Civil Service
Fast-stream
What to expect
& How to apply
The Civil Service
• The Civil Service serves the Government of the
day, developing and implementing policy, and
delivering services to the public
• Politically neutral and remains unchanged when
the Government changes
• Around 490,000 civil servants working around
the UK and abroad in over 100 departments and
agencies
• Working for the Civil Service means you are
shaping how the country is run, and affecting
the lives of everyone in the UK
The Civil Service Faststream
• Accelerated training and development
programme for those with the potential to
become future leaders of the Civil Service
• Sequence of postings (12-18mths), usually in
one department, to develop skills and
experience
• Typically spend 2-4 years on Faststream
• Leave when promoted to Team Leader level
• Ranked in the top 5 of the Times Top 100
Graduate Employers
Faststream schemes
• Graduate Fast Stream
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Central Departments (vast majority)
European Fast Stream
Houses of Parliament
Science and Engineering
Diplomatic Service
• Also specialist schemes for Economists,
Statisticians, HR and Technology in Business
• Can apply to more than one scheme at once
Faststream advantages
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Challenging work
Immediate responsibility and autonomy
Close contact with senior civil servants
Often work with Ministers
Management of people and resources
Fast-paced responsive work
Broad range of experience
Valuable network of contacts
Excellent training anddevelopment
What will you be doing?
• Your Faststream career will be unique,
depending on your interests, skills and
experience, your department, and world
events…
• Three main types of posts:
– Developing policy (policy delivery)
– Delivering public services (operational delivery)
– Corporate operations (finance, HR, Press…)
• Tasks will change rapidly – must be adaptable
• Some examples…
Ramin Hassan
Department for Work and Pensions
• Two years of policy work, currently working
as an Advisory Services Manager at Cambridge
Jobcentre Plus.
• Manages around 30 staff delivering front-line
services and administrative support.
• Time is the main challenge for operations
managers; balancing short term needs, against
measures to improve longer term performance
“Since joining the Civil Service, in August 2007, I have helped
prepare Ministers and senior officials for appearances before
Parliament, represented the UK at the UN on labour issues and
now manage a large number of public-facing staff. The Fast
Stream provides many such privileged opportunities in close
succession, alongside generous training allowances.”
Charlene Woolley
HMRC
• First placement in Customs &
International Directorate - helped to
implement the recommendations of
the Cabinet Office report 'Security in a
Global Hub'
• Currently working on facilitating the
transfer of staff, assets and budgets to
UKBA.
"I have watched key legislation relating to the project
being debated in Lords. I have contributed to interdepartmental agreements, and had the opportunity to
discuss changes with affected operational staff. I also
regularly participate in director-level meetings".
Ayesha Ali
Department for Transport
• Economic appraisal of major rail
projects
• Impact assessments of EU related
policies
• Constant engagement with
colleagues from policy and others
from the rail industry.
“Transport policy is an every day decision for
people. This makes my work challenging but very
rewarding when I see my ideas translate into
everyday living”.
Development
• Development focused on your needs
• 15+ days of training per year – both to gain
skills for the job and to gain wider personal
skills
• Opportunity for a mentor from Senior Civil
Service
• Opportunity for secondments to other
Departments and Civil Service organisations,
and externally, to gain wider experience
• You need to continually learn and improve
Benefits
• Competitive starting salary of £25,000 –
£27,000, and choice of generous pension
• 25+ days holiday and 10.5 public holidays (2.5
extra)
• Supportive environment – flexible working, job
shares, career breaks
• Opportunity for regional and international jobs
• Real benefits are the work itself
• Each department determines detailed terms and
conditions for its Faststreamers
Career
• Civil Service is a professional and rewarding
long-term career choice
• Fast Stream develops you for the Senior Civil
Service
• Core competencies:
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analysis and use of evidence
financial management
people management
project and programme management
• Promotion on performance and competence –
so need drive to gain breadth and depth of
skills and experience
Application, selection & eligibility
• Need a 2:2 degree in any discipline for general
scheme, other scheme requirements may vary
• Majority of jobs open to European Economic
Area and Commonwealth citizens; some UK
national only jobs
• Assessors have no background on candidates –
committed to improving diversity, no
discrimination
Application and selection
• Starts in September with online verbal and
numerical reasoning self-assessment
• Half day e-tray exercise
• One day assessment centre (group exercise,
policy exercises, and interview)
• Merit based assessment of:
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drive for results
learning and improving
decision-making
constructive thinking
building productive relationships
communicating with impact
• Process may vary for other schemes
Next steps
• Need to be able to give examples as evidence of
competency at assessment centre
• Seek to gain wider experience before applying
– internships and temporary jobs, other activities
• Information on main stream recruitment and
other Civil Service graduate schemes at
www.civilservice.gov.uk
• More information on the Fast Stream at
www.civilservice.gov.uk/faststream
Any questions?
Thank you