Government to hire 2,500 new tech recruits

The Cabinet Office has pledged to recruit 2,500 tech and digital roles across government by June 2025, through apprenticeships and talent programmes, as part of major skills drive. 

A new digital apprenticeship programme has been launched to support the recruitment of at least 500 early career entrants into digital roles this financial year across government. This will provide the opportunity for both civil servants and new entrants to be recruited into the "most in-demand" data and technology roles, such as cybersecurity technologists and software developers, the Cabinet Office said

The remaining 2,000 opportunities will include 1,300 additional digital apprenticeship programme roles, and 700 roles created through an expansion of existing departmental digital programmes, such as the Software Developer Programme.

It builds on the vision of Minister for the Cabinet Office, Jeremy Quin, to modernise and reform the civil service - as set out in a speech earlier this year. He said the latest announcement “drives forward our plans for a modern Civil Service equipped with the skills and capabilities needed to harness the power of digital, data and technology." He added that by attracting and retaining the best talent, “we will keep pace with technological change and deliver more efficient services for the British public.”

The Civil Service DDaT profession has grown by 19% between April 2022 and April 2023, and over 600 senior civil servants have been upskilled on digital and data essentials, the Cabinet Office said. 

The new digital secondments programme and apprenticeship recruitment drive are expected to support a new target for 6% of the overall Civil Service workforce to be members to be part of the DDaT ranks. 

“We want the next generation of tech talent to be able to learn their trade helping government to make services better for the public," Alex Burghart, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, said. “These apprenticeships are going to build great new digital careers and capabilities both in Whitehall and across the country.

CDDO updates Digital Roadmap 

The Central Digital and Data Office has updated the 2022-2025 Roadmap to reflect these new recruitment commitments. It now states that by June 2025, "at least 2,500 new entrants to the HMG DDaT profession will be introduced via apprenticeships and early-career talent programmes''.

Updates to the roadmap also include the creation of a new framework for the government’s use of Generative AI like ChatGPT, to ensure departments can responsibly use this technology to improve services. It also introduces a requirement for departments using out of date IT systems to boost plans for modernising technology.

Megan Lee Devlin, Chief Executive of the Central Digital and Data Office, said the new roadmap commitments “strengthen the government’s ability to harness the very best technology and data available to improve people’s lives and livelihoods in the UK.”