Meet - FCDO Services

FCDO Services is a trusted government organisation with over 75 years experience in providing secure services to UK government departments. Our work helps support UK diplomacy, defence and development opportunities across the world. Operating in over 250 destinations, our work includes construction projects, digital and cloud solutions, logistics services, counter-eavesdropping, and more.

We offer a variety of apprenticeship schemes, from Technical Engineering to Logistics. Our flagship scheme, Technical Engineering, has been running for 60 years.

Most of our programmes are based at our Hanslope Park site (near Milton Keynes).

Skills Apprenticeship Details Locations How to apply What our apprentices do Behind the scenes Related Resources Where to go next

Skills we look for

What makes us a great employer

Wellbeing Support

We believe it is important to look after all aspects of our employee’s wellbeing. Initiatives available to our apprentices include:

Mental Health First Aiders
Employee Assistance Programme
Wellbeing Room
First Aiders
Gym
Games Room
Multi-Faith Room
Nursery
Baby Feeding Room
Canteen and Coffee Shop

In-House Training Facility

We have a fantastic Talent & Development Team that provides an array of opportunities to help develop your skills in a variety of areas. All our employees have access to a wide variety of courses on HERA, our online learning management system, including face-to-face courses and our mentoring programme.

Networks

We want every employee to feel supported and have access to a network of supportive allies. We achieve this through our variety of Networks in FCDO Services that we would love you to get involved in. These include (but are not limited to):

Apprentice Council
WEConnect
Careers Network
REN Network
LGBT+ Network

More information on all our networks and what they do can be found here.

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award Regional Finalists 2024

We’re extremely proud that we made it to the finals of the Department of Education’s Regional Apprenticeship and Skills Awards for the East of England. Coming fourth place, out of 100, for Apprenticeship Employer of the Year!

This award highlights FCDO Services’ commitment to excellence in apprenticeships – a commitment we have maintained for over 60 years.

Apprenticeships Details

Apprenticeship Programmes

Our apprenticeship programmes are as varied as the work we do. So, you’ll find plenty of paths to choose from and explore – each designed to set you up for a long-term career. There’s an apprenticeship for you at FCDO Services, whether you’re interested in:

Engineering
IT
Project Management
Logistics

For more information on our programmes, click here.

T Level Opportunities

FCDO Services currently offer two T Level work placement opportunities:

Digital
Engineering

These are flagship schemes within our organisation, and across the Civil Service.

Global Travel

Some of our apprenticeship schemes will give you the opportunity to travel globally. Even if your scheme doesn’t have travel included, you’ll still be a big part of an international organisation, able to see the impact your role can make within FCDO Services.

Permanent Roles

All apprentices are supported in finding a permanent role at FCDO Services on successful completion of an apprenticeship. You will be notified of roles you are eligible for, and given support to help you prepare for your application.

2locations Locations

Applying for our Apprenticeships

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Before you start your application, make sure to check that you meet the requirements for the programme you’re interested in, as you’ll need to demonstrate this in your application. You can find details on the requirements for each programme in the job listing on our application page or on our main apprenticeships page. Once you’ve chosen the programme you want to apply for and are happy you meet the requirements, you’re ready to start your online application form.
2

Take the time to complete it thoroughly and follow all the instructions carefully. In the form, we’ll ask you to provide some personal details like your name, contact details and details of your citizenship. We’ll then ask you to confirm your current qualifications or predicted grades so we can check they match the minimum entry requirements for your programme.
3

You’ll then be asked to complete a letter of application; this is your chance to tell us about yourself and why you’re interested in this apprenticeship. Finally, you’ll have a chance to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role, so make sure you’ve downloaded the role profile and are ready to explain how you match the ‘essential’ and, if applicable, ‘desirable’ criteria. Please don’t repeat your formal/academic qualifications here. All applications will be considered solely based on the information you provide in this form.
4

Our team conduct a sift, assessing applications against the essential criteria for the role. Our sifting process anonymises the personal data in the application form. At this point, you don’t need to do anything.
5

If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to take part in our assessments. These include:

The online Civil Service Verbal and Numerical Reasoning tests are designed to test your ability to draw information from written information and to perform calculations or interpret numerical data. Depending on the programme, you may be asked to complete one of or both.

