GES Summer vacation student placement scheme 2018

Job descriptions

Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

Location:London

Salary:£23,018 per annum

Posts available: 10

BEIS is a new department at the heart of the Government’s agenda, with a vision of an economy that works for everyone. We are responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy and leading the Government’s relationship with Business; we work to tackle climate change and ensure that the country has secure energy supplies that are reliable, affordable and clean. Our role is vital to lead the Government’s vision in a context of momentous change, responding to both the short-term domestic impact of the UKs withdrawal from the European Union and working to define the next stage.

The role:

The post holder will support the team they work in meeting these objectives through collating evidence to inform policy development, which could involve monitoring key indicators, collating industry evidence and reviewing key publications and you will work on projects to improve the departments evidence base. Work tasks are likely to cover research and evidence review and collation, application of HMG appraisal guidance, and undertaking spreadsheet based analysis. Placement students will work as part of the Analytical team – this provides great experience of how analysts within Government contribute and influence policy. You will help the teams help understand, build the evidence base for, conduct analysis on, and draw policy conclusions from.

The placement offers an excellent opportunity to work on a high profile policy area and develop core skills including appraisal, monitoring and evaluation methods in Government, mapping software, familiarity with key ONS data sets, and collaborative working across a range of stakeholders.

Typical Week:

A typical week will involve a mixture of rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis and support to policy development, working alongside policy colleagues and the economist team.

Skills:

The skills developed will mainly be consultancy-type skills, as well as excel and research techniques. The student would be required to synthesise information from a wide range of sources and present this clearly to non-analysts.

Previous experience:

Most of the placements do not require experience in the particular areas although some teams would ideally like need someone with knowledge of econometrics and econometric modelling. Additionally other projects will be ideally suited to someone with knowledge/experience of Excel modelling, working with and handling data.

Areas available:

Generation Costs Economist

Smart Energy Management

Business and Local Growth - Emerging Sectors

Energy Markets, Security and EU Exit

How heat networks investment could contribute to improving local economic growth

Investigating UK Household Gas Price Elasticity

Understanding the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on emissions trading

Business & Local Growth - Local Enterprise Partnerships

Loan Finance in UK Research Organisations

International Climate Fund

Research and Development Investment

Cabinet Office (CO)

LOCATION: / London
NUMBER OF PLACEMENTS: / 4
DEPARTMENTAL CONTACT: / General queries –
Constitution group -
Government digital service -
Analysis & Insight -
SALARY: / £24,514 per annum
ABOUT US
The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and ensures the effective running of government. We are also the corporate headquarters for government, in partnership with HM Treasury, and we take the lead in certain critical policy areas.
JOB DESCRIPTION
There are 5 GES summer vacation placements available across the Cabinet Office. Applicants will be invited to express their preference for roles during/ after the interview.
Constitution Group Analysis (2 places available)
Constitution Group Analysis (CGA) provides economic expertise for a range of high priority and politically sensitive areas in constitutional policy including devolution policy, national elections, intergovernmental relations, electoral registration and the impact of the UK’s Exit from the European Union on the constitution amongst other areas. As one of our economist placement students you will have a genuinely unique opportunity to work at the heart of government at a period of historically unprecedented constitutional change:
Areas of CGA’s work include:
●EU Exit & Devolution: Providing economic analysis relating to EU Exit and Devolution for the Department for Exiting the European Union and providing analytical support to the devolution policy team.
●National Elections: Performing cost-benefit analysis of measures designed to combat electoral fraud, developing the election funding model for future national elections and providing analytical support to policy teams involved in the effective running of national elections.
●Electoral registration: Providing analytical support to policy teams involved in modernising the electoral registration process. The work conducted by these teams include conducting nationwide randomised control trials aimed at streamlining the household canvass process, and improving democratic engagement and maximising electoral registration - particularly among under-registered groups.
All economist interns would be an integral part of a dynamic and supportive analytical team which works across the Constitution group to provide a wide-range of economic analysis for policy teams.
Government Digital Service (2 places available)
GDS is the world's leading public sector digital transformation service. Working in innovative public service areas to drive improvements and efficiencies. Economists work with (and often within) digital product teams to identify performance measures (especially monetary savings), source, collect, cleanse data (from digital analytics and other sources), complete robust analysis and tell compelling, actionable stories to help justify the digital transformation of government and the wider public sector.
Analysis & Insight team (1 place available)
Analysis & Insight (A&I) is the central analytical team within Cabinet Office and is looking for one summer placement student.
Analysis & Insight comprises economists, statisticians, social researchers. It is a part of the Civil Service Group (CSG), which uses its unique vantage point across the whole of government to support the wider Civil Service to meet current and future challenges, such as withdrawal from the EU and transforming the way it works in order to modernise and reform.
A&I plays a fundamental role in ensuring that policy development and delivery in the Cabinet Office is evidence-based, value for money and evaluated. It is the home for Cabinet Office wide programmes, such as the Civil Service People Survey and international government effectiveness and innovation, and the economics sub team provides a consultancy service to a range of teams across the department.
Changing team priorities mean we will agree the precise nature of the work nearer the time, taking into account the skills and interests of candidates. Likely areas a placement student in A&I could work on include:
●Productivity and efficiency - contributing to our understanding of how public sector productivity in the UK can be improved
●Civil Service Group - providing an analytical perspective on key priority areas, such as the functions of government, and the civil service strategy
●Business cases - helping to critically evaluate the strength of business cases submitted to the Cabinet Office’s Investment Approval Committee; developing knowledge of the business case process within government, and ensuring the economic section of cases follows Green Book guidance
As well as working for the Analysis & Insight team, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with other Cabinet Office economist placement students on an analytical project. Towards the end of the placement the group will be invited to present to senior civil service leaders including the Cabinet Office Chief Economist.

