We're really proud to have achieved PDP status. We want to ensure Government People Group is recognised as one of the best environments to develop yourself and your career, which is why we've committed to developing tools such as the HR Career Framework and HR Success Profiles, both of which are aligned to CIPD standards and both of which help to develop our incredibly talented HR professionals.

Thembi Watt - Chartered MCIPD, CSHR Capability Lead, Civil Service HR

Government People Group have been leading the way in professionalising and upskilling their HR professionals, recognising the changing purpose and impact required of the profession. I am delighted to see them achieve CIPD People Development Partner status which is just reward for putting into practice the intent stated in our MOU from 2016. We look forward to working together and welcoming new government department and organisations as they follow the lead.

Adam Stanbury - Head of Employer Solutions, CIPD

Government People Group have been working very closely with the CIPD since the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) back in 2016. Focused on collaborating to professionalise and upskill people professionals, being recognised as a CIPD People Development Partner is testament to their commitment to professional development.

Entry to the profession at every level

Championing the profession and providing various entry points, has been a key area of focus for Government People Group.

Voted number one graduate scheme in 2019, the Civil Service Fast Stream provides various opportunities to work in both strategic and operational HR, providing graduates with experience of working in different regions, cultures and working environments. Assignments stretch across the people function and include HR business partnering, organisational design and development, reward and recognition, employee relations, policy development, training analysis and design and talent management.

Rupert says, ‘we’ve really encouraged people who have been demonstrating that they’re great people professional to get accredited and have that recognised through a qualification.’ As part of the graduate scheme, graduates on the HR Fast Stream, are required to work towards a Post Graduate Diploma in HR, gaining CIPD membership at the end.

As Rupert says, it’s not just graduates that can gain accreditation, ‘the CIPD has been a real pathfinder in experience-based assessment’, with more than 150 people taking part in the process since the signing of the MoU. ‘The process of reflecting on how you demonstrated a certain capability is really beneficial – we should all be doing this all the time.’

Supporting professionals across the board

Government People Group works to support all people professionals to build a modern, effective Civil Service. Rupert is constantly ‘in awe of the quality of HR professionals across government, and PDP is a good recognition of this.’ Following in the footsteps of Government People Group, HMRC and the MoD, both of whom recently received accreditation, Rupert is keen for other government departments to follow suit, ‘There’s huge value in other government organisations achieving the standard in their own contexts. Government People Group being awarded the status as well is the best of both worlds. Perfection would be every government department and organisation having achieved the status – then the ‘whole’ would be greater than the sum of its parts.’

To find out more about becoming a CIPD People Development Partner, get in touch with the team by emailing ClientDevelopmentEnquiry@cipd.co.uk