FCO’s mission statement is: ‘Better World, Better Britain’. This statement recognises the interdependence of countries, for example, Britain trades with the Caribbean islands for its year round supply of tropical fruits. This means that the Caribbean has a stable economy. It also means by maintaining good relations with other nations it should make the world a safer, more just and prosperous place and in turn Britain too.

Events in other countries impact upon businesses, individuals and the economy in the UK. For instance, when oil prices increase in the Middle East, it has a knock-on effect for the cost of petrol/diesel prices making it more expensive to transport goods in and out of the UK. In order to meet its mission, FCO needs to set clear goals and aims. Within each aim, FCO sets out a number of objectives. Objectives are more precise statements that help to deliver the goals.

The FCO has identified a number of goals and objectives in three main areas to support its mission to create a fairer and safer world. This benefits British citizens living in the UK and abroad and helps improve their quality of life.

1. Essential services – are about supporting the British economy and people. One objective within this goal is ‘to improve the reputation of the UK as the international business partner of choice in key sectors in leading overseas markets’. The aim of this objective is to improve the performance and opportunities of UK companies operating in an increasingly globalized and competitive world by prioritising these sectors: creative industries, life sciences, information and communication technology, energy technologies and financial and legal services. As part of this the FCO also supports and advises foreign companies who want to invest in the UK. Latest figures show that more than 7,500 companies improved their performance as a result of FCO support, generating around £2.5 billion benefit. FCO identified 17 high-growth markets with significant opportunities for UK business. They focus their staff and resources in markets such as India, China, Brazil and Russia.

2. Policy goals – are about wider issues and relationships. For example, within the goal of preventing and resolving conflict, objectives include ‘to promote human rights, democracy, rule of law and good governance.’ For example managing projects in China to restrict the use of the death penalty.

3. The global network – This includes setting up meetings between host governments and experts from the British government, and making sure that the right messages are communicated at the right time to host governments. For example – FCO’s High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan, has staff from the Home Office, Metropolitan Police Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development.

The skills and expertise of FCO’s staff in languages and diplomacy can be essential for other UK Government departments to work effectively with their foreign counterparts. Objectives can be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and with a Time-frame). This means clearly measurable targets or outcomes are set, so that the FCO can identify when they are achieved. FCO has produced a new strategic framework to bring together its goals and objectives and demonstrate how it is planning to achieve them.

Strategy

Once FCO has identified specifically what it wants to achieve and by when, it then goes on to develop strategies and tactics. Strategies are the broader plans – the ‘what needs to be done’. These are generally longer term. Tactics are shorter term activities which help to fulfil the strategy. There may be several tactical ways of implementing a strategy. As part of FCO’s work, it aims to counter the spread of nuclear weapons. Some of the strategies it adopted to meet this aim included:

• Discussions with world leaders to secure a unanimous UN resolution to curb Iran’s nuclear weapons programme

• Contribution to drafting a letter from EU foreign ministers to Iran offering assistance and support in creating a modern, stable nuclear energy programme 

• Co-ordinating Britain’s response to Iran with partners such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and members of the European Union, the US, China and Russia. 

FCO’s goal to ‘Support British nationals abroad’ includes the need to protect the 200-300 British citizens every year who are forced into marriage overseas. Vinay is the Head of the Forced Marriage Unit which implements this goal: My job makes a difference. The FCO is the only government body in the world involved in helping individuals escape from forced marriages. It is also about changing perceptions and raising awareness. Many people who force their children into marriage think they are just encouraging them – like encouraging them to go to university. I need to be able to deal with people in sensitive situations and communicate complicated messages in an easily understandable way. You don’t always have the right answers but it does force you to think and you develop good line management skills at the same time. The FCO sets out its objectives relying on its people to make things happen. FCO staff need to be innovative and able to handle and solve problems creatively. They must also be capable of taking high levels of responsibility. This is why, when someone applies for a job, FCO is more interested in the whole person not just their qualifications.

Roles and responsibilities
FCO staff come from a wide range of ethnic, religious, gender, social, sexual and professional backgrounds. This broad basis means people and their skills can be matched to particular projects and assignments appropriately. People work to their strengths and build on their existing skills. People can join the organisation at various entry levels from Administrative Assistant to Team Leaders. One of these levels is the Operational Officer.

The role of the Operational Officer gives a good example of the range of projects that members of the FCO work on. Operational Officers deal with the practical side of FCO’s work both in the UK and overseas. They typically spend three years in London working on policy and service delivery roles before going overseas to work in one of the 260 posts in FCO’s global network. An example of a policy role is the Arms Trade Desk Officer. Their aim is to put together a global Arms Trade Treaty to curb the irresponsible trade and transfer of arms that are used to undermine stability, democracy, development and human rights. It requires transferable skills that can be used in many work areas. Operational Officers need to be good communicators as the situations they deal with can change from day-to-day – chairing meetings or public speaking one day, helping a British national in trouble another and dealing with the media the next. They must be good at working with many different types of people; they can work alongside a range of people such as government officials or someone seeking political asylum.

Operational Officers also have to have good judgment and the ability to make the right decision at the right time. It also requires confidence to take on different tasks and in challenging circumstances including overseas.

For example, the FCO has been involved in:

• Improving security in Iraq

• Assisting the return of refugees in Kosovo

• Helping women in Morocco to use their rights under family law

• Protecting Borneo’s rainforests

• Raising awareness about human trafficking

• Organising a trade event such as the World Trade Week UK which highlights the importance of global trade in creating jobs and growth. It will help showcase the UK as a trading nation and the importance of global trade to reducing global poverty.

As FCO roles are so varied and responsibilities high, training and development is very important for career progression in the FCO. People joining FCO have an initial four weeks induction training to learn about the organisation. After that, individuals work with their managers to decide what training is best for them according to their role. Additionally, coaching and mentoring by managers helps FCO people to reach their full potential within their role and have the opportunity to progress into management roles or different areas of the organisation.

To be effective in meeting FCO’s goals and objectives, Operational Officers need to be flexible in approach and be able to cope with change. Their work often involves solvingproblems, like a lost passport or finding diplomatic solutions for local problems. For instance they may need to work with police and the local community if UK football fans were visiting another country for a big game.