Defra Reviews
Updated 5 Dec 2019
"An employer who truly values flexible working and allowing the employee to work around their own needs" (in 17 reviews)
"Calm, interesting issues, good work-life balance" (in 11 reviews)
"Brexit dominates senior management" (in 4 reviews)
"" (in 3 reviews)
"Good place to work in general"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
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RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Defra full-time for less than a year
Pros
Flexible place to work. People are friendly.
Cons
Canteen is 2/10. I'd rather starve. But plenty of shops/tesco etc around.
Advice to Management
Don't let Brexit pressure change you.
Defra2018-11-01"Good place to work"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
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RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Defra full-time for more than a year
Pros
Nice people, nice culture, very flexible approach to home working
Cons
Sometimes slow to get decisions made and lack of individual accountability
Defra2019-12-05"Very nice place to work"
StarStarStarStarStarI have been working at Defra full-time for less than a year
Pros
Incredible people Great work-life balance Average salary
Cons
Sometimes it is slow to get things done
Defra2019-11-11"Interesting and varied work"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
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RecommendsNeutral OutlookNo Opinion of CEOI worked at Defra full-time for more than 10 years
Pros
Get to work on hugely important issues. Good work life balance.
Cons
Low pay. Lots of office politics.
Advice to Management
Push harder for higher pay levels. Must implement more effective change and resource management.
Defra2019-11-01"Comfortable"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
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RecommendsNegative OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Defra full-time for more than a year
Pros
Flexi working Good employment benefits Busy environment
Cons
Current political climate Still a little bias toward northern workers
Defra2019-10-23- Helpful (4)
"Not recommended"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
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Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo Opinion of CEOI have been working at Defra full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Flexible working hours, home working
Cons
Defra recently created a single ICT team by merging hundreds of staff from agencies that are part of the broader Defra network of organisations. These include ICT staff from the environment agency, rural payments agency, natural England and others. The culture is biased towards environment agency staff who have promoted out of all proportion to other staff, often regardless of ability. The culture is autocratic... and staff are fearful of speaking out and are choosing to leave instead. There is serious inequality and career progression is based upon whether your face fits rather than ability. It comes as no surprise that so many are leaving and there is a serious recruitment and retention problem.
Show MoreAdvice to Management
As Defra’s ICT team (DDTS) is the civil service it needs to comply with civil service rules, not those of the environment agency - which is where many senior leaders have come from. Senior leaders need to stop trying to place their own personal need for power ahead of running an inclusive and fair ICT team. Carry on and you’ll lose much needed talent - which isn’t easy to replace at the salaries on offer.
Defra2019-08-26 - Helpful (1)
"You don't have to be patient to work here but it helps"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
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RecommendsNeutral OutlookNo Opinion of CEOI have been working at Defra full-time for more than 3 years
Pros
Flexible working, open management, supportive
Cons
Overworked, you will be doing more than you signed on to do. Firefighting issues stifles a lot of good work. Brexit dominates senior management.
Advice to Management
Ring fence development.
Defra2019-07-09 - Helpful (1)
"Not the worst"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
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I worked at Defra full-time
Pros
Flexible, interesting policy area, dynamic policy formulation in some parts
Cons
Slow to act on tech. Some senior leaders will go out of their way to block progression based on personal dislike rather than abilities
Defra2019-07-08 "Flexible working is fab"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Compensation and Benefits
- Senior Management
I have been working at Defra full-time for less than a year
Pros
Nice people Good L& D opportunities Flexible working
Cons
Low salary Short fixed term contracts
Defra2019-06-20"Excellent benefits and work life balance"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
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RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI worked at Defra full-time for more than a year
Pros
An employer who truly values flexible working and allowing the employee to work around their own needs
Cons
Pay is poor, relative to private sector and other government departments.
Defra2019-06-05