Civil service fast stream

[Pinacollider]

Posting here for traffic... Apologies!

I'm interested in applying to the civil service fast stream training course. I currently teach but I can see myself doing HR or finance. Has anybody done this before?

I've looked for info regarding annual leave but cannot find any. Also we're actually ttc atm. It's taken a few months so who knows when we will be lucky. If I am successful, could I defer? The start date is sept/Oct which would mean a very short mat leave.

Also, does anybody have any info on the civil service? Are they family friendly?

[HumpHumpWhale]

I work in the civil service. Fast stream isn't really for finance or HR professionals, it's for people with the potential to get to management quickly. But that could well be you, just there are other routes in if you want to do finance or HR. I think you'd need a professional qualification though.
Annual leave is usually 25 days a year. When I joined, it went up to 30 after 5 years continuous employment, but not sure if that's still the case. I find it v family- friendly, mat leave is great, and i work 3 days a week now that I've got two kids. I've just switched over to job-sharing from being part time, but either can work. I think deferring your start if you get an offer should be fine, but I think there's only 1 intake per year now, so you might have to wait a whole year. But not 100% sure.

[Guacamole2506]

Hi - another civil servant here who has fast streamers on their team. You can do HR or Finance on fast stream - I’m assuming you meet the requirements for it? Annual leave is 25 days plus a day extra for every year of service - this is in my department but I believe it pretty standard across all departments. I don’t believe you can defer on fast stream - as it’s a competitive year on year programme, think of it as an internship. The only problem I would see if you were starting a family is the rotations you have to do on fast stream as you work across government. Typically fast streamers have to do at least one placement outside of London - they do pay any losses in rent that may occur due to you having to move location, but I’m guessing that won’t be practical if you’re planning on TTC. However, I’m saying this from someone who works with generalist and policy fast streamers, so I’m unsure if HR or Finance may be different

[ArnoldBee]

The fact stream specialisms are finance and HR however given the rotations required I would question your timing. You also have study to complete as well as upping your life around the country at short notice.

[HumpHumpWhale]

Ok, it seems my info is massively out of date! I did come in on the fast stream butt it was more than a decade ago. And my department doesn't take that many people through the fast stream any more.
Some departments also have direct entry grad programmes, it might be worth looking at those too.