Unlocking regional talent: What it takes to get ahead

Monday 29th September|

Unlocking regional talent

Despite growing ambitions for a truly UK-wide Civil Service, regional civil servants still face major challenges in accessing senior roles.

Unlocking Regional Talent: What it takes to get ahead is an action-focused forum that brings together peers, leaders, and experts to share real stories, challenge, and equip regional civil servants with the tools to access higher grades, and meaningful career opportunities.

Over the course of the day, we’ll tackle real barriers – from structural challenges and cultural biases to outdated career pathways – and spotlight the routes to career progression that do exist.

This event is not about moulding yourself to a London-centric ideal, but about building your career with confidence, authenticity, and a clear sense of direction – wherever you’re based.

Why Attend?

Attending this conference offers numerous benefits, including the chance to:

• Learn from experienced civil servants and trainers who have guided regional civil servants into higher positions, on how to improve your chance of success
• Develop a deeper understanding of the skills, qualities, and competencies needed to thrive as a regional civil servant
• Explore the barriers and enablers affecting your career progression and obtain practical tools to help build your resilience and personal growth
• Hear first-hand experiences from SCS regional civil servants about their journey and current roles
• Network online with peers and counterparts across government to gain insights into what is happening in other departments and the wider civil service ecosystem

09:20

Welcome and Introduction to the Conference

09:25

Current landscape: Regional growth in the Civil Service 

• Unpacking the cultural and practical barriers to career progression for regional civil servants
• Practical tips for carving out leadership roles locally to navigating regional career pathways

10:00

Comfort break

10:15

Workshop

Thinking strategically: Using self-awareness and key enablers to advance professional growth 

• Maximising your strengths and tapping into the right resources 
• Managing a cross-regional job while maintaining a work-life balance
• Recognising and addressing regional discrimination
• Negotiating for what moves your career forward
• Proactively building mentoring and sponsorship relationships

Anna Ogilby, People Development Lead, UK Health Security Agency; Social Mobility Network co-chair

11:15

Comfort break

11:30

What makes an application stand out

• Preparing for the Success Profile process across English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Navigating the sift, interview and understanding what influences panels

Richard Hillsdon, Civil Service Selection Consultant, ex- Senior Civil Servant

12:30

Break for lunch

13:30

Embracing your voice: A confident toolkit for overcoming accent bias

• Examine pervasive biases surrounding accents and class in the UK
• Tools to embrace your unique voice confidently, navigate societal judgments, and foster inclusive communication environments

Cath Baxter, Professional Voice and Public Speaking Consultant & former Head of Voice, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

14:30

Comfort break

14:45

Personal perspectives panel

No postcode for potential: Stories of regional success

A panel of senior civil servants share their career journey and key enablers, what they wish they’d known about promotion across departments & balancing regional working with ambition
Paula McLeay, Programme Director, Places for Growth, Cabinet Office

15:45

Leading a change in culture: Where do we go from here?

• Raising the visibility of regional civil servants
• Finding the courage to lead authentically
• Dispelling expectations around traditional leadership paths and behaviours
• Championing social mobility and lifting others as you climb

16:15

Chair's Closing Remarks & Conference Close