries of a software system are often defined by business decisions and language, not just code.
...
...
January 14, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Technical design *is* business process design *is* team design *is* service design *is* user centred design. If you insist that one is superior to another or that you don’t need to concern yourself with all aspects, you’re doing your organisation and your users a disservice. This course looks great!
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Ever relevant, this poem by Mary Oliver, especially today.
January 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Ever relevant, this poem by Mary Oliver, especially today.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
In 2026 we are reinstating the regular One Team Gov breakfast club in London and also running a virtual one for anybody who doesn't have a meetup near them.
If you're interested you can sign up for both using the link (and please retweet/skeet!)
www.linkedin.com/posts/onetea...
If you're interested you can sign up for both using the link (and please retweet/skeet!)
www.linkedin.com/posts/onetea...
Between 2017 and 2021 One Team Gov held space weekly for people working across government to come together, connect, reflect and support each others work. Some local meetups like in Manchester have… |...
Between 2017 and 2021 One Team Gov held space weekly for people working across government to come together, connect, reflect and support each others work. Some local meetups like in Manchester have be...
www.linkedin.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
In 2026 we are reinstating the regular One Team Gov breakfast club in London and also running a virtual one for anybody who doesn't have a meetup near them.
If you're interested you can sign up for both using the link (and please retweet/skeet!)
www.linkedin.com/posts/onetea...
If you're interested you can sign up for both using the link (and please retweet/skeet!)
www.linkedin.com/posts/onetea...
PSA: Calendars are made up! Your to-do list will not self-destruct on 31st December, you do not need to set or follow arbitrary year-end deadlines, inbox zero is a myth.
December 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM
PSA: Calendars are made up! Your to-do list will not self-destruct on 31st December, you do not need to set or follow arbitrary year-end deadlines, inbox zero is a myth.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Good lord people… “Product-led” was never meant to mean “Product manager-led” 🤦🏼♀️
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Good lord people… “Product-led” was never meant to mean “Product manager-led” 🤦🏼♀️
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Our international #GovDesign community call is returning on Friday, 28 November.
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Our international #GovDesign community call is returning on Friday, 28 November.
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Teen Vogue produced some of the best political reporting in the nation and we’re not even a year into this cursed presidency
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Teen Vogue produced some of the best political reporting in the nation and we’re not even a year into this cursed presidency
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
The firing of black women & trans people from Teen Vogue is a devastating loss
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
November 4, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The firing of black women & trans people from Teen Vogue is a devastating loss
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
🧵 | Today we’ve released data showing a 55% increase in calls to our advice line from members experiencing racism at work since 2022. We now receive on average three calls a day on this topic.
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
October 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
🧵 | Today we’ve released data showing a 55% increase in calls to our advice line from members experiencing racism at work since 2022. We now receive on average three calls a day on this topic.
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Public services are crumbling in the UK.
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
October 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Public services are crumbling in the UK.
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
deeply underprepared for the physicality of grief. Like someone stole half my spoons. Please send your cosiest autumnal viewing choices my way, my reading pile is going to have to wait a bit longer
October 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM
deeply underprepared for the physicality of grief. Like someone stole half my spoons. Please send your cosiest autumnal viewing choices my way, my reading pile is going to have to wait a bit longer
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
217 people have now registered for UK Gov Camp 2026 ( #ukgc26 ) in #Birmingham on Saturday 17 January 2026.
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
217 people have now registered for UK Gov Camp 2026 ( #ukgc26 ) in #Birmingham on Saturday 17 January 2026.
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Today would have been Ursula K. Le Guin’s 96th birthday. I celebrated by visiting The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin at AA Gallery in London. What a treat! A selection of her maps & drawings. And a beautiful book! Happy birthday @ursulakleguin.com
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
October 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Today would have been Ursula K. Le Guin’s 96th birthday. I celebrated by visiting The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin at AA Gallery in London. What a treat! A selection of her maps & drawings. And a beautiful book! Happy birthday @ursulakleguin.com
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Our new film argues that community power is the antidote to division and democratic decline.
