Public Servant Lifestyle

An A-Z look inside government departments and agencies, what they do, and how to find a job with them.

Finding A Job In Specific Departments And Agencies

All Civil Service departments conduct their own recruitment. Where you work, and the type of job you do, depends on your own preferences for a particular department, and geographical location.

Unfortunately, because of the diversity of arrangements, and
the numerous small-scale recruitment schemes being carried out, at any one time, the Civil Service cannot give a fully comprehensive guide to the best way to apply for a job, that is suitable for you.

The following information will, hopefully, help you decide how to apply for the job you want.

A

Army Base Repair Organisation

The Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) has three major workshops, located at Donnington, Bovington and Warminister, with three smaller workshops at Catterick, Colchester and Stirling. The head office is located at Andover.

ABRO's primary role is to deliver a responsive equipment repair and refurbishment service to the Army, and the other Armed Forces. This is achieved by providing equipment repair support service for vehicles, weapons, radar, telecommunications, cryptographic equipment, vehicle refurbishment programmes for DROPS and Bedford B vehicles; mid-life re-manufacture of Challenger tanks, CVR(T) and Warrior armoured fighting vehicles; and in-depth repair of MLRS, Scammel Commander tank transporters and Saxon armoured fighting vehicles.

The organisation's mission statement is: 'To provide the UK Armed Forces with a comprehensive and effective engineering support service - through close and responsive working relationships -at best value to the tax payer.'

Total staff: 2561. Annual budget: £139.8m.

Further information: Head of Personnel, ABRO, Building 200 Monxton Road, Andover, Hants SP11 8H; or by telephoning 01264 383239.

B

Benefits Agency

The Benefits Agency (BA) is an Agency of the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) - see Jobcentre Plus below - The BA employs around 69,000 staff, nationwide.

The Agency is responsible for the administration of benefits, including the handling of claims, reviews, appeals and arranging payment.

All vacancies for the Benefits Agency are advertised in local Jobcentres. Vacancies for posts at executive officer level, and above, are also advertised in the local press.

From April 2002, parts of the existing Benefits Agency, and Employment Service, were drawn together to form a new single Agency, called Jobcentre Plus. This new body provides a single point of delivery for jobs, benefit advice and support for people of working age.

A new pensions service will also be formed, from other parts of the Benefits Agency, to provide help, advice and support, for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

The Disability and Carers Directorate provides advice and support to disabled customers, and their carers.

All these services continue to operate under the Department for Work & Pensions.

C

Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office sits at the heart of Government, alongside The Treasury. These bodies provide central direction and cohesion to government policy, and public administration.

The modern Cabinet Office is a department with about 5,000 staff. To be effective it must work in partnership with other parts of central and local government, and many other bodies in the public and private sectors. It uses an approach based on networks, consultation and problems resolution; and takes on new central initiatives at short notice.

These are important parts of the Cabinet Office's working style, which is helped along by regular injections of additional talent into the Office. This brings in experience from outside, and a quarter of its staff arrives in this way.

A distinctive mixture of permanent staff, and inward secondments, allows the Cabinet Office to maintain both continuity and flexibility, laying foundations for future collaboration across government.

The Cabinet Office reports to the Prime Minister, as head of the Government, and minister for the Civil Service.

Day-to-day direction comes from the department's ministers, led at Cabinet level by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott MP. He is supported by Lord MacDonald, as minister for the Cabinet Office, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Cabinet Office
ministers of state are Barbara Roche MP, and Baroness Morgan of Huyton, and Christopher Leslie MP is parliamentary secretary.

The department's permanent secretary is Mavis MacDonald. The Cabinet Office also provides the base for Sir Richard Wilson, the cabinet secretary, and head of the Home Civil Service.

Further information: Recruitment and Trawling Unit, Room 142, Cabinet Office, Queen Anne's Chambers, 28 Broadway, London SW1H 9JS; by telephoning 020 7210 0330.

Central Science Laboratory

The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) became an Executive Agency of the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs - (DEFRA, formally Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) in April 1992.

The Agency's prime aim is to provide DEFRA with an efficient and competitive range of scientific services, including support, training and advice, underpinned by research & development, to meet both statutory and policy objectives in relation to food safety, safeguarding the food supply and protecting the environment.

CSL also provides, on a commercial basis, services to other Government departments and public and private sector organisations, throughout the world.

CSL's site at Sand Hutton includes laboratories, office accommodation, greenhouses and growing areas, together with a number of specialist facilities that are unique within Europe, within an overall area of 80 acres.

The main scientific areas covered by CSL are:

1. Consumer safety, with emphasis on the microbiological and chemical safety of food; the presence and control of natural toxicants and the quality and nutritional value of food.

2. Safeguarding food supplies, through the identification, and control, of plant pests and diseases and invertebrate pests, and the management of vertebrate wildlife.

3. Environmental protection, through the investigation of the impact of agriculture on the environment, and the promotion of biodiversity in agricultural habitats.

Further information: Central Science Laboratory, Personnel, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ; by telephoning 01904 462000.

Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Centre

The Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for research, assessment and advice on fisheries science and management, environmental assessment, aquaculture, fish
and shellfish hygiene, diagnosis and control of fish diseases, environmental research and monitoring, and environmental impact assessment.

CEFAS scientists play an important role as expert advisers to DEFRA, and other organisations, by undertaking research, providing essential expertise, participating in the development of policy, and in extensive representation of DEFRA, the UK and other organisations, both nationally and internationally.

They undertake statutory tasks of inspection, licensing and enforcement, to ensure regulatory compliance.

