UK Civil Service

🌟 Breaking down barriers to opportunity in the Civil Service 🌟 Exciting news! The government is launching a new Summer Internship Programme to boost social mobility and get more working class students into the Civil Service. Starting in summer 2026, this paid programme will offer around 200 undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds the chance to experience life in government departments. From writing ministerial briefings to shadowing senior civil servants, participants will gain invaluable experience whilst contributing to policy development. What makes this scheme special? Participants receive tailored support including a Fast Streamer buddy and skills sessions. Those who excel will be fast-tracked to the final stages of Fast Stream selection - opening doors to accelerated leadership roles in government. As Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, explains: "We need to get more working class young people into the Civil Service so it harnesses the broadest range of talent and truly reflects the country. Government makes better decisions when it represents and understands the people we serve." This builds on other diversity initiatives including the Career Launch apprenticeship scheme and the commitment to offer 50% of Fast Stream placements outside London by 2030. Applications open in October - a genuine opportunity to help re-wire the state and deliver the Plan for Change from the heart of government. https://lnkd.in/eJrd6ne3

From Civil Service challenge to 300 school-based nurseries in 12 months   One year ago, we faced a huge task: create 3,000 school-based nurseries across England to give children the best start in life writes Jasmine Hussain and Jessica Crawley from the Department for Education.   With 1 in 3 children starting school not ready to learn, we knew this mattered. What happened next:   ✅ Built our team from scratch   ✅ Launched £150k Capital Grants for schools   ✅ Received 600+ applications   ✅ Awarded 300 grants in phase one The secret? Cross-departmental teamwork across the Department for Education. Finance, digital, communications and policy teams all working together.   As head teacher Alex Armstrong put it: "This funding will help us turn unused space into a vibrant, welcoming baby room offering year-round childcare from birth to five."   Imagine that child walking confidently into their first day of school, ready to learn and eager to explore. That moment? That's everyone's success.   What’s next? From September 2025, eligible working parents get 30 hours of government-funded childcare from 9 months to school age. Our nurseries are helping make this vision reality. giving parents the childcare they need where they need it, and helping children arrive school-ready.   The momentum continues. 📈 Sometimes the biggest changes start with the smallest hands. 👐

❓ There are 31 “government professions”, but what is a profession anyway? 💡 Professions bring civil servants together across government. They’re more than just networks – they’re professional communities that support your training and development, help you excel in your role, and connect you with colleagues who understand your work and its challenges. Samantha Merret, Senior Accessibility Specialist, Ministry of Justice is one of the many civil servants who has joined a profession, and said; ''Being part of the digital and data profession in government means you have the unique opportunity to drive impactful change and improve public services that benefit society as a whole. It's a role where my expertise not only shapes the future of our services and technology but also improves the lives of our users every day - there is something incredibly humbling and empowering about that.’’ If you’re interested in connecting, sharing knowledge and building your network, join a network today 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3FvigjZ

Emergency Alerts Test: Sounding the Alarm The second-ever national test of the Emergency Alert system will take place on Sunday 7 September at around 3pm. This important system ensures we can communicate critical safety information during emergencies. 📣 A loud siren will sound from millions of mobile phones across the UK at 3pm on Sunday 7 September as the government conducts its second nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System – a vital tool that has already proven its worth in real-life emergencies. Since the first national test of the system in April 2023, Emergency Alerts have helped protect communities during five genuine crises, including warning residents about an unexploded World War II bomb in Plymouth and providing critical safety information during localised flash flooding in Cumbria. During the test on 7 September, your mobile phone will: Make a loud siren sound for about 10 seconds (even if on silent) Vibrate Display a clear message stating this is only a test 📱 This test alert is expected to reach approximately 87m compatible mobile phones and tablets across the UK. The date of the national test was announced alongside the government's comprehensive new Resilience Action Plan, designed to strengthen the UK's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. A public information campaign will run nationwide ahead of the test, with specific communications for vulnerable groups including domestic abuse victims and materials in British Sign Language. For more information, visit gov.uk/alerts.