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Our new film argues that community power is the antidote to division and democratic decline.
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Starting a 2025 Q4 thread of not-evil* jobs in tech or using tech skills, which I'll reply to add to as I find new cool things over time
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
October 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Starting a 2025 Q4 thread of not-evil* jobs in tech or using tech skills, which I'll reply to add to as I find new cool things over time
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Foxglove are looking for a head of operations to support their legal, policy and outreach work pushing back against the power imbalance big tech wields against all of us.
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
Head of Operations
About usFoxglove is a non-profit that exists to make the use of technology fair for all. When Big Tech companies abuse their power, their workers or the planet – and when governments use technology to...
app.beapplied.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Foxglove are looking for a head of operations to support their legal, policy and outreach work pushing back against the power imbalance big tech wields against all of us.
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
After launching them at Queeriosities last weekend, the A3 Risograph posters are now up on our website with all profits going to the Sameer Project in Gaza: polari.press/throw-sand-i...
October 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
After launching them at Queeriosities last weekend, the A3 Risograph posters are now up on our website with all profits going to the Sameer Project in Gaza: polari.press/throw-sand-i...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
October 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
if you drink alcohol, you might like this - I always disregarded brandy as the drink of men quaffing and smoking after dinner in Poirot, but I've been missing out! Cognac is now my fave, and it's probs not fair for me to keep all of L's wisdom to myself so www.thethreedrinkers.com/magazine-con...
Brandy's Revival: The 7 Best Bottles for a New Generation — The Three Drinkers
Brandy is incredibly versatile. Younger examples are fruit-forward and great for cocktails, while older expressions offer depth and complexity to rival whisky...
www.thethreedrinkers.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:44 AM
if you drink alcohol, you might like this - I always disregarded brandy as the drink of men quaffing and smoking after dinner in Poirot, but I've been missing out! Cognac is now my fave, and it's probs not fair for me to keep all of L's wisdom to myself so www.thethreedrinkers.com/magazine-con...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
I'm going to be honest, while I know exactly why these people are doing it, I genuinely think their strategy of associating Jewish people *specifically* with the ongoing Palestinian genocide is a horrendous strategy that will imperil the safety of ordinary Jews in the long term.
NEW: Home secretary Shabana Mahmood urges pro-Palestine protesters to consider not taking part in marches this weekend.
"Imagine if you lost a loved one to a terror attack in this country ... sometimes a little unity, a little solidarity, some love to other people is required"
"Imagine if you lost a loved one to a terror attack in this country ... sometimes a little unity, a little solidarity, some love to other people is required"
October 3, 2025 at 7:52 AM
I'm going to be honest, while I know exactly why these people are doing it, I genuinely think their strategy of associating Jewish people *specifically* with the ongoing Palestinian genocide is a horrendous strategy that will imperil the safety of ordinary Jews in the long term.
"user research disproved our central hypothesis" >>>
New Grand Designs episode aka the closest thing to any game production process I’ve ever seen on tv including any attempt at fiction
October 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
"user research disproved our central hypothesis" >>>
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
I think that, in a time of rising fascism, unity and decency are mediocre political goals. I know they are "relatable" but they are tame. I think that "dignity and equality" are far better. Both have a basis in law, both can be quantified, and neither ask the abused to make peace with their abusers.
‘Decency or division’: Britain faces era-defining choice, Keir Starmer warns
‘Decency or division’: Britain faces era-defining choice, Keir Starmer warns
Prime minister lambasts Nigel Farage and the politics of Reform in combative Labour conference speech
Keir Starmer has warned that Britain faces an era-defining choice between Labour and the populist right, as he launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, saying the Reform leader neither “liked or believed in Britain”.
In a speech that drew the battle lines for the next general election, the prime minister said the UK stood at a fork in the road where “we can choose decency, we can choose division, renewal or decline”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I think that, in a time of rising fascism, unity and decency are mediocre political goals. I know they are "relatable" but they are tame. I think that "dignity and equality" are far better. Both have a basis in law, both can be quantified, and neither ask the abused to make peace with their abusers.