Civil Service Online Judgement test that’s designed to measure your ability to demonstrate sensible judgement and decision-making based on the behaviours needed for your programme. You can find these behaviours listed in the role profile for the programme you’re applying to.

A face-to-face group exercise where you can show us your interpersonal, team building and problem-solving skills. These will take place at either our Hanslope Park site (near Milton Keynes) or our London offices at King Charles Street.

Please note, any Engineering apprenticeship candidates will need to undertake a colour-blindness test, since part of your role will rely on distinguishing colours in wires and cables. You will be asked to complete this before the assessment stage detailed below to make sure you’re OK to continue.
6
If you’re successful in the assessments, we’ll invite you to attend a ‘strengths-based interview’, which is designed to give you an opportunity to talk about your natural strengths and the situations that help you shine. For us, it’s about finding out what you love to do, rather than what you can do. We’ll also ask some specific questions to understand your basic knowledge of the subject area for the programme you’ve chosen, as well as your passion for this. For example, your interview might involve questions like:
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- What motivates you?
- How would your close friends describe you?
- Do you most like starting tasks or finishing them?
- Do you prefer the big picture or the small details?
- Can you describe a successful day?
- What are you good at?
7

If we offer you a place, you’ll go through our pre-employment enquiries, including referencing and medical assessment. This assessment helps establish any reasonable adjustments we can make for you. You’ll also begin the relevant vetting process to make sure you’re suitable for the position. To find out more about what’s involved and why it’s necessary, visit: www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/#vetting
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Start

Check Your Eligibility

Before you start your application, make sure to check that you meet the requirements for the programme you’re interested in, as you’ll need to demonstrate this in your application. You can find details on the requirements for each programme in the job listing on our application page or on our main apprenticeships page. Once you’ve chosen the programme you want to apply for and are happy you meet the requirements, you’re ready to start your online application form.

Complete Our Online Application Form

Take the time to complete it thoroughly and follow all the instructions carefully. In the form, we’ll ask you to provide some personal details like your name, contact details and details of your citizenship. We’ll then ask you to confirm your current qualifications or predicted grades so we can check they match the minimum entry requirements for your programme.

Letter of Application

You’ll then be asked to complete a letter of application; this is your chance to tell us about yourself and why you’re interested in this apprenticeship. Finally, you’ll have a chance to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role, so make sure you’ve downloaded the role profile and are ready to explain how you match the ‘essential’ and, if applicable, ‘desirable’ criteria. Please don’t repeat your formal/academic qualifications here. All applications will be considered solely based on the information you provide in this form.

Application Sift

Our team conduct a sift, assessing applications against the essential criteria for the role. Our sifting process anonymises the personal data in the application form. At this point, you don’t need to do anything.

Complete Our Assessments

If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to take part in our assessments. These include:

The online Civil Service Verbal and Numerical Reasoning tests are designed to test your ability to draw information from written information and to perform calculations or interpret numerical data. Depending on the programme, you may be asked to complete one of or both.

Civil Service Online Judgement test that’s designed to measure your ability to demonstrate sensible judgement and decision-making based on the behaviours needed for your programme. You can find these behaviours listed in the role profile for the programme you’re applying to.

A face-to-face group exercise where you can show us your interpersonal, team building and problem-solving skills. These will take place at either our Hanslope Park site (near Milton Keynes) or our London offices at King Charles Street.

Please note, any Engineering apprenticeship candidates will need to undertake a colour-blindness test, since part of your role will rely on distinguishing colours in wires and cables. You will be asked to complete this before the assessment stage detailed below to make sure you’re OK to continue.

