Civil Service Chief Assessor and Chief Psychologist Phil Wilson presented a case study of how his team used data insights to help fill roles in the Fast Stream Digital & Technology programme.

The need for this arose because candidates were not choosing that programme as a first preference and data from the UK Commission for Skills and Employment had identified clear gaps in skills and competences for this area. Civil Service Fast Stream & Early Talent wanted to change this and in particular broaden the spectrum of diversity it was attracting to the Digital & Technology programme.

Historically, this was weaker than other streams with just 30% of women successful, and of all applicants just over 10% came from BME backgrounds, less than 10% declared disabilities and the same proportion of candidates were from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Working with a social mobility charity partner, Phil and his team looked at data insights to get a better understanding of how to revamp the attraction strategy for Digital & Technology in order to increase applications and raise diversity in applicants.