Testimonials

What our people say about working for Department for Transport (DfT)

Transport policy, rail and aviation

• Air quality: Emma on helping communities across the UK
• HS2 sponsorship: Tina’s experience as a manager
• International trade: Heidi on her role in DfT
• Rail passengers: Jennifer’s work on passengers’ behalf

Science, analysis and finance

• Analysis: What motivates Adam in his work
• Finance: Akua’s role
• Science: How James uses his scientific background

Project management and communications

• Communications: Grant’s experience
• Departmental projects: Hasan on his wide range of work
• Project variety: Peter on the projects he has worked on

Career progression and regional hubs

• Apprenticeships: How Phillip built a varied Civil Service career
• Birmingham hub: Lauren’s role
• Career progression: Eleanor on her role
• Departmental transfer: Darren on moving to DfT

Tina Odedra, HS2 Sponsorship Manager

I am a Sponsorship Manager for HS2 Phase 2A and I have worked on various Rail projects for the last seven years.

Rail has something for everyone. There is such a variety of roles and professions, it’s interesting and covers everything from project delivery to people and you can make a lasting legacy. It may not look ‘sexy’ from the outside, but it has so much to offer.

DfT Rail is a great and diverse place to work and has so many opportunities to grow and develop.

Jennifer Dickson, Commercial Manager

I’m Jenny Dickinson and I am a Commercial Manager working on the West Midlands Trains National Rail Contract within Passenger Services.

I’ve been at DfT for over 5 years, starting out as an Assistant Contract Manager and over the years working on a number of high-value and complex rail contracts. The learning and development opportunities at the Department have really supported my progression. When I joined the Department, rail was a new challenge for me, and I was able to take full advantage of specialist teaching sessions provided by experts in the industry. In addition to the formal learning and development opportunities, I’ve also been lucky enough to have colleagues willing to share their own knowledge and experience. From ad hoc one-to-one meetings to wider team sessions, the learning and development of everyone are really supported and encouraged.

Collaborative working relationships are also key when working with our train operators. Ensuring the interests of passengers and taxpayers are protected means we often have to explore innovative solutions to emerging issues. This means working with a number of technical experts as well as a variety of stakeholders. The diversity of experience and backgrounds at the Department means we can make a real difference to a variety of people through our work and seeing improvements for passengers become reality is extremely rewarding.

The opportunities to work flexibly are numerous. Following maternity leave, and with my line manager’s support, I was able to move to a flexible working arrangement. This enables me to maintain a good work-life balance. I am also part of the Department’s Families Network which has been really valuable and provided me with practical information in a number of areas.

I am based in the Department’s London office but often travel to Birmingham to meet up with team members and the train operating company. I really enjoy getting out on the network and seeing what passengers experience as it brings to life the variety of contractual requirements we manage. Through my role, I’ve been involved in some exciting, high-profile events such as the Commonwealth Games, volunteering at a station to see how years of planning ensured passengers were able to safely use the rail network to attend events.

Akua Aidoo, Finance

I work as part of the Passenger Services Finance and Business Hub as a Finance Associate with responsibilities to monitor and report on Admin financial activities and well as review procurement request for financial robustness.

My day-to-day role involves managing Admin budgets, working with project teams to monitor project progress and its impact on financial risks and opportunities. This goes to support senior management decisions that helps maximise efficiency, ensuring the department continue to manage public money effectively.

DfT is a forward-looking department that offers opportunities for all skills and abilities and provides flexible working environment to suit work/life balance. Though challenging, I have found working in a finance environment very rewarding with excellent opportunities to acquire a wide range of skills which I have benefited from. This includes effective communication skills, teamworking, problem solving, leadership, organisational and many more. However, the department also offers tailored development opportunities including potential to acquire professional qualifications with management support for career development/progression.

The most interesting aspect of my role is engaging with staff at all levels providing excellent networking opportunities. I have received enormous support from my manager and team including work place adjustments that has helped me work more efficiently. There is also visibility of senior management who are readily available to offer support to all staff, taking diverse needs into consideration in their decisions and actions through collaboration with line managers to support staff better. With COVID-19 restrictions, they have continued to provide regular updates on current affairs via electronic media. They also continue to commend staff on the positive impact we make within and outside of the civil service.

