What’s new
On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re spotlighting the work we do to make our careers accessible for everyone – from the way we market them, to the information we offer, to the adjustments and support we provide both at interview once you’re in your new role. We’re dedicated to accessibility; to making everyone feel welcome – from your first encounter with us, to the moment you join us as a colleague, and throughout your career at FCDO Services.
Technology is always changing and there are disciplines and professions being created almost yearly. Even our most experienced developers learn something new every day. And, these days, tech careers feed into almost everything.
Thinking about applying for an apprenticeship or know someone who might be perfect? You’ve come to the right place. With opportunities spanning Technical Engineering to Finance, there’s an apprenticeship for almost everyone at FCDO Services.
It’s time... our student placement year applications are now open. A once in a lifetime opportunity to get behind the scenes of our Project Management and Building Services Engineering teams before graduating. But what should you expect during the whirlwind, 12-month placement? One of our past Project Management students has given us a peek into her experience. From working on global projects to feeling supported along the way, here’s what she had to say.
Does your degree offer a year in industry? Take on impactful projects and make your placement year mean more with FCDO Services.
Who are FCDO Services? We’re a government organisation that provides secure services to UK and overseas government bodies. We build embassies. We design CCTV networks. We set up servers storing vital government data. We deliver diplomatic parcels across continents. And apprentices play a key role in making it all happen. We’ve always been experts in security, staying one step ahead for our government-level customers. But after launching our first technical trainee scheme back in 1964, we immediately saw the benefit this fresh talent added to our organisation, so we’ve evolved and invested in our apprenticeship programmes ever since.
Entering the workforce can be tricky. When you’re early in your career, with little or no work experience, it can be hard to know how to demonstrate your skills. What are employers looking for? What do they really want to know? And what’s the best way to make yourself stand out? That’s why we were proud to work with local colleges on recent careers advice sessions and CV workshops to do our bit to help students become more employable – as well as providing them with accessible careers information.
We work to support everyone’s identity within FCDO Services – and we also work to make sure that potential applicants know that too. If you’re transgender and looking for a supportive employer, it means you know before you apply that you’ll find a warm welcome and a consciously inclusive culture here. To tell you more about that first-hand, here’s one of our Sensitivity Review colleagues, who’s also the Trans Lead of our LGBTQ+ network:
You’re a female-identifying student, interested in STEM subjects, and wondering about what your future might look like. Well, have you ever considered a career in Engineering? It’s one of our many specialisms here at FCDO Services, so we wanted to show you what it could be like for you. Now, we know what you’re thinking. Did you picture a hard hat? A toolbox? Being up a ladder? The thing is, that’s just one aspect of engineering and it’s the side that’s most taught in schools, but in reality, there are a wide range of different career options – some of them practical and physical, others more office-based and focused on problem-solving, and some a mix of the two. It’s all about your preferences. So, let’s explore what’s on offer.
There are all kinds of reasons why we’re a go-to employer for people transitioning out of the military. For some, it’s the benefits, training and support on offer, to help you balance your lifestyle and own your development. For others, it’s a similar sense of purpose and scale, where your work will help protect people, information and government buildings around the world; where you might even travel regularly, depending on your role. And of course, there’s our welcoming and inclusive culture where, alongside plenty of other ex-military colleagues, you’ll find an organisation that celebrates you for who you are and who you want to be.
Because we work all over the world, we have to help customers cope with and prepare for all kinds of climates, from extreme cold to extreme heat. Our teams draw on their expertise to prepare for all eventualities, since the weather can affect even technical equipment in ways you might not expect, whether it’s laptops melting or server rooms overheating.
With so many teams and services working all over the world, it can be tricky to grasp the full extent of what we do here at FCDO Services. So, why not explore our Virtual Embassy, a digital exploration of the work of just some of the teams we have here.
It’s our ambition to be an inclusive employer for people from all backgrounds, and to do that, every aspect of our organisation has to be welcoming and accessible for everyone. That starts with our website, where we’re making sure everyone has equal access and equal opportunity to get to know us. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Recite Me. With all kinds of features, our Recite Me toolbar is in place and ready to use on our website: all you need to do is go to the top of the page and click Accessibility Tools.
Today, FCDO Services have radio engineers and installers working all over the world for our government customers. They design the radio towers that allow embassies to communicate with colleagues around the city. They install emergency backup radio systems, so that in the event of a power cut, staff at a high commission can still communicate with the outside world. In the event of an emergency – an earthquake, for instance – our radio team’s expertise is essential to customers worldwide.
You might have noticed that we’ve just launched our brand new careers site – a new place to find out about more about FCDO Services, hear from our diverse team, and find out about how you could find your place with us. So, aside from the fresh new look of the site, what's new to help you understand us?
Our apprenticeships may now be closed but it’s never too early to start thinking about applying next year. If you’ve never had a job before, or it’s been a while since you applied for one, you might want some tips on how best to approach it. So, with help from our current apprentices and our HR colleagues, here are a few of our top tips: