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Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment 2005

Published by the Cabinet Office, April 2006

• Introduction and Explanatory Notes
  • Some explanatory notes
• Headline Figures
• Developments during the year
• The new Graduate Fast Stream selection process 2005
• Diversity

Introduction

The Civil Service Fast Stream is a training and development programme for talented graduates, selected on the basis of their potential to reach the Senior Civil Service. The Civil Service recruits to the Fast Stream on the basis of fair and open competition and selection on merit.

This report summarises the results of the 2005 recruitment schemes (those completed in the year ending November 2005), and the main developments during the period under review.

• 2005 Fast Stream Recruitment Report in full [PDF 430KB, 22 pages]

Some explanatory notes

The Fast Stream consists of four separate schemes:

• The Graduate Fast Stream. Formerly known as the General Fast Stream, this is the largest scheme. Applicants may ask to be considered for a range of sub–options: Central Departments (essentially the Home Civil Service), the Diplomatic Service, the European Fast Stream, Parliamentary Clerkships, the Science and Engineering Fast Stream and the Technical Development Option offered by the Department for International Development. Because the Graduate Fast Stream is numerically significant, this report focuses on it individually as well as in the context of the whole Fast Stream.
  
• The Economist Scheme.
  
• The Statistician Scheme.
  
• The Government Communications Headquarters scheme.

There is also an annual competition for serving civil servants (the In–Service competition) who wish to join the Graduate Fast Stream. This is also included in the Report.

The Graduate Fast Stream selection process was modified in 2005. All candidates who pass the Fast Stream Assessment Centre have reached the standard for the Graduate Fast Stream and are guaranteed a place in the Central Departments option. All Graduate Fast Stream options apart from Central Departments apply some form of final selection procedure after the Assessment Centre before deciding whom to recommend for appointment.