Have you ever wondered how government decisions turn into real-world action? If so, a career in the Civil Service could be worth exploring.

At our recent virtual workshop, delivered in partnership with the Civil Service, we were joined by Costanza Russo, a Fast Streamer currently working in the Cabinet Office. Costanza shared her journey into the Civil Service Fast Stream, which began at the Department for Transport after completing a Master’s in Eastern European Studies at UCL. Fast Stream is the UK government’s graduate leadership development programme. It’s designed to give graduates fast-tracked opportunities to become future leaders in the Civil Service. 

One of the biggest takeaways from the session was just how broad and varied careers in the Civil Service can be. Whether your interests lie in politics, law, data, communications, international relations, economics or technology, there are roles that connect directly to your skills and passions. From shaping national policy to developing digital tools like the NHS Test & Trace app, civil servants play a vital role in keeping the country running.

Costanza also talked through the many different routes into the Civil Service, helping to demystify a sector that can sometimes feel hard to access. These include apprenticeships (from age 16), internships such as the Summer Diversity Internship Programme, direct entry roles, and the highly competitive Fast Stream graduate scheme.

The Fast Stream, in particular, offers structured leadership training and the opportunity to rotate across departments, with roles spanning areas such as diplomacy, economic policy and international development.

Here’s what some of our young attendees shared after the session:

I learnt about the various opportunities available for young people interested in the Civil Service, as well as key roles and networking responsibilities within departments.

The variety of careers within the Civil Service - so much!

I had no idea how to start joining the Civil Service, but there are so many different entry points with different requirements.

I’m interested in economics and psychology, but I’m studying politics, sociology and philosophy at A level. Being exposed to these opportunities through The Girls’ Network will be amazing for me.

I’d love to learn more about foreign and diplomatic roles, like the UN or World Bank.

I loved it so much!

Costanza also shared this message after the session:

Thank you for letting me deliver the session – I really enjoyed it. It was great to see The Girls’ Network members so engaged and eager to learn more about career opportunities within the Civil Service. Wishing everyone the very best of luck for their future endeavours.

You can view the slides that Costanza shared during the workshop here.

If you missed the session or want to revisit the conversation, you can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel.