The fast stream, the civil service’s flagship talent development programme, has recently seen a record number of applications and reclaimed the top spot in the Times Higher Education graduate scheme ranking.

But exclusive Institute for Government research reveals that the programme still faces significant challenges, including early exits from the scheme, variable quality of postings and fast streamers struggling to find roles upon scheme completion.

What should the fast stream’s role be in the wider civil service recruitment ecosystem? What can the government do to ensure that the fast stream delivers more for the civil service? What can the civil service learn from other sectors? And what should future fast stream reform efforts focus on?

To explore these questions, the IfG was delighted to be joined for a panel discussion on the future of the fast stream by:

Robert Eagleton, National Officer for the Fast Stream at the FDA Union

Rachel Hopcroft CBE, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at NatWest Group

Sonia Pawson, Director of HR at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and former Head of Fast Stream

The conversation started with a presentation of key IfG research findings by Teodor Grama, author of Changing course: How to reform the civil service fast stream.

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.