Written Exercise
You will play the role of a fast streamer overseeing a project. You will have 55 minutes to review information and complete 4 written tasks.
We are looking for your ability to:
- analyse information critically while considering its wider context
- identify issues and explain priorities
- communicate your thoughts clearly and succinctly using the template you are given
You do not need specialist knowledge of the policy area. All the information you need will be provided on the day.
This exercise shares the same overarching theme as the Oral Briefing Exercise, but the exercises are marked independently.
What we’re looking for
We assess your potential across 4 dimensions: Think, Relate, Adapt, and Strive.
Think: How you gather, process and analyse information.
We look for your ability to look beyond your immediate task to notice patterns and how different ideas connect.
This dimension is about how you consider the wider impact of your work.
Relate: Your interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
We look at how you manage your emotions, engage with others, communicate effectively and contribute to teamwork.
This dimension is about collaboration, whilst fostering inclusivity and valuing diverse perspectives.
Adapt: Your flexibility and learning agility
We look at how you navigate change, apply new information quickly to solve problems and suggest fresh approaches as things evolve.
This dimension is about being agile and thinking outside the box.
Strive: Your drive and values
We look for passion, resilience in tough situations and commitment to owning your work.
This dimension is about how you stay focused on your goals and turn setbacks into a positive learning experience.
How to prepare
You do not need to prepare extensively, as all the materials you need will be provided on the day.
To familiarise yourself with the process, you can:
- review the example Written Exercise
- practise identifying main risks and goals in news articles or reports within a 55-minute time limit
- look at project plans or team surveys to see how different pieces of information fit together
- practise adjusting your writing style for different audiences, such as senior managers who need a concise update or team members who need a supportive tone
- seek feedback from various sources on your written work to refine your skills.
Tips for the day
- Create a focused environment: Find somewhere quiet with a comfortable temperature and a suitable workspace.
- Manage your time: You may want to spend 20 minutes reviewing the pack and 35 minutes writing your responses – whatever works best for you.
- Use the materials provided: Focus on the scenario in the brief. Try not to use external knowledge or real-world issues and developments.
- Be clear: use bullet points and short paragraphs to get your point across. Remember, your goal is to inform and influence the reader.
- Analyse critically: uncover key patterns within the data, navigate the conflicting opinions and complexities, and deliver a balanced, evidence-based response.
Important: You will receive a template in Microsoft Word via email. Ensure you can access your email account before you begin.
Example of the Written Exercise
Here is an example of the exercise – however, the actual exercise will have different content.
Background context
You are a new fast streamer in the Department for Intergenerational Fairness. This Department advises, evaluates, proposes, and supports the implementation of policies ensuring that all generations benefit from government actions.
You are tasked with addressing a critical issue for young people: access to affordable housing. This challenge remains acute, with soaring house prices, unprecedented homelessness rates, and a population growing at 1.7% annually. The scarcity of affordable homes is particularly pronounced in areas where young people need to live for work. The social housing sector is oversubscribed, and private rental options often offer substandard living conditions, unsuitable for those looking to settle down and start families.
The lack of affordable housing contributes to the perception among those under 30 that they lack a stake in the economic prosperity of British society. The government’s plan to revise the UK’s planning rules is a key long-term strategy to address this crisis, though it may take three to five years to see tangible benefits. In the meantime, housing bodies, local authorities, and homelessness charities are urging immediate action, including exploring innovative and alternative solutions.
A think tank, ‘Infrastructure Futures’, has proposed several innovative ideas for addressing immediate housing needs. These proposals, which the government is considering for pilot implementation, focus on leveraging new technologies and reimagining living spaces. The technological innovations include 3D printing of modular components, off-site construction with lightweight materials, robotics for heavy construction tasks, drone technology for surveys, and advanced materials like ‘green concrete’ that support environmental sustainability. Additionally, the proposals suggest using neglected urban spaces to create new housing opportunities.
The government remains open-minded about these ideas, recognising their potential to impact significantly housing shortages within three years, and to alleviate pressure on the broader housing market. Before proceeding with any pilot projects, you have been tasked with reviewing initial polling data and stakeholder feedback to understand public and stakeholder attitudes and develop ideas that might address any concerns.
Your task
Read the following information and then complete the following tasks:
- Make a recommendation in writing to the Minister for Housing and Urban Development on which option, if any, to pursue and why.
- Write an email to the Head of Homes for All, to explain your recommendations and to address their concerns and reassure them.
