IT’S makeover time for the men and women from the ministry. Civil servants are being encouraged to develop their “natural style” and attend a training course on grooming and how to dress.

The course, entitled Developing Style and Presence, includes trips to shops where mandarins receive professional tips on how to choose clothes that flatter their figures, and colours that complement their skin tones.

The two-day course at the National School of Government, the official training college for civil servants, at Sunningdale Park, Berkshire, costs the taxpayer almost £1,000 for every civil servant who attends.

It is proving so popular in Whitehall that next month’s course for senior civil servants is fully booked.

It offers one-to-one coaching and workshops to help “balance the professional persona with natural style; to consider presentation in terms of colour, clothing, accessories and grooming”.

As well as workshops on “style and presentation”, civil servants will receive tips from “image management” experts on how to use their vocal range and tone effectively and “facilitate communication through presence”.

The programme includes a morning’s “dress style selection” in shops close to where the course is held, as well as workshops on diet and fitness and style, colour and presentation.

The course also includes individual coaching on good posture using the Alexander technique, which aims to minimise stress on the skeleton and muscles.

The area around Sunningdale Park, a stately home set in 65 acres of landscape gardens and woodland, is dotted with upmarket men’s and women’s clothes shops stocking designer labels such as Armani.

The course leader, Carol Ped-ley, said course tutors were expert in offering help in “presenting your image to best effect”. They did not instruct people on how to dress but gave them helpful advice on presentation, clothing and even the application of subtle make-up.

Philip Hammond, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said that paying for Trinny and Susannah-style makeovers for public servants showed Labour was “extending the culture of spin to Whitehall”.

He said: “There are so many things that the government must do better that sending civil servants on grooming courses seems a ridiculous waste of money.”

A spokesman for the school said: “Many senior politicians have had training in how they present themselves, right back to Margaret Thatcher and Bill Clinton. Senior executives have training in how to use their voice and presence, so why not senior civil servants?

“It’s not just about grooming, it’s about effective communication and leadership. It’s part of our broad offering across the spectrum of hard and soft skills. This is probably at the softer end.”

Additional reporting: Julia Belgutay

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