Careers that make a difference

Looking for a change of career? Discover a role in the civil service

V HAVE YOU ever thought about working to support your community? Are you looking for a chance to use your skills in a new way? The civil service gives people a fantastic opportunity to make a difference, in roles from apprenticeships to senior positions.

It’s a great time to enter the civil service — there are so many openings across the UK. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

As well as the “direct entry” route, there are many other ways into the civil service, including the fast stream, diversity internships and apprenticeships. You also don’t have to be based in London. There are offices across the country, including Leeds, Birmingham and Hastings.

A career in the civil service offers benefits including flexibility, annual and parental leave, a pension and learning development opportunities across a vast range of professions such as: l Analysis l Commercial and procurement l Digital data and technology l Communications l Finance l Legal l International trade and negotiations l Knowledge management l Operational delivery l Policy l Project management and delivery l Human resources l Property l Counter fraud l Security

Let’s speak to some of the people who work in the civil service — you might be surprised by the routes they have taken and the things they’ve been able to achieve.

BEN STUART, 27

When I graduated I was not sure what I wanted to do, so I did a graduate scheme at a bank in Edinburgh. I wanted to get a very different experience and I thought it would be useful later down the line. But I realised that banking wasn’t the right fit for me. I was really keen to make a difference to people’s lives and to the country, so I went to work for an anti-poverty charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. I worked there for just over a year, which was great, but by this point I’d realised the best way for me to make a difference to people’s lives was by going into a policy role in the civil service.

I came across a role at Defra, the Department of Environment, in York. Although I’d never done a civil service application before, I was offered a role working in trade policy in November, 2020. I had a great time and learnt a lot really quickly. Trade is really fast paced, so there’s an accelerated development programme...

I saw a senior policy advisor role advertised... I’d worked in financial services for a while so I thought I might be a decent fit.

It’s important to say, don’t be intimidated by the application process. Often there is a contact on the job advert and these people are very, very happy to have a chat with prospective external candidates and tell them more about the role. I went through the application process and was offered a job. I started in December so it’s still relatively new, but I’m enjoying it hugely. I work in the financial services group within the Treasury as a senior policy advisor working on the debt respite scheme.

There are two parts to the scheme — Breathing Space and the Statutory Debt Repayment Plan. Both are part of the Government’s commitment to help people in problem debt get on a more sustainable footing with their finances.

It’s a brilliant thing to work on because it’s a great combination of social and economic policy and it’s making a tangible difference to people’s lives.

RUTH ELDER, 36

“I’m a chartered accountant, but I’ve spent the last ten years in IT delivery and digital transformation. For the past five years I worked in the utilities industry and in November I crossed over into my new role in the civil service (deputy head of finance technology in HM Treasury) in Darlington.

One thing that I’ve been pleasantly surprised with is how supportive and inclusive the civil service is. Being a working mum to Henry, six, and fouryear-old Harriet, it’s really important to have some flexibility and bring your whole self to work. It’s very family friendly.

I work 32 hours over a four-day week and they were very supportive of my request to work Monday to Thursday. My little girl has some quite significant health issues, so I have appointments to attend and everyone is very understanding of that. Having that flexibility is so important to me.

Tech is usually male-dominated in the private sector, but it’s been a refreshing surprise to find that the balance is much better in the civil service. Two female staff above me also do a four-day week, so there’s the opportunity to look at that career trajectory… I like doing a role that adds value in society and I’ll hopefully have a career where I can succeed and get promoted. As a working mother, that’s absolutely possible here.”

To find out more about the opportunities available, visit: www.civil-servicecareers.gov.uk