GOVERNMENT SOCIAL RESEARCH: Summer Placements 2018

JOB DESCRIPTIONS


Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

Number of placements: 3

Location of placements: BEIS HQ, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

Salary payable:Minimum of the AO salary scale, availability preferred at least 8 weeks

Placement 1

You would work in the BEIS International Climate Finance evaluation team which provides monitoring and evaluation advice to a range of climate change mitigation programmes across BEIS’s international development portfolio. The team provides advice on monitoring frameworks and developing evaluation plans for new programmes. Programme objectives relate to halting deforestation, making markets work to mobilise private finance in low carbon and climate resilient technologies and services, and accelerating decarbonisation in developing countries. This opportunity is around helping to design and review research and evaluation projects, including baselines, process evaluation and impact evaluations. The candidate will not be conducting primary research, but may undertake internal review and analysis of secondary data and literature.

Any particular residency requirements: n/a

Departmental contact: Julia Raybould

Placements 2 & 3

The EU and International Analysis Team in BEIS provide analysis on issues related to EU exit, international trade and future economic partnerships. Our research informs UK’s negotiation positions on withdrawal and transition arrangements. We have a particular focus on research with businesses. We undertake primary qualitative and quantitative research with businesses and business representatives, as well as identifying and analysing secondary data from a wide variety of sources.

You would join a diverse team of analysts (economists, social researchers, and operational researchers) to provide social research support. This would include helping to scope and design research as well as to review, analyse and report on existing evidence. This is a fast paced varied environment with the opportunity to get involved in various strands of work related to EU exit and international trade, and to get experience of working as an analyst in the civil service. You would have the opportunity to enhance your qualitative and quantitative skills, applying these directly to research with businesses as well as improve your written and oral communication skills with non-analysts and senior stakeholders (Ministers and Senior Civil Servants).

Any particular residency requirements: n/a

Departmental contact: Gertrud Malmersjo –

Cabinet Office
DEPARTMENT: / Cabinet Office
LOCATION: / London
NUMBER OF PLACEMENTS: / 4
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 4 GSR 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 (CGA) Team
The CGA team supports the four policy teams within the Constitution Group: the Modern Registration Division; the Elections Division, the UK Devolution Division and the Constitutional Settlements Division. The role could cover involve providing analytical support to a wide range of policy areas from any of these divisions.
We are currently undertaking significant testing of policy in order to collect robust evidence of ‘what works’ and, as a result, support the delivery of appropriate and timely policy changes. These are changes that will, for example, improve user satisfaction and drive down costs associated with electoral registration.
The individual will be expected to work as part of a team of analysts to support the implementation and monitoring of local authority pilots. This will involve collaboration with electoral service teams in local authorities, electoral software providers, researchers at the Electoral Commission and others in the programme. As such they must be able to form strong working relationships.
There will also be opportunity to lead on ad hoc research or analytical projects and to shape future pilots including those aimed at identifying and assessing alternative approaches to encourage hard to reach groups to register to vote.
Analysis and Insight Unit (AIU)
The Analysis and Insight Unit (AIU) is based in the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) which reports to the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. We are the central analytical team that collects and interprets data on government’s largest, most complex and contentious major projects. The analysts in our team span across multiple disciplines (economics, social research, operational research, statistics) and we use a range of quantitative data and innovative tools to understand project delivery and advise senior officials and Ministers.
The summer placement student would be assisting the team across our priorities. Key areas of work are likely to include:
-working on our Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) dataset and data returns from Departments
-summarising key findings from our academic collaboration programme ‘Project X’
-supporting analysis and drafting of ‘Exit Review’ briefing, which analyses data on projects exiting the GMPP
Counter-Terrorism (CT) Performance and Effectiveness Team
The Counter-Terrorism (CT) Performance and Effectiveness Team is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the UK’s CT effort against the CONTEST strategic objectives. The GSR placement would support the analysis of cross-government CT performance, identifying risks and improvements in the system, and using this analysis to inform policy and the implementation of CONTEST. This role will provide exposure to the decision-making behind government priorities, whilst strengthening existing analytical skills in a policy context.
Responsibilities are likely to include:
●Analysing the cross-government reports on UK CT effort, handling both qualitative and quantitative data, for performance and spend.
●Drawing conclusions from the analysis, identifying areas of interest for senior officials, and making recommendations in support of decision making
●Building stakeholder relationships across the CT community to develop understanding and knowledge
●Following analysis, consult with key stakeholders (using semi-structured interviews) and present realistic recommendations for consideration in the decision-making process
Presenting key findings to internal stakeholders both orally and in written form.
Please note that SC clearance would be necessary for this role.
Analysis and Research Team, Civil Service HR Operations
CSHR (Operations) provides recruitment, talent management, professional resourcing and learning and development services to the Civil Service. The Analysis and Research team undertakes data analytics and evaluation work around the Fast Stream leadership development programme and the Fast Track apprenticeship programme as well as for Civil Service Learning (CSL) and the Leadership Academy. The summer placement student would be assisting the team and is expected to focus on supporting research and evaluation activity around the Positive Action Pathway (PAP). PAP is a high profile programme designed to provide participants from under-represented groups with development opportunities to address barriers to talent progression.
The student will report to a G7 Principal Analyst and responsibilities are likely to include:
  • Liaising with senior colleagues across Civil Service HR Operations, Civil Service Learning and Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy to help them to specify detailed research questions and methods to inform long term design and delivery of positive action learning programmes
  • Carrying out targeted research activity, including desk research, to identify broad trends and good practice in the field of positive action learning
  • Delivering quantitative and qualitative evaluation of live PAP programmes and reporting findings to a range of senior stakeholders.

