Civil Service graduate scheme sees rise in ethnic minority and disabled applicants

The Civil Service has seen an increase in the number of ethnic minority and disabled graduates applying for its Fast Stream training and development programme.

Official figures released in the Cabinet Office’s 2009 Fast Stream Annual Report revealed 10.7% of successful candidates in 2009 were from ethnic minorities, up from 9.3% in 2008.

There was also a rise in the number of successful disabled candidates to 14.6% from 12.6% in 2008.

Graduates are selected on the basis of their potential to reach the senior Civil Service across a range of roles and departments.

Earlier this week, the government announced there would be an immediate freeze to Civil Service recruitment. However, Fast Stream will not be affected for 2010-11.

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The figures come a week after the coalition government came under fire for “not doing enough” to tackle diversity and equality in the workforce, which meant minority groups must take it upon themselves to ensure they continue to develop professionally.

Robin Landman, chief executive of the Network for Black Professionals, told Personnel Today that tackling equality and diversity issues in the workplace did not seem to be a priority for the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat government.