- Write a social media post to advertise the benefits of the project to young people
You should now review the provided materials.
Information on the provided materials
There are 7 pieces information to support you in completing this task
Item 1. Further information on the policy
| Housing policy components | Summary description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floating Homes | Innovative two-bedroom homes built on water to reduce inner-city density. Includes split-level, open-plan living. | Innovative, space-saving, flood-resistant, and energy-efficient. Mix of social and market-rate housing. | Potential environmental impact on riverbeds, construction complexities, long-term sustainability concerns, and high initial costs. |
| Homes above Railways | Apartment blocks and commercial facilities above railway tracks, featuring one-bedroom units. | Efficient use of space in city centres, close to public transport, reduced car usage and emissions, uses innovative construction methods. | Noise and vibration issues, limited residential project experience, high costs from insulation techniques, potential job losses in construction. |
| Evolving Homes | Modular homes that can grow with the family, offering flexibility and adaptability | Flexible and adaptable, affordable, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly materials. | Challenges in adding units and energy efficiency, issues with relocating homes, difficulty finding available land. |
| Underground Homes | Apartments in existing subterranean spaces (e.g., unused tube stations) in prime locations. | Utilises existing underground spaces, lower energy needs, safer from external weather impacts. | Health concerns from artificial light, safety concerns (collapse, evacuation), high excavation costs. |
| Shipping Container Homes | Sustainable ‘pod’ homes using recycled containers on landscaped sites, extendable by combining units. | Sustainable, cost-effective, recycles existing materials, easily adaptable and scalable. | Insulation and ventilation issues, short lifespan (3-5 years), quality concerns with recycled materials. |
Item 2. Government’s key objectives
Although efficient construction costs, minimal environmental impact and making use of innovative, ground-breaking approaches that challenge accepted building practices are key, other criteria of importance to the UK Government are:
- Target population: the solution needs to target those individuals in greatest need of affordable housing.
- Tenure type: will the housing be used for shared ownership, affordable rent or social rent?
- Supporting the growth of the UK construction industry
- Supporting the UK technology sector with potential benefits for export of UK expertise
Item 3. Summary of Speech by Francine Wainwright, Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Many young (under 30) and middle-aged people in the UK can’t afford homes, despite having good jobs, due to a long-standing failure to build enough. The government plans to address this by exploring new building methods and redefining homes, aiming to increase affordable housing from the current 12% of new builds. This initiative targets diverse groups and seeks to stimulate growth in the construction sector, emphasising innovation, sustainability, and skill development.
Item 4. Head of Homes for All (charity for the poorest / most marginalised in society)
The government’s new housing programme aims to boost affordable housing but hasn’t clarified how these new homes will be allocated among shared ownership, affordable rent, and social rent options. Shared ownership combines aspects of buying and renting, affordable rent is limited to 80% of market rates, and social rent is capped at 50%. The income-based eligibility criteria for these housing types, particularly the lower threshold for social rent, may not adequately support the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, homeless, and single-parent families, potentially favouring young professionals.
Item 5. From Construction News (UK) “How to make Britain’s Construction Industry Future Proof”
Traditional house building methods have seen little change in the past century, resulting in lower productivity compared to other sectors. Adopting modern techniques, such as offsite prefabrication and digitisation, can significantly reduce waste, inefficiencies, and construction time, which also addresses skill shortages by requiring fewer on-site workers. Utilising new technologies can potentially double the construction speed compared to traditional methods.
Item 6. From The Department for Business Innovation
The dual impact of embracing innovative construction techniques and addressing domestic issues such as housing shortages and sustainability, can significantly enhance the UK’s economic growth and global standing through opening up new export markets.
Item 7. Opinion polls
Opinion polls and social media reactions show mixed views on the housing proposals. Some believe the initiative marginalises those needing decent housing and should focus on fundamental issues like student debt and job stability. Others worry it might lower housing standards, while a few see it as a practical short-term solution for young people’s housing challenges.
What does a good candidate response look like?
- Write in a clear manner. Your responses should be easy to follow, with minimal errors in spelling and grammar (minimal in terms of frequency and impact)
- Tailor your tone and style to fit the specific stakeholders
- Address stakeholder concerns directly. Your communications should demonstrate that you genuinely understand their views of concerns
- Make explicit confident recommendations. Your rationale should be clearly explained in writing
- Reference the Government’s key objectives in your recommendations