In support of this activity, CEFAS staff have developed sophisticated technology to observe and measure chemical, physical and biological processes in the marine, coastal and freshwater environments. They have the expertise and methodologies to interpret these measurements, and provide practical assessments and solutions to a wide range of environmental problems, and public health concerns.

Further information: Recruitment Office, Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT; by telephoning 01502 524529 (answerphone); e-mailing: recruitment@cefas.co.uk.

Child Support Agency

The Child Support Agency (CSA) is responsible for administering the system of child support, assessing, collecting and where necessary, enforcing child maintenance, in six centres, each employing in excess of 900 staff.

CSA does not operate a Graduate Recruitment Scheme. The Agency is happy to receive enquiries about recruitment opportunities, and will ensure those who contact it receive notification of any recruitment exercises. All vacancies are advertised in local press, and in job centres.

Crown Prosecution Service

The Crown Prosecution Service is the Government department responsible for prosecuting people, in England and Wales, who have been charged by the police with a criminal offence.

Created by the Prosecution of Offences Act (1985), it works closely with the police, but is an independent body.

The CPS is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The Chief Executive reports to the DPP.

The CPS employs lawyers, caseworkers, and administrative staff.

With headquarters in London and York, it operates under a structure of 42 geographical areas, in England and Wales. Each Area is headed by a Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) who is responsible for prosecutions within the area. Although CCPs are directly accountable for their areas, most of the responsibilities for the efficient and effective running of the area fall to the area business managers.

Further information: Crown Prosecution Service, Headquarters, Personnel 2, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7EX; by telephoning 020 7796 8000

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a small Whitehall based department, whose aim is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural, sporting and other recreational activities and through the strengthening of the creative industries.

It has policy responsibility, within Government, for the arts, sports, the National Lottery, the Millennium, libraries, museums and galleries, broadcasting, film, the music industry, press freedom and regulation, the historic environment, tourism, liquor and public entertainment licensing, gambling and horseracing. DCMS has one agency, The Royal Parks Agency; it is also responsible for the Government Art Collection, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Staff in DCMS support the work of ministers, and sponsor, advise,
Support, and liaise, with public bodies in different sectors for which the department has responsibility.

Further information: Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Personnel Branch, 2-4, Cockspur Street, London WC1Y 5DH; or by telephoning: 020 7211 2036.

HM Customs & Excise

HM Customs & Excise (HMCE) is a national organisation, with offices throughout the UK, and links with Customs services all over the world, particularly the EC.

With 23,000 people, working from about 320 locations across the UK, and around the world, HMCE is involved in a wide range of activities.

Its two main activities, collecting taxes and duty, and preventing crime, are reflected in the work of the front line business units, Business Services and Taxes (BS&T) and Law Enforcement (LE).

BS&T deals with Value Added Tax, Customs duties (on goods entering the country), Excise duties (internal taxation on goods like petrol, alcohol and tobacco), and agricultural levies. This accounts for approximately 40% of government taxation.

Law Enforcement is responsible for the enforcement of import/export prohibitions, and investigating fraud, or other regulatory breaches.

Further information: HM Customs & Excise, London Recruitment Unit, 3rd Floor, Thomas Paine House, Angel Square, Torrens Street, London EC1V 1TA; by telephoning 020 7865 3194/3199.

D

Ministry Of Defence

The Ministry Of Defence (MOD) is both a policy-making department of state, and the highest level military headquarters in the UK, providing political control of all military operations.

As headquarters of the UK Armed Forces, MOD is responsible for over 200,000 Service personnel, deployed throughout the world. As a government department, it employs more than 100,000 civilians,
across the country.

It is a unique place to work, not least because of the size, and geographical spread of the department, and the sheer variety of careers that it offers. Civilian staff are employed in traditional civil service roles, supporting ministers, and managing the department's budget, and administration, but the opportunities for civilians are much wider than that.

MOD employs management, technical, commercial and scientific experts; specialist scientists and engineering, researching and developing equipment for the Services; environmental and IT
specialists, linguists, press officers, photographers, teachers, housing officers, researchers and many, many more.

Further information: Ministry Of Defence, Central MOD Graduate Recruitment Section, PO Box 2443, Bath BA1 5AB; or by telephoning: 01225 449106.

Defence Engineering And Science Group

The Ministry Of Defence (MOD) is British industry's largest single customer with an annual budget of £9 billion. Science and Engineering graduates are needed to work in the forefront of Technology, managing projects worth millions of pounds.

The MOD works, with the UK's Armed Forces, to defend Britain's interests. The MOD staff are constantly working, to keep abreast of changing technology, and looking at new ways of exploiting new technology, to meet defence needs.

The Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) is a group of 11,000 professional civilian engineers, and scientists, working in organisations throughout the MOD.

Its Graduate Development Programme allows individuals to tailor their own training, under the guidance of a mentor. The training is accredited by a member of professional institutions, and provides, in part, the initial professional development, prescribed by the Engineering Council for Chartered Engineers. Training typically lasts two years, dependent upon previous experience. Placements are in a number of MOD departments, and with industry, and each one lasts from three to six months.

To apply, graduates are expected to achieve a 2.2 honours degree, in a relevant science or engineering discipline (see the website for further details), and be a British National, or have dual nationality, one of which must be British.

Further information: Central MOD Defence Engineering and Science Group Graduate Recruitment, PO Box 2443,Bath,BA1 5AB; by telephoning 01225 449106; faxing 01225 449161; or by e-mailing: grads.mod@gtnet.gov.uk.

Driver And Vehicle Licensing Agency

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was an Agency of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) - however, The Prime Minister has decided to create a new Department for Transport to focus solely on transport issues.

