Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself
A: Hi, I’m Laura, I’m a second year generalist Civil Service Fast Streamer currently on a year-long posting at the Valuation Office Agency where I work in internal communications. I studied psychology at the University of Birmingham and graduated in 2018.
Q: What circumstances led to you applying for the Civil Service Fast Stream?
A: I’ve always wanted to work in the public sector and wanted to do work which has a real tangible impact on society and people’s lives.
Pair that with a scheme which offers loads of learning and development opportunities and responsibility from day one and I knew the Fast Stream was perfect for me.
At first, I was a little daunted by the application process but I got great support from my university. Breaking the whole process down into individual stages made it feel a lot more manageable.
Q: Please share your experience with the Fast Stream so far?
A: I’ve been on the Fast Stream for around 18 months, and I’ve experienced loads of variety. My first posting was in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government where I was a policy advisor.
I regularly led on briefings, correspondence and Parliamentary Questions and got the opportunity to brief several ministers face-to-face in the department.
A highlight for me was providing box duty in the House of Commons – the officials’ box is where civil servants sit ready to brief the minister(s) who are at the despatch box answering questions. It was really surreal to sit there after seeing the House on TV for so many years. It feels a lot smaller when you’re in there!
I’m now in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), working in internal communications. I feel really lucky to have an opportunity to develop specialist communications skills whilst on the generalist scheme.
In my current role, I work with senior members of the VOA to help them engage with the people in our agency and speak with them about what really matters.
Q: What is your ultimate aim or career ambition after you complete the programme?
A: It’s quite tricky to narrow it down to an ultimate aim as there’s loads that I want to do. The great thing about the Fast Stream is it allows me to try out different departments and roles to see what I enjoy.
I know I definitely want to stay in the Civil Service and continue my journey to senior leadership – and the flexibility and work culture of the Civil Service means I know I can do this without compromising on my personal life.
Q: What are you like outside of work?
A: Outside of work one of my big passions is cat welfare. I’ve been volunteering as a cat fosterer for just under a year, and my job is to help them get back on their paws and into a forever home!
I also enjoy baking, yoga and travelling, and I’m looking to buy my first home within the next year or so.
To find out more about the Civil Service Fast Stream and pre-register your interest, visit;
]]>The Fast Stream provides excellent opportunities for both formal and informal learning and development that help shape you into a future leader.
There’s no getting away from the fact that the majority of the learning you do will be on the job. There’s no substitute for actual experience and Fast Streamers are placed in challenging and stretching roles from day one.
In the two roles I’ve done so far, I’ve found myself learning the theory and practice of Project Management techniques, learning how to assess risks of major programmes, drafting briefings for Government Ministers and even working cross-Government in a ‘war-room’ (read: office with a hearty supply of cake and biscuits) to support a Secretary of State in closing a debate on the Queen’s Speech in Parliament.
Crucially, a lot of the learning you undertake will be with your peers and colleagues. Fast Streamers are assigned into groups during induction which then meet every couple of months to discuss honestly and candidly how you’re getting on in your role and any challenges you might be facing. These groups are a great support network to help make sure that you’re getting the most out of your role.
Finally, there is also a range of formal learning and development opportunities available. All Fast Streamers have a Core Curriculum of formal learning which they’ll follow throughout their time on the Fast Stream. Whether that’s being taught how to write effective submissions to Ministers or how to lead in ambiguous situations, the learning provided by the Fast Stream helps to develop your skills and prepares you to take on various different roles across the Civil Service and equips you with the fundamental skills required to be a successful civil servant.
This well-rounded approach to learning means that you’re always growing, developing and learning new skills - and is just one of the things that makes being on the Fast Stream such a rewarding experience.
For more information about the Civil Service Fast Stream visit: www.faststream.gov.uk
]]>Hello I am Amelia. I am a second year Finance Fast Streamer, working full-time, studying for my professional qualifications and alongside maintaining a semi-professional involvement in sport.
When joining the Finance stream, I chose to undertake the dual-qualification of CIMA and CIPFA. In both of my postings so far, my activity managers have been extremely supportive when it comes to granting me the time necessary to properly revise and prepare for these exams.
Juggling working full-time, studying and revising at evenings and weekends is fairly heavy-going but is made much easier by having a supportive employer who genuinely prioritises my development.
I have been given the flexibility to arrange my working hours to suit my study schedule. Studying for these exams and being part of the Fast Stream also causes me to be out of the office on training courses quite regularly, but I have found myself in very supportive teams surrounded by colleagues who understand the importance of this training.
