New civil service intern scheme will be limited to students from ‘lower socio-economic backgrounds’ and based on which jobs their parents held when they were 14
Government internships will be restricted to people from working-class backgrounds in a major shake-up next year.
The move is designed to recruit more students to the civil service from lower incomes and boost representation. Set to be launched in 2026 the new scheme will replace an existing intern programme that is currently open to all.
Research in 2021 showed nearly three in four civil servants were from privileged backgrounds and more likely to hold jobs at centre of power at the Treasury of Foreign Office. The report by the Social Mobility Commission also suggested hidden rules favoured those with the “right accent”. It comes after The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire wrote: ‘Labour must find engaging story for the UK – or face election wipeout’.
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The Cabinet Office said it will give around 200 undergraduates the chance to work for a government department for two months. It will be limited to students from “lower socio-economic backgrounds” and based on which jobs their parents held when they were 14.
Cabinet Office chief Pat McFadden said: “We need to get more working class young people into the Civil Service so it harnesses the broadest range of talent and truly reflects the country. Government makes better decisions when it represents and understands the people we serve.”
He added: “I want to open up opportunities for students from all backgrounds, and in every corner of the UK, so they can take a leading role at the heart of government as we re-wire the state and deliver the Plan for Change.”
Changes are expected to take effect from summer 2026 and will give young people experience writing briefings, planning events, conducting policy research and shadowing civil servants, according to the broadcaster.
It could help students win a place on the civil service fast stream programme – the top graduate programme for working in government. Currently just 11.6% of successful applicants to the scheme are students from lower income backgrounds, according to the most recent data.
After winning the General Election last year, Keir Starmer said he was “proud” to have the most ever Cabinet ministers from comprehensive schools.
“I’m really proud of the fact that my cabinet reflects the aspiration that I believe lies at the heart of our country,” he said.
“I’m proud of the fact that we have people around that Cabinet table who didn’t have the easiest of starts in life. To see them sitting in the cabinet this morning was a proud moment for me.”
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