Most of the other responsibilities of the former DTLR are now the province of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The DTLR's former responsibility for the Electoral Commission and for policy on electoral law, referendums and party funding will transfer to the Department for Constitutional Affairs (which, as of June 2003 incorporates most of the responsibilities of the former Lord Chancellor's Department.

The DVLA's responsibilities are the issuing of driving licences, the registration and licensing of vehicles in Great Britain, and enforcement of vehicle excise duty in the UK. The Agency also offers for sale attractive registration marks through the 'Sale of Marks' scheme.

Further information: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Recruitment & Staffing Group, D6, Longview Road, Morriston, Swansea SA6 7JL; by telephoning 01792 782960; faxing 01792 782008; or by e-mailing:recruitment.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk.

E

Department for Education And Skills

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is responsible for the development and promotion of education and skills policies, in the UK.

It is working in partnership with others, in Government and beyond, towards an inclusive society, where everyone has an equal chance to achieve their full potential.

Its central objectives are to:

- Ensure that all young people reach the age of 16 with skills, attitudes, and personal qualities, that will give them a secure foundation for lifelong learning, work and citizenship, in a rapidly changing world.

- Develop, in everyone, a commitment to lifelong learning, so as to enhance their lives, improve their employability in a changing labour market, and create the skills that our economy and employers need.

DfES also works to ensure the representation and promotion of UK interests in education, training, and skills, in the policies and initiatives of the European Union.

Around 3,500 staff work in the Department's headquarters, which are located at London, Sheffield, Runcorn and Darlington. DfES staff also work in the Government Office regional network.

For information on Graduate opportunities, contact: Department for Education and Skills, Margaret Merralls, DfES Leadership and Change Division, Room 648, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA; by telephoning 020 7273 5444; or e-mailing: margaret.merralls@dfes.gsi.gov.uk.

For information on non-graduate opportunities, contact: Department for Education and Skills Recruitment Team, Ground Floor C, Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 2DN; or by telephoning 01928 794702.
Further information on current vacancies.

Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has a crucial role to play in promoting sustainable development, whether in the UK or internationally.

It has been brought about by an amalgamation of what was the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) with parts of what was the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and the Home Office.

The department's aim is to enhance the quality of life, through promoting:

- A better environment.

- Thriving rural economies and communities.

- Diversity and abundance of wildlife resources.

- A countryside for all to enjoy.

- Sustainable and diverse farming, and food industries, that work together to meet the needs of consumers.

The new department is forward thinking, outward facing, flexible and innovative, and focused on high quality performance. It is also committed to both valuing and developing its staff, and bringing in new talent.

In the headquarter offices, the work of the department is divided into directorates and groups, covering such topics as agricultural commodities, the food industry, environment and rural development, wildlife and countryside issues, animal health and welfare, fisheries, economics and statistics, finance and human resources.

Further information: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Personnel Division, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR; by telephoning 020 7238 6137.

Employment Service

The Employment Service (ES) has now become a aprt of Jobcentre Plus. ES employs around 35,000 staff in its head offices in London and Sheffield, local Jobcentres and district and regional offices, throughout the UK.

The principal role of ES is to give assistance, and support, to the general public, by:

- Helping unemployed people, those on benefits, and other disadvantaged people, find work or a placement on a training or employment programmes, such as the government's New Deal.

- Helping people in work make job changes.

- Helping people with disabilities overcome the difficulties they experience, in getting and holding a job.

- Paying Jobseekers Allowance accurately, and promptly.

ES is not able to hold names and addresses of those sending speculative enquiries on file, and cannot accept CV's in place of application forms.

ES employs people in the specialist grades of:

- Psychologist

- Research Officer

- Economist

- Scientific Office

From April 2002, there exists a new agency under the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) called Jobcentre Plus. This agency draws together the Employment Service, and those parts of the Benefits Agency dealing with people of working age. It delivers a single, integrated service to benefit claimants of working age, employers and those looking to change jobs.

For further information on recruitment to Jobcentre Plus, follow this link. Vacancies for posts up to junior managers, are also advertised in the local, national and ethnic minority press.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) is a progressive Government department, reporting to the secretary of state for trade and industry.

Its offices in London and Cardiff provide the base for one of the most innovative Export Credit Agencies in the world. ECGD's aim is to benefit the UK economy, through providing support for export finance, credit insurance and overseas investment insurance, to help exporters from the UK win business, and for UK firms to invest overseas. It supports around £4 billion of UK exports each year.

ECGD is working towards capitalisation, and becoming a Trading Fund, by April 2002.

There are around 400 staff in a wide range of posts, which cover the activities necessary to run a large insurance business. These include underwriting, finance, claims and post issue management work, marketing of its products, evolving policy, assessing market and corporate risk and providing administrative support.

Further information: Export Credits Guarantee Department, PO Box 2200, 2 Exchange Tower, Harbour Exchange Square, London E14 9GS; or by telephoning: 020 7512 7128.

F

Foreign And Commonwealth Office

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) promotes the national interest of the United Kingdom, and contributes to a strong world economy.

This involves promoting international security, increasing prosperity through trade, improving the quality of life of all the world's citizens, by protecting the environment and fighting international crime and terrorism, and promoting human rights around the world.

To achieve this, it needs the best of Britain's talents working with it.

That's where you could come in. If you want to help the FCO achieve its mission, and are attracted by the prospect of spending between a half and two thirds of your career overseas, follow this link: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Forensic Science Service

The Forensic Science Service (FSS) has an international reputation as a world leader in the provision of forensic science, particularly in its use of DNA technology and interpretation of scientific evidence.

