Public Sector and Government Career Guide

Sectors / 06 June 2023

Public sector and government careers span multiple job sectors, including healthcare, social care, education, local authority, central government, the military, emergency services, law enforcement and the judicial system.

Government jobs contribute to the smooth running of the country on national and regional levels, for example, managing council affairs, setting policies, or working with public finances, like tax, pensions and benefits.

Public sector work focuses more on helping communities thrive and stay safe through healthcare, education, emergency services and waste management.

Each job area has its own career path, pay structures and entry routes. However, all public sector and government employees enjoy a well-regarded pension scheme and generous sickness and maternity pay.

As well as employing individuals directly, the government also contracts private organisations and companies to carry out publically-funded projects.

This guide will focus on five different job roles chosen to show the breadth of career options available in government and the public sector: nurse, teacher, revenue and benefits officer, school business manager, and public health specialist.

Potential Roles in the Public Sector and Government

Central government, local authority and public services jobs typically fall into one of two camps; strategic, administrative and office-based roles or vocations, like nursing, teaching and social work.

Nurses work in hospitals, clinics or communities, delivering care to patients. They typically specialise by medical area or by acute or non-acute care settings. Nursing jobs require a balance of hard and soft skills and can be physically and emotionally demanding, which is why nursing is considered a vocational career path.

Teachers work in compulsory education in primary or secondary schools, teaching children from Early Years and Key Stage one as they start school to Key Stage four at the end of secondary school. A teaching job is both demanding and rewarding and requires dedication and hard work to succeed. Teachers specialise in and teach at either primary or secondary school.

Revenue and benefits officers work for local authorities, handling incoming and outgoing payments, like rents, business rates, council tax and housing benefits. Revenue and benefits officer jobs involve assessing claims and ensuring that monies are collected and distributed correctly.

School business managers work in primary and secondary schools, specialist schools and colleges. School business manager jobs involve supporting the headteacher and board of governors to manage finances, policies, and other school business matters. School business managers work with adult colleagues in an office and have little direct contact with the school children.

Public health specialists work with communities to promote good health, educate and support people with their health concerns, and create public health policies. Public health specialist jobs can focus on local, national or global populations. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the vital work undertaken by public health specialists.

Salary and Career Progression

Jobs in the public sector and government can sometimes attract lower salaries than equivalent roles in the private sector. However, public sector jobs can bring other benefits, like generous sick pay and maternity support, flexible working and an attractive pension scheme.

Public sector and government jobs typically offer plenty of opportunities for career progression, and most career paths and associated salaries are published publicly for full transparency. Some public sector jobs offer London Weighting, a slightly increased salary for jobs in London, in line with higher living costs in the capital city.

Nurses work on a rigid progression pathway and payscale called Agenda for Change, receiving annual pay raises until they reach the top of their pay Band. Beyond this, they must apply for and obtain a promotion to the next Band to open up their chance of pay increases again. Most nursing jobs fall within Bands five to seven, with senior and leadership roles moving into Band 8. Newly qualified nurses start on £27,055, and those at the top of Band 7 earn £47,672.

Teachers start on a salary of £28,000 a year when newly qualified, with rigid pay stages (much like those for nurses) up to £38,810. Teachers progress through the stages M1 to M6 with experience but can also top up their salary by taking on additional Teaching and Learning Responsibilities (TLRs), for example, by becoming the head of a subject or year group.

Revenue and benefits officers start on a salary of £17,500 and can earn up to £37,000. Experienced revenues and benefits officers can move into working on complex and high-value cases, for example, fraud or property management.

School business managers have transferable skills that can apply in any business setting. They can progress by working for bigger schools or academy trusts or moving into other public service organisations. Schools set their own salaries, but business managers can expect to start at around £25,000, rising to £55,000 with experience and further training.

Public health specialists have many years of experience in their chosen field before moving into public health. The seniority and responsibility of a public health specialist attract a generous NHS salary of between £84,559 and £114,003. Specialists who wish to progress further in their careers can focus on one area of public health, conduct research, move into a strategic or leadership role, or move into the private sector.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Nurses must have an accredited qualification and registration to practice in the UK. The following are necessary:

4-5 GCSEs grades 5-9 (C-A**)
2-3 A Levels
A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or
An accelerated Nursing Degree if you hold a previous degree in another health-related subject like life sciences or biological sciences or
A Nursing Degree Apprenticeship
You must be registered with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council to practice as a nurse

Teachers are highly qualified and must undergo specific training and post-qualifying supervision before gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The following is useful or necessary:

4-5 GCSEs grades 5-9 (C-A**)
2-3 A Levels
A Bachelor’s degree in Education or another subject (in the subject you want to teach if going into secondary education)
A Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) with QTS
School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) or School Direct are also possible qualification routes

