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HMRC Graduate Tax Specialist Programme 2016

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Hey, could someone send me the link to the fb page please? Thanks
Original post by Argurotox
I wasn't really fussed to be honest, I'm moving in from Portsmouth anyway. I know East London/Stratford much better though, so I'm pretty happy with the choice - I used to live near the Excel and commute into Picadilly, so I can go live somewhere near where I used to :smile:.


if Hmrc allowed, would you mind switching to euston?
Original post by Jabs1991
if Hmrc allowed, would you mind switching to euston?


I think I'd prefer to stick with Stratford, sorry bud - been looking at living costs etc and it's going to make a lot more sense, especially given the move to the RC in 2019.
Original post by Argurotox
I think I'd prefer to stick with Stratford, sorry bud - been looking at living costs etc and it's going to make a lot more sense, especially given the move to the RC in 2019.


No probs :smile: thanks for respondingg
Original post by nj.
Does anyone know the address of the Cardiff Office? When will they tell us where the actual office is? I am going to be relocating and want to get searching.


Government Buildings, Glas Road, Llanishen. Regional Centre hasn't been announced yet but should be in city centre.
Original post by Argurotox
I put down Central.... I had presumed that my email meant I'd be working in Euston, since to my knowledge the Stratford regional center isn't opening until 2019 earliest..? However, if other people have offers for Euston, I guess there must be a Stratford office open from September I'm going to..? Maybe they mean Custom House? Here's my copy pasta.

Tax Specialist Programme 2016 Stage 4 Provisional Letter of Offer

Dear Joshua

Following your Stage 3 result letter, I am pleased to tell you that we would like to offer you a place on the Tax Specialist Programme starting on 8th September 2016 in Individuals and Small Business Compliance in Central London, Stratford


As far as i know, london locations include bush house, stratford, euston( central), croydon and surbiton( greater)
Euston is the best location for now.you will be moving to either croydon or stratford after regional crntres start
Congrats to all that have got the locations they wanted!
I've been offered a place on the large businesses team at Bush House in Central London.
Was wondering whether anyone could send me the link to the Facebook page?
(edited 7 years ago)
I've requested to join the FB page too but if anyone wants to send me the link that'd be great!
I've been offered large business in Newcastle- my first and only choice!
can someone send me the facebook group link?
Reply 1769
Does anyone know, 100%, if hypothetically a space becomes available at one of our higher choices and we're next in line, are we offered that spot if we've already accepted our current offer?
Original post by nj.
Does anyone know, 100%, if hypothetically a space becomes available at one of our higher choices and we're next in line, are we offered that spot if we've already accepted our current offer?


I did e-mail to ask this the Friday before last but I've been out of the office all week. I'll let you know if I've had a reply when I'm back on Tuesday.
Original post by Cmitten
I did e-mail to ask this the Friday before last but I've been out of the office all week. I'll let you know if I've had a reply when I'm back on Tuesday.


I can categorically tell you that if you've accepted a location you're taken off the list. So if anywhere else comes up you won't be taken for consideration.
Could someone send me the link to the Facebook page?
Reply 1773
Original post by Mega0448
I can categorically tell you that if you've accepted a location you're taken off the list. So if anywhere else comes up you won't be taken for consideration.


Thank you for that. I'm not questioning you at all, but how do you know this? Have you had an email from them saying this? I've sent a couple of emails to Gwynne over the time and had no response.
Original post by nj.
Thank you for that. I'm not questioning you at all, but how do you know this? Have you had an email from them saying this? I've sent a couple of emails to Gwynne over the time and had no response.


I'm not on the TSP but I do work for HMRC and I've been through a similar process for my current course.
It's just not feasible to do it the way you're suggesting.

What I'd suggest is you think long and hard. If you accept your offer then that's that you won't get offered anything else.
If you reject then you'll be put back on the reserve list but there's no guarantee you'll be offered anything else so may end up without a job.

This is why they tell you to only put down places you're willing to work.

For my current role I didn't get my preferred location and ended up moving over 100 miles away. But I think it's worth it and once I've finished I can apply for a role back home.
"Marlina, There is a pass score set for the assessment centres and 236 people achieved that score or better for 200 posts. Everybody is ranked by their score. The better you scored the more likely you were to get your preference. So, if the 1st 9 people put Bristol and there were 8 Bristol places the 9th person would be offered their 2nd preference. If the 9th person only had Bristol as a preference they would drop to the reserve pool. Should a Bristol place become available and as they are the next person on the list, it would be offered to them. Once all the acceptances have come in and say there are 20 places declined, there is then a process of checking down the merit list to see if they can go to someone who had that location as a higher preference. this creates a domino effect of places rippling down the list. There comes a point where there are unfilled places and these aren't on any remaining candidates preferences. These are then offered to all the remaining candidates. Those that are interested are then offered (in merit order) the places. Last year we had 250 for 200 places and everyone got an offer as we had some candidates take posts with other employers or defer as they were going on to do Masters degrees. It doesn't help to know your place in the reserve pool as you might be last in the merit order last but the only candidate with that location preference that becomes available. This whole process will run through until late August"

I found this from last year's TSP (2014-2015) thread on the forum, pg 62. It was taken from the TSP Facebook Page.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2880197&page=62 This is the link.

They did say the process takes a long time and this process would confirm that they do follow a "strict merit order"
Reply 1776
Original post by Peace :)
The better you scored the more likely you were to get your preference. So, if the 1st 9 people put Bristol and there were 8 Bristol places the 9th person would be offered their 2nd preference. If the 9th person only had Bristol as a preference they would drop to the reserve pool.
"


I don't know this is entirely accurate, because there are people on this forum who have been offered locations that weren't on their list at all - suggesting that they haven't been put into the reserve pool. They have been offered the locations that have places left over.
Original post by nj.
Does anyone know, 100%, if hypothetically a space becomes available at one of our higher choices and we're next in line, are we offered that spot if we've already accepted our current offer?


I don't know for sure, but in all honesty I would suspect that if you've accepted a location then that's probably it confirmed. Maybe have a look at the 2014-2015 thread and see if there's any examples from there? Or email/ask on the facebook page.
Original post by nj.
I don't know this is entirely accurate, because there are people on this forum who have been offered locations that weren't on their list at all - suggesting that they haven't been put into the reserve pool. They have been offered the locations that have places left over.


No, that part wasn't true this year. As we know, this year they sent successful emails to the top 200 regardless of location preference. They then carried out the placement exercise. However, the second part: where they check if anyone higher up on the list put a rejected location as their 1st choice...seems plausible. Is this not the reason why they do not allow direct swaps?
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 1779
Original post by Peace :)
No, that part wasn't true this year. As we know, this year they sent successful emails to the top 200 regardless of location preference. They then carried out the placement exercise. However, the second part: where they check if anyone higher up on the list put a rejected location as their 1st choice...seems plausible. Is this not the reason why they do not allow direct swaps?


Okay, thank you :smile: I'm just wondering because I don't want to give up my flat and start looking for accommodation in another country, only for them to then call me and offer me my other choice which would mean I don't have to move at all! I'm going to wait until the 12th May (deadline for accepting/rejecting offers) and see what happens then. I'm guessing when the formal offer comes in, and we accept that, then there will be no option of changing. Thanks for your help :smile:

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