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UK NACE Colleague

“For me, FCDO Services represents a chance for interesting work, interesting people, interesting places, that wouldn’t be available in similar careers. In my life, I’ve spoken to seven Foreign Secretaries. I’ve literally bumped into five Prime Ministers and three American Presidents. Some of the unique circumstances of our work give you huge opportunity to see things you would never see in a normal lifetime.

office building, headphones, pile of books US and New Zealand flags, heart, passport, exterior of an embassy and gold trophies

Our colleagues form lasting careers here, always maintaining their passion for learning and taking new opportunities.

You get a definite sense of pride too from being at the cutting edge. We work very closely with international bodies, and they come to us for guidance on best practice, because they know we’re the best at what we do. That’s what inspires so many of our colleagues to form lasting careers here, always maintaining their passion for learning and taking new opportunities.

On that note as well, I think it’s particularly impressive how much of our talent and knowledge is homegrown. We hold onto so many of our colleagues for a long time, and our apprentices stay and grow with us, because the work is so engaging, so interesting, so rewarding.

I think it’s particularly impressive how much of our talent and knowledge is homegrown.

The real diversity of work here; that’s what makes it special. There are some of us who love it for the chance to travel and to have an impact round the world. There are some of us who love it for the complexity of the science around the work we do. But we’re all genuinely fascinated – and it’s fulfilling too because you know you’re making a difference.”

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