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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Locations: Defra have hubs in Newcastle, York, Bristol & London. All employees can work 60% (minimum) of work week in office and 40% from home

Salary: National £29,715, London £33,350

Number of places: 4

About Defra

In Defra, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors (which together make up around 6% of the UK economy) and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. You will play an important role in achieving our vision of ‘creating a great place for living’.

Our mission is to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation, leaving it in a better state than we found it. We have four priority outcomes which explain our ambitious long-term strategic aims, and the positive differences we will make to the UK:

Improve the environment through cleaner air and water, minimised waste, and thriving plant and terrestrial and marine wildlife
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in the agricultural, waste, peat and tree planting sectors to help deliver net zero
Reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on people, businesses, communities and the environment
Increase the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhance biosecurity at the border and raise animal welfare standards

The Apprenticeship Role

What does an apprentice in Defra do?

As an apprentice economist, you will play an active role in shaping and delivering Defra’s priorities, working creatively and collaboratively with others to deliver excellent outcomes. These roles will provide significant opportunities to develop your own skills and future career.

You will work with economists and wider analysts in developing the evidence base to inform Defra policy, drawing from a wide range of expertise and providing robust analytical advice.

Responsibilities will vary according to post, but could include:

Conducting and reporting analysis, to ensure policy options are underpinned by careful synthesis of available evidence and forward-looking analysis

Communicating with and advising policy colleagues on what the latest evidence and analysis tells you

Managing stakeholder engagement, analysing and reporting on outputs

Contributing to scoping of new projects, the development of monitoring and evaluation strategies and project management of externally delivered work

Addressing policy needs through development, testing and application of advanced Excel models

Develop research skills and other economic analysis techniques

What will an apprentice be involved in?

Defra has places for apprentice economists across a range of its directorates. This may include Farming & Countryside, Marine & Fisheries, Natural Environment, Trees and Landscapes and Central Analysis.

“My work is primarily focused on research and economic analysis – however there have been opportunities to apply economic theory directly to areas of work. In some cases I have felt able to work on areas that interest me and also apply my own theories to my work.”

What have apprentices actioned in the past?

Our apprentices are highly valued within their teams and contribute analytical support to a variety of policy areas within Defra. Examples of specific work areas include contributing to guidance to strengthen the department's analytical capability, identifying and understanding rationales for intervention, reviewing analytical documents such as Impact Assessments, creating and modelling analysis to contribute to policy decisions, evaluating and advising on the economic aspects of different policy options and devising new analysis to help identify market failures.

“I have been able to assist and manage a wide range of work, and my line manager and team have also been very willing to help or answer questions. I am given time to read round the subject of work while also feeling as if I am contributing towards the work of our team. Due to this my confidence has grown over the half a year I have been here. I have interacted with people in different areas which has helped me learn more about Defra.”

The Apprenticeship Community

We asked our Apprentices to share some of their thoughts about working in Defra. This is what they said…

“I regularly receive email invites to Defra AE and TRIAD drinks and also have regular opportunities to attend social events organised within the directorate.”

“My line manager is not only aware of my university schedule but also understands how this may impact my work. We have regular catch ups and often discuss economic theory which is relevant to both the course and my work areas. They are also very encouraging, patient and a great support to me.”

“My line manager and team have helped ease my transition between education and work hugely. They have been extremely supportive in both my Defra work and degree work and during our catch up will take time in asking how I am coping with moving to a new location and both types of work…I was able to go to conferences which broadened my economics knowledge and literature early on.”

Learning and Development Opportunities 

At Defra you will join a diverse but vibrant professional community working to deliver high quality, impactful economic analysis to achieve great outcomes. To deliver our vision we are working together as a professional group fostering a strong collective identity to ensure we are impactful, skilful, vibrant as a community, and connected to the outside world.

You will join a culture where continuous learning is encouraged, and colleagues are happy to share their expertise. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from alternative professions such as policy, science, statistics, operational research and social research, in a rich learning and policy-making environment. We will also offer you the chance to develop economic and policy competences through in-work training and other opportunities, such as economic seminars.

“The support for learning has been excellent with all lecturers taking time to reply to digital questions and in person at the face-to-face sessions. The team that I work with in DEFRA has integrated me as if I was a fast streamer, I am seen as their equal when work is allocated and complete all the tasks any other economists would. They have also helped me understand any challenging work I encounter in my degree.”

As an organisation, Defra works to:

Provide excellent delivery, with outstanding value for money to deliver outcomes

Be an organisation continually striving to be the best, focussed on outcomes and constantly challenging itself

Be an inclusive, professional workforce where leaders recognise the contribution of people and build capacity to deliver better business outcomes

We offer an inclusive culture which embraces and supports our colleagues to achieve and sustain increased levels of employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity.

Further Information 

For more information on the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs see our website.

CTC security clearance is required for staff who are London-based.

For further information on working as an Apprentice in DEFRA, please contact analyst.admin@defra.gov.uk