Civil service internships now restricted

[Goodworkifyoucangetit]

My DD is unsure about what career to aim for but is considering the civil service. She was hoping to do a summer internship to get a better idea of whether it's the right direction for her to go in. There's what sounds like a very worthwhile paid summer internship scheme where the students work for 2 months. However, the scheme has recently been restricted to students whose parents are blue collar workers (I haven't been able to find a full list of what jobs your parents are allowed to have for you to qualify, but the summary description when you look up the internship says that if your mum or dad is for example a clerical worker you don't qualify, but if they're electricians you do). My initial thought on this is that it wouldn't be great on a long term basis (reminds me of China under Mao). However, on the assumption that this restriction will only remain in place while Labour are in government it may not be a bad idea - making the civil service more accessible. What do other people think? And what can DD do to get a better idea of what working in the civil service would be like? My impression is that getting a useful internship is pretty tough these days. We don't live anywhere useful, so she'd have to pay for accommodation, which makes longer term unpaid internships tricky. We don't know anyone who can offer an internship, either.

I think it would better being based on household income. A clerical worker can be on minimum wage whereas an electrician with their own company can earn vastly more.

Masses of those who get on to the fast stream haven't done the internship. It's not necessary or even sufficient to have done it. The restriction will only have a limited impact on who actually gets through all the various rounds and secures an offer.

And as we know, thousands apply and only a v small number get through.

If she doesn’t get onto the fast stream, she should consider a civil service apprenticeship, or simply apply for a civil service job. If she doesn’t like it, she can move on.

Work in the civil service, did my internship in a bank....it really has no bearing. there are a tiny number of internships compared to the number of places on the FS anyway. I get she wants to look into what it's like but it tends to be hard to work shadow etc due to security. Maybe something like the local council will allow some shadowing/experience etc.

Or just apply for a regular job there and see what happens

The scheme uses the word "socioeconomic", which I'd assume would take into account household income as well as type of job. But I haven't seen any mention of a limit on household income to qualify. I agree that tradespeople may well be earning far more than someone working as a filing clerk in an office. Presumably the filing clerk is assumed to have the education and contacts needed to push their child up the careers ladder?

Working in local govt will put here off for life.

Im not sure working in the civil service right now is any better tbh

My DD is a fast streamer and thinks the restriction makes absolutely sense.

It beats me that people are so grudging about those less privileged than their own DC getting any opportunity which might conceivably, even in a miniscule way, compromise the latter.

If your DD is good enough, she'll get on to the fast stream regardless of the internship/ lack of it.

Only a single perspective but my DD is absolutely loving it. But then she's had really interesting posts, so to that extent she's been very lucky. I can only see it getting increasingly interesting for her though, not less so.

I'm not sure about the concept of 'pushing a child up the careers ladder'. That's a bit old school. They need to climb the ladder without parental help.

Lucky her. Unfortunately recruitment freezes, constantly changing leadership etc have resulted in most people i know feeling very low morale at the moment

Yes maybe the enthusiasm will wear off - entirely possible. As I say, a single perspective from a DC who is only one year in.

If the new socio-economic restriction for internships is like the previous BAME restriction then there will still be internship places for others. Plus there are other unrestricted opportunities like placement years. As others have said most entrants don't do internships.

This years FS stats showed those who declare low socio-economic status have around half the success rate compared to those who do not. All for a bit of levelling up.

I'm not grudging. I've said that I'm supportive of the measure in the short term to widen access. I don't think it's healthy to have a permanent bar on the majority of students being able to access government internships, on the basis of the social class of their parents. Especially when the children of bankers and university professors are put in the same pool as the children of filing clerks and secretaries on minimum wage.

@Goodworkifyoucangetit this article includes a Social Mobility Comission table that defines working class, so it's likely to be the definition used (though I'm curious as to what evidence will be needed to verify that applicants are describing their parents jobs accurately): https://www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/article/civil-service-summer-internship-programme-working-class-applicants-reaction

If the new socio-economic restriction for internships is like the previous BAME restriction then there will still be internship places for others. Plus there are other unrestricted opportunities like placement years. As others have said most entrants don't do internships and not sure 6 weeks work experience that useful.

This years FS stats showed those who declare low socio-economic status have around half the success rate compared to those who do not. All for a bit of levelling up.

Would be worth your DD having back up plans as FS stats show 1% offer rate overall last year.

This.

Most recruits to the Civil Service do not come from “blue collar” working class” or “underprivileged” backgrounds. Most come from the middle classes.

Giving people from more challenging backgrounds an insight through preferential access to internships levels the playing field. They still have to pass the same recruitment processes to be offered a job.

I should think that your DD should go and work for a company that doesn't discriminate against her.

Last time I came across the scheme it was limited to students with disabilities and ethnic minorities. This will make it more accessible probably.

Just apply for a normal civil service job?Likely to be big job freezes but always roles available still - depends what she is interested in. A number of roles with high staff turn over (especially at EO grade) take from agencies and have ongoing recruitment. Good luck to her!

It's usually something like - what job did your parents do when you were 14.

I can't see how they can be sure the applicant is being honest about the job the parents did at age 14. I imagine there will be lots of people suggesting their parents did X job.

@SevillianDid your DD go in post A level or did she do a degree?

Absolutely. And it will also mean that members of visible minorities who have enjoyed a privileged education are no longer automatically preferred over those from poorer backgrounds who do not look different.

@zipptupp There are some interesting distinctions in that list. For instance, the child of a roofer won't qualify for an internship, but the child of an electrician will. The child of a taxi driver (awful job often done by immigrants who can't find any other work) won't qualify, but the child of a train driver (an experienced train driver can apparently earn over £65K in a secure job) will. They clearly don't like people who work for themselves, even if they're poor and have low level skills. There seems to be a bias in favour of parents who work in unionised industries.