Diversity, inclusion and a welcoming living and working environment in the liveable city of Manchester

James and Sarah talk about the benefits of working for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the Manchester office.

 

What is it like to live and work in the city of Manchester?

 

James: Manchester is a very human city. It’s easy to get around, it has great culture, shops and restaurants and you’ve got some great countryside on your doorstep. The Peak District and the Lake District are a short train journey away and there’s good access to other cities, such as Liverpool, Leeds, York and Sheffield. And if you’re into sport, you’ve got two of the best football teams in the country and Old Trafford cricket ground as well. As a gay man, it’s really good for LGBT+ people too. There’s a great gay culture, plus clubs for activities such as sports, walking and bowling, which make it easy to be part of that community. It’s a great place to live – Manchester was voted most liveable city in the UK 2021.

Sarah: I really like the DCMS offices here – they are not packed at the moment and they are across two floors in a building in central Manchester. That makes it easy for people who live in different locations to get to work, plus it’s easy to access cultural activities. And if you want to enjoy the natural environment, you can be there in 10 or 20 minutes on a tram, you don’t even have to travel as far as the Peak District. I have been here for three years and it feels like home. It is a fantastic village-like city. I love that it’s not pretentious and it is a very welcoming city – it doesn’t matter what your background is, you will be accepted in Manchester. It is not intimidating.

Sarah: To put this into perspective, in the early 1990s, there were less than 500 people living in Manchester city centre, but now with all the regeneration and high density developments  it’s constantly evolving. It is one of the UKs fastest growing cities, with the city centre population expected to reach 100,000 by 2025. That’s why it’s got a fresh, young perspective. 

 

Why is the DCMS a great place to work?

 

James: The policy areas the department covers are diverse and interesting – everything from cybersecurity and digital identity, where I work, to volunteering and working across the media, culture and the arts. No matter what you're interested in, you can find something really engaging to sink your teeth into. 

 

Sarah: Plus we’ve got two amazing women as leaders in this department. For me, that is one of the key reasons why I enjoy working here as a strategic liaison lead. The leaders bring a human element to our work – the DCMS is a vibrant department, which is why it stands out. 

 

Can you have a good career path at the department?

 

James: Yes, you may start in one department and then find you’re interested in another area. It’s very easy once you’ve worked at DCMS for a while to move around and follow your interests. This department is very engaging and people are open to discussing new ideas, so you can follow your own initiative and you have a lot of opportunities. It’s a really good place to build and develop your career.

What sort of staff networks does the DCMS run?

 

Sarah: There are so many, it’s such a long list. The social mobility network does outreach with schools to encourage young people to work in the civil service and build confidence in job interviews. And there are networks for women and ethnic minorities, as well as the North network, which helps people who are moving to the Manchester office.

 

James: The LGBT+ network gets involved in events such as Pride Month. This year, there was a Pride bake sale. And we have talks from specialists in different areas to discuss issues such as trans rights. The networks fulfil three main roles – to offer support, keep people informed and provide a social network. 

Can the networks themselves provide career opportunities?

 

Sarah: There are definitely opportunities to make your mark through the networks. The positions of chairs and co-chairs rotate in the networks and there are opportunities to be on network boards, so you don’t have to be a bystander. The Manchester office only opened this year, so it still feels very fresh and new. There are a variety of sport groups and always opportunities for new groups to be set up.

 

James: DCMS is really good at supporting your professional and personal development. Learning is embedded into the department’s culture, so there’s a civil service learning platform, as well opportunities to access outside education. You have volunteering days each year, so you can give back to the community and learn new skills. The constant opportunities for learning and development are so important. It’s a great place to work.

 

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