188体育

If you鈥檇 told Folashade Atiko five years ago she鈥檇 be working right at the heart of government and beginning to help shape policies that could impact on all our lives, she simply wouldn鈥檛 have believed you.

But it鈥檚 the 28-year-old civil servant鈥檚 own tenacity, talent and resilience that secured her a spot on the coveted Fast Stream accelerated development programme at the fourth attempt - and she鈥檚 already seizing the opportunities that it brings.

Since joining the programme鈥檚 policy scheme, the strategy adviser at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has met senior ministers, provided support in a House of Lords debate and is helping to deliver a UK-wide strategy on social cohesion.

Best of all, she is helping to bring the changes she could only dream about whilst studying for a Masters degree in International Development and Public Health at the University of Sheffield.聽

鈥淚f you鈥檇 have told the 鈥榰niversity me鈥� who was writing about these things, that one day I might be advising the government on it, I wouldn鈥檛 have believed it - but I actually am,鈥� she said.

Fast Stream

The Fast Stream is regarded as one of the UK鈥檚 top employers for graduates, blending workplace learning with formal training and, depending on the scheme, the chance to work towards professional qualifications. One in nine of those who gained a coveted place in 2024 were聽 existing civil servants and they have the chance to become a Grade 7 within three years.聽

Folashade, who lists two-plus years鈥� supermarket work and a role as a car parking attendant on her pre Civil Service CV, first applied for the programme back in 2020. Whilst two attempts for the Fast Stream were unsuccessful, Folashade did secure a Summer Internship which was extended before joining the Civil Service at the DWP as a policy graduate It was from this role that she applied to the Fast Stream another two times, finally winning a coveted place on her fourth go.

鈥淚 did it with a lot of perseverance,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 kept trying until they realised I was the sort of person who should be on the Fast Stream.鈥�

And actually gaining that hands-on experience has proved invaluable to Folashade.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to be a fast streamer, but I didn鈥檛 know what they wanted from me to be able to help me get there,鈥� she explained.

鈥淏ut having been in the Civil Service for a bit longer and gaining institutional knowledge, I was more able to put it into practice. It gave me a great foundation. I really would recommend it to existing civil servants.鈥�

Broadening horizons

Folashade is driven to make a difference to the lives of others and believes the Fast Stream is helping achieve that goal.

So whilst being involved in meetings that include the highest ministers of state and taking up new opportunities (Folashade even developed a debating pack for minister Lord Khan of Burnley and sat in on his debate at the House of Lords) might add a touch of glamour to her role, she remains firmly grounded.聽

鈥淎s exciting as that really was, I still love the day to day of coming into work, working on really important issues and finding ways to tackle loneliness and loss of community,鈥� she said.

A bright future

As well as completing her Masters degree (she joined the Civil Service during that period), Folashade is open to the many varied opportunities open to fast streamers.

鈥淚 would definitely like to be in the sort of space where I am now, where the聽 policies I鈥檓 helping to design,develop and deliver are almost immediate,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 definitely want a role where I鈥檓 going to work every day to make where I live or where other people live better.鈥�

.