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Civil Service Local are working with Civil Service Live to bring the Be Exceptional events to a place near you. Register to Be Exceptional! Come along to one of the events in Gateshead, London and Bristol. While there visit themed interactive hubs packed with information about how the Civil Service is working in new ways as part of Civil Service Reform. Put your name down for a range of plenary sessions, workshops and ‘drop-in’ clinics tackling big social issues; hear speeches from colleagues who are effecting some of the biggest programmes the Civil Service has ever been involved with; and share your views with some of our most senior leaders. Throughout the day, you’ll be able to gather ideas and tools to improve your skills and capabilities, and inspire you in your work.

“I hope as many of you as possible will get involved with Be Exceptional, the new Civil Service Live. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about how an exceptional Civil Service will deliver the best for Britain by becoming more skilled, digital and unified. Share your ideas for improving the Civil Service, hear from colleagues who are putting the best into practice, and think about how you can use some of those ideas in your everyday work.” Sir Bob Kerslake, Head of the Civil Service

Register for CS Live 1-3 July 2013, Gateshead, London, Bristol - http://my.civilservice.gov.uk/reform/be-exceptional

Do you fancy volunteering (employer supported) and helping young people’s employability prospects? The Civil Service Local Engaging Our Schools programme combines volunteering opportunities for civil servants with personal and career development whilst making a difference to young people’s employability prospects. Over the past 12 months there has been a pilot scheme in the North West and, in order to create a self-sustaining programme it is now being rolled across all Civil Service Local areas. The concept is one that satisfies two purposes – to develop staff’s competencies and skills and to connect with our local communities. As such it meets the Government’s social agenda, departmental commitment to volunteering and internal requirements for low-cost, work related learning and development.

The premise is a simple one. Links are built between a department or agency and the community by twinning an office (or group of offices) with a local secondary school. The intention is that participating organizations are motivated to build long term relationships. A group of students (usually Yr 10 or 11) attend a two hour session each week for a period of six weeks to experience a work environment and learn skills such as customer service, interview techniques and completing job application forms. The sessions are run by a small team of staff, co-ordinate by a ‘project manager’ who create the delivery framework for the employability skills and act as mentors to the students on a one to one basis.

The project provides staff with a business or volunteering opportunity to work as part of a cross departmental or cross government team and develop project management, leadership and coaching skills as well as build their confidence and motivation. Post evaluation of the North West pilots has highlighted benefits for the business, schools and individuals and how well the project meets government and departmental agendas. Contact your Civil Service Local Coordinator for more details