As an Executive Agency of the Home Office, it provides forensic science support to the Police, HM Customs and Excise and the http://www.cps.gov.uk/Crown Prosecution Service. It also provides a range of forensic science services, to a wide range of business.

The FSS has six operational laboratories, in Birmingham, Chepstow, Chorley, Huntingdon, London and Wetherby.

Further information: Forensic Science Service Human Resources, 3rd Floor, Norfolk House, Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4LJ; or by telephoning: 0121 607 6939 (switchboard).

Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission is a Government department, with two Executive Agencies.

With around 3,500 members of staff, the Commission is Britain's biggest estate manager, responsible for over two million acres of land in Scotland, Wales and England.

There are three distinct divisions:

- Forestry Commission - the Government department responsible for advising forestry ministers on forestry policy, and for implementing that policy throughout Britain. Since devolution, the Scottish Executive has responsibility for forestry in Scotland, and the Welsh Assembly has responsibility for forestry in Wales.

- The Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has responsibility for forestry in England. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands, and increase their value to society and the environment.

Its objectives are to protect Britain's forests and woodlands; expand Britain's forest area; enhance the economic value of our forest resources; conserve and improve the bio-diversity, landscape and cultural heritage of our forests and woodlands; develop opportunities for woodland recreation; increase public understanding and community participation in forestry.

- Forest Enterprise - an Executive Agency of the Forestry Commission, responsible for the management of forests and woodlands owned by the nation. It aims to deliver multi-purpose benefits, by the efficient and sustainable management of the public forest estate.

Forest Research - an Executive Agency of the Forestry Commission, whose aim is to deliver high-quality scientific research and surveys, to inform the development of forest policies and practices, and promote high standards of sustainable forest management.

Further information: Forestry Commission, Personnel Services, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT; by telephoning 0131 334 0303.

G

Office Of Gas And Electricity Markets

In general, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (formerly OFGAS and OFFER) is in charge of the regulation of the gas and electricity industry. Its main duties are to promote competition in the electricity and gas industries, and to protect consumers' interests.

Further information: Operations Adviser, Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, 9 Millbank, London SW1P 3GE.

Office Of Government Commerce

Government spends £13 billion each year on procurement, purchasing goods and services. This is a vital part of the delivery of frontline government activity. Effective, value for money procurement is essential, in providing quality public services.

The responsibility of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is to enable civil central government to realise £1 billion of value for money savings, by March 2003. OGC is at the heart of driving forward the Government's procurement agenda, and offers opportunities to work across a wide range of departments and activities.

OGC's activities place it at the cutting edge of government modernisation. It has developed the innovative Gateway review process on large, complex or novel projects, and is pioneering government e-procurement.

It is also disseminating Best Practice, and enhancing government's collective purchasing power. It offers the opportunity to work across a range of fields of activity, ranging from estate management to IT, and runs the government's Private Finance Unit.

OGC has offices at sites in London, Norwich, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh. Its Trading Fund, OGC Buying.Solutions, is based in Liverpool.

Further information: Office of Government Commerce, Fleet Bank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8AE; by telephoning 0845 0004999.

Government Accountancy Service

There are about 2,112 qualified accountants in Government - 1,511 accounting technicians, and 759 trainees - working in over 40 different departments.

Their work can range from competition regulation, in the Department of Trade and Industry, to investigating tax evasion in the Inland Revenue; from establishing new financial systems in new self-contained agencies, to advice on departments' spending, in the Treasury.

Within the GAS, there is no central accountancy-training scheme. Individual departments and agencies operate their own training schemes, to which they recruit, as and when the need arises.

Most departments and agencies recruit trainees from within the ranks of existing employees, rather than externally. Contact individual departments, or agencies, for details of schemes that they operate, and for whether any trainee vacancies exist, or alternatively for information about generalist vacancies, with a view to securing a nomination onto a departmental or agency training scheme following a period of employment.

Further information: Development of Accountancy Resources Team (DART), HM Treasury 4th Floor, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street, London SW1E 5EB; or by telephoning 020 7270 1749.

Government Actuary's Department

The Government Actuary's Department is an independent actuarial consultancy, working within Government, for government.

The Department's skills help clients - whether ministers, government departments or other public sector bodies - formulate national policy, manage public sector finance and project the impact of population changes. A logical source of actuarial advice for government in the UK, GAD is also increasingly sought after by governments abroad, and by non-government clients.

The department's operational areas reflect the structure of government responsibilities, in respect of both private and public
sectors: Occupational Pensions, Social Insurance, and Demography and Statistics.

Further information: Personnel Section, The Government Actuary's Department, New King's Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London SE1 9RJ; or by telephoning 020 7211 2626.

Government Communications Headquarters

Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) is one of three UK intelligence agencies, employing over 4,000 people in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

It includes the Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG), which advises the Government, and British industry, on communications and computer security, and the Joint Technical Language Service (JTLS), which is responsible for a wide range of language translations of technical and some non-technical documents.

GCHQ provides a unique service of crucial national importance. Its aim is to protect and promote the vital interests of the nation, by providing signals' intelligence to support government decision making, military operations and actions by civil agencies, and in providing advice and assistance on the security of communications, and electronic data.

The intelligence it provides helps to detect and prevent serious crime, fraud, terrorism, and drugs trafficking, and supports other issues of national security. Working with the most complex computing environment in Europe, its work helps Government to stay one step ahead of developments on the global stage.

GCHQ employs a variety of people, in many roles and specialisms, to fulfil its core intelligence and security roles. It seeks the best people from a range of disciplines, including mathematics, IT, electrical and electronic engineering, languages, intelligence analysts, information scientists, financial professionals, vetting officers and administrative staff.

