Guidance

Provisional Assistant Economist Scheme

Opportunities for Provisional Assistant Economists to join the Government Economic Service to work in a range of government departments

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The Provisional Assistant Economist Scheme has now become the Assistant Economist Scheme

Documents

GES Provisional Application Form

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Application process and guidance notes

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The role of Cabinet Office economists

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The role of Department for Education economists

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The role of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs economists

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The role of Department for International Trade economists

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The role of Department for Transport economists

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The role of Department for Work and Pensions economists

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Details

Provisional Assistant Economist

Closing date: 19 May 2017

Salary: £27,000+

Grade: HEO (Economics)

Start Date: July – September 2017

Business area: A range of economic areas in various government departments

Type of role: Economics

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Hours: 37 hours

Join the Government Economic Service: Assistant Economists

The Government Economic Service is at the heart of everything government does with high quality economic analysis essential to decision making in everything from negotiating new trade deals to building HS2, from supporting regional growth to managing the UK’s debt.

To help us deliver rigorous and impactful analysis we are looking for over 40 economists to join us and influence the day-to-day lives of every person in the UK.

As an assistant economist you will be joining a community of over 1,500 economists spread across more than 30 organisations, putting your economic learning to direct use by influencing high profile public policies with the best possible economic analysis. This is an exciting time to be joining the civil service, and with support and mentoring you’ll prepare vital briefings for ministers or the public, provide advice on policy options, and ensure the quality and appropriate use of economic statistics.

We take your development seriously and while earning a competitive salary, there will be plenty of support to further your development as an economist. You will broaden your subject knowledge through 50 hours of continuous professional development a year and a further 50 hours on personal skills. The GES offers plenty of courses and high-quality training to help you do so where some of the competences you could develop include:

  • Strong quantitative skills: you’ll become an expert in manipulating and presenting data
  • Writing and presentation techniques: communicating economics clearly and succinctly to senior officials and ministers
  • Applied economics skills: using economic insights and techniques to inform policy on anything from the environment to transport.

Where you could work

Working across government, you could land a post in a number of departments and agencies around the UK, including:

  • Cabinet Office
  • Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
  • Department for Communities and Local Government
  • Department for Education
  • Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
  • Department for International Development
  • Department for International Trade
  • Department for Transport
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Department of Health
  • Forestry Commission (Scotland)
  • HM Treasury
  • Home Office
  • Ministry of Justice
  • National Health Service England (via DH)
  • Scottish Government
  • Welsh Government

Eligibility

Applicants will need to possess or expected to have a first or upper second class honours degree with at least 50% of the modules in economics, or have a masters in economics. Modules must have covered both micro and macroeconomics to qualify and if you graduated more than five years ago then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the competency section of the application form.

Contract Terms and Applications

The current posts on offer are provisional and are being offered on a 2-year fixed term contract – but you can expect support in becoming a permanent member of the service by passing the Fast Stream Assessment Centre. Contracts are open to accommodate working pattern needs and can be on a full or part-time basis.

All civil servants are appointed on merit through fair and open competition. The selection process will consider your attitude, capability, talent and willingness to learn. If appointed you will be expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

For further details on eligibility please read the application process and guidance notes above.

Updates to this page

Published 5 January 2017
Last updated 3 May 2017 + show all updates
  1. Deadline extended to 19th May 2017

  2. New Provisional Assistant Economist Scheme for May 2017

  3. Job Adverts for Department for Education and Department for Exiting the European Union now attached

  4. Application form amended to state that applicants are required to already have a degree in economics. Department for International Trade job description now attached. And Department for Work and Pensions and Office of Gas and Electricity Markets included in list of departments with vacancies.

  5. Sheffield location, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Office of Gas and Electricity Markets details now attached.

  6. Application guidance notes and Department for Transport details now attached.

  7. First published.

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