Menu
Departments
Back to main menu
Professions
Back to main menu
Life in the Civil Service
Back to main menu

The Civil Service

What do Civil Servants say?

Entry Routes
Back to main menu

Early Careers

Experienced Hires

Supported Schemes

Application Guidance
Back to main menu

Applying for a Job

Supporting your Application

Find the right schemes for you
Register your interest
How to apply
Back to Civil Service Fast Stream
Additional Information
Back to Civil Service Fast Stream

Project Delivery
scheme

Scheme duration

3.5 years

Location

UK wide

Scheme overview

On the Project Delivery Fast Stream, you’ll develop professional skills to help deliver the most exciting projects happening in the UK.

About the scheme

As a Project Delivery fast streamer, you will enjoy an unprecedented scale and challenge across the work you are involved in. There are a wide variety of opportunities available to work on projects that deliver huge benefits and improvements to our society, from building hospitals and railways, to providing cutting-edge digital services. These projects are transforming the way we live and work and have a positive impact on people across the UK.

Joining the Project Delivery Fast Stream will give you the chance to build professional project skills whilst playing an active role in some of the most significant projects across the globe.

You can find out more about Government Project Delivery here and here.

Entry requirements

  • you need to be eligible to work in the UK
  • you need, or expect to receive, a 2:2 or higher in any degree subject including degree apprenticeships
  • existing civil servants can apply without a degree

Demystifying the Project Delivery scheme

What you’ll experience

You will enjoy fast paced projects of unparalleled scale and complexity. This 3.5 year programme will give you experience across the entire project life cycle. Each posting will allow you to build on your core skills in project delivery.

Project Delivery is split into 3 main areas, Project, Programme and Portfolio Management. You can expect to undertake roles in at least 2 of these areas during your time on the scheme in a variety of roles.

These are just some of the roles and projects that our current fast streamers are working on:

Projects such as these will allow you to learn a range of skills and methodologies that will support you in becoming a future leader of the Civil Service. Successful completion of the scheme, with promotion, will see you earn between £45K and £55K.

The scheme is 3.5 years in length, with two one-year postings in years 1-2, and your 3rd post will be a maximum of 18 months.

Your progression will be assessed at the end of each year to ensure you are on track for the end of the scheme. In month 36 you will undertake your Grade 7 assessment and if successful will be able to apply for Grade 7 roles across government, whilst continuing your final Fast Stream post until you secure a role.

Supporting your learning

  • access to a mentor from within the Project Delivery profession (this will generally be a Project Delivery Professional with many years of experience)
  • bi-weekly learning sessions with the Project Delivery Fast Stream team
  • support from your activity manager with day-to-day activities
  • annual Project Delivery Fast Stream conference
  • attend Fast Stream learning events for you to develop your leadership skills
  • undertake project management qualifications relevant to your placements. Qualifications include:
  • APM PMQ Practitioner
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner
  • Agile PM Practitioner 
  • MoR Practitioner (Management of Risk) 
  • MsP Practitioner (Managing Successful Programmes).

You can hear more from our Project Delivery fast streamers on our YouTube channel here and by following the Project Delivery team on X: @pdemergtalent

Eve Chan discusses the switch from a STEM degree and lab work to being a Project Delivery fast streamer.

Read Eve’s case study

“The Project Delivery scheme offered the chance to make real and impactful contributions to some of the world’s most innovative and intricate projects.”

Eve Chan

Project Delivery fast streamer

Project Delivery fast streamer, Mohammed

The benefits you’ll enjoy

You’ll have a unique chance to work on issues that really matter, and to gain experience internally and externally. It’s the best foundation for promotion and long-term career progression.

Other benefits include the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional qualifications, flexible working, season ticket loans, sports and social activities, childcare vouchers and more.

Scheme placement details

Show more

12 month placement.

Working on a government project, programme or portfolio in a Project Support Officer role to give you a broad understanding of project delivery to help you succeed in your career.

12 month placement.

You will be working on a government project, programme or portfolio, in a “Specialist or Business Analysis and Change” role (as defined in the Project Delivery Capability Framework)

Up to 18 months placement.

In your final year you’ll undertake another placement working on a government project, programme or portfolio. You will be working in a “Leadership” role (as defined in the Project Delivery Capability Framework)

In the final year, a small proportion of Project Delivery fast streamers may be aligned to Business Analysis roles to help us build additional capability in this area.

Explore the schemes

See all the Fast Stream schemes

Discover the stories

See all Fast Stream case studies

Understand the process

Read about the application process