Colleagues regularly rearrange meetings to accommodate days when I am in the office, or if this isn’t possible take time out of their day to catch me up on anything I miss.
On top of this busy schedule of work and study, I am also the captain of Portsmouth Women’s Football Club, who play in the FA National League South. This commitment consists of training three evenings a week, playing matches on a Sunday and the occasional mid-week match.
The freedom to work from home when I need to and to manage my hours flexibly allows me to fully commit to football as well as to my job. If I have a mid-week game or an earlier training session, I normally work from home and finish a little earlier to allow sufficient time to prepare.
Both activity managers I have had on the scheme so far, and also my Talent Development Managers, have been very supportive of this commitment and allowed me to structure my working schedule around it.
The Civil Service is committed to becoming the most inclusive employer in the UK and flexible working has an important role to play in this. I really appreciate the benefits of working for an organisation that supports individual wants and needs, and where I feel trusted to work flexibly, to do what I say I’m going to do, and to do it well.
Visit www.faststream.gov.uk for more information on the Fast Stream.
]]>Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I’m Rhian, a second-year communications Fast Streamer. I got my PhD in Medieval History from the University of York and then moved to Japan to teach English for two years. After that, I organised outreach events at Lancaster University before joining the Communications Fast Stream. So far, I have completed placements at the Health and Safety Executive in Bootle and Public Health England in London.
Q: Where is your current posting and please outline your responsibilities?
A: My current posting is at the Home Office, where I am part of the Marketing Team. My main responsibilities include working on the Fire Kills campaign to encourage people to test their smoke alarms and supporting the Police recruitment campaign.
Q: What excites you the most about your current role?
A: It seems like something exciting happens every day, but currently I am really excited whenever I hear the Fire Kills advert on the radio as I was in the recording studio when it was made!
Q: What are the key skills you have developed working on the Fast Stream programme?
A: My post-graduate studies had already developed my ability to manage my time and meet deadlines on a large project, but the Fast Stream has really helped me with developing this to manage the time of others and meet group deadlines. On the communication side, I have gained a range of skills, including data analysis, responding to press enquiries and managing relations with media agencies.
Q: What has been your biggest personal achievement since you joined the Fast Stream?
A: I’ve had so many opportunities to achieve different things that it is hard to choose, but I think I will go with managing media on a high-profile case for the Health and Safety Executive. I worked with the inspector on the case to produce a press release and ensure that it was covered in a range of media, including the Times Educational Supplement. It was also really rewarding as I learnt a lot about making sure the inspector felt confident and protected by my involvement – I was able to ensure that they knew what they needed to do in interviews and wouldn’t be caught off-guard by journalists!
Q: What are the key challenges involved in your current role?
A: I had to learn a lot about the specific discipline of marketing very quickly. At first I found this a little daunting but found that it was all so interesting that I was enthusiastic to learn more and could meet the speed needed. The team were also great at giving me real work to do straightaway, but supporting me when needed, so I never felt too overwhelmed.
Q: How would you describe the work culture within your department?
A: The work culture is really friendly in my team – people are keen to help out but also to give you the chance to learn about their area of work and join in.
Q: What kind of support have you received from your team members and manager to effectively deliver your role?
A: My manager is really supportive and has made sure that I get the chance to develop skills that I am interested in building on. It’s great to know that there is always someone I can go to if I am a bit unsure about anything as either my manager or my team are more than willing to support me in delivering my objectives.
Q: What learning and development opportunities have you gained after joining the Fast Stream?
A: I’ve been able to take a range of learning and development opportunities since joining the Fast Stream. Some of these have been general learning, such as management skills and teamwork, but I have also been lucky to experience a range of communications-specific training days on topics such as internal communications and communicating locally. There are also lots of great opportunities to learn informally by shadowing and supporting colleagues with their work.
Q: How have you benefited from different postings as part of the Fast Stream programme?
A: I’ve been really lucky to have such varied placements. My experience at the Health and Safety Executive in Bootle gave me a chance to see how government communications work outside of central government and to work in a team outside of London. I got to work on a Brexit campaign, which was a really interesting challenge and became more confident answering press enquiries. At Public Health England, I gained a much greater knowledge of how data and insight can be used to produce better campaigns and understand how effective they are. Currently, I’m learning how to work with media agencies and getting a taste of central government. I can’t wait to find out what’s coming next!
Visit www.faststream.gov.uk for more information on the Fast Stream.
]]>Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself
A: Joining the Fast Stream was a career change for me. I had been working for several years as a copy-editor for science and political science journals. Gradually, though, I realised I wanted to be helping to formulate and deliver public policies, rather than editing papers about them!
Q: Where is your current posting?
