“If you want a good work/life balance, want to develop yourself and your career, want to earn a decent living and do your part for your community, then join the Civil Service.”
Maqsood Khan
Senior Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service
Along with your salary, your pension is one of the most important benefits of joining the Civil Service. It provides you with financial security and options when you retire, as well as benefits for your family and loved ones.
Some of the benefits of a Civil Service pension include:
- member contribution rates among the lowest in the public sector
- tax relief on your contributions
- generous employer contributions
- a secure, inflation-proof pension for life, with no investment uncertainty
- the option of tax-free lump sum on retirement
- potential access to ill health and injury benefits if you become too ill to work
- life assurance cover
- benefits for loved ones and dependants
- options to increase your pension
- keeping all your pensions in one place by transferring in a pension you have built up elsewhere
- support from our trusted charity partners
The “Pensions 101 – what’s so good about the Civil Service pension?” podcast explains in simple terms how the pension works and what makes it great.
We want to empower you to meet your career goals. This is why we offer a wide range of learning opportunities to suit you and your needs, such as:
- coaching and mentoring
- work-based qualifications and training
- access to externally recognised qualifications, like the CIPD accredited qualification within the HR profession
- job shadowing
- access to Civil Service Learning courses and a guaranteed 5 days dedicated to your learning and development per year
- secondment and loan opportunities to help you gain experience or just try something new!
- talent programmes to get you where you want to go, whatever your career aspirations, like the Civil Service Fast Stream
The Civil Service offers an incredible range of jobs, across its departments and professions.
You could work as a vet, a teacher, a weapons engineer, a marine biologist or a web developer, to name a few examples.
Whatever you do, and wherever you work, a job in the Civil Service is an opportunity to make a difference and be recognised for your efforts.
We acknowledge your achievements and your contribution to the vital work we do by offering a variety of bonus schemes and recognition rewards.
Health, well-being and discount schemes
We provide a range of schemes, memberships, and well-being discounts to help you feel healthy and supported, in and outside of work. Things like:
- discounted gym memberships
- retail discounts
- Cycle to Work schemes
- Reward and Recognition vouchers
- technology and smartphone discounts
- a Financial Well-Being portal
The Charity for Civil Servants
The Charity for Civil Servants supports civil servants, past and present, when times are tough, listening without judgement and offering practical, financial and emotional support.
It’s easier when you and your family have got a whole community behind you.
CSSC Memberships
As a civil servant, you’ll be eligible to join the Civil Service Sports Council.
The CSSC gives you access to thousands of exclusive discounts and savings, including free, unlimited, year-round family entry to places like Cadw and English Heritage, Historic Scotland, and Kew Gardens.