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The Civil Service Fast Stream is one of the most prestigious graduate pathways in the UK, but for many young women, it can feel like a world built for someone else. Our mentoring programme exists to change that, one application at a time.

The Fast Stream has made meaningful strides towards gender parity recently, yet the journey to the assessment centre and beyond can still feel opaque, competitive, and, let’s be honest, intimidating. Who do you turn to when you’re staring at a blank personal statement? Who tells you what an e-tray exercise actually feels like from the inside? That’s precisely the gap our Civil Service Fast Stream Gender Equality Mentoring Programme was created to fill.

Why mentoring matters for gender equality

Research consistently shows that informal networks play an enormous role in career progression. Access to insider knowledge through family connections, elite universities, or professional circles gives individuals an invisible advantage when entering the Fast Stream process. Our programme is built on a simple belief: that everyone should have access to advantages, regardless of their background, gender, or who they know.

For young women in particular, the confidence gap is real. Studies suggest women are significantly less likely to apply for roles unless they feel they meet every single criterion. Mentoring doesn’t just transfer knowledge; it dismantles self-doubt. Hearing “I felt the same way, and here’s what I did” from a mentor who looks like you and has walked the same path is genuinely transformative.

78%

of mentees reported increased confidence in their application

3×

more likely to reach the final assessment stage with mentor support

92%

said the programme gave them skills they’ll use beyond Fast Stream

What our programme covers

Our structured programme is designed to walk participants through every stage of Fast Stream preparation, not just the application form, but also the mindset, knowledge, and community they need to succeed.

Stage 01: Understanding the Fast Stream

Learn what the programme demands, the different streams available, and why they are relevant to your career.

Stage 02: Application Readiness

Strengthen your personal statement and competency-based answers with expert mentor guidance.

Stage 03: Assessment & Interview Prep

Practice e-tray exercises, policy simulations, and structured interviews in a supportive environment.

Stage 04: Confidence & Belonging

Connect with a community of young women and mentors committed to seeing you succeed.

Voices from the programme

“Before I joined, I didn’t think the Fast Stream was for someone like me,” says one recent participant. “My mentor helped me see that my background wasn’t a weakness; it was a perspective the Civil Service genuinely needs. She reviewed my personal statement four times. I got through to the final assessment centre.

Our mentors are current and former Fast Stream participants, senior civil servants, and professionals who have a profound understanding of the process. They provide their time because they remember navigating it alone and want to ensure the next generation doesn’t have to.

The bigger picture: gender equality in public service

The Civil Service aspires to be an employer that reflects the society it serves. That ambition only becomes real when the pipeline into senior roles is genuinely inclusive. By supporting young women through one of the most demanding application processes in the public sector, we’re not just helping individuals; we’re helping shape a civil service that makes better decisions, builds better policy, and earns broader public trust.

Representation isn’t a box to tick. It’s a strategic imperative. And it starts with who walks through the door at the beginning of their career.

Ready to apply?

Applications for our next cohort are now open. Places are limited and fill quickly; if you’re a young woman considering the Fast Stream or know someone who is, don’t wait.

Join the Civil Service Fast Stream Gender Equality Mentoring Programme and take the next step in your career with a community behind you.

Apply now.