I will recommend DfT as an all-round department that offers diverse opportunities, career development and excellent staff engagement that maximises productivity. Throughout these challenging times, the department has continued to engage with industry to provide efficient and safe travel experience for all.

Grant Springford, Communications

I’m Grant Springford and I lead the internal communications News, Stories and Campaigns team.

I’m part of the communications profession, but have been a civil servant for almost 30 years and in that time I’ve worked in a number of different functions and professions.

My team and I share the story of the Department – and its people – with staff. It’s also our role to signpost the information people need to be able to do their jobs.

On a typical day we’ll offer advice to staff of all grades on the best ways to share their messages. We’ll write and edit news items and help people to shape stories about their work and about them as individuals – DfT is passionate about diversity and inclusion so we are always keen to run stories about our diverse workforce.

I’ve also led on some exciting, high-level campaigns including DfT100: the campaign that celebrated the Department’s 100th anniversary.

I’d say internal communications is a crucial part of the organisation – without us there would be no central point for staff to access the information they need and it would certainly be much more difficult for them to learn more about the breadth of the Department’s work and the achievements of its people.

One of the great things about being a civil servant is to move around and have the opportunity to experience different roles and professions, picking up valuable new skills along the way.

I’ve worked in a number of Government Departments in my career but DfT is, without a doubt, the best place I’ve worked. The Department has a great, friendly culture that actively celebrates diversity and inclusion, flexible working and takes wellbeing seriously. We also have access to a range of L&D programmes and opportunities.

I can honestly say no two days are the same here at DfT! It’s great to work in an environment where I can try new and creative ways to provide internal communications to staff.

My role’s a busy one but very rewarding. I have a fantastic team and a very supportive manager and senior leadership team. Every day I get to work with truly inspiring people of all grades and walks of life.

Transport is important to everyone so I think one of the best things about working at DfT is the knowledge that no matter who you are or what you do, you really are making a massive difference.

Peter Parr, Project Delivery

I’ve worked at DfT for a little over 20 years, starting out in policy, and moving into Knowledge & Information Management. I am now based in the Department’s Hastings office and work in a project management role.

Since becoming a Project Manager in the Department’s Digital Service three years ago, I’ve managed a variety of exciting projects. In my first project management role, I oversaw the Department’s preparations for the new General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, ensuring we achieved compliance with the new rules by the time they came into force. Since then, I’ve managed the rollout of new software applications across the Department.

We completed the rollout of Microsoft Teams on schedule in March 2020, just as the country was about to enter lock-down, meaning that DfT staff – who overnight found themselves needing to work full-time from home – could continue to collaborate effectively with one another, even though face-to-face meetings were no longer possible. I am now overseeing the implementation of an App which will enable staff returning to work in the office to book a desk, ensuring safe social distancing is maintained.

For me, the ability to maintain a good work-life balance is one of the major selling points of working at DfT. Back in 2006, with my line manager’s support, I switched to working a four-day week. It’s a pattern I’ve maintained ever since, enabling me to combine a rewarding career with interests outside of work – I’ve just published my second novel. More and more staff are taking up the opportunity to work flexibly – with managers rightly placing value on people doing a good job, rather than on what hours they are physically present in the office, or where they are based. The Department also provides the tools (hardware and software) needed to help make remote working a success.

I’ve also benefited from plentiful opportunities for learning and development. For example, I participated in a year-long programme designed to equip project managers with the confidence and skills to move into more senior project management roles. In my career at DfT, I’ve never had a request to undertake learning and development activity be refused.

