Kristian Williams, a former Policy Engagement Intern with the Institute for Policy Research, will be joining the Civil Service Fast Stream in Government Policy in September 2025. In this blog post, he writes about his journey to the programme.
Before I started university, I knew that I wanted a career that wasn’t just ‘a career’ – but one that felt rewarding, impactful, and had the ability to make a positive difference on the world, however small a difference that might be.
Throughout my undergraduate degree, studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath, I came to understand at a base-level some of the world’s most pressing challenges. My drive to serve society resulted in a goal to contribute positively to some of these issues and led me to consider career pathways where I might possibly, one day, have such an impact. Working for the country’s Civil Service within government policy – a profession of thousands of similarly minded individuals, tirelessly aiming to produce the best for the country and the public – appeared to be a natural fit. Seeking an entry into this career, I soon discovered the Civil Service Fast Stream’s Government Policy pathway, where you undertake three separate year-long postings with the aim of developing into a Civil Service leader, and I made it a concrete goal to get accepted on to this programme.
During my third year at the University of Bath, I undertook a placement year at the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) as a Policy Engagement Intern. This experience proved to be incredibly positive for my development to my eventual success in the Fast Stream’s selection process. At the IPR, I was entrusted with a wide variety of tasks and was given the opportunity to take ownership of workloads and put my skills to the test in a practical environment. For example, I assisted with the hosting of a policy workshop for the Civil Service on Artificial Intelligence; I helped edit IPR policy briefs; and I gained invaluable experience when delivering the IPR’s 10th anniversary celebration video, where I had to work collaboratively to understand the organisation’s achievements, conduct interviews with leading figures in the organisation’s history, and rapidly obtain new skills in content production to craft a narrative that celebrated the IPR’s success so far.
I also had the opportunity to join the team working on ActNowFilm: Intergenerational Conversations on Climate Change, conducting stakeholder management and in-depth research, and shaping the film through input in weekly team discussions. This project significantly improved my confidence andenabled me to gain first-hand experience working in a skilled, small team on an impactful project that resonated deeply with my values. Collaborating closely, we were able to meet tight deadlines, and ultimately deliver a thought-provoking film that served as a clarion call for transformative action to address the ongoing climate crisis: by entrusting more of the planet’s future to the expertise of the young people who would inherit it. This experience gave me a taste of what I envision it to be like to work on critical matters within the policy environment in the Civil Service: to be a part of a talented, motivated team that wants to tackle the country’s challenges and produce beneficial change.
Throughout my internship, the IPR team was tremendously kind and helpful —always ready to assist or answer any questions I had — and my line manager, Amy Thompson, knew of my goal to pursue a career in the Civil Service and strove to provide me with the challenges and support to further develop the skills that I would certainly need to excel within this environment. It was a year in which I developed as an individual, personally and professionally, more than any other of my academic and professional life. I would readily recommend others to apply to the IPR’s Policy Engagement internship.
Following the IPR internship, I undertook a three-month long summer internship at the UK Ministry of Defence through the Civil Service’s Fast Stream Internship Programme, an opportunity which the confidence and skills I gained during my time at the IPR helped me to secure. I went on to completemy undergraduate degree with first-class honours, producing a highly graded dissertation that examined state understandings of Artificial Intelligence. In December 2024, I successfully undertook the Fast Stream’s assessment process, and my new role there will start in September 2025. I’m excited to learn of my first posting within the Civil Service, and I look forward to further developing my skillset through the Fast Stream’s learning and development offers, while hopefully building a strong network of colleagues within the Fast Stream who share a similar drive to addressing pertinent challenges in service of our society.
For those similarly motivated, and who may also wish for a career path in the public sector, I would advise that you utilise the opportunities available to you as an undergraduate. Internships, placements, and extracurricular activities, such as those I’ve mentioned within this article, can provide with you a heightened skillset far beyond what a degree may offer alone, and allow you to meet many inspirational people, just as I have done throughout my own journey. I found that this process, despite its challenges and moments of stress, truly helped uncover my sense of self.
Within the Civil Service Fast Stream’s assessment process, and for many other such schemes, what they are truly looking for – beyond any set of defined skills – is to understand who you are, what motivates you, and, importantly, that you know this of yourself and can critically reflect upon it with confidence.
What is it that drives you? What impact do you want to have on the world? What kind of environment provides you with energy, rather than saps it away? Discovering answers to questions like these will instil within you a level of intrinsic motivation that remains steadfast through your own journey, and that will come across clearly in your responses to those evaluating you throughout your path to your chosen career.
All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of the IPR, nor of the University of Bath.
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