Read how our Policy Profession operates throughout HMRC. Learn more about our Policy Apprenticeship and what’s involved.
Policy Profession
Policy professionals in HMRC work in partnership with other HMRC teams and the Treasury to develop new tax policies. These policies help deliver government priorities, maintain the tax system and customs regime. They also make sure our legislation continues to achieve its intended outcomes.
Working within the Policy Profession
The work can be varied. We consult with the public and our partners work with internal specialists (such as lawyers and IT teams) to advise Ministers and create policies. This allows us to design new legislation, and help communicate and embed new rules. We deliver policy solutions to work as part of our legislation and as practical changes for those affected.
Some policy professionals work in joint policy and technical advisor roles. They have greater involvement in the technical design of new legislation. They also advise colleagues on the most difficult tax questions and support cases through the Taxes Tribunals and Courts.
Our community of Policy Professionals
As a professional community, we support each other to fulfil our roles to the highest standard. We know that we’re at our best when we can bring varied experiences and ideas into our work, so actively encourage those from a range of backgrounds and careers to join us in the profession.
There is an exciting and varied range of careers within policy in HMRC, all underpinned by a framework detailing the skills you will develop to support you in your career and make a real difference to the UK and its citizens.
We have a comprehensive learning offer for policy professionals, ranging from one-day courses on core skills, internally run courses such as Tax Policy School, policy apprenticeships, and leadership development programmes.
Read more below about our apprenticeships to see where your career could take you!
Our Policy Apprenticeships
A policy apprenticeship is your chance to learn on the job, building the skills, knowledge and confidence to become a policy professional.
It’s a Level 4 qualification, equivalent to a foundation degree, which is accredited and managed by a Civil Service approved training provider.
The programme lasts 18 months, 80% of which will be in the role, 20% will be learning – things such as one-to-one tutorials, researching and preparing assignments and shadowing others. By the end, you’ll have a nationally recognised qualification, transferrable skills, and a solid foundation for a career in policy.
You can find information about the Level 4 Policy Officer Apprenticeship Programme on the Skills England website.
Apprenticeship Placements
Our apprenticeship involves placements, which will be in one of the following areas:
Indirect Tax has policy responsibility for VAT, Excise & Environmental taxes and we play a key role in delivering significant revenues to the UK Exchequer, contributing to the funding of vital public services. As well as making a significant contribution to public finances, our taxes make an important contribution towards the government’s wider social, health and environmental objectives. These are our Deputy Director led teams:
- Excise and Environmental taxes
- Strategy Planning and Performance
- VAT Fraud and Transition Readiness
- VAT Infrastructure and Soft Drinks Industry Levy
- VAT Principles and Risks
- VAT Reliefs, and Deductions and Financial Services
Business, Assets and International’s role is to:
- Develop and implement policies to boost revenue, reduce avoidance and ensure fairness.
- Support UK economic growth through targeted reliefs and efficient administration.
- Tackle non-compliance, error and fraud by identifying risks and collaborating with compliance and customer service teams.
- Provide expert support for compliance and litigation, including technical advice and valuations.
- Strengthen international tax transparency by enhancing global cooperation, combating multinational avoidance, and enforcing the ‘No safe Havens’ strategy against off-shore evasion.
Our Intermediaries Directorate exists to build trust in the tax system by ensuring intermediaries operate fairly and effectively – adding value for customers and helping HMRC collect the right tax efficiently.
As one of five core principles in HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap, better intermediation is central to closing the tax gap and improving performance, backed by significant investment in the Spending Review period.
We do this by:
- Advancing our commitment to a trusted tax administration.
- Shaping and implementing strategies for effective intermediation.
- Supporting tax payer compliance and improving their experience through efficient, fair intermediary services.
- Maximising the value intermediaries bring while minimising risks and ensuring robust support systems.
- Driving change across HMRC by addressing intermediary related challenges.
Show video transcript
- [Text on screen: Joseph, Senior Strategy Advisor, Surprise in your opportunities]
- [Joseph, Senior Strategy Advisor] I'm Joseph, the Senior Strategy Advisor based in our Stratford Regional Centre. I joined HMRC straight out of sixth form in 2019 at the age of 18, a couple of days before my 19th birthday. Starting as a policy apprentice, I delved into VAT policy, and I was both surprised and proud to gain a promotion after just one year in the role. I was given the opportunity to lead on some interesting and high-profile pieces of work, mainly around the Brexit transitional period, and I also contributed to the Chancellor's policy request on energy saving materials, something I never thought I would get the opportunity to do as an apprentice. After completing my apprenticeship scheme in 2022, I was lucky enough to secure another promotion, shaping our organisations strategy as a Senior Strategy Advisor. Outside of my day-to-day role is where my passion really lies. I spearhead initiatives like supporting the Young Asian Woman and Young Black Man Projects, which help tackle unemployment in the areas and also encourage people like me to join HMRC. All this hard work has led to incredible recognition, in which I was named HMRC Apprentice Ambassador of the Year and clinched The Apprentice of the Year award at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2023. Choosing an apprenticeship scheme and joining HMRC straight out of sixth form was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I can't wait to see what other diverse opportunities the future holds for me within HMRC.