Lauren, Delivery Lead, Accessible and Inclusive Travel Division

Originally from Wolverhampton, I’ve been a Civil Servant for over 6 years with the majority of this time spent in the West Midlands. I have never been based in the London office. I joined the Civil Service graduate programme (the Fast Stream) in 2017 and then was recruited to DfT through the same route as this campaign (Grade 7 Senior Policy Advisors) in 2020. In this time, I have built my confidence massively by having the opportunity to work on three very different and interesting policy areas:

• Union connectivity – examining the strategic connections between the four parts of the UK; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and what changes might be needed to improve them
• Skills and the labour market – working directly with experts from business and education to tackle some longstanding skills and employment issues facing the entire transport sector, for example boosting the diversity of the workforce, improving transport’s “image” to highlight the types of careers people can have, and understanding the types of roles that will be needed in the future, especially in the context of the climate crisis
• Disabled people’s access to transport – working in the team that supports the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, ensuring that policymakers in DfT understand the perspectives of disabled people and factor this into the services they deliver

DfT’s Birmingham office is a fantastic place to work. My colleagues and I moved into a new office space in early 2023 that has been carefully designed – with our input – by an immensely dedicated team. The office is spacious and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows letting in an impressive amount of daylight! There are lots of types of workstations, from your traditional desks (half of these can become “standing desks” with the touch of a button), meeting rooms of all sizes, informal spaces for quick meetings and private conversations, a “quiet carriage” where no calls are allowed, and more. And the community is fantastic as well; a really warm group of people working in a huge range of transport roles. There are many additional things to get involved with too:

• The Midlands Network – run by DfT Birmingham colleagues who put on socials, cultural outings, sessions to have lunch together and more
• Birmingham Community Champions – raising the profile of Birmingham across DfT and making it an even better place to work
• Birmingham Mental Health First Aiders – a group of trained colleagues who can be approached any time to talk about mental health and any issues you might be having
• Birmingham Clubs – too many to mention including book club, board game club, running club and more.

Darren Freezor, Head of Insurance, Technology and Enforcement Legislation

I joined the Civil Service in 2009, before that I studied firstly for a History Degree and then for a law Degree

Looking back, it has been quite a journey. Three Departments, seven jobs and lots of learning… from AO to Grade 7; from private office, to policy work, to leading UK delegations to the UN.

I worked in the House of Lords Chief Whips Office as Parliamentary Officer. This was front of house and through this I got to know many amazing people and learnt how everything works in Parliament – the House was great in the learning offered. Within a year, I was promoted to EO as an Assistant Private Secretary (APS). This was a big jump, because I was APS for four Government Lords Whips covering many Departments. The work was varied, interesting and gave me my first taste of primary legislation (European Union Act 2011).

In my first policy role, I joined the Department for Energy and Climate Change as their Ministerial and Policy Coordinator for the International Climate Change Directorate at HEO level. These were exciting times at the Department, and I was fortunate to be involved in the international climate change negotiations that happen at the UN, and finished my stint at the Department with the publication of the Governments plans for the Paris climate talks that concluded with the “Paris Agreement”.

Then I moved to the Department for Transport and haven’t looked back, over my 5 years here. It is truly a great Department to work for, and its work is varied beyond people’s assumptions of what we do. I joined the Dangerous Goods Division – holding two roles as an HEO and then SEO.

I had my first taste of management. There isn’t a handbook… lots of courses though, and great support to help you develop as a manager. I have fond memories of working in the Dangerous Goods Division and the opportunities to develop policy; focused mainly at the international level where the regulations are negotiated at the United Nations. This involved working closely with UK stakeholders to develop UK positions, and at the meetings helped me to develop my negotiating skills.

This journey has helped me to excel in my 18 months as a Grade 7, where I am in my second role and lead a team of seven amazing individuals working on an exciting portfolio. A portfolio that covers domestic and international policy development, and everything from the safe introduction of automated vehicles, to developing motor insurance interventions, to reviewing the road traffic laws that underpin areas as broad as mobile phone use and failure to stop, to negotiating the Geneva and Vienna conventions on road traffic.

To deliver, I work closely with other parts of the Department, cross Whitehall and with external stakeholders to develop policy interventions and have experienced work on primary and secondary legislation as well as carrying out public consultations.

I highly recommend working for the Department for Transport. I enjoy leading a talented and professional team, who take real pride in their work. The work I do is challenging and varied and I am constantly pushed to develop and improve, and encouraged to carry on up the career ladder.