Policy Apprentice - Level 4 - Croydon Regional Centre

Policy Apprentice – Level 4 – Croydon Regional Centre

About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you\’re seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it\’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
Kickstart Your Career with a Policy Apprenticeship!
Curious about how government decisions are made? Want to help shape the future?
We\’re looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and inquisitive individuals to join our policy teams-no experience needed!
Whether you\’re starting your career or switching paths within the Civil Service, this structured programme offers hands-on experience, professional development, and the chance to influence decisions that impact the whole country.
What is Policy Work?
Policy is about shaping decisions that affect everyone-from schools and hospitals to climate change and economic growth. As a policy professional, you\’ll work with others to solve problems, shape ideas, and turn strategy into action.
If you\’re curious, collaborative, and want to make a difference, policy could be for you.
We\’re offering up to 9 exciting roles where you\’ll:

• Join a supportive group of new starters
• Gain real-world policy experience
• Learn how ideas become action
• Complete a Level 4 Policy Officer Apprenticeship
• Earn while you learn
• Build transferable skills and a recognised qualification
• Work with a range of colleagues across and beyond the department
• Make a real impact on national issues

Want to Learn More?
Why don\’t you join one of our HMRC Policy Apprenticeships drop-in sessions on either Tuesday 15th July at 11am or Wednesday 23rd July at 2pm.
Meet current apprentices, asks questions, and learn all about this exciting opportunity!
For Tuesday 15th July at 11am register here:
For Wednesday 23rd July at 2pm, register here:
Job description
Your Role as a Policy Apprentice
As a Policy Apprentice, you\’ll work with experts, teams, and leaders to help shape real government decisions. You\’ll gather evidence, share ideas, and present findings to senior leaders.
No policy experience? No problem. This programme is designed for those new to policy, helping you build the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed to thrive.
What to Expect:

• Join HMRC on a permanent Executive Officer (EO) contract
• Work in a policy team as a Policy Officer or Adviser
• Complete a Level 4 Policy Officer Apprenticeship over 18 months

You\’ll spend 80% of your time learning on the job and 20% on structured learning-tutorials, research, assignments, and shadowing-all during work hours. You\’ll complete written assignments and presentations as part of the programme.
Please note: HMRC is renewing its apprenticeship contract, so some learning details may change. You can find more about the Level 4 Policy Officer Apprenticeship on the Skills England website.
By the end, you\’ll have:

• A recognised qualification
• Transferable skills
• A strong foundation for a career in policy

You\’ll be supported throughout by your manager, learning provider, and the Policy Apprenticeship Team. While you won\’t choose your exact role, you\’ll be doing meaningful work like:

• Researching and analysing to support policy development
• Sharing ideas and recommendations
• Drafting briefings for senior colleagues
• Supporting the rollout of new legislation

Start date: January 2026
Learn more about life as a Policy Apprentice on the Civil Service Careers website.
Watch Joseph\’s story to see how he went from
Apprentice to Senior Strategy Advisor: Joseph\’s career success at HMRC
Person specification
Who are we looking for?
We\’re after people who are:

• Good at managing their own time, work with little supervision, and get things done.
• Comfortable reading and understanding written information, making decisions when appropriate.
• Clear and confident communicators, both in writing and in person with the ability to adapt communication style as needed.
• Able to use complex and diverse thought processes, considering individuals from all backgrounds when making decisions.
• Creative thinkers who enjoy working with others.
• Keen to learn and ready to take on new challenges.

Essential Criteria:
We\’re looking for people who have:

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Experience working at pace in a varied role, and working well with others
• Great attention to detail, are organised and enjoy problem-solving.
• Confidence using digital tools in O365 like Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.

Behaviours
At the interview stage you will be assessed against the following behaviours.