- [Text on screen: People. Purpose. Potential.]
Policy Apprentice to Senior Strategy Advisor: Joseph’s career success at HMRC
“I was looking for a new challenge and career in the Civil Service. The structured programme reassured me with relevant learning and development support. Earning while learning was a bonus! I’m a planner, but at first, I felt torn between work and learning. Marking a set day for apprentice tasks helped me stay on track. If I finished early, I’d bank hours for revision—this worked well.
Networking was my favourite part – I created an Apprentice Network bringing apprentices together. We had 1200 members when I stepped down, and it’s still going strong!
I enjoyed learning, especially seeing theory in action on my team. Job shadowing and cross-team work expanded my network. I said yes to every opportunity to build
skills and apply theory. I secured a promotion during my apprenticeship, then joined HMRC’s graduate programme TSP, which ends with a Grade 7 promotion. My top tips: ask questions, be curious, and get involved in projects beyond your team. Support each other – study together, share experiences. Alumni offer advice through monthly drop-ins, peer mentoring, and more!”
Nikki – Policy professional – HMRC
“The apprenticeship offered valuable foundational insight into policy. The breadth of knowledge was made easier to understand with practical learning and supportive workshops, with people who had years of experience. My career progression was made possible by virtue of both.
There was an appreciation and acknowledgement of the value of the apprenticeship when applying for roles, as it demonstrated a keenness for learning and quickness to understand policy dynamics and lifecycles.
I found the course challenging at times, as the bulk of it was dependent upon self-study, however the support of a good talent coach aided the development of a structured approach to learning.
I would advise anyone who is interested in the apprenticeship to be aware of this and be prepared to put in the work and study required to complete a course that will inevitably open doors and lead to a strong career in policy.”
Rownak – Policy professional – HMRC
“Before starting my current role, I aspired to work in policy, but breaking into the sector was difficult due to my lack of experience while working in an operational delivery role. When I saw my current position advertised alongside an apprenticeship, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed for a policy career.
During the apprenticeship, I completed modules such as ‘Programme and Project Management’ and ‘Stakeholder Consultation,’ but the most engaging was one focused on Parliament. We explored its role in policymaking, hearing from a guest speaker, who shared his extensive experience working in Parliament with an MP.
The apprenticeship has been both enjoyable and enriching, offering not only skill development but also valuable networking opportunities. A standout moment was attending an event with the Policy Professional Unit in Sheffield, where I collaborated with other apprentices to design a policy on hydroponic towers and presented it to a panel of professionals.
With the support of my line manager, I’ve been able to align workplace tasks with the apprenticeship’s criteria, boosting my confidence and helping me apply what I’ve learned. Managing the workload can be challenging, but setting aside a dedicated day each week has helped, and my team has been very supportive. Overall, the apprenticeship has significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone with the opportunity to take part.”
Zainab – Policy professional – HMRC
Help preparing for your interview
Show video transcript
- [Text on screen: Master your online interview]
- We know video interviews can feel a bit different, but with some preparation you can really shine.
- [Text on screen: What to expect]
- Your interview will be on Teams. You'll receive a link to it via e-mail. Our team will chat to you live on screen and seek to understand how you approach situations and your potential for the role. Our questions will focus on three Civil Service behaviours.
- [Text on screen: reliability, positive attitude, effective communication, analytical thinking, decision making] Civil Service behaviours are all about how you do things, not just what you know. Think of them as the qualities or good working habits that we think make a great team member and a problem solver.
- [Text on screen: Preparing for your interview]
- [Text on screen: Make notes. Review job description. Match skills and experience. Achievements I’m proud of. Why I want this job. Why I’d be great.] Give yourself a few days before the interview to review the job description and consider how your skills and experience meets the role requirements. Note down relevant achievements you're proud of. You can take these examples from across your education projects, volunteering, community activities, sports clubs, social settings or previous jobs. Think back to what attracted you to this role and why you think you'd be a great fit.
- [Text on screen: The STAR method]
- Your behaviour based interview questions will ask for examples of past experiences to demonstrate your skills and potential. The STAR method helps you structure your answers clearly and effectively and helps to make full use of the interview timings to showcase your skills. STAR stands for S situation, T task, A action and R result. Situation, set the scene by briefly describing the context of your example. Task, clearly explain your responsibility, task or goal. What did you need to achieve? Outline any challenges or obstacles you faced. Action, this is the most important part. Describe the specific actions that you took. What steps did you take? How did you approach the task? Why did you approach the task in this way? Who did you talk to? What considerations did you have to take into account? Focus on your actions, not the teams. And Result, explain the results of your actions. What was achieved? What was the outcome? What was the positive impact of your actions? What did you learn? If possible, use numbers to quantify your results.
- [Text on screen: What does this look like in practice?]
