Students take part in virtual work experience scheme at HM Treasury

Students from across the country took part in a virtual work experience scheme at the Treasury this August.

The virtual work experience scheme, the first of its kind to run at the Treasury with a full week of activities, was aimed at young people who wouldn’t usually think of working at the Department.

Their first day included a virtual meeting with Chancellor Rishi Sunak who spoke about his highlights from his first year in the Treasury and his own career so far.

He also took part in a Q&A with the students who quizzed him on subjects ranging from the UK’s transition to net zero to the future of cryptocurrency.

Over 100 students, aged 16-18, from a diverse mix of backgrounds applied for the scheme. The majority of the 19 places either went to youngsters from ethnic minority backgrounds, or from Darlington where the Treasury is opening a new office.

During the week, students gained some experience of what it’s like to work in the civil service and learned about the role the Treasury plays in overseeing public spending and setting economic policy through a variety of seminars on topics including public spending, financial services and tax.

They also discussed the Government’s Plan for Jobs, the Treasury’s response to the pandemic, and learned about Parliament and the Darlington Economic Campus. The group also received mentoring from Treasury employees and got to research and report on a project.