Strength Based Interview

If you’re successful in the assessments, we’ll invite you to attend a ‘strengths-based interview’, which is designed to give you an opportunity to talk about your natural strengths and the situations that help you shine. For us, it’s about finding out what you love to do, rather than what you can do. We’ll also ask some specific questions to understand your basic knowledge of the subject area for the programme you’ve chosen, as well as your passion for this. For example, your interview might involve questions like:

What do you like to do in your spare time?
What motivates you?
How would your close friends describe you?
Do you most like starting tasks or finishing them?
Do you prefer the big picture or the small details?
Can you describe a successful day?
What are you good at?

Conditional Offer and Vetting

If we offer you a place, you’ll go through our pre-employment enquiries, including referencing and medical assessment. This assessment helps establish any reasonable adjustments we can make for you. You’ll also begin the relevant vetting process to make sure you’re suitable for the position. To find out more about what’s involved and why it’s necessary, visit: www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/#vetting

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Need some extra support?

We want to make sure everyone can shine in their application and on our programmes. If you have a disability or a long-term physical or mental health condition – or any other reason why you might need an adjustment – all you need to do is let us know.

Some of our apprenticeships have specific physical requirements – for instance, we have to test for colour blindness if you’ll be dealing with electrical wiring as a core part of your programme. But we support everyone as much we can.

We’re Disability Confident committed, so we actively encourage applicants with disabilities to apply and progress here. If you disclose what you need, we’ll do all we can to help and it won’t affect your application.

If you have any questions, feedback on our website, or you’d like to ask us about your application, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can. Please also get in touch with us if you need any information or documents in an alternative format and we’ll be happy to help.

To support you with your application our recruitment team and current apprentices have created a hints and tips page, that you can access here.

What our apprentices do!

The programme has been amazing. It’s structured to best suit each individual and there are objectives to complete on every placement, ensuring you get a well-rounded, comprehensive experience. I truly value the skills and knowledge I’ve gained.

Lauren

IT Apprentice

Level 3 (Advanced)

It’s amazing to think that in just one day, I can send items to embassies in all corners of the globe – from Fiji to Mongolia to Ecuador.

Becky

Logistics Apprentice

Level 2 (Intermediate)

What excites me most about the Technical Engineering Apprenticeship is the sheer amount of opportunities we have – whether that’s experiencing lots of different teams or getting to travel overseas.

Thomas

Technical Engineering Apprentice

Level 3 (Advanced)

The part of my role that I enjoy the most is being able to work directly with the country-based staff at our missions around the world, providing an insight into daily local life, cultural traditions & customs.

Jack

Building Surveyor

Level 6-7 (Degree)

Behind the Scenes

Your Apprenticeship journey starts with all the other new apprentices on our dedicated apprentice induction week - giving you a chance to settle in, learn the essential information you need to know and meet your new team.

Interested in volunteering - there are always lots of opportunities for apprentices to get involved in such as helping our outreach team deliver interactive events to students!!

Onsite you'll find lots of different things to keep you busy whether it is going to the gym, visiting the games room or just enjoying the wildlife!!

Every year the apprentices organise their own away day - giving them a chance to network, learn new skills and take part in activities.

At FCDO Services we have an annual staff awards to celebrate outstanding employee achievements which some of our apprentices have won in the past!

It's not just work - Get involved with our onsite events such as sports day!!

You could Enjoy a meeting outside in one of the pods.

Once you've completed your apprenticeship, it will be Time to celebrate at our graduation event.

Information & Resources

External

Case Studies

Want to find out more about how we work? On this page, you’ll find our case studies, exploring the...

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External

Virtual Embassy

Ready to see the work you might do as an apprentice? Enter the Virtual Embassy and select the guide...

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External

Apprenticeship careers page

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about our apprenticeship schemes, including our application process, help with your...

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External

Podcast

Found out more about our apprenticeships in this podcast with Amazing Apprentices and our Apprentice Manager.

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External

The careers quiz!!

Too much choice or not sure what the best career is for you? Then have a go at our...

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Where to go next

Visit Careers Page

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