Establishment of internship in the government service for students from working-class families

• The internship program is limited to students from working-class families.
• Applications for the internship will start in July 2025.
• The government plans to reduce the number of civil servants in London.

A new internship project in the government service of the United Kingdom will be opened only for students from working-class families. This initiative aims to ensure that the civil service better reflects the demographic makeup of the population of the country.

The program will provide students from low-income backgrounds the opportunity to apply for paid internships in government departments. The definition of the term "working class" will be based on the professions of the applicants' parents, provided they were 14 years old, and replace the existing program that was open to all.

Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden noted that the aim is to attract more youth from the working class to the civil service, which will allow for a broader spectrum of talents to be represented in society. He emphasized that the government adopts better decisions when it represents and reflects the people it serves.

The program will last two months and will allow 200 students to work in a government department starting next year, with application intake beginning in July of this year. During the internship, participants will be able to engage in planning events, writing briefs for ministers, observing senior civil servants, and conducting research for policy development.

Those who wish to present themselves well may be fast-tracked to the final stages of selection for the "fast track" program after completing the training. According to recent data, only about one in ten successful candidates for the "fast track" program come from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds.

This initiative is part of a broader government plan aimed at reducing the number of civil servants in London, including plans to relocate thousands of them to new regional "hubs" across the country. In April, the government confirmed that it intends to reduce the number of civil servants in London by 12,000, which will allow for savings of 94 million pounds in rent.

Tags: Europe/Politics