About the academy

The Academy is where you find everything to do with GCS’ learning and development. It includes our curriculum and standards of professional practice, GCS guidance and case studies, as well as access to courses and events, mentoring opportunities and accelerated development programmes.

On this page:


Overview

The GCS Academy is where you can find all of GCS’ learning and development. It includes:

  • the GCS Curriculum and its content
  • courses and events
  • programmes such as mentoring
  • our Accelerated Development Programmes
  • information about relevant professional bodies. These are:
    • Public Relations and Communications Association
    • Market Research Society
    • Chartered Institute of Public Relations
    • Chartered Institute of Marketing

Who is eligible

GCS Academy content is for civil servants who are members of the Government Communication Service.

Learn and develop through our curriculum

The Academy offers:

  • learning through the GCS curriculum
  • membership benefits through professional bodies
  • mentoring opportunities
  • accelerated development programmes to help you progress in your career
  • courses and events

The GCS Curriculum sets the standard for learning and development in the GCS. It is presented for each grade (currently from EO up to grade 6) and with content for each discipline organised by practitioner, advanced and expert level to help you sequence your learning. Read about the GCS curriculum.

Each year you are required to complete a minimum of 30 CPD points (roughly 30 hours of L&D). A wide range of L&D activities now count towards your CPD points. Read how to get CPD points.

You are also required to keep an up-to-date Personal Development Plan, which records your learning and development activities. Plan your professional development

Courses and events

GCS Academy courses and events are exclusively online for the foreseeable future. You can book your place by checking our calendar of courses and events. To access the booking page, you need to get the password from your development adviser.

Sign up for the GCS Academy newsletter to get notified about new course dates. There is a high demand for some of our courses so we often run these more than once.

Get mentoring opportunities

Find out about our mentoring programme. There are also opportunities to participate in Civil Service mentoring programmes.

Progress your career

Our accelerated development programmes are key to raising our standards, developing inspiring leadership, and ensuring we have diversity in our senior leadership, reflecting the society we serve.

We run 6 accelerated development programmes ranging from internships and apprenticeships to our senior leadership programmes Inspire, and the Power of Choice.

Contact

Contact us by email: gcs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.