Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
1. Don’t be afraid to ask for support. No one succeeds alone. Join support networks, find a coach, mentor or sponsor. Get as much help as you can! 2. Step outside your comfort zone and take on new challenges, even if they are a bit scary! Growth doesn’t happen in familiar spaces. Take on challenges that stretch you, that make you uncomfortable and ultimately lead to new skills and greater confidence. 3. Make things happen – look for sideways moves to develop your skills, not just promotions. Think about development programmes. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, seek them out, take the initiative and be ready to step up when the moment comes. If you don’t make it happen, nobody will! 4. Resilience is essential. There’ll be lots of disappointments on your journey and times when you wonder whether it’s worth it. I can tell you without a doubt, it is. Keep trying, keep pushing. Remember, every obstacle is an opportunity to rise. Each setback is a chance to grow stronger and to learn something new, and every step you take brings you closer to the top of the ladder. 5. When you succeed in life or in your career, celebrate but also acknowledge that you didn’t do it alone. Nobody does! Above all, don’t pull the ladder up after you! Reach out and help others climb.
Career path
Tax Professional Manager (Grade 6)
HM Revenue & Customs
From 07/2024 to 03/2025Tax Professional Manager
Hmrc
From 07/2024 to 05/2005Customs & Borders Partnerships Lead (Grade 7)
HM Revenue & Customs
From 03/2021 to 06/2024Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
The work I have done around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has led me to meet many colleagues who have a similar desire to develop and progress but who face barriers that are difficult to overcome. One of my principal motivations at this stage of my career is both to help those colleagues through coaching and mentoring and to raise awareness of issues faced by disadvantaged groups. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given my background, I have been most active in the area of race equality, but I am equally committed to being an ally for people from other minorities.
Greatest achievements
I was the Race Lead for our Wales region at the time of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. Leading our response to those events and the feelings that they triggered for colleagues, and later to the Race Disparity Audit, was incredibly challenging but also rewarding. I built awareness of the issues through regular Yammer (now Viva Engage) posts and through presentations, listening events and bringing together internal and external speakers. Although there is much still to be done, it was fantastic to see real progress in our region. I was also able to influence events across HMRC and the wider Civil Service. I was incredibly proud and humbled when my work in this field led to me being nominated by colleagues for an MBE. Receiving that award was a very proud moment for my family, but by far the best thing for me is seeing the success of colleagues whom I have worked with.
Kris
Estates Strategic Planning & Data Modelling lead
Top Insider Advice
If there is one thing in my 20+ years in the civil service I have figured out it is you will never know if you don't try. Early on in my career I would never volunteer for opportunities, I wouldn't offer up answers or contribute to group meetings or working groups and missed the opportunity to apply for roles I would have loved to try my hand at. This was all through the fear of looking stupid or failing and how other people would view me. Not to say I have never failed as I have, be that in job applications or the approach I have taken to work tasks. The biggest thing I will share here is I have learned so much more from failing than I ever have from getting something right first time. The support from my colleagues during these times was surprising, there are so many great people who work across our government departments which fosters a great environment to be part of. Don't forget if you learn or take something way from an experience how can that be seen as a failure. Don't stop trying.
Pete
Situational Awareness Officer
Top Insider Advice
Once established the keep your options open. The department and Civil Service are vast, work is varied and options are unlimited. Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge, experience and contacts.
Robina
CSG Advisor
Top Insider Advice
Never by shy or afraid to try something new and don't expect opportunities to come to you, they might do, if you're in the right place at the right time but mostly, it's about keeping your eyes open. Taking action on your goals and believing in yourself is important, lets face it, you are your own best friend. Be open and flexible and avoid linear thinking as you can miss opportunities right in front of you. Doing something different to your business as usual is a great way to meet new people, network and learn more about yourself.
