More BME graduates join civil service

It’s good to be able to highlight some positive news. The Civil Service Fast Stream scheme has reported the highest number of successful applications from BME groups.

The scheme offers top graduates a quicker route to senior leadership positions, but applications from candidates from black and ethnic minority (BME) or financially disadvantaged backgrounds have been low in previous years.

However, the Cabinet Office has reported a rise from 13.6 per cent in 2013 to 14.2 per cent in 2014. This is closer to the proportion of the BME population, and shows the Cabinet Office is succeeding in reaching out to under-represented groups which it said is the top priority of its youth recruitment activity so that it better reflects the community it serves.

Fast Stream - the largest public sector graduate recruitment programme in the country - employs more than 800 people each year.

The report also showed the proportion of successful applicants from parents in manual professions increased to 4.4 per cent compared to 3.7 per cent in 2013.

Sixty-five per cent of successful applicants were educated in state schools.

Cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, said:

The civil service needs leaders at all levels. Whoever you are and whatever your background, the Fast Stream will give you the skills you need to become a senior leader.”

Graduate salaries start between £25,000 and £27,000 a year with the potential to earn £45,000 after four or five years across a number of government departments. It will be interesting to see how many of the BME intake reach senior positions or if they hit the glass ceiling which too often prevents BME employees fulfilling their potential and contributing their talent and energy.

Paul Hensby