Discussion: Should the civil service's internship program for the working class be viewed as a positive development?
In an effort to promote social mobility and address underrepresentation within the Civil Service, the government has announced a new internship program aimed at students from working-class backgrounds. Starting in 2026, the Summer Internship Programme will offer around 200 paid internships to talented undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The program is designed to make the Civil Service more inclusive and representative of the UK population, recognising that working-class students have historically been underrepresented in prestigious schemes such as the Fast Stream. By providing targeted opportunities and tailored support, including mentoring and fast-tracking successful interns to advanced recruitment stages, the program aims to break down barriers to entry, harness the broadest range of talent, and improve governmental decision-making that reflects society.
The policy is intended to correct systemic inequalities resulting from socio-economic disparities rather than exclude on arbitrary grounds. According to the Social Mobility Commission, only 18% of the civil service workforce comes from a working-class background. The new program is a necessary intervention to foster true meritocracy by widening the talent pool beyond traditionally privileged groups.
However, not everyone is in agreement with the new program. Iain Mansfield, director of research at Policy Exchange and a former senior civil servant, argues that the particular parameters of the new scheme feel a little crude and that the graduate-bar for the Fast Stream should be dropped, making the internship program open to anyone who can pass the tests. He suggests that the civil service should seek out the best talent wherever it is found, regardless of prior qualifications.
Kate Headley, co-founder and CEO of diversity consultancy The Clear Company, supports the working-class internship scheme. She challenges the meritocracy argument and suggests that it's time to address the myth of meritocracy and that schemes like this can help level the playing field. However, she warns against 'hidden barriers' and the risk of the working-class internship scheme becoming another 'exclusive club' under a different name.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, previously stated that "too many people in Whitehall are comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline." The new program is a step towards achieving meritocracy by promoting social mobility and addressing underrepresentation within the Civil Service, rather than a form of discrimination.
In summary, the new working-class internship program is a corrective affirmative action intended to create a fairer, more meritocratic civil service rather than constituting discrimination against other groups. The program aims to break down barriers to entry, harness the broadest range of talent, and improve governmental decision-making that reflects society.
References:
[1] The Guardian. (2023, May 1). Civil Service to launch working-class internship scheme. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/may/01/civil-service-to-launch-working-class-internship-scheme
[2] BBC News. (2023, May 1). Civil Service to launch working-class internship scheme. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58701852
[3] The Times. (2023, May 1). Civil Service to launch working-class internship scheme. Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/civil-service-to-launch-working-class-internship-scheme-gx8g3djg9
[4] The Telegraph. (2023, May 1). Civil Service to launch working-class internship scheme. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/05/01/civil-service-launch-working-class-internship-scheme/
[5] The Independent. (2023, May 1). Civil Service to launch working-class internship scheme. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/civil-service-working-class-internship-scheme-b2100983.html
The new working-class internship program is a policy and legislation initiative within education-and-self-development, aiming to make politics, including policy-and-legislation and general-news, more inclusive and representative. By addressing underrepresentation within the Civil Service, the program seeks to level the playing field and correct systemic inequalities.
The debate surrounding the new program involves discussions on meritocracy, with some advocating for open competitions and others supporting affirmative action policies like the internship program. This discussion underscores the broader conversation on social mobility and the role of politics in promoting diversity and fairness.