📢 7 cities, 24,882 attendees, 1,217 mentoring sessions and 700 expert speakers delivering 2000 interactive sessions and workshops. That was Civil Service Live 2025 – our annual educational roadshow. Spanning every corner of the UK, from Glasgow to Exeter, Belfast to London, we gained valuable insights into how the Civil Service is delivering the Government’s missions and Plan for Change, as well as announcements about our journey to be a Civil Service fit for the future. Expert speakers from up and down the country delivered inspiring sessions on everything from AI, pensions and tackling organised crime, to fake news, interview skills and delivering EURO 2028. The events were an opportunity for us to celebrate the work of civil servants across the UK and around the world, and equip ourselves with new skills to deliver brilliant public services every day. If you attended any of our events this summer, let us know what you thought and what you learnt in the comments below #CivilServiceLive 📚

💼 🦷 Brushing Up on Partnerships: Civil Servants Secure 23 Million Toothbrushes for Children’s Health What happens when bold policy meets innovative thinking? A first-of-its-kind collaboration that’s improving children’s health and tackling inequalities — one toothbrush at a time. Flynn Hickey and Dan Sorensen from DHSC share how a transformative partnership with Colgate-Palmolive came to life — delivering 23 million toothbrushes and toothpastes over five years to children in the UK’s most deprived communities. 🦷 🚸 The goal? Prevent tooth decay — currently the leading cause of hospital admissions among 5–9-year-olds — and give 600,000 children a year a healthier start in life. 🤝 The result? A creative, cross-government, and brand-safe partnership that channels private sector resources for public good — at no cost to the taxpayer. 📣 A new ‘supporting NHS’ brand ensures trust and transparency while paving the way for future health collaborations. This is not just a story about toothbrushes. It’s about what’s possible when commercial, policy, and branding teams across government come together with purpose. ➡️ Learn more about out supervised tooth-brushing programme here.https://https://lnkd.in/e9bbE32X Part 3 of 4 in our series celebrating delivery of government Missions. You can read the full story on the Civil Service blog. https://lnkd.in/eCHMTa67

Our Chief Operating Officer, Catherine Little Little, was one of 24,800 people who attended Civil Service Live over the past six weeks. She shared her reflections in her recent post - why not share your favourite bit of Civil Service Live by commenting below!

🚨 Deadline Extended: Civil Service Awards 2025 🚨 You now have until 25 July 2025 to submit your nominations — your final chance to spotlight the outstanding people and projects making a real difference across the Civil Service. One powerful example? When conflict escalated in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2023, the Border Force Operations team stepped up in extraordinary circumstances — deploying internationally to help evacuate British nationals and secure our borders. Their rapid and courageous response saw them become finalists for the Excellence in Delivery award at the 2024 Civil Service Awards. As Leanne Beckett, SILVER Commander and Deputy Director, said: “This wasn't business-as-usual – it was Border Force at its very best.” 🏆 Recognition matters. Even if we’re not doing it for awards, taking a moment to reflect, nominate and celebrate our colleagues' achievements can be a powerful morale boost — and a reminder of the national impact of our work. 👀 Know someone whose work made you proud? Nominate them now — before 25 July: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eM9dmjKz #CivilServiceAwards #UKCivilService #RecognitionMatters #BorderForce #PublicService #ExcellenceInDelivery

📢“I'm here at Civil Service Live because I've got so much respect for public servants and civil servants. I believe people who do what you do are public spirited, public hearted and want to do the best thing for the country." Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester joined civil servants from across the North West at Civil Service Live Liverpool this week. He discussed the importance of collaboration focused on the citizen's perspective; putting the public at the centre of what we do, to truly deliver mission-led government and long term change. Speaking with some of the 3,000 civil servants at the event, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer Cat Little added, “We're here because we can really make a difference and that is why we get out of bed in the morning – because we want to make the country a better place." Civil Service Live 2025 concludes today with our final event in Exeter. So far, more than 20,000 civil servants have attended our educational roadshow this summer to connect, learn and develop new skills – ultimately building our capability to deliver brilliant services for the public 📚

🌟 Frank on the Frontline: Transforming Young Lives at Ealing Jobcentre 🌟 Across the UK, our brilliant civil servants are delivering real impact — and Frank Maryako is a shining example. As a Youth Work Coach at Ealing Jobcentre, Frank supports young people facing tough barriers to employment. From boosting confidence post-COVID to helping them access vital training and work opportunities, Frank’s dedication is changing lives. 💬 “These young people have incredible potential. They just need someone to believe in them — and the right opportunities.” Frank’s work directly supports two of the government’s 5 missions: breaking down barriers to opportunity and building a stronger, fairer economy. He shares wise words for colleagues: 💬“Be honest, be approachable, listen actively — and treat everyone as an individual.” 📽️ . Watch Frank in action and see how our frontline colleagues are changing lives every day! https://lnkd.in/e-eg4aUJ This is part of a four-part series showcasing our progress on our Missions— celebrating the inspiring work civil servants do every day. #UKCivilService #MissionDelivery