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and improving

Are you eligible? Let\’s find out!
To apply for this Policy Apprenticeship , you\’ll need to:

• Have lived in the UK/EEA for at least 3 years before starting.
• Have the right to live and work in the UK, with a valid passport/birth certificate and NI number
• Be out of full-time education (or finishing this academic year)
• Not be doing another apprenticeship or receiving DfE funding for another course
• Not possess an undergraduate degree (or higher) in Politics, Political Science, Public Policy or any related field. For those who possess a mixed degree, if 50% or more of your degree is policy and/or politics, you will not be eligible to apply.
• Be able to work at least 30 hours a week (or have an extended apprenticeship if part-time)
• Meet the programme\’s entry requirements (including any prior learning and qualifications)

Candidates under 19 years of age?

• You\’ll need GCSE grade C/4+ in Maths & English or have functional skills level 2 (or be willing to take extra qualifications during the apprenticeship)

Before HMRC can confirm your successful offer onto this apprenticeship the training provider will check your eligibility and may contact you. This is all done in line with Education and Skills Funding Authority (ESFA) guidelines as set out in the attached Privacy Notice.
Important to know
Completing the apprenticeship is a key part of your job with us. That means if you don\’t finish it, your employment could be at risk. But don\’t worry-we\’re here to support you every step of the way to help you succeed.
Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Additional Information – Transitional Sites
For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it\’s important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.
These sites are:

• Waterview Park, Washington – moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Benton Park View, Newcastle – moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Centenary Court, Bradford – moving to 7 and 8 Wellington Place, Leeds
• Lynx House, Portsmouth – moving to No.1 The Goodsyard, Portsmouth
• Telford Plaza, Telford – moving to Parkside Court, Telford
• Trinity Bridge House, Manchester – moving to an alternative office in Manchester/ Salford

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.
Behaviours
We\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £29,475, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,538 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension – We make contributions to our colleagues\’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it\’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you may be asked to complete a 500-word Personal Statement.
Your Personal Statement should be used to provide evidence of having each of the required skills set out in the Essential Criteria section of the advert.
After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test. You can find practice questions and guidance on the Civil Service online tests – GOV.UK.
If you successfully pass these tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application, which is the Personal Statement.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
At sift your Personal Statement will be assessed against the essential criteria, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
If you pass the minimum standard at sift stage, you will be invited to a panel interview. This doesn\’t affect candidates who have opted to participate in the disability confident scheme.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
During the panel interview, your behaviours and strengths will be assessed, to determine your suitability for the role.
You will also be asked strength-based questions to explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.
This is an example of a strengths-based question:
\”It is often said that the customer\’s needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?\”
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – \’Please re-open my application – 415781 & vacancy closing date 27/07/2025\’.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we\’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at interview, you will be placed on the merit list for any locations you have expressed an interest for. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the \”Assistance required\” section in the \”Additional requirements\” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you\’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the \’location preferences\’ section that you can travel to.
Who can start an apprenticeship?
To start an apprenticeship, you\’ll need to be:

• 16 or over
• Have the right to live and work in the UK
• not in full-time education

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you\’re still at school but you\’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship.
Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.
A condition of your employment is the successful completion of your apprenticeship within the expected duration of 18 months. Failure to meet this requirement may result in HMRC removing you from the Apprenticeship Programme and/or terminating your employment.
Your training requirements and probation period will run concurrently. If you do not successfully complete your probation and/or the apprenticeship-where it is a specific requirement of your role-your employment with HMRC may be subject to termination.
Your manager will provide you with further details about the training programme, including the structure of assessments and, where applicable, the number of permitted attempts to pass, if they have not already done so.
Additional Information
We are looking into ways to enhance the applicant experience.
As part of our legitimate interests, we are testing the use of new technologies such as automation and/or Artificial Intelligence in the assessment for CV, personal statement and behaviour statement.
Please note that for this specific vacancy, this testing may run in parallel with our standard assessment process and will not influence or determine the outcome of your application in any way. You can read the Civil Service Jobs and HMRC Privacy Notices for more information about our lawful basis for processing your personal data and HMRC\’s use of AI.
If you don\’t want your data to be used as part of the trial, please send your Application ID and the Vacancy Reference to
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant\’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the \’Contact point for applicants\’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).