Organisation and location
Department for Transport (Airports Policy Division), London

Industry sector
Central Government

Background
French learned at school and at work
Learned Spanish in Ecuador
BA Honours History and German, Oxford University

What are your main responsibilities at work?
I advise on policy for airport slots and regional air services – which are both governed by EC regulations. I get involved in negotiations in Brussels, and have contact with the European Commission and other member states. Language skills are always useful in this very international environment, as is an understanding of different cultures.

Why are languages important in your work?
There isn’t always a need in meeting because of the translation and interpreting work that is done for you, but a lot of work goes on ‘in the margins’ in Brussels, where the ability to approach someone in their language is useful and often greeted with some surprise!

What do you enjoy most about your job?
It is intellectually challenging. There is a good mixture of long term policy development and shorter term reactive work, and I have a lot of responsibility. The training is good and I can sometimes see the impact we have.

Any tips?
It is definitely worth applying for the European Fast Stream if interested in the Civil Service, as the training is very focused, and there is a shortage of UK citizens with language skills to work in Europe.