A: Many Fast Stream schemes offer the opportunity to spend six months outside the Civil Service on secondment – either in the wider public sector, the private sector or the charity sector. I’m currently on a six-month secondment in the climate change unit at WWF. WWF has observer status at, and sends a delegation to, the annual UN climate conference, so I’m co-leading a strand of WWF’s planning for COP26, which will be held in Glasgow later this year.
Q: What are the three things that excite you the most about your current role?
A: Working with WWF’s incredible network of scientists, policy specialists and campaigners, spread across 80 offices around the world. Gaining a valuable insight into how external stakeholders such as NGOs work with government to shape public policies. And supporting high-profile businesses to set science-based targets, by which we mean emissions reductions targets in line with the Paris Agreement of 2015.
Q: What are the key skills you have developed working on the Fast Stream programme?
A: Communication skills and how to adapt them to different contexts, whether that is chairing a meeting, speaking one-to-one with a colleague, or delivering a presentation to a large audience. Becoming solutions-focused and delivering work at pace. And interpersonal skills – the Civil Service employs over 400,000 people, so you’re working with colleagues from many different walks of life!
Q: What has been your biggest personal achievement since you joined the Fast Stream?
A: In my first year on the Fast Stream, I was posted to HMRC – specifically, the part of HMRC that is leading the construction of a dozen new cross-departmental office hubs around the UK. I led the development of a new digital strategy for these hubs, setting out how government departments such as HMRC can make use of smart technologies and IT in their buildings to reduce their carbon footprint and improve the experience of people working there.
Q: What are the key challenges involved in your current role?
A: WWF’s position on climate policy is underpinned by the latest science, so I had to spend the first weeks of my posting getting to grips with the findings of the latest IPCC special reports on climate change as well as the technicalities of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Q: How would you describe the work culture within your department?
A: Casting my mind back to my time at HMRC, I would describe the work culture there as modern, increasingly digital and flexible, supportive, and fast-paced.
Q: What kind of support you have received from your manager to effectively deliver your role?
A: To enable me to effectively deliver my role at HMRC, my manager approved funding and time off to complete an industry-recognised project management qualification. I was also given space and autonomy to lead the development of a digital strategy for HMRC, which was very rewarding.
Q: What learning and development opportunities have you gained after joining the Fast Stream?
A: So many! Fast Streamers complete a core curriculum, which covers skills such as briefing ministers, commercial awareness and leadership. There’s also peer learning through various Fast Stream and cross-Civil Service networks, as well as regular opportunities to attend talks by senior civil servants.
Q: How have you benefited from different postings as part of the Fast Stream programme?
A: Initially, I was disappointed not to be based in Whitehall for my first Fast Stream posting. Looking back, though, I now value my time at HMRC in Nottingham as a great insight into the diversity of people and roles you find within the Civil Service.
I hope to work on climate or environment policy after I complete the Fast Stream, so my time at WWF has helped build my technical knowledge in this field. More broadly, the rotational aspect of the Fast Stream means you quickly develop a set of transferable skills you can apply to any number of roles across government, and that’s very exciting!
The Fast Stream application window opens in the Autumn each year. To pre-register your interest, email fs.preregister@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
#EachForEqual #SheWritesHistory
]]>Q: How has the Fast Stream surprised you?
A: The Fast Stream surprised me because once you are settled in your department you are immediately given responsibility for work or areas that are important and impactful. While this may sound daunting it’s hugely rewarding and unparalleled experience for someone in the first year of a graduate job.
Q. How do you find rotating roles?
A: I find this an exciting part of the Fast Stream - no one posting is the same. I initially was really set on working on a specific area of the Governments work but soon discovered many different areas I was interested in.
The ability to rotate through these different jobs throughout the Fast Stream also grows your expertise in different areas. For example, I have become an expert in export credit guarantees (I had no idea at first either) as well as having an intimate knowledge of how tax is collected.
Q: What is the best thing about working for the Civil Service?
A: The opportunity and flexibility within the Civil Service was a bonus I was not expecting when joining. There are great chances to develop yourself either in a professional or personal context within the Civil Service.
The ability to easily move jobs or take a secondment within the Civil Service allows you to pursue career opportunities easily and develop different skills. In addition, the Civil Service has a positive attitude to volunteering, Reservists and Special Constables allowing you to continue to pursue passions outside of work.
Q: What have you learnt while on the Fast Stream?
A: The Fast Stream so far has pushed me out of my comfort zone more times than I could imagine and I am only 15 months in. I used to really dislike chairing meetings or public speaking and used to get very nervous about doing so. Now I see this as something which is a regular part of my job.
