Meet Stephanie Brown

Hello everyone! My name is Stephanie Brown, and I joined the Civil Service in September 2023 as a Fast Streamer. In my first posting I was based in DWP, and this year have moved over to Scottish Government which is a completely different experience. I have been fortunate enough to work with the Scotland Junior Leaders Network in that time and have delivered a number of exciting events and expanded the talent offer here in Scotland. 

Before the Civil Service

After graduating at the height of the pandemic with an Honours degree in Immunology and Pharmacology and a Masters in Cancer Therapies, there was only one job for me… COVID testing. After moving from one testing company to another I finally moved in to a more ‘traditional’ science role only to discover I hated it. After a rough ride in the science industry, I decided it was time to try a different approach. I applied for the Fast Stream and the rest is history. 

Breaking Into the Civil Service

Applying for the Fast Stream was a test of patience. The process is drawn out over several months and features a series of online tests including personality-based, situational judgement tests, and numerical tests. The next stage was the assessment centre which is a half day event full of activities including group work, role play and a writing assessment. It is a tiring process and if successful you still have a long wait ahead of you before you get your start date in either September or October. Thankfully it is worth it, but just know, it doesn’t happen overnight! 

Life in Your Current Role

In my current role in Scottish Government, I am Economic Policy Advisor within DG Economy. Over the last few months, I have been working on a priority project assessing the financial and business support available to SME homebuilders in Scotland. I have been engaging with internal and external stakeholders to better diagnose the problem and assess the impact of current policy. 

I am also heavily involved in the Scotland Junior Leaders Network where I am responsible for the virtual development curriculum we have to offer. This involves arranging a wide range of sessions covering everything from help with writing behaviours, to help with fast stream applications, promoting mentoring opportunities and everything in between. 

I am also responsible for the coordination of our Growing Scottish Talent mentoring programme which aims to match mentors and mentees within the same local area to encourage face to face meetings. In our first cohort, we enrolled over 70 mentees and will soon be recruiting for cohort two. 

Finally, I have recently designed and delivered the Connect Scotland events on behalf of the UKG in Scotland group. These were one day learning events which aimed to raise awareness and understanding of Places for Growth and Heads of Place among Scottish colleagues. We brought 50 delegates together from 15 government departments to form long lasting connections. With the increased opportunities and better job prospects on the horizon we wanted to ensure our colleagues were fully aware of the potential for their career to grow and flourish in Scotland. 

Career-Changing Moments

Since joining the Civil Service just over a year and a half ago, I have learned a LOT! I often describe it as a complete whirlwind. I thought coming into my second placement I would be better equipped to hit the ground running and start having an impact earlier. How wrong was I? Moving from operations to policy, from a UKG department to a devolved administration and from a massive department to something much smaller brought a myriad of challenges and steep learning curves. Every single day is a school day and that can be tiring at times but just remember, as long as you’re learning, you’re moving forwards and progress is always welcome. 

My biggest learning moments have come when I am furthest from my comfort zone. Taking on a massive, high-profile piece of work such as Connect Scotland and delivering it on behalf of over 100 SCS in Scotland was scary but highly rewarding. I can already see in myself a massive shift in my mindset and confidence which I will carry with me to my next project. 

Advice for Future Civil Servants

The Civil Service is enormous and the variety of job roles on offer is unthinkable. There is definitely something for everyone here. You might already know what you want to do, or you might need some time to figure out where you’re meant to be. Either way, by nature of the Civil Service, you will be delivering important outcomes to drive progress in society and that is something meaningful and impactful. 

Your journey through the Civil Service has no fixed destination. Instead, opportunities arise all the time. Which ones you take are up to you. The ones which scare you the most are the ones you should definitely go for. With so many choices it can be overwhelming to know which path to commit to so, spend some time exploring, but know when it’s not for you and to backtrack to things which give you purpose and fulfilment. 

Try your best to enjoy the journey and take the time to reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown. The Civil Service is so flexible and agile so make the most of it. This is your career so take control, after all you’re the one in the driving seat.

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