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

Directorate: Analysis and Data Directorate, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Location: 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF

Posts available: 4

Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks to work at MHCLG. 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
  • Troubled Families -
  • 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 on real projects that will make a difference 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:

  • Building up experience on large scale surveys and quantitative analysis
  • Producing accessible and well-crafted reports of key findings
  • Networking and discussing the wider implications of research findings with other analysts and policy officials
  • Presenting research findings to non-specialists and publishing key outputs on Gov.uk
  • Systematic synthesis of existing evidence from a wide range of sources to inform new programmes and policies from 2016 onwards
  • Carrying out some qualitative interviews, analysing qualitative and quantitative data and producing accessible reports
  • 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 – these are not essential requirements

This post would suit individuals who:

  • Have a good overview of both quantitative and qualitative methods
  • Can carry out analysis of both qualitative and quantitative information accurately and clearly
  • 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 International Trade

Location: 3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2AW

Placements: 3

Salary: £1,945 per month (before tax)

Residency requirement: Must be a UK resident

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for developing, coordinating and delivering a new trade and investment policy for the UK when we leave the EU. This includes preparing for trade negotiations with non-EU countries, and promoting UK trade and investment across the world.

We work with government departments, UK diplomatic missions overseas and industry associations to help UK businesses take advantage of the global appetite for British goods and services.

We engage with other countries and international organisations to build on our trade relationships, and improve the policy environment for international trade and investment.

Placement 1:Marketing and Communications

This is an exciting time to undertake a placement and work within DIT’s Marketing and Communications Directorate. We are building a marketing and communications profession to support this high-profile remit.

This is an inter-disciplinary team whose programme of work aims to improve public value (outcomes) of trade and investment campaigns. The team is formed of six analysts. It supports DIT in delivering public value by generating insights that will directly inform the direction of campaigns, and setting up monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure they are focused on outcomes and deliver the best possible value.

Further information on the Department for International Trade is available at the following website:

Placement 2: Trade Policy Group

This is an exciting time to undertake a placement and work with the expanding Trade Policy Group. Trade Policy Group is preparing for trade negotiations with partner countries when the UK leaves the European Union. Specifically, this means:

- Identifying detailed policy priorities

- Engaging with stakeholders in UK businesses and civil society to develop our negotiating goals, and with international stakeholders to explain and deliver them

- Ensuring that new trade and investment agreements are implemented effectively, and that businesses take advantage of new market access.

Further information on the Department for International Trade is available at the following website:

Placement 3: Export & Investment Promotion Analysis

This is an exciting time to undertake a placement and work within DIT’s Export and Investment Promotion analysis unit, in the Research, Behavioural Insights and Evaluation team.

This is an inter-disciplinary team whose programme of work aims to evaluate the impact of DIT’s trade promotion services and activities on the UK business community, as well as conducting and commissioning research to inform strategies and identify new export opportunities. The team is working to set up a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework for the Department to ensure we are focused on outcomes and delivering the best possible value for money for the taxpayer.

Further information on the Department for International Trade is available at the following website:

About these role’s:

This is an exciting opportunity to develop social research competencies and a great deal of scope to develop new research skills. The placement student will be encouraged to lead on some research and contribute to research in other areas to support marketing and communications activities. The placement will build your knowledge of research methodology, the analysis and interpretation of research data, the communication of research findings and the opportunity to build skills in managing and commissioning research.

The successful candidate will work within a small team of analysts and will report to a fellow social researcher or statistician. The successful candidate will undertake a wide variety of social research-related tasks, including:

-Supporting the development of a yearly insight and evaluation programme. The programme will support several of DIT’s high-profile international marketing and communications campaigns and inform the Department’s wider engagement strategies with key stakeholders and audiences.

-Involvement in the day-to-day running of externally contracted research projects and managing project budgets

-Building an understanding of the research commissioning process within the department

-Collaborating with other analysis teams across the department to deliver research projects

-Interacting and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including those based overseas, those in other government departments and the opportunity to communicate social research concepts to non-social researchers.

The placement will also offer many development opportunities including shadowing senior colleagues, the opportunity to attend internal training courses, seminars and teach-ins to improve analytical skills.

Civil service competencies that will be developed over the placement include:

-Seeing the bigger picture

-Delivering at pace

-Collaborating and partnering

-Government Social Research (GSR) Technical skills

-Government Social Research (GSR) Using and promoting social research

Food Standards Agency (FSA)

The Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food safety and standards. The Agency is led by a Board that has been appointed to act in the public interest. The Agency is advised by a number of expert advisory Committees. The Agency’s Strategic Plan can be seen at

Social Science is one of four analytical disciplines that make up the Analytics Team in the FSA (alongside economists, statisticians and operational researchers). The Analytics Team provides analytical support across the Agency’s business. The small team of social scientists works closely with the other analytical professions.

The team provides a Government Social Research (GSR) service to the Agency’s policy Divisions, delivering work within a robust governance framework, engaging with the external social science research community.

The social sciences have an important role to play in helping the Agency consider challenging and complex issues. In particular, understanding and effecting positive behaviour change is critical in achieving the FSA’s strategic aims, including improving business compliance.