PEOPLE POWER

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is used to tackling big issues. In 2014/15, it paid benefits and pensions to 22 million people, making it one of the main points of contact between citizens and the government. To do this effectively, the DWP has to be at the forefront of technological innovation, using cutting-edge solutions to simplify systems for the benefit of everybody, including some of the most vulnerable people in society.

“Working at the DWP provides the chance to shape the government of the future to meet your needs and those of your peers,” says Mayank Prakash, the Director General for Technology. “We want to attract bright individuals with a high appetite for learning to become future experts and leaders in government technology.”

The DWP is in the process of delivering the biggest change to the welfare system for 60 years, and that requires agile workers who wish to make a positive difference to the lives of millions. As a government body, the DWP also faces unique legal challenges that require pioneering solutions. “We test, learn and improve continually,” says Prakash, “with the user at the heart of everything.”

To continue its leading role in digital transformation, the DWP needs graduates in all areas as it takes on challenges in technology, data and security. The department also has an apprenticeship scheme and, due to its size – with 85,000 employees, it’s the largest government department – it is able to offer a wide range of opportunities, as well as a pathway into other departments.

The government has a strong record of recruiting world-class talent, and the DWP wants to ensure this is the case in technology as well as more traditional civil service careers. “People with talent and drive can move up through grades quickly,” says Prakash. “Creativity, imagination and tenacity are as important as degree subject. What we’re looking for is people with problem-solving skills, who can work collaboratively.”

The demands of the department are such that the need for bright talent never goes away. “We need outstanding people to solve really big challenges, who can innovate in the world of security and data science,” says Prakash. “We have a genuine need for people who want to make a difference. The major changes happening in government IT offer opportunities to do something very different – the chance to develop and apply the latest technologies on a bigger scale than anywhere else in the UK.”