Similarly, I used to really struggle writing extended pieces of work but now have written submissions to Government ministers. All these experiences have certainly boosted my self-confidence and made me learn a lot more about myself.
You can pre-register your interest for the Fast Stream application window in the Autumn now via our Fast Stream website.
]]>Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: My name is Aime, I’m a second year Generalist Fast Streamer currently working in Bail, Sentencing and Release Policy at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Before joining the Fast Stream I worked in an opticians for six years, did various casual jobs/internships in libraries and completed a degree in Politics. I was living in Stirling, a lovely city in Central Scotland, but relocated to London to take up my place on the Fast Stream.
Q: What are you like outside of work?
A: Outside of work I’m a big crafter, especially sewing, knitting and embroidery. Although I am willing to give any craft a go, at least once! I’m also an avid reader and huge advocate for your local library. I love living in London and getting to go to the theatre regularly, as well as all the incredible food options! But I also love getting back to Scotland often to see my friends and family.
Q: What circumstances led you to applying/joining the Civil Service Fast Stream?
A: As I entered my final year at uni I started to give some serious thought as to what I wanted to do after I graduated. I loved my job in the opticians, having worked there full time before going to uni and going part time during my degree, but I knew I needed a new challenge. Working in libraries was really fulfilling and fun, so I considered doing a Masters in Library and Information Studies to become a librarian.
However, I was conscious of the lack of jobs in the sector and was reluctant to go straight into more full-time education. I loved the content and reading during my degree but I was not a natural student and I was keen to get back to working full time. I found out about the Fast Stream after researching graduate schemes. I read online that the feedback you got on your application was really thorough and helpful so I decided to apply and just see how it went. Turns out it went really well!
Q: What attracted you to the programme and the particular scheme that you applied for?
A: I was really interested in the opportunity to try out different roles in the Civil Service. I didn’t have a clear idea of what I really wanted to do, so I thought that getting stuck in and trying out a few different roles would be the best way to find out! I went for the Generalist Scheme because it felt like the best fit for me.
Q: Please share your experience with the Fast Stream so far?
A: I’ve had a really positive experience with the Fast Stream! No job is perfect, or without its frustrations, but it’s not often that you have a team of people working to support you to develop and achieve as much as you can. I think the opportunities that come with being on the Fast Stream are brilliant and I’ve been able to learn so much so quickly.
Q: How do you feel your work impacts society in general?
A: My experience is that any job you do in the Civil Service will have a very real impact on society and that is a great privilege. It also means that you have a responsibility to society, which can be easy to forget in the day to day but it’s important to take a step back and remember that.
Q: What key things have you learned since you joined the Fast Stream?
A: That reflection is key to success and development, but reflection is a muscle and you have to exercise it! I try to set aside some time every week to reflect on what has gone well and what could have gone better. I think about what I could do differently and what I would like to achieve in the weeks ahead. It’s sometimes hard to do, but I’ve seen that the best leaders are the people that work really hard to keep learning and improving, which you can only do with self-awareness and reflection.
Q: What is your ultimate aim or career ambition after you complete the programme?
A: I’d be really pleased to find a role that was fast-paced, interesting and within a great team of people. Anything else would just be a bonus.
Q: Describe the Fast Stream in one sentence?
A: A one-of-a-kind opportunity.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering applying to the Fast Stream?
A: Don’t limit yourself. If you think that the Civil Service isn’t for people “like you” then that means there aren’t enough people like you, and there needs to be! I thought I wasn’t posh enough or well-spoken enough, but I’m inspired every day by people who you might not imagine as typical Civil Servants. More diversity is only ever a good thing.
You can pre-register your interest for the Fast Stream application window in the Autumn now via our Fast Stream website.
]]>What is it like being a Fast Streamer?
The Fast Stream is adventurous! The way the placements are structured means that you are always learning new things about the role, the business and the bigger picture. By the time you’ve settled down and developed proficiency, you’re often ready to move on to the next challenge. This is brilliant for development and networking.
What would you say to potential applicants?
It’s a good and fair application process, and even if you aren’t successful the first-time round, you can learn a huge amount about yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses, which can be useful in any future application, whether for the Fast Stream or elsewhere.
What’s been the best part of being a Fast Streamer so far?
Honestly, I think it does boil down to making an impact on society. It’s a brilliant feeling to be able to play a part in making things better for citizens, especially when you see that something you’ve done directly affects current affairs. It’s exciting when you see something that was agreed in parliament directly ripple into your work just a few hours later.
How does your work make a difference in the real world?
