Learn more about the Civil Service in Scotland
The UK Government is relocating a significant number of civil service roles to Scotland. This follows the recent announcement that the Cabinet Office has established a second flagship HQ in Glasgow. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is also set to bolster joint-headquarters in East Kilbride with extra staff.
This move will bring the heart of the UK Government closer to the communities it serves, and strengthen diversity in the UK Civil Service.
Show video transcript
- [Patricia Dreghorn – Chief executive officer of Government Security Group] This is happening now because feedback, research, surveys suggest to us that the people across the United Kingdom feel underrepresented. They feel that a huge amount of investment goes into particular regions across the UK. At the moment we can be quite restricted to the roles and the departments that are available in the different regions. As we move towards rolling out more and more and more of the levelling up agenda we will be able to create a flow of opportunities for everyone as opposed to the few that happen to be located in the correct locations.
- [Naz Ashiq – Chair of the HM Revenue and Customs Glasgow Race Network] Working for a Civil Service role and what these jobs will mean for development, personally I work for the Civil Service and for me having these job roles in Scotland means that the opportunities for me, for my colleagues, it means that we don’t need to move to London for the same opportunities. So far, if you want the same career progression you need to uplift, pack your suitcase and go down south but now for everyone in Scotland it means that there’s going to be quality in the job market. That is what we all have wanted for a very long time and it’s great it’s happening now.
- [Patricia] This is good news for Scotland because Scotland has, at an economic level, a huge amount of talent in the information technology space and in the banking sector. If you wanted a role where you’re working with ministers, where you’re developing policy, where you’re perhaps using what you learned at university you have to move further south. Particularly in the past you’ve had to move to the South East. So the levelling up agenda is about opening up opportunities to everybody, ensuring that all skills, all people have the same opportunity to influence various aspects of the Civil Service. When you open it up into communities that previously were not heard because their voices are not represented within the overall organisation, it allows us to shape things to reach communities in a much much broader way. I think there’s the economic impact but there’s also the cause and effect that those voices will actually enrich policy.
- [Tammie Bailey – Civil Service Local co-ordinator for Scotland and Northern Ireland] All different types of people can thrive as a civil servant. In 20 years as a civil servant I’ve came across many different characters, many different people from different cultures, different backgrounds and different age groups.
- [Patricia] What makes a good civil servant? I would say someone who wants to do the right thing. I think integrity and a passion for service delivery, and a passion for ensuring that everything you do adds values. Whether that be about value for money or about value of service for the public if you’re in a public facing role, or whether that be about thinking through the cause and effect of some of the policies that you’re designing and administering. So if you’re committed, if you’re driven, if you’re hard-working, there’s no reason you can’t excel in the Civil Service regardless of your background, regardless of your culture, regardless of your education.
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. It works with partners to deliver vital public services which provide real benefits and impact for the people of Scotland.
The Civil Service career offer
When you begin your career in the Civil Service you will join an inclusive team, with exciting opportunities to help shape what happens within society.
In recent years, civil servants have worked on areas that have had a big impact on citizens, including the COVID-19 response, EU exit and international trade, cyber security, and the economy, to name a few.
The UK Civil Service offers many different avenues for potential applicants to join our organisation, including the Civil Service Fast Stream and Civil Service Apprenticeships.
Have a look, and see if any of them are right for you.
“The Civil Service has a wealth of career opportunities in Scotland”
Tammy Baillie
Head of Delivery and Engagement
Places for Growth team
Did you know?
Currently, 10 percent of all UK civil servants work in Scotland, with access to a growing pool of roles, and career development pathways for progression to the Senior Civil Service.
Where could you work?
- HM Revenue and Customs
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Cabinet Office
- Ministry of Defence
- Home Office
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Key Scotland locations
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Aberdeen
- Inverness
- East Kilbride
- Rosyth
- Falkirk
- Cumbernauld
