• Finding your place in the Civil Service: Tasha’s Story

    Who I Am Hello, I’m Tasha and I’m Deputy Director State Threats and Cyber at Ministry of Defence and have been a civil servant since 2008.  I’m motivated by trying to make policy work better – for operational colleagues, for effective, efficient and legal outcomes and ultimately to serve citizens as well as we can.…


  • Finding your place in the Civil Service: Shyam’s Story

    Meet Shyam Pillai I have been in the Civil Service for 22 years across four departments, including the Home Office in an enforcement role, Ofsted as a data and policy analyst, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in various policy roles and currently at HM Revenue & Customs in policy/strategy roles. The opportunity to…


  • How Nina got into the Civil Service

    My journey applying to the Civil Service began when I left my teaching career of 18 years. I worked in an amazing, supportive primary school but the workload had left me burnt out and wondering if I could manage this work/life balance until retirement. The short answer was no. With a heavy heart, I left…


  • Building a Career in Scotland: Gregor’s Journey

    Meet Gregor I first joined the Civil Service back as an 18-year-old back in January 2017 as an EO Team Leader in the Department for Work & Pensions. The Civil Service motivates me as everyday we have the opportunity to make a difference in whatever role we are in. Before the Civil Service I grew…


  • 3 Lessons from Kamilla Kingstone

    In September, we interviewed Kamila Kingstone, a former Fast Streamer who worked across departments, Number 10, and the Cabinet Office. She shared incredible insights into the mindset that helped her have impact and maintain her values in demanding environments. Here are the three key lessons we took from the session: 1. Act with Intention “What…


  • Civil Service Career Spotlight: How Mel Hume Built an 18-Year Civil Service Career

    Who I am I find myself 18 years deep into my Civil Service career, spending most of those years in HMRC before moving to the Department for Education (DfE) last year. I have always been strongly motivated by societal outcomes – I firmly believe Civil Servants are the backbone of a well-functioning society. The Path…


  • David’s 3 Keys to Civil Service Career Success

    Careers rarely follow a straight path, especially in the Civil Service. Our conversation with David Francis, former Senior Civil Servant and Director of the West London Alliance, was testament to that. At 18, David started his career as a chartered surveyor and has ended up leading huge national, regional and local programmes, including Help to…


  • Career Spotlight: How Ruqaiya Isa Built a 29-Year Civil Service Career

    Who I Am I am a Chartered Project Professional with 29 years in the Civil Service. Mentoring, raising mental health awareness, and volunteering as an NHS Responder are really important to me. Balancing my career and family life with three daughters is something I’m incredibly proud of, and it’s what keeps me motivated. The Path…


  • 3 Lessons from a Director General: Justin Russell’s Journey

    Mindset and mission were at the heart of our recent career conversation with Justin Russell, a seasoned public servant with decades of experience across the Civil Service. As the first senior guest in the Unofficial Guides event series, Justin offered a candid and generous account of his journey – from academic beginnings to strategy roles…


  • Starting a Career in Diplomacy: Thomas’ Story

    Who I Am Hi! I’m Thomas, I am currently on the Diplomatic and Development Fast Stream in the FCDO. I joined because I wanted to help make a positive difference in the world and also to learn from incredible people and work on interesting issues! The Path That Led Me Here Before the Civil Service…