I previously worked at a function of the Cabinet Office that owns the GOV.UK website, the single access point for citizens to interact with the Government. We worked on a major project with policy experts from across different government departments to create a ‘get ready for Brexit’ tool that prepared citizens and businesses in the event of a no-deal.
You can pre-register your interest for the Fast Stream application window in the Autumn now via our Fast Stream website.
]]>Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I graduated in 2018 from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Political Science and I’m in my 2nd year of the Civil Service Fast Stream, Project Delivery scheme based in London!
Q: Describe the Fast Stream in one sentence
A: Unlimited opportunity to make a difference.
Q: What are the three best things about the Fast Stream?
A: First is the variety of opportunities - I love that Fast Streamers rotate departments and gain experience across areas that I potentially wouldn’t have initially considered myself. When I found out my first posting was in Rail Infrastructure at the Department for Transport I wasn’t massively excited as it’s not something I thought I would like but I ended up loving it.
Second is the people - Having a network of other Fast Streamers across government is hugely valuable. Not only is it a great support network but also gives you good connections across every department.
Third is the responsibility - Fast Streamers are given a lot of responsibility very early on which can be quite daunting but ultimately means you’re constantly learning and developing.
Q: What interested you to apply for the Civil Service Fast Stream programme?
A: Having studied politics I was very interested in a career where I would be making a difference to people's lives and party politics wasn’t my thing. The Civil Service offers the best of both worlds where you’re working for the government, impartially, to make a difference across the whole of society.
Q: What attracted you to the particular stream that you applied for?
A: I wasn’t initially drawn to Project Delivery but it's such an underrated scheme!! It’s an ever-growing profession with very well established career paths and development opportunities. We get to work on major government projects that deliver huge improvements to people’s lives. I love that I can say I was a part of it.
Q: Please share your experience with the Fast Stream so far?
A: My first role was in the Department for Transport in London. I spent a year as a Project Manager on a £3bn rail infrastructure programme which was a complex and demanding role. This was a high profile programme on the Government Major Project Portfolio (GMPP) and gave me experience with waterfall project methodology, working closely with ministers, and managing senior stakeholders.
My current post is a 6th month secondment to an innovative technology company, Improbable. Here I’m working as a Delivery Manager on a defence project. This posting is the polar opposite of my first; an agile project methodology, defence, tech, and in the private sector. This has been a hugely challenging post due to my limited experience in any of the above but to be given this opportunity regardless of my experience is what makes the Fast Stream so great.
Learning how to manage agile projects in the private sector has been extremely insightful and is invaluable for building a breadth of project delivery experience. The culture here is also very different (e.g. dogs in the office!!) with very little hierarchy and values such as aim for the impossible. It’s taught me a lot about leadership, importance of culture, and teamwork that I hope I can emulate throughout my career.
My 3rd post, 6 months in a complimentary profession (policy, finance, commercial or operations), will be in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It’s crazy how much variety I will have experienced by the end of 2 years and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Q: What advice would you give to someone else considering applying to the Civil Service Fast Stream programme?
A: I would stress to utilise the services available at University. At the University of Birmingham the Careers Network offered loads of helpful services when applying such as help prepping for video interviews . Also look out for Civil Service Fast Stream events on campus and brush up on the Civil service success profiles!
]]>Data, data and more data. This may be a turn off to some people straight away but I love it. Data enables us to understand the world around us and is essential for the government to do its job effectively.
In my current Fast Stream role, I work with the Welsh Government and Swansea and Cardiff Universities to bring together the data we collect every day. We process the data in such a way that it is available for researchers to access in an anonymised format and in a secure manner to help us learn how the government can do better in supporting its citizens.
In the past week I’ve worked on mental health, education, farming, dementia, crime and immigration but every week is different. I’m currently designing projects to study the effects of loneliness in Wales and how teachers wellbeing affects their students wellbeing. At the same time, I’m working with colleagues across the UK to bring together a research resource for farming in all four countries which will enable us to plan for a sector which will be unrecognisable in twenty years’ time.
As a government statistician I’m in an incredibly privileged position to have access to some of the UK’s most interesting sources of information. My job is to use this opportunity responsibly ensuring that the government has the information required to provide reasonable services and policy to UK citizens while ensuring individuals’ rights are protected. I do genuinely believe we’re making the UK a better place to live in.
This is my Civil Service journey and it works for me. However, there are over 400,000 civil servants doing a variety of roles. With 25 different professions in over 500 different public bodies, the range of our work is huge. However, we are all united in a passion for making the UK a better place.
You can pre-register your interest for the Fast Stream application window in the Autumn now via the Fast Stream website.
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