Foreign & commonwealth office

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office employs over 12,000 people worldwide and offers a range of exciting and rewarding positions in the UK and across the world. The FCO has two key areas of work – foreign policy delivery and service delivery. We work with international partners on challenging issues such as climate change, counter terrorism and human rights to protect Britain”s security and prosperity. The FCO also manages the UK”s relationships with other countries and international organisations like the United Nations and NATO. We also provide essential services to the British public and businesses; providing support to distressed British nationals such as those who have been forced into marriages abroad, or to British businesses who need to understand how to work in a different culture. Officers will start their careers in our UK offices in London or Milton Keynes but will also have the opportunity to work at some of our 260 Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates abroad.

• Edition 15 Meeting business needs through workforce planningThis organising people case study looks at why the FCO needs people with transferable skills who can adapt easily and undertake many different roles and responsibilities within the organisation.
  1. Introduction
  2. Workforce planning
  3. Recruitment
  4. Selection
  5. Developing people
  6. Conclusion
• Edition 14 Delivering the mission statementThis mission case study examines how the FCO meets its goals through the skills and competencies of its people.
  1. Introduction
  2. Aims and objectives
  3. Strategy
  4. Roles and responsibilities
  5. Measuring outcomes
  6. Conclusion
• Edition 6 Working for free tradeThis government influence case study focuses on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) involvement in world trade policy.
  1. Introduction
  2. What is free trade?
  3. The World Trade Organisation
  4. Protecting e-commerce
  5. Role of the FCO
  6. Conclusion