Main content

About us

We are FCDO Services. Working with government-level customers in the UK and overseas, we provide a wide range of secure services, including logistics, construction, digital solutions, translation, counter-eavesdropping services, and more.

We have 1150+ colleagues worldwide

From building and repairing embassies to securing government servers; transporting government deliveries to translating for diplomats; it’s vital work that protects our nation’s interests all over the world.

Exterior of one of our buildings at Hanslope Park. Modern offices with large glass windows.

Were you previously known as FCO Services ?

Yes – our organisation was known as FCO Services until 2 September 2020, when our parent organisation, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, officially became the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. At the same time, we changed to FCDO Services, maintaining our historic bond.

Our work takes an impressive range of skills. There are Architects designing government buildings, and Systems Architects imagining the ICT inside. Building Services Engineers installing air conditioning, and Cybersecurity teams keeping data airtight. From Electricians to HR experts; Procurement teams to Project Managers, we’re all essential to the work we do.

Ultimately, our projects are what make government services possible. We ensure government bodies work in well-protected, well-designed buildings, and that they have impregnable, cutting-edge technology. That means they’re free to do their job, whether it’s diplomacy, consular aid, national security, or the day-to-day work of running a country.

We aim to be a world-class provider of government operational support
We also house the UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (NACE)
We’ve operated as a trading fund since 2008 – but some services date back as far as 1199
Map of the world

We have two UK locations:
Hanslope Park and King Charles Street

Teams can be based both at home and overseas
We have permanent teams at 60+ global postings

We also operate out of four Regional Hubs around the world

Who we are

FCDO Services is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and set up as what’s called a trading fund. If you don’t know the term, it means that although we’re civil servants working within government, we generate our income by mainly providing services for the rest of the FCDO (our biggest customer), other government departments and friendly foreign governments. It means we’re in government, by government, for government. Our priority is to provide secure technical support to the FCDO and other customers in overseas posts.  We control our own budgets and revenue, and we invest surplus funds back to grow our business and feed into the FCDO as our owner.

That means, when you join us, you’ll find the sense of purpose that comes with public sector work, as part of an organisation that’s commercially-minded.

Who we are not

Even though we are proud to be part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO),  joining us is not a short-cut or career route into other parts of it, such as the diplomatic service, where separate recruitment processes are applied.

We began as a FCDO department, but since 2008 we’ve had more autonomy as a trading fund. Although we are commercially minded, we are driven by civil service values and providing excellent services to our customers; not by profit.

What do we mean by secure services?

We provide services any business might need. Construction. Logistics. IT. But because we work for governments, there’s tight security involved – no matter the project. Digital solutions, for example, have to be robust enough to keep a whole nation’s data safe. Drivers have to ensure their delivery arrives securely. Whatever your role, you’re making sure our standards are above reproach, protecting the national interest.

Our locations

Our reach is worldwide, with many of our people living and working abroad.  However, most of our employees are based in two key UK locations:

Hanslope Park

Our main site, near Milton Keynes

King Charles Street

Our central London location

Corporate Social Responsibility

We protect people, information, and assets all over the world – and not just through our work for governments. Through our CSR efforts, we’re making a big impact for a brighter future:

On site at Hanslope Park (Milton Keynes), we don’t just have free parking. As of last year, we now have charging bays for colleagues with electric vehicles, giving everyone the convenient facilities they need to make the switch to greener transport.

As part of #BeyondPlastic – a joint effort with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – we’ve banned avoidable single-use plastics. We swapped plastic cups (285,600 of them per year) for paper and reusable glasses. We switched to biodegradable cutlery and containers. And thanks to a 50p latte levy for using your own mug, we drove reusable coffee cup usage from 3% to 46%.

In partnership with the National Offender Management Service, we helped inmates of HMP Bullingdon to find work within the prison, laundering 39,892 of our Diplomatic Bags. As well as doing meaningful work and earning a small income, the team even helped us reduce our environmental impact, cutting the number of new bags needed.

Our values

Though we’re a diverse team from different cultures and backgrounds, we all hold these values close to our hearts:

We operate and deliver for 250+ government buildings worldwide

70% of our products and services are delivered to our overseas customers

Did you know?

As part of the Global Britain uplift programme, we’re supporting the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with a wide range of new posts.
Locations range from the Bahamas to Tonga; Vanuatu to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Latest roles

Want to join FCDO Services but can’t see a live role to suit you? Great news: you can sign up for job alerts or add your CV to our talent pool and we’ll be in touch when something comes up.

Trainee Technical Security Engineer

Hanslope Park
£26,887 including location allowance

Apprentice in Construction Design and Build Technician

Hanslope Park
£24,550 including location allowance

Apprentice Building Surveyor

London KCS
£28,082 including location allowance

Senior Technical Team Leader

Hanslope Park
£43,026 – £50,491 plus location allowance and excellent benefits

Database, Infrastructure & Application Support Specialist

Hanslope Park
£35,510- £44,197 Plus Location allowance of £1750 and additional Benefits

CAD Technician

Hanslope Park
£29,586 plus excellent benefits

Project Manager – Construction

London and Hanslope Park

HR Employee Relations Advisor

Hanslope Park
£28,392 plus £1,750 location allowance

Non-Executive Director

Hanslope Park or London
£17,000 Per Annum

Senior Technical Security Countermeasures (TSCM) Officer

Hanslope Park
£43,026- £50,491 Plus £1750 Location Allowance

Service Transition Manager

Hanslope Park
£33,480 – £35,933 plus £1,750 location allowance