Rose is a University of Bristol student in her final year, reading Politics and International Relations. Rose’s current political engagement emphasises her enthusiasm for social mobility, seen through her involvement in various campaigns for her university’s scholarship funding, as well as being the Head of Corporate Relations for Bristol’s 93% Club.

Like many of my fellow Patchworkers, I am enthusiastic about a career in the public sector. As a participant of the 2024 Masterclass Programme, I have become accustomed to meeting sincere professionals, rich with knowledge on political and personal development. 

Our recent Masterclass with Susannah Storey proved no exception, as the evening unfolded with discussions that revised my perceptions on the Civil Service and reaffirmed my interest in the public sector. I highly anticipated the opportunity to discuss a career path in the public sector with someone who not only holds such seniority in the field, but also has an extensive timespan in the sphere. 

Drawing from her wealth of experience, Ms Storey mapped out a clear path to success, highlighting the key competencies that guided her journey. As we explored Ms Storey’s career transition from the private to the public sphere, she touched on the importance of transferable skills. We learnt that lacking specialist knowledge in the field should not hinder one’s career progression, so long as they are passionate for the pursuit, supported by soft skills like empathy and resilience. 

As Ms Storey conversed on her roles within the Civil Service, we also learnt the value of managing relationships whilst in a leadership position. Here, I appreciated the novel position I found myself in, as a student acquiring pearls of wisdom on management from a Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service. Storey shared the vitality of team empowerment, and the ability to recognise the skills needed to navigate relationships with different individuals, touching on the special relationship between a Permanent Secretary and Minister of State. Through all different relationships, the theme of soft skills reemerged, with a particular emphasis on clear communication. 

During this masterclass, I reflected on my knowledge about a career in the Civil Service. Coming from a lower socio-economic background, careers in the political sphere once seemed unattainable. Access seemed to be restricted by a barrier of prestigious connections and networks. However, after a casual discussion with Ms Storey after the Masterclass, her passion for inclusivity within the sector became clear. As a cohort, we shared our involvement with careers, internships and other experiences in the Civil Service, with which Ms Storey earnestly listened to. Throughout this discussion, I sensed Storey’s genuine commitment to ensuring that the voices of disadvantaged communities are heard in the Civil Service recruitment process.

Susannah Storey’s openness about her political development uncovered the passion behind her work in the DCMS and the public sector more widely. On this topic, Ms Storey shared an essential perspective on career development: to find your ‘North Star’. In this, she conveyed the importance of identifying your values and aims, and subsequently to align these with your overall career development. Ms Storey discussed how to recognise the value of experiences, and how this will help in the pursuit of your wider goals. Looking ahead at my own career development, the message of finding my North Star is a framework that I am positive will be paramount in guiding and refining my aspirations to work in the public sector in the future.