A Call to Public Service: A Masterclass with Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE

Saifur is a graduate of International Relations from the University of Leeds. His undergraduate dissertation focused on the constitutional impact of greater devolution in the UK, analysing developments from across Europe and North America, then outlining potential scenarios for the UK from increased devolution within England. During his time at Leeds, he volunteered with the Leeds Art Gallery and spent a year as Brand Ambassador for a social mobility charity. He enjoys exercising, reading and watching football.

Making a difference to people’s lives is one of the most noble aims you can ever commit yourself to. It can be unforgiving, it can be difficult, but it can be fulfilling and rewarding when reflecting on the countless lives that have changed for the better as a result of your work.

Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE rightly pointed out that there are many ways in which you can serve the country, its people, and communities, to prosper, to live safer and healthier lives and to promote British values at home and abroad. What I appreciated was that he encouraged us in attendance to think deeply about what energises us, what motivates us, our aims and where you can see yourself develop and grow in your professional journey, whatever and wherever it may be.

I took that on board. When you want to think about your next steps, you really need to picture what excites you, what drives you to keep going when times are tough and what will help you grow personally and professionally? These are questions I will reflect on.

What I admired from the speaker was how he emphasised humility in recognising the boundaries of his position and the importance of professionalism and impartiality. What helps the speaker is keeping in mind that, he was not elected. He understands his personal views are irrelevant to his role, and that a real strength of his position is impartiality and being trusted to faithfully execute and implement the priorities of the government of the day, regardless of their party affiliation. You leave your politics at the door and that is important for effective administration. In fact, what I admire about British democracy is how seamless and uncontroversial the transition of power is (as you may have noticed with the recent British general election this month). That seamless transition is partly due to the preparatory work made by those impartial officials.

Sir Matthew honed in on the importance of fostering an environment that prioritises lifelong learning, inclusion, wellbeing and speaking out (when things go wrong). I got the impression that this was particularly important in maximising high performance, safety and retaining people. When discussing leadership, the speaker was incredibly proud to have been driving forward these changes, to better empower colleagues to feel safe and to feel supported – so nobody should have to suffer, unable to turn to anyone who could support them.

The speaker was incredibly passionate about the wide-ranging opportunities available, for those who care about public service or alternate routes to serve the public interest. At this moment in history, we are facing many challenges at home and abroad. What comes to mind are: an ageing population, health, crime, climate, international security and so much more. The speaker was keen to stress that if you care deeply about these issues, then you should apply! 

If you want to work in government, politics, or other related roles, it is important to throw your hat in the ring, make that initial move and apply for the position. If you do not apply, you will certainly miss a potentially rewarding career. Think about the impact you can make.

Serving your country, the public and making a difference to the lives of many is the opportunity that many aspire to. The professionalism, hard work, and dedication of those working to deliver the people’s priorities is something that I commend wholeheartedly. Sir Matthew Rycroft invited us to explore a potential career not just in the civil service, but in areas where you can contribute to influencing policy, such as academia, non-governmental organisations, and charities to name a few. Think about what excites you, what your goals are and where you can grow into the best version of yourself. Sir Matthews’s incredible career is a testament to how public service places you at the forefront in tackling the many important challenges we face in society today. It was a call to public service!

Tom is in his final year at Newcastle University, studying International Relations and undertaking a dissertation about the Geopolitics of the Arctic Region. After completing his university degree and gaining relevant skills and experience through programmes like Patchwork, Tom aspires to start a career in diplomatic service or other public or private sector jobs relating to politics. Outside of his studies and career development, Tom enjoys going to the gym and travelling to ensure good physical and mental well-being.

Our Patchwork cohort had the honour of attending a Masterclass with Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE last month. We were all thrilled to have an opportunity to engage with someone of Sir Matthews’s expertise, and as expected, his Masterclass did not disappoint. Sir Matthew Rycroft has had an extinguished career in politics, one which many of us Patchworkers are aspiring towards. Sir Matthews’s extensive career includes roles in the Civil Service, politics and diplomacy. Most notably, as the Private Secretary to Tony Blair and the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN. Currently, he is the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Home Office. 

To begin the Masterclass, Sir Matthew enlightened us on how the Home Office plays a vital role in managing the police, migration and state threats/terrorism. Secondly, due to Sir Matthews’s fruitful experiences as a Permanent Under-Secretary, we received deep insight into what the role entails and its responsibilities, including overseeing the budget, ensuring a high quality of staff welfare and maintaining a positive culture within the Home Office. 

To our delight, Sir Matthew was keen to answer the many questions that we had for him. While we could have asked him questions all night, we limited our questions to three main topics: the Home Office and Civil Service, his international career and personal development. When answering our questions, he highlighted how to manage one’s authority and use it for the greater good. In my future career, I will aspire to honour Sir Matthews’s advice and use my authority to ensure all my colleagues know they have an essential voice that deserves to be listened to. 

Upon reflection, my favourite moment in the Masterclass was when Sir Matthew shared a personal story from his diplomacy career. This story was particularly touching as it opened my eyes to the power of light-hearted interpersonal moments in diplomacy, which can be used as a vehicle to drive concrete improvements in international relations. Above all, Sir Matthew topped off his Masterclass by highlighting how he strives to use his privilege to encourage social mobility for people of underrepresented backgrounds. This message at the end of the Masterclass perpetuates the values that stand at the forefront of Patchwork Foundation’s work.

From everyone at the Patchwork Foundation and my cohort, I would like to thank Sir Matthew for taking the time to share his knowledge and wisdom with all of us, and I can assure him that each of us learnt something from the Masterclass that will help us throughout our professional journeys in the future.