Department for Communities and Local Government(DCLG)

Location: London

Posts available: 4

Salary: £24,270 per annum

Please note:

Successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks to work at CLG. This requires candidates to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s job is to create great places to live and work, and give more power to local people to shape what happens in their area. Our work is focused on four main areas:

  • Better local services for people;
  • Helping people to have a home of their own;
  • Supporting businesses to grow and create job
  • Supporting strong communities where people feel they belong.

As an analytical summer student within DCLG you will be responsible for a variety of unique and interesting pieces of analytical work supporting our policies. These roles vary across different business areas, but frequently involve liaising with other government departments and external stakeholders, working collaboratively across teams within DCLG to deliver research outputs, and provide analytical solutions for customers.

The posts are based in DCLG’s Analysis and Data Directorate and this is a multi-disciplinary team comprising data scientists, economists, operational researchers, social researchers, statisticians, IT specialists and data collection teams. The Directorate is a vibrant, fast-moving and high profile place to work and is at the heart of delivering critical evidence for the Department and other stakeholders. You will be expected to work alongside policy colleagues and provide analysis to support their work.

Analysis and Data Directorate provides analysis on all DCLG’s policies. Our priority areas include:

  • Robust National and Official Statistics including on house building, planning, affordable housing and land use
  • the English Housing Survey (EHS) -
  • Expert analysis and advice on the housing market; planning and key policies such as Right to Buy
  • Local government finance settlement; council tax and business rates
  • local public service reform and improving public sector efficiency
  • Cities and local economic growth, and Enterprise Zones
  • Wellbeing and the Indices of Multiple Deprivation
  • Homelessness and domestic abuse
  • Open Data Communities -

As a summer student with DCLG you can expect to work with experienced government analysts on high priority projects. You will have the opportunity to use your technical skills on the job and will be able to acquire new skills as part of the internship role. Working in DCLG will give you the chance to work alongside experienced policy makers and give you a real insight into policy making today.

Opportunities

We will agree the precise nature of your work with us nearer the time depending on the skills and interests of candidates but opportunities include:

  • To provide analysis to inform high priority policy issues;
  • To apply economic theories and principles to public policy issues;
  • To work closely with analysts across government, including HM Treasury;
  • To gain experience of working in an analytical team in government;
  • Explain economic concepts and analytical results in plain English to policymakers
  • To gain exposure to work of the division on developing innovative new tools and techniques for analysing data and sharing results
  • To work in a multi-disciplinary environment with analysts of different specialisms, building the evidence base on troubled families and other policy areas
  • Assisting with the production of innovative mapping and data visualisation outputs to support briefing for Ministers and outputs for our stakeholders and partners
  • Feeding new insights and ideas into our Directorate’s shared information blog

Person specification

This post would suit individuals who:

  • Interest and/or experience working in applied analysis in which strong analytical or data collection skills have been clearly demonstrated
  • Strong background in microeconomic theory and excellent analytical skills.
  • Knowledge and/or experience of using MS Office – i.e. PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
  • Interest and/or experience of taking an evidenced based approach to help inform, and make recommended decisions
  • A good track record of maintaining and developing relationships, communicating to influence and challenge effectively
  • Interest in applying economic theories to public policy and the public sector. Networking and discussing the wider implications of research findings with other analysts and policy officials
  • Have some data visualisation and GIS mapping experience.
  • Enjoy working in a team and can build relationships and work collaboratively
  • Are self-starters and can work independently