These all play a vital part in keeping GCHQ at the forefront of technology in the fields of computer hardware and software
development, satellite and other state-of-the-art communications, and intelligence techniques.

The number and range of opportunities is too numerous to mention in full here, but further information is available from: Recruitment Office, GCHQ Recruitment Office, Room A/1108, Priors Road, Cheltenham GL52 5AJ; by telephoning 01242 232912/3; e-mailing: recruitment.gchq@dial.pipex.com; or at www.gchq.gov.uk.

Government Economic Service

Within the Government Economic Service, there are about 600 economists, who are employed across 30 Government departments and agencies. They provide expert economic advice to ministers, and senior administrators, on a wide range of both macroeconomic and microeconomic issues, ranging from forecasting and policy analysis, to applying cost-benefit analysis and investment appraisal.

GES jobs are varied and diverse, all are stimulating and challenging, offering economics or joint economics degree graduates opportunities to apply their technical skills to practical and live policy issues.

Further information: Economist Group Management Unit, HM Treasury, Parliament Street, London SW1P 3AG; or by telephoning 020 7270 4571/4835; e-mailing: egmu.int@hm-treasury.gov.uk; or at: www.ges.gov.uk

Government Information And Communication Service

The Government Information and Communication Service (GICS) is a professional body of over 1000 media experts, who explain government policy, and actions, to the general public. Their work spans the whole media spectrum, including press relations, advertising, marketing, exhibitions, conferences, and brochures, posters, film and video.

GICS specialists work in almost every Government department, and in many agencies, and other public bodies, across the UK.

Further information: GICS Development Centre, Cabinet Office, Ashley House, 2 Monck Street, London SW1P 2BQ; by telephoning 02072762709; at www.gics.gov.uk; or by e-mailing development_centre.gics@gtnet.gov.uk (until 30 November 2001). GICS address changes to 67 Tufton Street, London SW1, from 1 December.

Government Legal Service

The Government Legal Service (GLS) embraces around 1,600 lawyers, employed in about 40 Government organisations, ranging from Departments of State such as the Home Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to agencies and other public bodies, such as the Office of the Rail Regulator, the Office of Fair Trading and Companies House.

GLS legal teams vary in size from a single lawyer, in some of the smaller regulatory bodies, to more than 200, in some of the larger Departments and Agencies, such as the Treasury Solicitor's Department, and the Lord Chancellor's Department. And there are many opportunities to move from one team to another - ensuring that those who want to broaden their experience do not feel trapped in particular specialisms.

Solicitors or barristers; newly qualified or with years of experience; litigators or advisers; drafters or commercial specialists; GLS legal teams welcome lawyers of all kinds. The emphasis is on the quality of the individual, and lawyers are valued for the skills and professionalism which they bring.

There is a vast diversity of work on offer in the GLS, which has a strong intellectual appeal, and is of unique professional interest, reflecting the huge range of activities with which the Government is concerned. Working for the GLS appeals to lawyers who are not motivated by profit, or by political loyalties, but ultimately by working for the public good, and making a contribution to the safety and quality of life of large numbers of people.

Further information: GLS Recruitment Team, Queen Anne's Chambers, 28 Broadway, London SW1H 9JS; by telephoning 020 7210 3304; at: www.gls.gov.uk; or e-mailing: recruit@gls.gsi.gov.uk.


Government Statistical Service

The Government Statistical Service is the UK's largest employer of statisticians, with over 800 in more than 30 departments and agencies, nationwide.

Statisticians' work covers a broader range, than just technical statistics. They manage the collection of data, analyse and interpret it and explain their findings to administrators and, often, ministers.

These statistics are used to monitor, formulate and amend Government policy, and are frequently published. Statisticians deal with every major Government activity, including health, crime, the economy, employment, transport and the environment.

Further information: GSS Personnel, Office for National Statistics, Zone D4/22, 1 Drummond Gate, London SW1V 2QQ; by telephoning 020 7533 5040/5043; by e-mailing: ken.anderson@ons.gov.uk; or at: www.statistics.gov.uk


H


Department Of Health

The work of the Department of Health fundamentally affects the life of every person in the country.

Many of the matters that the department deals with - how to deliver responsive, high quality services throughout the NHS, how to secure equal opportunities for a healthy life, and how local authorities can provide social services which promote independence and protect vulnerable children and adults - are some of the major social issues of the day.

The department, based in London and Leeds, is responsible for the development and review of health care policy, and its implementation in the social services, public health bodies, and in the NHS, via the NHS Executive.

Further information: Graduate Recruitment, Department of Health, Room 8/E/40, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE; by telephoning 0113 2546038; e-mailing: jstones@doh.gsi.gov.uk; or at: www.doh.gov.uk/dhhome.htm


Health And Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR).

HSE is the operational arm of the Health and Safety Commission, set up to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, and to safeguard others, principally the public, who may be exposed to risk from industry.

The Health and Safety Commission was established over 20 years ago. It is made up of representatives of employers, employees, local authorities and others. It contributes to the process of open and democratic decision making, by providing advice to ministers, co-operating with other regulatory bodies, representing UK interests internationally, and encouraging well informed debate on risk, and its management.

It is HSE's mission to ensure that risks, from work activities, to people's health and safety, are properly controlled.

HSE employs about 4,000 people, and has headquarters based in Bootle, Sheffield and London, as well as regional offices, based in large towns and cities, e.g. Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol, and some smaller towns.

Its aims are to modernise and simplify the law, secure compliance with it, provide information and advice, promote risk assessment and to maintain an efficient and effective service.

