Championing Youth Talent in the Civil Service

Today, 12th August we celebrate International Youth Day and recognise the potential, resilience, and ambition of young people.

This year, the official theme is ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’. It is a powerful reminder that while young people grow up facing different realities and structural barriers, their desires for dignity, security, and a meaningful career remain universal.

Here in the Civil Service, this theme strikes at the very heart of Going Forward into Employment (GFiE). We know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

To build a modern Civil Service that truly reflects the public it serves, we must actively open our doors to young people whose background or lack of experience might limit their opportunity for employment.

Beyond the Traditional CV

For many young people, standard recruitment processes can feel like a huge hurdle.

Consider a neurodivergent young person for whom a standard competency based interview tests social performance rather than actual capability. Or consider a young person trying to rebuild their life after time in the justice system, or one who has experienced long-term unemployment and lacks work experience.

Relying solely on polished CVs and standard recruitment processes sometimes risks filtering out brilliant, resilient talent.

Bridging the Gap

GFiE provides support through a dedicated network of pathways, and using Exceptions to the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, we provide work experience and fixed-term entry roles for Young People.

We look at potential, problem-solving, and strengths. Just as importantly, we ensure that once these young people join us, they receive wrap-around support from line managers,  buddies and workplace adjustments, enabling young people to thrive in their new careers.

A Mutual Aspiration

GFiE isn't just about the Civil Service helping young people; it is about the Civil Service needing them. Young people aspire to secure fulfilling roles, and we aspire to deliver the best possible public services. 

When we bring in a young person who has navigated complex personal challenges, or who looks at problems through a neurodivergent lens, we aren't just filling a vacancy. We are injecting our departments with incredible adaptability, fresh perspectives, and a deep, lived understanding of the communities we serve. Their aspirations drive our innovation.

Bethany joined the DWP through a social mobility apprenticeship. Her experience may be different from that of many young people, but her aspirations were the same: to find stability, build a career and create a brighter future. Through a Social Mobility Apprenticeship with DWP, she was given the opportunity to do just that.

When I was around 11 years old my parents separated. All of my classmates had a family, whereas I felt as though mine was hanging on by a thread. Being from a broken home, I used to get bullied and teased, which in turn added to my already low self-esteem.

As the rest of my teenage years came and went, my mental health both deteriorated and fluctuated, and I mainly tried to cope with my emotions myself, which usually consisted of pushing them deep down and putting on a happy front. During one particularly rough patch, my Work Coach told me about a Social Mobility Apprenticeship opportunity with DWP.

Initially, I was hesitant, as I figured who would want to take on a woman that had no real experience behind her aside from a couple of lousy bar jobs and a bit of hospitality work here and there. Since I had been in a long term of unemployment, I figured I may as well give it a shot. What was the worst that could happen? 

When I initially heard back from my Line Manager that I was successful, I was shocked and having been given a second chance at what I felt was ‘life’, my mindset immediately started to change. Maybe this could be the change that got me out of my slump, and maybe I could make an impact on families lives in the process, so they never have to feel how I felt again.

Six months after that initial phone call, I am now enjoying my Customer Service Apprenticeship, and I can honestly say that I trust each of my colleagues with my life. I have never resonated with these individuals so much, and I have told them things I would never tell anyone. I cannot wait for what is to come, and I only hope that our bond continues to grow during our time together and with any luck, I hope to form lifelong friendships.

Bethany, DWP

Pathways into the Civil Service for Young Talent

GFiE operates an expanding network of recruitment pathways, many of which are designed specifically to support young people - including those who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), into fulfilling careers.

As we celebrate International Youth Day, we are asking hiring managers, team leaders, and senior civil servants across every department a simple question: Are you ready to open doors within your teams to provide opportunities for Young People 

By providing a vacancy through a GFiE pathway, you aren't just changing a young person's life chances, you are giving an opportunity to eager young talent to show their potential.

• Explore our Network of GFiE Pathways: For full information on our entire network of Pathways and the audiences we support, please visit the GFiE Pathways page.
• Show your Support: Find out more about how your department can bring exciting young talent into your team by visiting our GFiE website, or reaching out to the GFiE team at gfie@cabinetoffice.gov.uk