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The Civil Service Fast Stream programme has exceeded its
ambition to increase the number of hires with a STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
qualification to 50% across all schemes.
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This delivers on Government’s ambitions to change the way the
Civil Service does recruitment so it can deliver better for
the public by bringing in the brightest minds in data and
science.
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Applications for the 2024 intake of the Civil Service Fast
Stream are now live and we encourage people from all
backgrounds and disciplines to apply.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills are being
boosted across the Civil Service, with the Government announcing
it has exceeded its STEM fast-stream recruitment ambition today.
This will bring fresh perspectives to policymaking so the
Government can better deliver on the people’s priorities and
bring lasting change to communities up and down the country.
In May 2022, the Civil Service Fast Stream set an ambition to
increase the number of external Fast Stream hires with a STEM
degree qualification to at least 50% across all Fast Stream
schemes. The Cabinet Office set out to achieve this in the
2023 recruitment campaign, and new analysis shows that the
50% ambition has now been exceeded, advancing STEM expertise
across the Civil Service.
These findings build on the vision of Minister for the Cabinet
Office to modernise and reform the
civil service, as the Government takes long-term decisions to
change our country for the better.
Minister for the Cabinet Office, , said:
“We’re taking long-term decisions that will put innovation at the
very core of policy making – attracting the best scientists,
engineers, technologists and mathematicians from across the UK
into the heart of Government.
“Today's announcement that we have exceeded our STEM recruitment
ambition is an important step forward in building a modern civil
service which can deliver more efficient services for the British
public.”
Whilst the Civil Service has traditionally attracted the best and
brightest graduates with a range of backgrounds, such as in
humanities, this new drive for STEM talent will bring a fresh
perspective into government.
By putting STEM fast stream entrants into the heart of policy
making across different roles and departments, government is
diversifying its thinking around key policy decisions, developing
innovative solutions to challenges, and advancing understanding
in science and technology policy areas.
STEM skills are also key to meeting the Prime Minister’s
priorities: from halving inflation to ease the cost of living and
provide people with financial security, to building a stronger
economy with better jobs, and ensuring that NHS waiting lists
will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly.
Applications for the Civil Service Fast Stream 2024 recently
opened, encouraging applications from all backgrounds. With 15
specialist programmes, the Fast Stream opens up a range of
opportunities across several disciplines.
The Fast Stream will continue to have an ambition to appoint over
50% STEM Graduates in 2024.
