We are FCDO Services formerly the FCO. As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), we’re a trusted global supplier of secure products and services – whether it’s logistics or IT; construction or technical security – to UK and international government bodies. Our work is vital. It ranges from building and repairing embassies to securing government servers; from transporting government deliveries to translating for diplomats. It’s work that protects our nation’s interests all over the world.
Although we’re civil servants working within government, we generate our income mainly by providing services for the rest of the FCDO (our biggest customer), other government departments and friendly foreign governments. We control our own budgets and revenue, and we reinvest surplus funds in order to grow our business and to feed into the FCDO as our owner. It gives us the sense of purpose that comes with public sector work while being part of a commercially minded organisation.
FCDO have been working alongside the CTP for many years now as we recognise and value the skills those leaving the Armed Services can bring to our organisation. We already have a large number of Service leavers in the business and would love to recruit more. We truly are a Forces Friendly organisation offering similar traits to the military, and you can find our vacancies on CTP’s online job board, RightJob now.
What you might do
Over 1050 people work for us worldwide, delivering all kinds of projects, and our teams are at the heart of the action; whether that’s rolling out secure WiFi in government buildings, restoring an 18th Century embassy, delivering secure technology to the world’s most isolated areas, or supporting our teams from the UK.
For instance, our IT and Digital teams work on services and systems that might move sensitive government data from legacy units to the Cloud, all without disrupting day-to-day work. Meanwhile, our construction teams might work with Seismic Engineers to earthquake-proof a seat of government.
There’s simply a huge variety of responsibilities. We could be working on a project to restore the roof of an historic building in Europe, then relocating an embassy onto two floors of a modern skyscraper in Asia. That means having – or developing – a host of skills, processes and approaches. Then there’s the variety that stems from working on projects in different regions. The legislation, weather conditions and logistics that affect a project in, say, Paris, will be completely unique from those in Nepal.
Whether our teams are focusing on sustainability, relationships, secure transportation of goods or any of the many aspects of a project, we’re always managing customer expectations and effectively managing resources – from the first sketches to the final handshake.
Why work for us?
It’s not just because our work is extraordinarily important. Nor because our projects are so varied, complex and unusual. We offer even more on top of that:
Plenty of training and support
With everything from workshops to mentoring to digital courses, we offer extensive opportunities for you to own your own development and continuously grow.
Exceptional working facilities
At our sites in Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes, and central London, we’ve created working environments that offer exceptional facilities, wellbeing options and support networks. They include onsite nurseries, discounted gyms and fitness classes, and wellbeing rooms.
The chance to travel
We deliver 70% of our products and services to overseas customers, including embassies in 168 countries. Having said that, our IT and Digital teams tend to do all their work in the UK, although they may sometimes visit sites overseas to understand the bigger picture.
A good work/life balance
We do our best work when we can balance our workload with our personal lives. So we offer everything from flexible working to family-friendly policies, and supportive paid and unpaid leave.
A welcoming, inclusive culture
We’re creating a culture that appreciates us for who we are, supports us to do our best work and recognises us for the contribution we make. We’re proud that, in 2018-19, we saw more representation from every cultural group. More equality. More promotions. And more colleagues than ever who felt they could be their whole selves.
Many of the people who work for us have military backgrounds. But why does FCDO Services feel like such a good fit? We talked to some of our ex-military colleagues to find out.
Why did FCDO Services appeal to you?
“A military career offers variety, both in the job you do and the locations you work in. Coming to FCDO Services seemed like a natural fit; working across a wide global estate. Plus, you can explore a variety of job roles across various business areas.”
How does your job as a Project Manager fit your military skills?
“Extremely well, particularly when it comes to leadership and managing stakeholders. You learn both these skills in the military – often on live operations in locations where you need to understand local cultures and manage local stakeholders in the right way.
"On top of that, the military is very operational, very delivery focused. Becoming a Project Manager makes sense because of the way you create a plan, then re-plan again and again to deliver. Plus there’s the same focus on delivering tasks on time and to a high standard.
"We’re also used to an MOD/Government working environment, picking things up quickly and having a go, with great initiative. We look beyond the task and consider the wider picture. And we’re used to working at pace, managing stress, and tend to be confident and good communicators.”
How similar is your work now to what you did in the Forces?
“So many tasks I took on in the military mirror those I take on here: technical planning, logistical planning, travel risk management, security clearance, scheduling, resource planning, report writing, chairing meetings, Health & Safety planning, and more.
"I planned and delivered training and small construction projects both in the UK and abroad. This involved project management and leading teams. I also had a number of roles, mainly to do with Technical Protective Security Systems, for a variety of MOD customers. It’s strikingly similar to my current role.
"Of course, one big difference is, unlike in the military, you can’t order someone to do something. You need to be persuasive and understand your colleagues.”
Is there anything else that eases the transition?
“Normally, ex-military staff already have a level of security clearance so that can avoid delays in your application. More importantly, FCDO Services has a solid structure and variety of business areas, which helps you transition from the rank structure and business areas of a regiment. That, plus the global work, offers continuity.
"Leaving military life, becoming a civilian and taking up your first job can be daunting – but this organisation makes the whole process smoother.”
Visit RightJob today to find out more about our current vacancies. If we don’t have the right role for you right now, don’t worry. You can sign up for email alerts and we’ll be in touch as soon as something suitable comes up.