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.

Bloody hell. Thanks for the info!

The internship scheme is quite small, it's a lot smaller than fast stream intake or even, I think, the available apprenticeships. Having worked in the cs for over 20 years, it is quite amazing to see how much of the higher grades are still filled with white middle class people. Maybe more women than there used to be but still. I think if the new internship criteria gets interest from those who may never have considered the civil service before and they see it can be a really satisfying career it can only be a good thing.

There always has been restrictions of some kind. When I was at uni it was only open to those with a disability so I couldn’t apply. I’m now a fairly senior civil servant, have worked in the private sector too, and can’t wait to return to the PS. Low morale, bureaucracy and a constant feeling (as one of my colleagues recently described) of feeling like you’re swimming through treacle every day has meant I can’t wait to leave and am actively job hunting.

It sounds as though the civil service may not be the best career to aim for, based on what some people are saying here. I think she needs some good careers advice.

She went in straight after graduating

It can be a wonderful career. But unless you live commuting distance to Whitehall so DC can live at home, pay hasn't kept even vaguely close to London living costs. Either CoL, the frustration of the system or the terror of your responsibilities will get you in the end.

My friend’s son has just done a summer internship with the CS. His dad is high up at Barclays and his mum….works for the CS.

The true barrier to the CS, IB, Big 4 etc graduate recruitment at the moment is the "computer says no" in the early rounds of sifting before the application is even seen by a human. However, grad schemes are not the be all and end all these days. There are other routes into many careers.

Thanks. ☺️