Change, to keep pace with developments in technology, and business practices, and to meet the needs of our stakeholders, is a central characteristic of HSE work.

HSE is a unique organisation, with the largest concentration of occupational health and safety experts in the country. It employs a range of professionals, the largest group being front-line Inspectors of Health and Safety. However, it also has scientists, doctors, solicitors, economists, statisticians, journalists, graphic designers auditors and administrators.

HSE inspects a variety of workplaces, from factories, construction sites and farms, to fairgrounds, hospitals and universities. HSE sees itself as guardians of the country's health and safety expertise, with a duty to use it to best effect.

Further information: Health and Safety Executive, Personnel Helpline, St Hugh's House, Stanley Precinct, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3QY; by telephoning 0151 951 3366; or at www.hse.gov.uk


Highways Agency

The Highways Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), is responsible for managing, maintaining and improving trunk roads, and motorways, in England.

The Government's 10-year Plan for Transport sets out a clear and challenging agenda for the Highways Agency.

The 10-year plan underlines the motorway and trunk road network's vital role in the country's transport system, and the role of the agency, as a network operator. In particular, it emphasises the importance of developing its own contribution, by working in partnership with others, by finding innovative solutions to transport problems, by exploiting new technology, and by improving the management and measurement of what it does.

The agency aims to provide a better service to its customers by:

- Easing congestion.

- Effective maintenance.

- Safer travel.

- Better information

- Quieter, 'smarter' roads.

Further information: Highways Agency, Human Resource Services, Resourcing Action Team, Room 10/44, St Christopher House, Southwark Street, London SE1 OTE; by telephoning 020 7921 4847/4705; or at: www.highways.gov.uk.


Home Office

The Home Office has responsibility for a wide range of subject matter. The work is concerned primarily with the maintenance of law and order, including criminal policy, delivery of justice, the prison service, and oversight of the Police service; also responsible for constitutional issues and community policy, immigration policy and control and public safety.

Further information: Recruitment Section, Home Office, Central Personnel Management Unit, Room 101, Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2DD; or by telephoning 020 7217 0101.


I


HM Immigration Service

Immigration Officers, in HM Immigration Service, deal with over 90 million passengers a year.

They assess the eligibility of passengers to enter the country, based on personal interview, and passport examination. They arrange the removal of passengers, who do not qualify for entry.

Immigration Officers work shifts, including night shifts, and also work some weekends, and Bank Holidays.

New entrants are usually posted to Dover, Heathrow or Gatwick.

Further information: Please Click Here


Inland Revenue

The Inland Revenue is the department responsible for administering income tax, tax credits, inheritance tax, stamp duties, corporation tax, capital gains tax, and national insurance.

The department also advises ministers on UK tax policy, and implements that policy.

Work is carried out in a network of tax offices, throughout the UK, which determine the tax liabilities of individuals and companies, and in specialist offices, which deal with particular areas. For example, Large Business Offices deal with multinational companies, and those in banking and insurance, and Special Compliance Offices investigate cases of serious fraud.

Specialists, in subject divisions, advise ministers on tax policy, and give guidance, to inspectors in other offices, on complex issues relating to specific subjects.

Further information: Inland Revenue, Human Resources Operations, 3rd Floor, Mowbray House, PO Box 55, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham NG2 1BE; by telephoning 0115 974 0606; or by emailing: recruitment.ir@gtnet.gov.uk


Department For International Development

The Department for International Development is responsible for promoting sustainable development, and for working to eliminate world poverty.

The central focus of DFID's work is a commitment to the internationally-agreed target to halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015, together with associated targets, that include basic health care provision, and universal access to primary education, by the same date.

DFID is working in partnership with governments, which are committed to the International Development Targets, multilateral institutions (such as the World Bank, UN and EC), business and the
private sector, civil society, and the research community, to encourage progress to help reduce poverty.

The bulk of its assistance is concentrated on the poorest countries in Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. DFID is also contributing to poverty elimination, and sustainable development, in middle-income countries, and helping the transition countries, in Central and Eastern Europe, to try to ensure that the widest number of people benefit from the process of change.

DFID has 1,200 permanent staff in London (Victoria) and East Kilbride (Glasgow). It also has staff in 12 overseas offices (Delhi, Dhaka, Nairobi, Harare, Pretoria, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Barbados, Abuja, Suva, Beijing and Hanoi).

DFID also has staff in British Embassies and High Commissions, and offers opportunities for secondment to the Diplomatic Service, and to international aid organisations.

Further information: Telephone 0845 300 4100 (local call rate) for general enquiries; by e-mailing: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk; at www.dfid.gov.uk ; Human Resources Operations Department, Room V240, Department for International Development, 94 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5JL (telephone 020 7917 0275).


L


HM Land Registry

HM Land Registry is a government agency responsible to the Lord Chancellor. The agency's main purpose is to register titles to land in England and Wales, and to record dealings on that land, once it has been registered. It also helps to resolve ownership problems, and provides a range of land information services, to customers.

The Land Registry has some 9,000 staff, based in London, and at 26 regional offices.

The agency is one of the key players in the Government's drive towards electronic conveyancing.

Further information: At: www.landreg.gov.uk; Personnel Section, HM Land Registry, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PH; or by telephoning 020 7917 8888.


Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD)

The Lord Chancellor's Department's aim is justice.

To achieve this, the department is committed to:

- Providing a fair, swift, and effective system of justice.

- Improving people's knowledge, and understanding, of their rights and responsibilities.

- Improving the availability of affordable, and good quality, legal services.

- Making civil and family law clearer, and more easily enforceable.

- Improving the lives of children, and helping to build and sustain strong families.

