FAQs

Yes, the scheme is open to all graduate applicants meeting the eligibility requirements on the application form. If you are successful, you may be required to move to another department. You should be aware that you will be competing in open competition with applicants from outside the Civil Service, and if you are successful you will be offered a position and enter the scheme on the same terms, including grade and salary, as external applicants.

No, the scheme is open to any applicant meeting the eligibility requirements. All applications will be considered equally.

Please see the 'Apply now' section for full details on how to apply for the scheme. Alternatively you may email servicedesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk with any questions you may have.

All applications will be considered equally. Disabled applicants will be given the opportunity of applying under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you are successful, any disability will be taken into account when allocating you to work assignments.

Yes, you can apply from outside the UK , but you must meet the nationality requirements for application as set out below, and you must be available to attend the Assessment Centre in London if required. For up to date information on visa requirements, please visit the UK Border Agency’s website: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/

For up to date information on visa requirements, please visit the UK Border Agency’s website: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/

The Civil Service Nationality Rules place a restriction on which nationalities can work for the UK Civil Service. Currently only nationals from the following countries (or associations of countries) are generally eligible for employment in the Civil Service: the United Kingdom (and British protected persons), the Republic of Ireland , the Commonwealth, the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Turkey . Certain family members of EEA, Swiss and Turkish nationals are also eligible regardless of their nationality. There are certain very limited exceptions to the general prohibition on the employment of nationals from other countries. Additional restrictions apply in relation to certain sensitive Civil Service posts.

NOTE: Before appointing a candidate, departments and agencies must be satisfied that the individual concerned can work legally in the United Kingdom .

If you are in any doubt whether your application can be accepted, please contact the OGC Service Desk on 0845 000 4999. You can also contact the Home Office nationality call centre on 0845 010 5200, or the work permit customer contact centre on 0114 207 4074.

For up to date information on visa requirements, please visit the UK Border Agency’s website: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Yes, if you reach that point in the assessment procedure; the Assessment Centre is an essential part of the selection process. You will be given a choice of dates for attendance. The Assessment Centres will be held in Central London in June (w/c 21st and w/c 28th) - July (w/c 5th) 2010. If you are invited to the Assessment Centre and do not attend, your application will be terminated.

Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Further details will be provided if you are invited to the Assessment Centre.

Assessment Centre activities typically include a group activity, a role-play, a report-writing exercise, tests of verbal and numerical reasoning, and an interview. You will be fully briefed at the Assessment Centre on what is expected of you.

If there are more successful applicants than there are positions available in the participating organisations, it will not be possible to offer all such applicants a job.

You will enter the scheme at EO (Executive Officer) level or equivalent, the first formal management level. The professional qualification combined with the on the job development and experience will put you in a strong position to apply for promotional posts within a year or so of completing the scheme.

Previous employment experience, in procurement or elsewhere, will not be taken into account in your initial salary offer. All trainees entering the scheme will be required to go through the same training and work experience stages in the scheme.

You will be invited to express your preference for home organisation and geographical location. We will try to accommodate your preferences when job offers are made, but we cannot promise that we will meet your first choice; it is more likely that we will meet your requirements for geographical location.

No, relocation expenses will not be paid on joining.

Yes, it is possible that your work and/or training will require you to spend some time away from home. Trainees will also be expected to travel to London regularly over the duration of the scheme for their training.

When you graduate from the scheme you will have achieved the CIPS Graduate Diploma, you will be eligible for award of full membership of CIPS (the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply) after a further period (probably a year) of relevant work experience.

No, the GPGS does not include departments in the devolved administrations.

Yes, all members of the scheme will be required to commit to the full training programme.

The Government Procurement Graduate Scheme is a learning and development scheme which takes all members through the Certificate of Competence and the CIPS Graduate Diploma. If you have already achieved these or similar qualifications you would not benefit fully from the scheme, and OGC would be paying for something you have already obtained. In these circumstances your application will not be accepted. You may wish to consider other entry routes into working in procurement in government.

Arrangements will be made for you to retake the course module or the examination. If you miss or fail more than one course module, or are absent without good cause, your membership of the scheme may be reviewed.

Your department will give you time off to attend all the training courses, examinations and workshops organised by OGC for members of the scheme.You will also need to commit time to study outside of working hours.

If a commercial career in government looks like it could be for you, we would like to hear from you via the application form link below.

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We're totally committed to the principles of equal opportunity and factors like age, gender, race, sexual orientation and physical ability don't come into our recruitment or promotion decisions - our opinion of you is always based on your skills, your potential and your achievements.