Introduction
August 2024 is an important milestone for the digital and data branch of the Fast Stream programme in the Civil Service, celebrating a decade since launching. To mark this momentous event, civil servants across the Government Digital and Data profession came together at a special event in July at Horse Guards in London to share expertise and experience surrounding the field.
The digital and data fast stream in numbers
In the last 10 years there have been 724 Fast Streamers appointed to Product Manager, Delivery Manager, Business Analyst, or User Researcher roles and last year we had our biggest cohort to date.
Furthermore, over the last ten years the fast stream has improved representation across all characteristic groups:
- The gender split has positively increased by 18%
- Ethnic Minority colleagues into the fast stream has positively increased by 58%
- The representation of those with a disability has increased by 4%
A celebration event
The event brought together current and past members of the digital and data Fast Stream programme; senior digital and data leaders across the civil service. Also in attendance were some of the summer interns who helped with the event logistics and got to hear more about careers in the Civil Service.
The event included an address by the Chief Digital Officer Mike Potter on the importance of the scheme and the vision for change and innovation for the future, a message which is especially pertinent to the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) and Government Digital Service (GDS) as we join the new digital centre of Government in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. As well as, spotlight sessions on digital strategy to practical sessions on coding and its benefits to both technical and non-technical civil servants. The interns within CDDO and GDS were particularly well-placed to take advantage of all of the learning opportunities during the day, here’s what they had to say:
Abigail Rosser (GDS Internal Communications) - "I found the event really insightful and my favourite speaker was David Knott [Government’s Chief Technology Officer]- not only did I learn about the stages of technology and what is expected of the future, but there were fun prizes for those that knew the names of technological leaders of the past. As an intern, it was also really useful to learn from current and past fast streamers about their experiences in the Digital and Data Fast Stream. Ultimately, the event was really interesting and was full of helpful information."
Jude Taylor (CDDO Capability Team) - “I enjoyed the variety of talks during the day, and was particularly interested in the Cyber Security and history of computing aspects. It really brought me back to my Computer Science A-Level, and after a Sociology degree it made me consider returning to the Cyber Security phase that I had during school. I also enjoyed trying event photography for the first time!”
Aimee Cornish (GDS Risk and Reporting Team) - “What I enjoyed most about yesterday was listening to Martin Bowyer [Deputy Director for Securing Government Services] speak about Cyber Security at CDDO. It was very interesting to listen to his perspective on the collective social responsibility we all face in regards to cyber security, and how it's of paramount importance that all institutions which hold personal data in particular must take sufficient steps to protect this.’
Anna Mackenzie (CDDO Capability Team) - “I really enjoyed hearing current Fast Streamers and alumni talk about their various career paths and roles within the Fast Stream - it made me realise just how varied a career in digital and data can be.”
Amelia Chesworth (CDDO Capability Team) - “The event displayed the breadth of experience and opportunity within digital and data. I enjoyed hearing about the history of computing, especially as a History and Politics student at University! Moreover, the event also aimed to challenge the pre-existing knowledge of attendees, and this was most evident in the Makers’ workshop which involved some coding practice - definitely not my area of expertise but I definitely know more about Python now than I did before! As an intern the event was also useful in showing what the Digital and Data Fast Stream entails and also how those Fast Streamers are supported and celebrated by the wider department.”
Overall, the feedback from the Fast Stream celebration event has been really positive, not just in showcasing how Digital and Data Fast Streamers and their colleagues are making an impact on government and wider public and private sectors, but also in displaying the support from colleagues and other departments that the Stream benefits from. The scope for digital and data is ever-expanding, and so one can only imagine the successes we will be celebrating in another decade’s time!
Gina Gill, Executive Director at CDDO summarised - “I had the pleasure of spending time with alumni of the Digital Fast Stream and celebrating 10 years since its inception. Our conversation left me in high spirits and hopeful for the future of government digital. It was also a great reminder that we can only deliver great public services and experiences by collaborating and breaking down silos."
Looking forwards
On the Digital, Data, Technology (DDaT) and Cyber Fast Stream, you will have a unique opportunity to learn and work across four digital, data, technology or cyber areas in a fast paced and learner driven environment where the work you do will impact the lives of millions of people.
The next cohort of Digital Fast Streamers will be appointed from September 2024, and there is a further opportunity for Graduates to apply between October and November, to join the scheme in September 2025 - for more information please visit the Digital, Data, Technology and Cyber Fast Stream web-pages.
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