- [Text on screen: Example of Team Work using STAR method. S: Situation – Setting scene] Here's an example of using the star method situation. Set the Scene. During my final year at school, our class was assigned the task of organising a charity event. We decided to hold the bake sale to raise money.
- [Text on screen: Example of Team Work using STAR method. T: Task – Explain what your task was] Task. My specific task was to coordinate the bake sale. This involved planning the event, organising the bakers and ensuring we raised a significant amount of money.
- [Text on screen: Example of Team Work using STAR method. A: Action – Whats step’s did you take?] Action. I began by creating a sign up sheet to gauge interest among my classmates. I then scheduled a planning meeting to discuss dates, times and responsibilities. I delegated tasks, ensuring everyone had a clear role. I created advertising posters and communicated to the school about the event. During the sale, I helped to manage the sales and ensure everything ran smoothly.
- [Text on screen: Example of Team Work using STAR method. R: Result – What did your actions achieve?] Result. The bake sale was a success. We raised £200 for the shelter, exceeding our initial goal. I received positive feedback from my classmates and teachers. I learned the importance of clear communication, delegation and teamwork in achieving a common goal.
- [Text on screen: Important! Use your full interview time to answer our questions. This is your opportunity to show us why you’d be a great fit for the job. We need more than one sentence!] Most importantly, make sure you use all of your interview time to really showcase your skills and qualities. Don't just give one sentence responses to our questions. Take this opportunity to really sell yourself.
- [Two people filming themselves to practise. One using a laptop, the other using a mobile phone on a stand] Practise makes perfect. Practise using the STAR method with your examples from your experiences. Ask friend, family member or careers advisor to help you practise or practise alone until you feel comfortable.
- [Text on screen: Starting your interview]
- [Text on screen: On the day] Check your device is fully charged or plugged in. Check if your internet connection, camera and microphone. Dress as you would for a face to face interview. Position your camera at eye level. Do not use AI to generate your responses. We want to assess your authentic answers.
- [Text on screen: Tips for success!] It's fine to take a short moment to think about your best example for the question before giving your response. It's OK to have some water handy. Make use of it if you need it. It's fine to have some brief notes to refer to, but don't read from the script. Show your skills. You may have limited work experience, but you do have skills. Think about communication, teamwork and problem solving. Be positive, let your enthusiasm shine through. Look at the camera, it creates a connection. Smile, it shows confidence. Speak clearly and take your time. Relax, take deep breaths. Be yourself. We want to see your genuine personality. If attending the interview is nerve racking, a mindfulness exercise, short walk or even a stretch may help beforehand. Do factor this in if you need to. One last thing, if you're a school leaver, we understand you may have limited work experience, but we value the skills you've gained in school and from other activities. We are looking for potential. Just remember, take time with your application and good luck.
- [Text on screen: People. Purpose. Potential.]
Master your online interview
Frequently Asked Questions when applying for Policy Apprenticeships
I have a university degree, can I apply?
Yes, so long as it is not in policy and/or politics and you meet our eligibility requirements. For example, if you have an undergraduate degree in business administration, you can apply. For those who have a mixed degree, if 50% or more of your degree is policy and/or politics, you will not be eligible to apply.
If I’m made an offer, is there a probation period?
Candidates new to the Civil Service will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. This period gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are suitable for the job and are able to achieve and maintain our expected standards of performance, attendance, conduct and behaviour. Your manager will guide and support you and provide encouragement to succeed. However, if your performance, attendance, and conduct are not satisfactory throughout the probation period you may be dismissed. If you are transferring from another government department, the probation period you have already served will be considered.
Is the salary negotiable?
Full time non-civil servants will start at the minimum of the salary range. Civil servants appointed on level transfer will normally retain their existing salary, but this is dependent on location and any other elements of existing salary. Civil servants appointed on promotion will receive the salary range minimum or 10% uplift of existing salary (whichever is higher), subject to the range maximum. Salary for part-time staff is pro-rata.
How will I be contacted?
We will contact you by email, and via your Civil Service Jobs account. Please check all your inboxes including your junk/spam folder. You will also need to frequently check your Civil Service Jobs account. We may also contact you by telephone using 03000 numbers, which can be displayed as “Withheld”.
Is relevant work experience needed before I apply to join HMRC?
No. We are looking to your future, not your past. Our selection process looks at your capabilities, potential and evidence of skills that could have been gained anywhere.
What documents do I need to bring to the interview?
When other government department and external candidates book their interview through the Civil Service Jobs portal they will be sent confirmation of what they need to bring to interview to satisfy the identity, nationality and right to work checks. HMRC candidates need to bring their building pass to their interview. If you are successful in this post, you will need to provide evidence of the required qualifications before a job offer is made.
What happens if I fail to complete the Policy Apprenticeship Programme?
Completing the apprenticeship is a key part of your job with us. That means if you don’t finish it, your employment could be at risk. But don’t worry – we’re here to support you every step of the way to help you succeed.
Will I receive feedback on my application?
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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