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Diversity
We seek strength through diversity.The FCO is firmly committed to equal opportunities. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability.
In terms of recruitment, our aim is to represent the whole of 21st century British society. All successful applicants are appointed purely on merit, but we especially encourage applications from members of currently underrepresented groups in the FCO, including women, minority ethnic people and people with disabilities.
In addition to encouraging applications from suitably qualified people from any background, we organise and participate in several schemes that actively promote greater diversity in our recruitment intake. There are three main areas in which we seek to encourage diversity:
Ethnic diversity
In order to both effectively represent modern Britain and help the FCO operate effectively in the modern international arena, we seek to encourage greater ethnic diversity in our recruitment intake. To help achieve this, we offer two work experience schemes exclusively for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students:
- The Partner University Placement Scheme; a summertime placement scheme offering placements over two consecutive years, and
- The Summer Development Programme; a scheme run by the Cabinet Office to nurture those students who may become the senior civil servants of the future.
Socio-economic diversity
To encourage a greater degree of socio-economic diversity within the FCO workforce, we offer places on our Partner University Placement Scheme to those students who are in receipt of a Full Maintenance Grant. As well as this, to encourage students from all economic backgrounds to apply for these schemes, we pay all our work experience students a wage equivalent to that of an Administrative Assistant (A1) member of staff. This means that anyone academically and professionally gifted enough can afford to experience life in our London office.
Diversity through disability
In terms of diversity through disability, the FCO offers people with a disability exclusive work experience placements, grants and reasonable adjustments for those applying for permanent jobs.
The FCO participate in the Cabinet Office’s Summer Placement Scheme. This offers a number of paid work experience places exclusively to students with registered disabilities. Beyond this, the FCO also runs a Guaranteed Interview Scheme - a commitment from us to offer an interview to all applicants with a disability, who meet the advertised essential criteria for any advertised post – although all appointments will be made solely on ability.
All of our recruitment is governed by the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.