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Location:London (Bristol or York this might be possible)

Salary:£22,740 (London) £19,640 (National) per annum

John Curnow
John Curnow is the Chief Economist at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. John’s previous roles include economist positions at Monitor (part of NHS Improvement) and HM Treasury. / Thank you for your interest in these roles.
In Defra, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors (which together make up around 7% of the UK economy) and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards.
This is a particularly exciting time to join Defra, not least as an economist. We are one of the lead Departments in delivering a successful exit from the EU. Leaving the EU will fundamentally change the work we do and how we deliver it. You will have the opportunity to contribute towards and influence the development of new approaches and policies on a wide range of issues affecting millions of people in the UK.
As a trainee economist, you will play an active role in shaping and delivering Defra’s priorities, working creatively and collaboratively with others to deliver excellent outcomes. You will join a vibrant professional community, delivering high-quality, impactful analysis. These roles will provide significant opportunities to develop your own skills and future career.
Best wishes
John Curnow

Posts available: 5

Background to Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Our vision is to create a great place for living for people in this country. We have developed a set of seven strategic priorities for the next five years covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives.

Thereare alsofourimpactobjectiveswhichexplainourambitiouslongtermaims,andthepositive differenceswe will maketothe UK by2020:

  • A cleaner,healthierenvironmentwhich benefitspeople and theeconomy;
  • A world-leading foodandfarmingindustry;
  • A thriving ruraleconomy,contributing to nationalprosperityandwellbeing;
  • Anationprotectedagainstnaturalthreatsandhazards,withstrongresponseandrecovery capabilities.

Underpinning these isourdeliveryobjective,whichdescribes thehigh levelofserviceand value for moneywewillstrivefor,andtwoorganisationalobjectives,whichexplainhowwewillorganise ourselves to deliver:

  • Excellent delivery, to time and budget and with outstanding value for money;
  • An organisation continually striving to be the best, focussed on outcomes and constantly challenging itself;
  • An inclusive, professional workforce where leaders recognise the contribution of people and build capacity to deliver better business outcomes.

Weoffer an inclusive culture which embraces and supports our colleagues to achieve and sustain increased levels of employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity.

Defra has a large and wide-ranging remit, made even more interesting by the added requirements of EU Exit. Over the next few years, we will be taking on the once in a lifetime challenge of meeting the hugely complex challenge presented by EU Exit. With over a thousand pieces of EU and national legislation identified as Defra-owned and underpinning 80% of our work, we have an unparalleled opportunity to devise policies that best meet the future needs of the UK.

Useful information

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs – website

The work you will be doing

You will work with economists and wider analysts in developing the evidence base to inform Defra policy, drawing from a wide range of expertise and providing robust analytical advice. Responsibilities will vary according to post, but could include:

  • Conducting and reporting analysis, to ensure policy options are underpinned by careful synthesis of available evidence and forward-looking analysis;
  • Communicating with and advising policy colleagues on what the latest evidence and analysis tells you;
  • Managing stakeholder engagement, analysing and reporting on outputs;
  • Addressing policy needs through development, testing and application of advanced Excel models.

Defra is looking for summer placement students to work across a range of areas, including the following:

  • The EU Exit and InternationalTradeAnalysis Teamis a multi-disciplinary team, headed by an economist. We work in a modular and flexible way, so the role will work on one or more of the policy issues covered by the directorate. With its political importance internationally, agriculture provides an interesting lens for working on trade. Not least because of the range of non-tariff measures, and trade instruments which may be applied to the sector. A key objective of the team is to identify trade-related economic opportunities and risks for Defra sectors, including food, agriculture and environmental services, to inform future trade policy and FTA negotiations. We seek to understand the often unique challenges presented in relation to analysing and understanding trade in agricultural products. We also explore what the implications of changing trading relationships are for the UK’s infrastructure and trade-enabling systems. You will have the opportunity to apply trade economics principles to real life policy questions.

•Marine & Fisheries teams are developing a new policy framework for the fishing industry outside of the EU and working to develop systems to manage the marine environment more sustainably.

•Office of the Chief Economist The central economist team led by the Chief Economist, responsible for ensuring high quality economic advice and analysis across Defra

•Environmental Quality develops policies and approaches around activities that can impact on environmental outcomes, including measures to improve air quality, regulations on use of chemicals and pesticides and policies on waste management, many of which will be affected by EU exit.