- Upholding the independence of the Judiciary.

The department consists of its headquarters, and two executive agencies; the Court Service and the Public Trust Office.

The Lord Chancellor is also responsible for the magistrates' courts,and for the appointment of virtually all of the professional and lay judiciary.

The Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) headquarters (and its associated offices) employs approximately 1,300 staff, mostly in offices located in central London.

It provides policy and advice and administrative support for a range of work, e.g. initiatives to modernise the machinery of justice in England and Wales, and to improve legal services, Human Rights, Freedom of Information, Constitutional Issues, family and civil law reform, the judicial appointments process, and supports the local management of the magistrates' courts.

The work varies year by year, depending on the Government's current policy objectives.

The Court Service employs approximately 10,100 staff, working in over 400 Courts, Tribunals and Offices, throughout England and Wales.

The Court Service aims to improve the quality of service the courts provide to all users, and the court's performance (by using new technology to centralise, standardise, and simplify administrative procedures).

The Public Guardianship Office employs around 550 staff, and deals with the private monies, for example those held in trust, or on behalf of the mentally incapacitated.

All recruitment in the Lord Chancellor's Department is on the basis of fair and open competition, and selection is made on merit. The Lord Chancellor's Department is fully committed to the principle that staff will have equality of opportunity for employment, and advancement, on the basis of their ability to do the job irrespective of sex, race, marital status, sexual orientation or disability.

Further information: Denise Cook, Personnel Management Division 3, Selborne House, 54-60 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QW : by telephoning 020 7210 8657; or by e-mailing: dcook@lcdhq.gsi.gov.uk


M


Medical Research Council

The principal objectives of the Medical Research Council (MRC) are to promote the balanced development of medical and related biological research, and to advance knowledge that will help maintain and improve human health.

The MRC is a public body, reporting to the Office of Science and Technology, and is accountable to Parliament. It nevertheless exercises autonomy, in its scientific decision making.

The MRC employs its own research support staff, in about 40 research establishments. These include the National Institute for Medical Research, the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and the Clinical Sciences Centre.

It also awards grants to scientists, who are not members of its own staff, to help them pursue research programmes and projects, thus complementing the research resources of the universities and hospitals. Research training is supported by means of fellowships, and studentships.

Extensive details about the MRC's research and structure can be found at www.mrc.ac.uk

Further information: Medical Research Council, 20 Park Crescent, London W1N 4AL; by telephoning 020 7636 5422; or faxing 020 7436 6179.


The Meteorological Office

Everyone is familiar with the public face of the Met.Office - many of our TV forecasters have become household names. However, media presentation is just one of the many and varied areas of its work.

The Met.Office employs 2,200 people, in over 83 locations. It is an
internationally renowned centre of excellence for weather-related science, drawing on some of the most advanced computing facilities in the world. Its Hadley Centre has an enviable reputation, at the forefront of climate research, and is one of the world's leading authorities on global warming.

It is also a dynamic organisation - a world class provider of weather-related services, with an annual turnover of £150m.

As the UK's national meteorological service, much of its business is with Government departments, although it also provides a growing range of services to commerce, industry and the media. The Met. Office's diverse range of customers include utility companies, pilots, the legal and insurance professions, and even formula 1 racing teams, and it is keen to take advantage of new markets, and opportunities, opening up in Europe.

To focus on the needs of its customers, the Met. Office operate six business areas.

These are:

- Core activities.

- The Public Meteorological Service (through Government departments).

- Defence.

- Commercial.

Further information: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Recruitment Team, Room 604, the Met Office, London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2SZ; by telephoning 01344 856018; or at www.metoffice.com


N


National Savings

National Savings is an Executive Agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and is the second largest savings organisation in the UK. It offers savings and investment products, to personal savers and investors.

The money it brings in is used by the Treasury to help manage the national debt cost-effectively, and to contribute towards the Government's funding needs. This means that when customers invest in National Savings, they are lending money to the Government, which pays them interest in return.

The Government guarantee makes National Savings' savings and investment products the most secure available.

Further information: National Savings, Personnel Directorate, 375 Kensington High Street, London W14 8SD; by telephoning 020 7605 9327; or at: www.nationalsavings.co.uk.


Office For National Statistics

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) was formed in April 1996, from a merger of the Central Statistics Office, and the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys. It is an executive agency, and a Government department, accountable to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The office employs about 3,000 staff, operating in London, Newport (Gwent), Runcorn, Southport and Titchfield (Hampshire).

ONS outputs cover a wide range of key UK economic and social statistics, including National Accounts and economic indicators, measures of inflation, labour market and business statistics, and population estimates and projections.

The Office analyses economic and social trends, and profiles, and helps to monitor the health of the nation. In addition, ONS is responsible for the registration of the key life events (births, marriages and deaths) in England and Wales, and running the Population Census, carried out every 10 years.

ONS also co-ordinates activity on official statistics in other Government departments, with the aim of providing Parliament, Government, and the wider community, with the statistical information, analysis and advice needed to improve decision making, stimulate research, and inform debate.

Further information: ONS, Human Resources Division DL/02, 1 Drummond Gate, London SW1V 2QQ; by telephoning 020 7233 9233; faxing 020 7533 6343; or at: www.ons.gov.uk


O


Ordnance Survey

Ordnance Survey (OS) is a Government department, a Trading Fund and an Executive Agency. It is the world's leading national Mapping Agency.

OS information and mapping underpin a wide range of vital activities in government and business, including educational, leisure, military and environmental purposes, as well as providing an accurate base for motoring, walking and other recreational uses.

