Guidance

Government Socio-Economic Diversity Network

Updated 10 June 2025

Background

Have you ever considered how your background influences your career journey? At the Civil Service, we believe that where you start in life should never limit where you can go. That’s why the Cross-Government Socio-Economic Diversity Network is so vital to our mission.

Our focus is on realising the full potential of every single civil servant and building a public service that truly reflects the diverse nation it serves.

What is Socio-Economic Diversity and Why Does it Matter? 

Socio-economic diversity refers to the variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives shaped by factors like family income, parental occupation, education, and social class.

Why is this crucial for the Civil Service?

• Better Policy Making: When our teams reflect the breadth of society, we gain richer insights, challenge assumptions, and design policies that genuinely work for everyone.
• Enhanced Innovation: Diverse teams are more creative, solve problems more effectively, and bring fresh perspectives to complex challenges.
• Stronger Public Trust: A Civil Service that looks like the public it serves builds greater confidence and legitimacy.
• Fairer Opportunities: We are committed to ensuring that talent and merit, not background, are the sole determinants of success and progression within our organisation.

Our objectives 

The CGSEDN is a grassroots, volunteer-led network dedicated to fostering socio-economic diversity and inclusion across all government departments. Our mission is to:

1. Raise awareness to drive change: Shine a light on the importance of socio-economic diversity and current Civil Service statistics, combat unconscious bias, understand what hinders progression and influence policy to remove barriers.
2. Build and upskill our community: Create a supportive and empowering space for civil servants from all socio-economic backgrounds. We run regular upskilling events and offer services like mentoring and job application help.
3. Champion talent: Showcase the incredible value and unique insights that diverse backgrounds bring to our work.

What We Do 

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Civil Service’s Socio-Economic Diversity Network…. a HUGE achievement for a staff network so we are celebrating some of the changes we’ve been part of creating like:

•  getting civil service socio-economic background data collected for the first time, by the People Survey in 2019
• relocating civil service jobs outside of London and spreading those opportunities around the UK , through the Places for Growth programme since 2020
• publishing our “Unofficial Guide to Thriving in the Civil Service” in 2024 (nominated for SOMO Innovation of the Year)
• upskilling 1000s of civil servants on everything from job applications to overcoming imposter syndrome through our network events and mentoring services
• getting under the skin of where working class people’s careers get stuck in the civil service, and how we can do better, in 2021’s Navigating the Labyrinth report (with the Social Mobility Commission). 

Get Involved 

The CGSEDN is a network for everyone. Whether you identify as coming from a lower socio-economic background, or you’re a passionate ally, your involvement is crucial.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Join Our Network: Become a member to receive updates on events, initiatives, and opportunities. 
• Attend Our Events
• Share Your Story: If you’re comfortable, your lived experience can inspire and educate others. Contact us to learn more.
• Become an Ally: Learn how to champion socio-economic diversity in your team and department.
• Volunteer: We’re always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us run events, develop resources, and drive our initiatives forward.

Further information

Connect with us:

• secretariat.xgsedn@dwp.gov.uk