Mastering interviews in the UK Civil Service

Speakers

• Lynn Cooper

  Registrar of Companies for Northern Ireland

  United Kingdom

• Mahesh Nandha

  Head of External Engagement, Global Trade and Investment at the Department for International Trade

  United Kingdom

• Gerri Clement

  Deputy Head, Civil Service Recruitment, Cabinet Office

  UK

• Zak Anderson-Watt

  Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Projects, Department for Business and Trade

  UK

• Lynn Cooper, Registrar of Companies for Northern Ireland at Companies House. Lynn has worked in the Civil Service for fifteen years and is experienced in training public servants to use Success Profiles in the job application process, including in interviews.

• Mahesh Nandha, Head of External Engagement, Global Trade and Investment at the Department for International Trade. Mahesh has been a Civil Servant for six years, having previously served as a police officer. He has delivered masterclasses about the application process to over 500 people from across the civil service.

• Gerri Clement, A Fellow of CIPD, Gerri works in Government People Group which is the HR function for government within Cabinet Office, and is the Deputy Director of Recruitment. She is the Senior Responsible Owner for the Recruitment Transformation programme, a Government Major Project set to release over £112m benefits, and has responsibility for recruitment policy. In addition, she leads the Government Recruitment Service, which has c.250 staff and a budget of c.£57m. With over 25 years experience in the private and public sector her current role is a happy harmony of her professional background in policy, project delivery, and HR. Gerri is a Trustee of a charity providing holidays for underprivileged children, and a Trustee for her local cricket club as she is passionate about the game. Gerri is also the co-founder of the Cross Government Social Mobility Network, established in 2016, for which she was awarded an MBE. She is a coach and mentor, runs a regular Masterclass on improving one's personal impact, and was the winner of the inaugural Upreach award for Mentor of the Year. Gerri is an advocate for systems thinking, and her disarming and indefatigable leadership style is driven by her passion for enabling all to reach their potential.

• Zak Anderson-Watt, is the Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Projects for the Department for Business and Trade as part of the innovative Darlington Economic Campus. Zak has been based at the campus since just after its inception in 2021 and his current role involves working with colleagues across all 9 departments to make DEC a success. The campus has been recognised as a blueprint for successful Civil Service relocation and has had a focus on bringing new staff into the Civil Service, breaking down silos between departments and improving policymaking through access to expertise outside of London. Zak has held several roles prior to this, working in policy, private office and project delivery across multiple government departments. </p>