HM Treasury

You can change lives. Become a Policy Adviser.

Our work touches every aspect of everyday life. As the Government’s economic and finance ministry, we influence policy across all government departments. And you don’t need to be an economist to help us do it. Whatever degree subject, skills and life experience you bring, we’ll train and support you to make a real, positive and lasting impact on communities across the UK.

It all begins here.

About HM Treasury and the impact you can make with us

Our responsibilities include maintaining control over public spending, deciding how money is raised from taxpayers and ensuring that it’s spent responsibly. We ensure value for money, set the direction of the UK’s economic policy and work to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth. We’re also working to create a simpler, fairer tax system and, by making them easier to access and use, make financial services work for more people.

HMT graduates make an impact on millions of people’s lives, all over the UK every day. They’re involved in policy work that drives government decisions across a whole range of areas, from health, education and housing, to local government, the criminal justice system and more. HM Treasury has a strong commitment to equality and diversity. Our aim is to be an open and inclusive department, recruiting and retaining hard-working people from a diversity of backgrounds, who support and develop one another.

Join us, and we’ll give you the support and training you need to become a Policy Adviser too. It’s a captivating role that offers real responsibility and invaluable learning experiences from the start.

Becoming a Policy Adviser on the Graduate Development Programme

On this three-year programme, you’ll grow a breadth of skills and experience on two 18-month placements, working with different government departments and external organisations to help shape policy.

You’ll start with an initial three weeks’ training, covering how Parliament works, policy making and the legal framework, and developing skills such as project coordination and workplace communication.

After this you’ll spend 18 months in your first role developing deep subject matter knowledge, while researching and analysing data to develop or enhance policy ideas. You’ll gain real expertise in that specific area – which could be anything from higher education or international tax avoidance to public health or infrastructure spending.

You’ll spend your next 18 months in another role. Depending on your preferences and the needs of the department, you could deepen your knowledge in one area, or work in a different area to broaden your experience.

Whichever policy area you work in, we don’t think you can find responsibility, challenge or fulfilment like it anywhere els

What you’ll bring

To ensure we reflect the needs of all our communities, we must bring different perspectives and experience to everything we do.

So, we welcome applications from people from all academic backgrounds and universities. Some of our Policy Advisers join us straight after university, and some come to us after having worked elsewhere.

We encourage you to apply if you have:

• A 2:2 degree in any discipline – or are on track to gain this.
• The right to work in the UK as an EEA, Commonwealth, Swiss or Turkish national. You’ll also need to pass security clearance.
• The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely, in writing and in person.
• The ability to look at problems from different angles
• An interest in helping to improve lives by working in public policy
• The ability to think flexibly and cope with changes to situations and priorities

In return, we offer a stimulating and encouraging environment working with forward-thinking people who want to make a real difference throughout the UK.