OS is a supplier of geographical information in many forms - addresses, gazetteers, road centre lines, and buildings' identifiers, as well as maps, in both computer and paper form. OS effectively maintains and supplies details of the geographical framework of Britain.

It employs approximately 1,880 staff - based in the Southampton head office, or in its local offices around the country. Its workforce uses a wide variety of skills, such as information technology, surveying, printing, sales and marketing, finance, purchasing and
administration.

OS is an Investor in People organisation, and provides extensive opportunities for staff training and development.

All OS posts are advertised at www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk, where you will also find much more information about OS itself, and about working for OS. Posts are also advertised, on an individual basis, in the national, local and/or specialist press.

Further information from: Ordnance Survey, Recruitment Team, Romsey Road, Southampton SO16 4GU; by telephoning 02380 792604; or e-mailing: recruitment@ordsvy.gov.uk.


P


Patent Office

The main function of the Patent Office is to service those Acts of Parliament which regulate intellectual property, by which is meant patents, trade and service marks, industrial designs and copyright.

Also, through its publications and databases, the Office is a principal source of information, not only about science and technology, in the UK, but also about innovation everywhere.

Further information: At: www.patent.gov.uk; Personnel Section, Room 3.R44, Patent Office, Cardiff Road, Newport, South Wales NP10 8QQ; or by telephoning 01633 814544.


Pesticides Safety Directorate

With around 200 members of staff, the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is responsible for the regulation, and control, of pesticides marketed and used in the UK.

The majority of PSD's resources is devoted to evaluating and processing applications for pesticide approval, to ensure that pesticides are effective, and pose no unacceptable risks to people, non-target species, or the wider environment.

PSD also plays a leading role in determining and pursuing UK policy on pesticides in the European context, including harmonisation of community-wide regulations of plant protection products.

Further information: Pesticides Safety Directorate, Mallard House, Kings Pool, Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX; or by telephoning 01904 455150.


HM Prison Service

The purpose of HM Prison Service, an Executive Agency of the Home Office, is to serve the public, by keeping in custody those committed by the courts, and helping them to lead law-abiding and useful lives following their release.

Prison is an unfortunate reality for over 60,000 of our citizens, who are currently in our care. With over 135 establishments, and over
40,000 staff, the Prison Service accounts for 10% of the whole Civil Service, and recognises that success is dependent on maximising the skills, potential and drive of its staff.

Further information: At: www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk; HM Prison Service Headquarters , Room 329, Cleland House, Page Street, London SW1P 4LN; by telephoning 020 7217 6437; or by e-mailing: hmprecruitment@atlas.co.uk.


R


Radiocommunications Agency

In the UK, the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) is responsible for the allocation and assignment of radio frequencies, for civilapplications.

It issues licenses, allowing user access to the spectrum, and is responsible for enforcement of national legislation. RA also plays a key role abroad, looking after UK interests, through international negotiations on spectrum usage. Many RA engineers frequently visit
Europe on business, and some travel internationally.

RA funds research and development, to ensure the safe and efficient use of the spectrum. Its engineers work alongside UK industry, and keep abreast of, and help in the development of, the very latest radio technology developments.

Further information: Annette Gormley, Personnel and Recruitment Manager, Radiocommunications Agency, Corporate Services and Facilities Executive, Human Resources Unit, Wyndham House, 189 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SX; by telephoning 020 7211 0876; faxing 020 7211 0533; or emailing:
annette.gormley@ra.gsi.gov.uk


S


The Security Service

The Security Service (MI5) is the UK's security intelligence agency.

Its role is to protect national security, to safeguard the economic well being of the UK, against threats from overseas, and to support law enforcement agencies, such as the police, in the prevention of serious crime.

It does this by the collection, analysis and dissemination of secret intelligence, assessing threats, working with others to counter them, and advising on protection.

Its success, as an organisation, is underpinned by the calibre of the people that it employs. This depends on our attracting the best people for the job, and making the best use of all staff, by ensuring that they are well motivated, and given every chance to develop and progress.

MI5 aims to reflect the diversity of modern society in the Service, at all levels, and use and value the different perspectives and approaches this brings to its work. The Service operates an equal opportunities policy, and is committed to the active promotion of a positive working environment, that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Its core investigative work, as well as strategy, policy and some operational tasks, is carried out by generalist staff, who it recruits at two levels.

MI5 will consider graduates from any degree discipline, for its graduate entry scheme, and also those who do not have a degree, but whose experience has given them skills to work at this Level, and contribute directly to the work of the Service.

It also has a regular recruitment programme, to fill administrative posts. These job holders are responsible for the accurate, well managed records which are vital to its success. MI5 uses a modern computer system for inputting information, from a range of sources, and for retrieving information on a wide variety of topics, as well as for word processing.

In addition, MI5 employees sort, check, file, copy and extract for paper-based files, and deal with arranging meetings, answering the telephone and act in a supportive role to investigative staff.

MI5 also employs specialist staff, with a range of expertise, including linguists, communications specialists, scientists, surveillance officers, technical and IT staff. Specialist staff are recruited largely to fill vacancies, however, regular requirements exist to recruit linguists, surveillance officer, electronic engineers and IT staff.

Bartlett Scott Edgar is responsible for administering the initial stages of the selection procedure for both levels of recruitment on behalf of MI5, shortlisting candidates for subsequent interview, and assessment by the Service.

For further details, and application forms for graduate level entry, contact: Bartlett Scott Edgar Ltd, Bartlett House, 65-67 Wilson Street, London EC2A 2LT.
For entry as an administrative assistant, telephone Bartlett Scott Edgar Response, on 020 7269 1407, quoting reference CSI.

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