My current role and how I got here

I am currently on the Project Delivery Specialist scheme within the Civil Service Fast Stream. There are 17 different specialist schemes within the Fast Stream, but Project Delivery deals with the management of government programmes and projects. As a Fast Streamer, I rotate departments each year to expand my skill set and experience within the Civil Service. My current placement is with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as a Programme Support Officer.

I started on the Fast Stream in September 2025 after graduating from Manchester in July, just a few months prior. I had applied in October of my final year at university and was offered a place on the Fast Stream in the spring.

How I got into the role

I’ve been interested in working within public service since I was 16. I knew I wanted to go into the Civil Service before starting university, and my degree helped to boost my experience in achieving a place on the Fast Stream. The Fast Stream is tailored to graduates and serves as an accelerated leadership programme.

I decided to apply for the Project Delivery Scheme because I wanted to work in a specialism that dealt directly in improving the lives of the people we serve. With project delivery, you get to interact with stakeholders and people from all walks of life when delivering government programmes. I’m a massive people person, so that element of social and tangible delivery is what drew me to apply for the Project Delivery Scheme.

Favourite part of the role

I love the variety of my role and the opportunities it has introduced within the Civil Service. I get to sit in on a lot of meetings and participate in opportunities that are not normally available for people at this stage of their career. I recently prepared a briefing for our minister, which was such an incredible opportunity. Currently, I’m also working on what’s called an infrastructure programme, where we are retrofitting social housing with energy efficiency measures to give people warmer, safer homes and cheaper energy bills. There are so many different elements to the job, including risk management, governance and stakeholder communication. For me, no one day is the same, and the variety in my duties makes the role more exciting.

How my studies have helped me in my role

In the summer before final year, I completed the 12-week Fast Stream internship with the Home Office, which boosted my chances of securing a place on the Fast Stream once I graduated. This experience with the Home Office provided me with project management and delivery skills that are necessary for my current role as well as allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of how the Civil Service operates. Completing this internship was pivotal in helping me secure my place on the Fast Stream, as it gave me a ‘fast pass’ through the application process.

My degree was also important for getting onto the Fast Stream. Having a degree in a relevant subject gave me additional insight into the world of politics and improved my employability. However, it is important to note that the Fast Stream encourages people from all degree disciplines to apply! In third year, I took the parliamentary studies module, which provided a great base for understanding how Parliament works and how the UK is governed. I also gained experience in critical thinking, analysis, and writing, which are very applicable to roles within the Civil Service. This proficiency provided by my degree has been helpful in navigating my duties as a Programme Support Officer while interacting with individuals across the Civil Service.

My role and future career aspirations

When I was 16 and debating what programmes to apply to at university, I had originally planned to apply for economics and management. However, I realised I was more motivated by my love for history and politics. I wanted to help people, and that motivation led me to research working in the Fast Stream after my degree. I felt confident in my choice to pursue becoming a crown servant instead of going into another profession, as I enjoy working in the public sector. I still have two more years left on the Fast Stream, and I am excited to continue building and accelerating within the Civil Service.

Advice for future students

When applying for a role, it’s important to take a step back and understand why you want to go down a specific path. When you get to the final stage of an application process, employers often look for signs that you are motivated and excited to go into that discipline. Understanding your own motivations for wanting to enter a certain career path will undoubtedly boost you toward where you want to be.

As a student, it’s easy to forget that your time at university is finite. It’s such a unique experience, so make the most of opportunities that The University of Manchester and the city have to offer. Even though my job is very intellectually stimulating, there’s elements of just learning for the fun of it at university that you don’t really get once you enter the workforce. Being in that intellectual environment where you’re learning about something you’re passionate about is an experience like no other, and it’s important to really make the most of it and enjoy it while you can. And finally, just have fun while you’re at university.

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