Fast streamers ‘need a jolly good praising’, says Sir Gus

FDA organiser Sacha Dutta and Caroline Milton, FDA national officer responsible for the Fast Stream, at the union's stand at the 2011 Fast Stream Conference

The 2011 Fast Stream Conference took place on 11 July at the QEII Conference Centre in central London. With the theme of 'Building the Big Society: Decentralisation, Localism, and the Future of the Civil Service', the conference provided fast streamers with a chance to discuss the Big Society agenda, and consider the challenges and opportunities associated with the radical transfer of power and responsibility from Whitehall to neighbourhoods, communities and individuals.

Speakers included Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles; Michael Lynas, Big Society specialist at the No. 10 Policy Unit; Department of Health permanent secretary Una O'Brien and cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell. Including breakout sessions, 77 speakers took part and were questioned by fast streamers during the day.

Taking part in a panel session, O'Brien told fast streamers: "You need to have a breadth of experience... Don't be afraid to go on secondment. You stand out with what you bring back."

After listening in on the final breakout session, Sir Gus told delegates that they "need a jolly good praising more than anything... the Prime Minister has recently said to me about civil servants 'I have never met so many talented and brilliant people'".

When questioned about the role of the fast stream, Sir Gus said it is "to challenge up as well as look up. Hierarchies will go when ministers realise ideas are coming from all levels."

The FDA had a stand in the conference 'market place' break-out area, where new members were recruited. Caroline Milton, FDA national officer with responsibility for the fast stream, said: "The Fast Stream Conference represents an excellent opportunity for the FDA to get out and meet fast streamers - including non-members - who, otherwise, may not be fully aware of the services provided by the FDA. FDA recruitment amongst fast streamers remains high and the response to the FDA's offers on learning and development, in particular, have been well-received."

FDA fast stream members can find out more about this area of the FDA's work, including the new mentoring initiative for fast streamers, at Careers Advice and Learning and Development Opportunities or by emailing the FDA's skills project manager Neil Rider at neil@fda.org.uk.