Scrap the North-South divide – these DHSC Fast trackers explain how you can apply for the Graduate Fast Track Scheme and work for the Civil Service if you live in Leeds!
Apply for the DHSC Fast Track SchemeDHSC asked their Fast Trackers if they thought there were any misconceptions about being based in Leeds?
“I think many people assume that the work opportunities in the Department won’t b e as good in Leeds. However, it’s not the case. Most roles can be done from any location and there is no bias against being Leeds-based.”
“When I first joined the civil service back in September 2019, there was a sense that being based outside of London meant that you would occasionally be miss out on ‘the action’, or be required to travel a lot, as Ministers and many senior officials are based in London. However, I think the pandemic has proved that we can work effectively together virtually from across the country, no matter where we are based. I look forward to retaining that benefit as we consider how to transition back to working in the office more regularly.”
People seem to think you are a bit removed from the action up here, but you aren’t – especially now everything is so online-based. Everything is a balance with a bit of personal preference – for me, no amount of being in the thick of it and close to Whitehall could draw me away from wanting to live in the Yorkshire countryside.”
DHSC asked their Fast Trackers why they chose to be based in Leeds
“I live here and love it here – for many reasons. The people are friendlier, there is much more open green space nearby, and everything is much much cheaper. So I had no desire to move to London, and it wouldn’t have been an option for me financially.”
“I’d lived in London for around five years prior to moving to Leeds. I wanted to try living elsewhere in the UK, so when I saw the opportunity to be based in Leeds as part of the HPFTS I thought I would give it a try. I’d visited Leeds before and was aware that it was a vibrant city with lots to do.”
DHSC asked their Fast Trackers what top three things they like the most about the Leeds office.
- Leeds has a smaller city centre than London, and the office location is fairly central, so after you finish work you can walk to almost anywhere in the centre.
- The cost of living is much lower compared to London.
- Everyone in the Leeds office that I’ve come across has been really friendly
- It’s recently been renovated which means it’s really swish!
- It’s got its own swimming pool – and even a dentist!
- There is free on-site parking.
DHSC asked their Fast Trackers if they had opportunities to connect with individuals who are on the scheme in London
“There’s been many opportunities to connect with others on the scheme who are in London. My cohort has weekly catch ups and online socials. Soon we’re going to meet when we start the MSc induction – I’m sure we’ll have fun going out after too.”
“We’re all enrolled in the MSc in Health Policy together which occasionally means that we’re required to work together on coursework. We’ve got an active chat on Microsoft Teams which we use to share info. We used to have ‘cohort days’ where we got together for self-organised personal development sessions, but these ceased when the pandemic started.”
“Covid has made people much more aware of how to make video calls work. Whereas it used to tricky to get your voice heard when you dialled in to a meeting happening face-to-face in London, now the vast majority of calls take place online anyway. And when there is something for which you need to be there in person, you’ll get your expenses covered for travelling down.”
Apply for the DHSC Fast Track Scheme
