About the job

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is part of the Cabinet Office. We’re here to make digital government simpler, clearer and faster for everyone. Our work is user-focused, dynamic and forward-looking, making our organisation an exciting and innovative place to work. 

GDS exists to help the government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users.

We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

If you’d like to be part of a passionate and talented team that makes a difference to the lives of millions of people, we’d like to hear from you. 

Find out more at the GDS Blog.

Job description

Do you have a curious mind and enjoy solving problems?

Are you passionate about the public sector and keen to make a positive impact on society?

Are you looking for the right year-long placement to get some work experience during your degree?

If you answered ‘yes’ to the above questions, then our placement scheme at the Government Digital Service (GDS) may be for you!

Working at GDS, you will be part of a friendly and supportive team who are working hard to simplify and widen access to all digital government services.
During your industrial placement, you will be expected to attend either the Manchester or Bristol hub three times per week. Location will be role-dependent.

As a placement student, you will become embedded in one of the teams listed below. Please click on the links to understand more about the roles on offer and course requirements. 

• Data and Analytics
• Live Services
• Delivery
• Software Development

During your placement, you will:

• Receive mentoring and pastoral support from your line manager
• Work in a fast-paced, vibrant environment
• Enhance your digital skills and experience
• Enjoy flexibility within the role to align work to your interests 
• Earn a salary of £24,750

Person specification

We are looking for someone who is:

• Studying for a degree in subjects relating to technology, engineering, business, data or similar. You should be on track to achieve a 2:2 or higher in this degree
• Located in Manchester or Bristol or within a commutable distance. You will be expected to be in the office three days a week. Please note this may be subject to change per Civil Service guidelines 

Click the links above to view the person specification for each role.

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time 
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• You will be asked to submit a CV and a Personal Statement:

• The CV should show your skills, knowledge and experience with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide any employment history that relates to the essential criteria. The CV should not exceed 2 x A4 pages.
• The Personal Statement should explain why you are excited about working at GDS and why you think you would be a good fit for the role. The Personal Statement should not exceed 300 words. 
• You can find the essential criteria in the ‘Who You Are’ section in the role description. 

• If you are successful in the first stage, you will be invited to a telephone interview.

• If you pass the telephone interview, you will be invited to a final interview which will be held remotely.

If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the recruitment team gds-recruitment@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your problem solving skills and passion about the public sector.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.