Stage 1: Makers Academy selection process
On submitting your interest to become an apprentice via Makers, you will be invited by email to complete a series of tasks.
You will work through an intensive, but largely self-selecting application process run by Makers Academy. This process is designed to enable you to try coding and to help you understand if you are suitable for the apprenticeship. It is largely self-selecting as you commit to undertaking the learning and practical exercises required, within the timeline stipulated.
For the first stage, you will be invited to undertake a coding course which will take around 15 hours to complete and you can complete in one or more sessions within a limited timeframe. You will be sent instructions on how to do this and do not need to have any previous experience of coding.
The second part of selection challenges with Makers Academy will be a coding challenge, which will take around two hours to complete. On completion and if successful you will then be contacted by a member of the Makers to team for an interview.
Makers Academy will shortlist applicants to move through to the final stage which will be an interview with DWP Digital to assess the essential criteria. Here you will also be required to complete a 10-minute presentation. Further details will be provided when selected for interview.
A timeline of the application process is below. Apply by:
- Registering your details with Makers Academy and completing your application about your interest in the apprenticeship role by Monday 27th March 2023.
Upon submission you will work through the selection stages, which includes the following:
- Complete a coding course and challenge within 10 days time, on successful completion progressing to an interview.
- Interviews with Makers Academy will be held from Monday 20th March up to Friday 28th April.
- Final interviews with DWP Digital are expected to be held from Monday 24th April onwards. Dates will be confirmed should you be successful.
Following a successful interview, we are hoping to make offers mid/late May and will then begin necessary onboarding and checks with a target start date from July onwards.
Stage 2: Interview
If you’re successful with the Makers Academy Selection process you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the following Essential Criteria:
- Ability to confidently collate and analyse data, draw conclusions and report information.
- Ability to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands.
- Experience of managing relationships between stakeholders to meet common goals.
• Aptitude for learning and driving within a team environment.
You will be asked to do a short (10 minute) presentation on a specific topic. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit our blog Getting Hired at DWP Digital .
Further information:
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.
Please Note: You must meet the security requirements before you can be appointed. 7 of these roles require Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS). For 3 of these roles the level of security needed is security check (SC).
For meaningful Security Checks checks to be carried out individuals you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers.
Any move to DWP name from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via Jonathan.ford1@dwp.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.