As part of the transformation of the British civil service, HR management is becoming more professional. In France, this is one of the primary targets of government modernisation, led by the Directorate General for Administration and the Civil Service (DGAFP).

In the UK, efforts began with the creation of a distinct profession (HR Profession), in which the 3,500 employees tasked with HR duties in ministerial departments and government agencies work.

HR Profession is more than just a professional network, however. It is now a cross-departmental structure with an institutional existence that provides staff with specific training and support in their career path.

John Manzoni, who heads up the Civil Service, supervised this project, which was rolled out at the very highest levels, because of the "strategic, vital aspect of these functions within the British public administration".

A functional grid consisting of nine groups of professions and four function levels was drawn up, and describes and classifies each type of position. It now forms the basis of the system.

In order to flesh out the HR profession further, the designers then modelled the various possibilities for HR staff to advance (At what pace is promotion possible? When is it possible to change groups? What skills and experience are required?). An online module entitled HR Career Pathways provides detailed answers to any questions staff might have.

The Civil Service has signed a memorandum of understanding with the CIPD, the professional HR body that has 145,000 members in the UK and in many Commonwealth countries. With this agreement, the British government has committed itself to the highest standards of HR professionalisation.

As part of this, a series of new tools has been rolled out (exchange of best practices, qualifying training, individual certification courses, strengthening career development).

Fast Stream, the Civil Service's executive recruitment programme, has also created an HR option for candidates who wish to enter this field directly.

For more information: gov.uk