strong>What does it mean to work in culture, media & sport?
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is the central government department responsible for government policies and initiatives that relate to every different area of cultural and sporting activity in the UK.
According to their website, the overriding objective of the DCMS is to “protect and promote our cultural and artistic heritage and help businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit.” It is the smallest central government department and employs approximately 400 staff.
What do members of this department do?
Civil servants that pursue the different careers within this government department play a vital role in the development and delivery of government policy on:
- Broadcasting and journalism
- Advertising
- Design and architecture
- Fashion
- Film
- Music
- Gambling
- Libraries, museums and galleries
- The National Lottery
- Sport
- Tourism
- Cultural property
- Historic environment
- Honours
- Humanitarian assistance in the event of disaster (e.g. the London bombings).
Sounds like a pretty exciting government department to work for doesn’t it? But wait – there’s more! These civil servants are also responsible for listing historic buildings, looking after the Royal Parks, overseeing the export licensing of cultural goods and managing the Government Art Collection.
Whilst you’re here, it would be rude not to talk about the civil service’s part in organising the 2012 Olympics! The Government Olympic Executive (GOE) operated as part of the DCMS, and was responsible for overseeing the entirety of the London 2012 preparations and delivery.
These guys managed the Olympics budget, which came from public sector funding, private investment and the National Lottery. They produced a series of reports on an annual and quarterly basis, which offered updates on the progress of the project.
Their ultimate responsibility, however, was to make sure that the London 2012 Olympics was delivered on time, on budget, and benefited the people of the UK and the rest of the world.
How do I get into culture, media & sport?
Every civil service organisation manages its own recruitment process and the DCMS is no exception. As with a lot of central government departments, many job vacancies are only open internally to existing civil servants.
However, some jobs are advertised externally. New job vacancies are advertised on the Civil Service website, in newspapers, professional journals, in job centres, on their own website, and through other various online media.
Most civil servants are employed on a permanent basis and there are a range of opportunities for graduates and non-graduates. The DCMS doesn’t have its own graduate scheme but it does take graduates through the Civil Service Fast Stream programme.
Candidates entering at a graduate level are likely to be working on the development of government policy and carrying out extensive research and analysis. Alternatively, they might be working on operational delivery, helping to drive forward and actively implement initiatives relating to cultural, media and sport related issues. Graduates may also get involved with the corporate services side of things and work in procurement, finance or I.T.
Non-graduates are most likely to join the department as a junior staff member, where they could be providing valuable support to the HR, finance, procurement, marketing, PR and I.T. teams.
To be eligible for work with the DCMS, you will need to be a British or Commonwealth citizen, or an EU National with no restrictions that prevent you from working in the UK. Please view the Civil Service website for more details.
If you are an applicant with a disability, and you meet all of a job specification’s essential criteria, you will be entitled to a guaranteed interview. This is part of the Civil Service’s dedication to maintaining equality and diversity in their workforce.
So, if you fancy being behind the massive cultural and sporting events that capture the hearts and minds of the entire country then a career in the culture, media and sport public sector might be just what you were looking for!