Revenue and benefits officers do not need a degree or specific training. However, they do need 4-5 GCSEs at grades 9 – 4 (A** – C). In addition, the following may be beneficial:

A Levels
An apprenticeship
A relevant college course, like a Diploma in Business Administration
A Higher National Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
Admin experience
Experience with working with the public

School business managers can work their way up from being a school secretary or administrator. However, in most cases, school business managers achieve specific qualifications and education before securing a position. The following may be beneficial:

At least 4 – 5 GCSEs at grades 9 – 4 (A** – C)
2 -3 A levels
A Bachelor’s degree in a business or finance subject, like business management or accountancy
A Diploma in School Business Leadership or Management
A relevant apprenticeship
Candidates must pass a criminal records check to work in a school

Public health specialists work at a high level and must have appropriate qualifications. Most public health specialists have a background in nursing, midwifery, medicine, dentistry, or another medical or scientific field. Relevant education, qualifications and experience include the following:

At least 4 – 5 GCSEs at grades 9 – 4 (A** – C)
At least 2-3 A levels
A minimum 2:1 Bachelor’s degree in a medical or scientific subject (although non-medical degrees may also be considered)
A Master’s degree
A PhD
Registration with a professional body, like the Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council or General Dentistry Council
Extensive experience in a relevant area of work

Skills

Nurses use a mix of hard and soft skills continuously during their daily work. The following are necessary:

Sound knowledge of mathematical principles
IT skills
Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
A pleasant, approachable manner
Self-motivation
Diligence, honesty, and integrity
Ability to work well under pressure
Empathy, care, and compassion
A non-judgmental attitude
Excellent timekeeping and organisation
Ability to prioritise workload and be flexible as priorities change

Teachers also rely on a mixture of hard and soft skills and can benefit from the following:

An understanding of learning psychology and learning styles
Self-motivation and initiative
Confidence to talk in front of a room of people
Excellent interpersonal skills
Good verbal and written communication skills
Diligence
Resilience
Ability to work under pressure
A calm demeanour
Patience

Revenue and benefits officers must possess both hard and soft skills to perform well at their job and liaise with members of the public and businesses. The following may be beneficial:

Excellent written and verbal communication
Confidence talking to business owners and the public
Self-motivation
Diligence
Honesty and integrity
Work well under pressure
Experience and knowledge of business administration practices
Attention to detail
Knowledge of basic IT and software tools (or a willingness to learn)

School business managers must have a range of business-related skills and the ability to communicate well with colleagues and stakeholders. Important skills include:

Knowledge of HR practices
Excellent verbal and written communication
Works well under pressure
Motivation and diligence
Honesty and integrity
Ability to prioritise workload and adapt to changes
Good business acumen
Leadership skills

Public health specialists must have a mixture of soft and hard skills to succeed. For example:

A desire to help people improve their health
A keen interest in health promotion and public health
Diligence
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Compassion
Ability to work well under pressure
Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing situations
Natural ability to influence people
Confidence to bring ideas to a group or challenge senior colleagues
A non-judgmental and accepting attitude
A positive outlook

Working Hours

Shift work and 24-hour coverage can be common in the public sector, particularly for employees working in healthcare and the emergency services, like nurses, doctors and paramedics.

The office-based job roles covered in this guide, including school business managers and revenue and benefits officers, typically involve standard hours of Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with weekends and bank holidays off work.

School business managers continue working during school holidays.
Public health specialists must be available to respond to public health crises if or when they arise. They may also work weekends, evenings or nights to reach certain population groups.
Teachers don’t stop working once school has finished; they often continue into the evenings and through school holidays. Teachers are also expected to attend parents’ evenings, school events and residential trips, which all take place outside of (and in addition to) school hours.

Notable Locations

Typically, jobs in central government departments, including the Department for Education and the Department for Health and Social Care, are based in Westminster in central London. Senior regional public health specialists may be required to attend central offices in Westminster to assist in national policymaking and reporting.

Employees working in the civil service (like revenue and benefits officers), education (including teachers and school business managers), and most healthcare workers (including nurses and doctors) are employed directly by the relevant school, health trust or local authority.

There are 333 local councils in England, 22 in Wales, 32 in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland, each with its own education, healthcare and administration provisions.

They include:

Birmingham City Council
Liverpool City Council
City of York Council
Isle of Wight Council
Newport Council
Pembrokeshire Council
Aberdeenshire Council
Belfast City Council
London is divided into local boroughs, each with its own council.

Notable Companies

Central Government: includes the Cabinet Office, the Department for Health and Social Care, and other ministerial and non-ministerial departments in Westminster.
Local authorities: each runs as a separate entity funded by the central government.
NHS: the UK’s biggest employer, with the equivalent of 1.2 million full-time employees.
The LDBS Academies Trust: manages ten primary schools across four London boroughs.

Next Steps

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