Government Communication Service Apprenticeship

Job summary

Why Join Us?

Our mission is to deliver exceptional communications that make a difference - engaging citizens and building trust in government.

By joining us, you will become a member of the Government Communications profession of talented communicators working in government departments, agencies and arm’s-length bodies. You’ll benefit from the very best continuous professional development, a network of skilled communicators sharing best practice, mentoring opportunities, and much more!

Learn more about how joining the communication profession can support your career and development by visiting the careers page.

For help with writing your application, please take a look at the Government Communications recruitment top tips for candidates guide and the Civil Service guide to artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment

Job description

About the Government Communications Apprenticeship

During this apprenticeship, you will spend 18 months working in one or more exciting communications teams within Government Communications. You will be placed within a government department while studying for a Level 4 Public Relations and Communications Assistant qualification. You can find out more about the programme by visiting our Gov Comms website.

You'll have the opportunity to work across various communications disciplines and contribute to delivering cutting-edge work for the UK Government that reaches millions of citizens across the UK and abroad.

Your key responsibilities may include:

• Developing innovative communication plans across multiple digital platforms, beyond traditional print and broadcast media.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Gov Comms organisations and sectors, using AI, digital and social media channels to reach different audiences.
• Working on creative government campaigns to build public trust and encourage community participation.
• Researching and analysing the needs of a variety of audiences through data & insigh.
• Organising key events and visits for stakeholders across the country and abroad.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and determined to ensure that the profession is representative of the audiences we are communicating with. We recognise that greater diversity enhances our work and we welcome applications from the widest range of people of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences as well as those who have caring responsibilities.

Person specification

Our profession aims to be representative of the audiences we communicate with. Greater diversity enhances our work and we welcome applications from the widest range of people of different backgrounds, cultures and experiences, as well as those who have caring responsibilities. You can find out more by visiting https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/

Essential Criteria

Successful candidates will be able to:

• Demonstrate an interest in news stories and have an understanding of current affairs and the work of Government Communications.
• Have an understanding of digital, social media platforms and AI.
• Confidently use Microsoft Office applications such as Word and PowerPoint, with the ability to quickly adapt to digital tools and software.
• Be flexible, proactive and able to work under-pressure to deadlines.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal, written, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Be organised and creative and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with strong attention to detail.
• Work effectively as part of a team, contributing to shared goals and fostering a positive team environment.
• Ability to use a variety of creative communication tools and digital channels to deliver key messages e.g. creating and managing digital content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Desirable Criteria

• Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of your work and communications delivery.

Eligibility

To apply, you must:

1. Have 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (A*-C), or equivalent, including English and Maths.
2. Have the equivalent of 2 A-levels achieved by September 2026, preferably including a communications related subject, for example English Literature or English Language (but not essential).
3. Not be in full-time education.
4. Not already hold a level 4 qualification, including a degree, in a communications-related field.
5. Have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
6. Not be enrolled on any other apprenticeship.
7. Have been living in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the last 3 years before starting an apprenticeship.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £21,000, Cabinet Office contributes £6,083 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%, which will be paid by your host department.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave.

Please note that the pension details stated on this advert relate to the Cabinet Office pension offer. Please note that if you are successful your pension may differ depending on your matched department, minimum salary and terms of that department's pension offer.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

The application stage will consist of the following:

• Qualification check to assess eligibility - if these questions are not answered fully and clearly, you may be withdrawn from the process
• CV with your achievements highlighted.
• Full application form with a 500 word statement of suitability.

Please note CVs will not be scored and are only collected to share with your recruiting department if you are successful in your application.

You will only be scored on the 500 word statement of suitability and that will be assessed against the essential criteria above. This statement will also be assessed on grammar and punctuation.

Tips for the Statement of Suitability, CV and Interview

For our top tips on how to write your application, please take a look at our recruitment top tips for candidates guide.

Interview Stage

As part of the interview process, you will be asked to complete a short presentation. Details will be shared closer to the time. We'll assess this presentation against the Civil Service Behaviour Changing and Improving at AA/AO level

Following your presentation, you will also be required to answer three questions based on the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• AA/AO Managing a Quality Service
• AA/AO Working Together
• AA/AO Delivering at Pace

In the rare case where individuals have exact matching scores, the order of merit will be determined based on the behaviour scores at interview in the following order:

1. Changing and Improving
2. Managing a Quality Service
3. Working Together
4. Delivering at Pace

What happens next?

If you are successful at the interview, you will receive confirmation via email of your provisional employment offer. This will be subject to completion of standard pre-employment checks that take place for all new employees. Without security clearance, you cannot complete your apprenticeship with the government department or public body that you will have been matched to.

The organisation you are matched to will undertake your onboarding and clearance process which can take up to 3 months. The level of security clearance required will depend on which department you are being posted to.

We are aiming for a start date in early November but start dates will only be discussed once security clearance and any standard pre-employment checks are completed. You should not make any decisions to relocate until your checks have been completed and you have a start date agreed.

Before taking up employment you will be required to provide evidence of all the qualifications stated in the eligibility criteria, failure to do so can result in you losing your place.

Posting

Your host department will be assigned to you based on the location preferences you added on your application form and in merit order. All successful candidates will be made one offer. If you choose not to accept this offer, unfortunately we will be unable to offer you another role.

We wish you the best of luck with your application!

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you require an adjustment to make your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via gcsprofession.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. Any move to Government Communications from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview may be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against the government.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

The full level of security checks you will be asked to complete is dependent on the department you are matched to, however you could be asked to complete checks up to the level of Developed Vetting (DV).

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you. Note: The attached terms and conditions are relevant to Cabinet Office roles, and you may be subject to different/alternative terms and conditions depending on the department you are matched with.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Government Recruitment Service
• Email : gcsprofession.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : gcsprofession.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : gcsprofession.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External Opens in new window (pdf, 81kB)Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)