Commercial Fast Stream 2025
Apply before Midday on Thursday 7th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Job description
Every year we spend £300 billion of taxpayers' money with suppliers to provide public services. Central government alone spends over £50 billion each year on goods and services. Therefore, effective management of our commercial activities is incredibly important. As a Commercial Fast Streamer you'll play a huge part in making sure the Civil Service achieves this value for money for the taxpayer.
You'll be joining us at an exciting time as our teams work to transform public procurement to maximise innovation and deliver wider economic benefits for the UK.
Commercial capability is increasingly recognised as the top skill sought by employers in all sectors, and building commercial expertise and skills is one of the top 3 priorities for the Civil Service.
You will learn how to negotiate contracts worth billions of pounds you will and ensure that government is in tune with its markets, and manage our relationships as well as manage its relationship with some of the biggest companies in the world. This means that the commercial activity carried out attracts a huge amount of press and political attention. Applying sound judgement in commercial matters is vital in protecting the government's reputation.
To find out more, please visit Government Commercial Function
What will you experience?
Throughout the 3 years on the scheme, you will work across a broad range of central government departments, developing your commercial skills, establishing crucial networks across the function and across our supplier base, all of which will enable you to become a successful commercial leader.
Previously, our Commercial Fast Streamers have been posted into various challenging and pivotal roles. Some of these have included working on high profile, critical projects to drive the optimisation of supplier relationships and contracts, as well as joining one of our key energy category teams to help deliver a procurement project that aims to replace the framework for supply of energy to UK Government Departments and large parts of the Wider Public Sector.
You will also undertake a CIPS qualification which offers the foundation blocks to enhance your knowledge of the commercial lifecycle, brought to life through your different departmental postings.
Upon successful completion brought to life through your different departmental postings.of the scheme, you will be offered to join the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO) and start earning around £49k to £55k in a senior commercial leadership role. There will be a wide range of opportunities available to you to help you continue developing your skills and support your career progression.
The Government Commercial Function and the commercial professionals within it are all working across the UK. This is a nationwide scheme and Commercial Fast Streamers have had the opportunity to work in a variety of locations. In fact, almost 70% of our roles are available across the UK as shown in the
So if you do apply for the Commercial Fast Stream scheme, there are plenty of postings across the UK which will give you the opportunity to develop your commercial experience working in different teams, with different cultures across different cities.
Commercial is a very diverse profession and is very much a sector where doors are there to be opened and where performance drives career progression, even beyond Fast Stream. More information
Person specification
You need, or expect to have, a 2:2 or higher in any degree subject including degree apprenticeships
Existing civil servants can apply without a degree
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
At the initial application stage you will be asked to complete some background information which will include some diversity questions - which are for monitoring purposes only and will have no bearing on selection outcomes - along with the opportunity to identify your preferences in terms of the different Fast Stream schemes. You can choose up to four.
When you apply please register with a personal email address, and not a work or university email address.
Assessment Phases
There are 3 online tests:
Using Data - In this test you will be asked to weigh up options and to make decisions on different scenarios, perform calculations, solve problems and evaluate and interpret numerical information.
Work-based scenarios - This test measures interpersonal skills, utilising video based scenarios and you are required to assess the effectiveness of various responses.
Case Study assessment - In this test you are required to take Work based scenarios on an imaginary role, learning and responding to a series of challenges and situations and adapting to the changes you are presented with.
Additional information - depending on the schemes you have chosen, there may be additional information to be completed, or an intermediate sift process.
Fast Stream Assessment Centre - if you pass the above stages you'll be invited to attend a half day assessment centre. This will be conducted virtually on line. The Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) reflects some of the key elements of a Fast Stream role and will consist of a leadership scenario, a team scenario and a written scenario. Information will be presented via an app that you will be able to access remotely.
Final Selection Board - most schemes will then require a Final Selection Board. We'll ask you to attend this final assessment if you reach the required standard at FSAC.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
- Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
