Digital Fast Stream 2027

Job summary

The Digital Fast Stream is delivered via Government Digital & Data. You will have a unique opportunity to learn and work in a fast paced and learner driven environment where the work you do will impact the lives of millions of people.

Location - the specific towns and cities depend on the department you are posted to and its office locations. The Fast Stream evolves continually, so postings can vary from year to year.

As an indication, in 2026 new fast streamers were posted to government offices in the following regions: East of England, Greater London, North West, Scotland, South West, Wales, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

On occasion, some individuals may need to move location. We aim to align postings with your preferences whenever possible; however, final decisions must support our wider business needs. Please note that Fast Streamers cannot choose their department or their specific role.

Job description

Digital fast streamers operate across the whole UK Civil Service. You’ll have the chance to expand your leadership and management skills, while developing experience through a number of postings.During these postings, you will work in various government areas, covering both technical and non-technical roles, depending on your chosen pathway. If you selected a technical pathway, you may have opportunities to transition into non technical roles. However, if you choose a non-technical pathway, you will remain in that specialisation throughout your Fast Stream journey.

Within the Digital Fast Stream we have 4 non technical roles:

Product manager: Manage a product through its lifecycle, supporting senior managers and honing product management skills.

Delivery manager: Ensure team performance by removing obstacles and prioritising tasks for product and service delivery.

Business analyst: Analyse business problems or opportunities, researching to understand business operations, including people, processes, and technology.

User researcher: Conduct user research to inform the design of government services, ensuring they meet user needs and policy goals.

Within the Digital Fast Stream we introdcued 2 technical roles from 2026:

Software Developer: Develop and implement innovative software solutions, contributing to the creation of efficient and user-friendly applications.

Data Scientist: Analyse complex data to extract actionable insights and build predictive models that drive strategic business decisions.

Please note - you will need to have SC clearance before starting either of our tecnhical roles. We aim to put all successful candidates through Security Clearance (SC). However, if you are ineligible for SC, please do not be deterred from applying; we have plenty of exciting non-technical roles available that only require standard Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks. You can find more information about vetting clearance levels here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Person specification

You must be eligible to work in the UK
You need to have or be on track to receive, a 2:2, a degree apprenticeship or postgraduate degree in any subject
Existing civil servants can apply without a degree. If you choose to pursue a technical role, you must secure SC clearance before starting the scheme

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,554, Fast Stream and Emerging Talent contributes £9,141 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).You’ll have a unique opportunity to start your career in Government Digital and Data. This will help improve the delivery of public services, often politically sensitive, which really matter. As well as great roles, working with experts and having access to specialist learning and development resources, you will have the best opportunity to gain the skills and experience that will make you a credible leader within the UK Civil Service.

Other benefits include the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional qualifications, flexible working arrangements, season ticket loans, sports and social activities, child care assistance and more.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application Process

There are several phases in the Fast Stream application process. Some of these assessments are multimedia in that they present information in video, audio, graphical or visual formats, as well as text. We hope you find it an engaging process and one that gives you a real insight into the role of a fast streamer.

At the initial application stage you will be asked to complete some background information which will include some diversity questions - which are for monitoring purposes only and will have no bearing on selection outcomes - along with the opportunity to identify your preferences in terms of the different Fast Stream schemes. You can choose up to three.

When you apply please register with a personal email address, and not a work or university email address.

Assessment Phases

There are 2 online tests:

Work-based scenarios - This test measures interpersonal skills, utilising video based scenarios and you are required to assess the effectiveness of various responses.

Case Study assessment - In this test you are required to take work based scenarios on an imaginary role, learning and responding to a series of challenges and situations and adapting to the changes you are presented with.

Additional information - depending on the schemes you have chosen, there may be additional information to be completed, or an intermediate sift process. More information on the schemes that require additional information can be found https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/fast-stream/fs-how-to-apply/fs…

Fast Stream Assessment Centre - if you pass the above stages you'll be invited to attend a half day assessment centre. This will be conducted virtually online. The Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) reflects some of the key elements of a Fast Stream role and will consist of a written exercise, oral briefing exercise and a personal development conversation. Information will be presented via an app that you will be able to access remotely.

Final Selection Board - most schemes will then require a Final Selection Board . We'll ask you to attend this final assessment if you reach the required standard at FSAC.