Case Studies

Tom studied International Law graduating in 2020 and then completed a Master’s degree in Law in 2021 both at Nottingham Trent University before joining our scheme.

After several years working as a paralegal at law firms across Nottingham, I began looking for a different opportunity and a graduate job that suited my skills and interests. I wanted a role where I could test my skills in a range of different areas and one that offered me a variety of experiences. The public sector was somewhere that had always appealed to me because it offered me the chance to pursue a career that I found rewarding and one where I could give back to my community.

What attracted you to the programme?

I came across the Graduate Development Programme online whilst looking for graduate schemes within local government. I was immediately attracted to the programme because it offered me the chance to improve the lives of the people of Nottinghamshire, somewhere I have lived for a number of years whilst at university and after. Additionally, the chance to try my hand in four different departments of the council was really appealing to me, as it gave me the opportunity to develop a wider understanding of local government and enhance my skills across a range of areas.

The opportunity to study a professional qualification alongside the role really appealed to me because it was clear to me that the council really valued its employees and their professional development. I was really excited by this chance to improve my professional skills alongside the chance to experience a range of different areas of the council and subsequently I made the decision to apply.

How did you find the recruitment process?

The first stage involved a written application, where you are required to exhibit the skills you have to excel in the role and my motivations. After being successful with this element, I was invited to an online assessment centre, this was a nervous but exciting experience where I was also able to meet several people who had previously been on the graduate scheme and ask them questions about it.

The next step after being successful at the assessment centre was an in-person interview. I was nervous for this but by ensuring I had read up about the council and about all it was doing for its residents, I felt confident I could showcase why I was a perfect fit for the programme. Ultimately, the whole interview process was an enjoyable experience where those interviewing me were looking for my skills and my motivations for the role. A couple of weeks later I was over the moon to be offered the job. I was so happy to be able to begin a role where I could develop my skills, give back to the community and progress my career.

How are you finding your first placement?

When I first joined the council in September 2024, we began with our induction week, part of this involved meeting other graduates and senior officials. One of the most rewarding parts of the week was sitting down with the Chief Executive, getting to know him and also getting to understand how the council worked. Overall, it was a good week that helped us to understand the council, our first placements and allowed us to meet the key people such as our managers and other peers in our cohort. After completing this week, I was excited to get started in my first placement.

My first placement has been working in the Service Improvement team within Adult Social Care and Health. It has primarily been involved with working on a project called the All-Age Approach redesign which has looked at changing the way care is given to those in Nottinghamshire. The work I have been involved in on this placement has been wide ranging and involved data analysis to influence decision making, presentations to senior management and facilitation of workstreams with colleagues. It’s been an interesting experience where I have also been able to travel around the county to meet the workforce and see different offices. It has been a valuable opportunity to work on something that is having such a drastic impact on the county and allowed me to understand the importance of the work we do for the residents that live here.

Alongside this first placement, I began a level 5 diploma in leadership and management, we carry this out monthly with an external trainer and the skills and theories we learn are relevant to our role and our professional development. I’m enjoying learning about the different elements of the diploma and the trainer is always happy to help is and explains the subjects well.

I am now coming to the end of my first placement and I’m looking forward to finding out where I will be going next and meeting the new team. So far, I have loved every part of the Graduate Development Programme, it has allowed me to make new friends and to develop my professional self greatly. I would really recommend the programme to anyone as it is an exciting opportunity where you can develop yourself but also help the residents of Nottinghamshire.

Paris joined the scheme having already gained experience with us on a placement while studying at university.

What attracted you to the scheme?

I was first introduced to the Graduate Development Programme during an unpaid internship facilitated through the University of Nottingham. The internship was in our Adult Social Care department in the Commissioning team, where I was involved in project management and community engagement activities. I did this internship in my final year of university, and the team were really helpful in advising me to speak to a former graduate and the lead co-ordinator of the scheme. I found out more about the scheme and how it works, and I was encouraged to apply.

Through the internship, I was able to see how supportive the programme is of its graduates and I got to experience how the organisation is keen to have young people with fresh ideas on board.

What are your experiences of being on the scheme and your placements?

My first placement was in Property, within the Strategy and Information team. The flexible nature of the placements also meant I was able to divide my time between this team and Cultural Services. My first placement focused on helping to write a refreshed Libraries Strategy, alongside auditing our properties database to ensure compliance with the Local Transparency Code 2015. This placement gave me valuable networking opportunities, both internally and externally with partners and our arms-length companies, project management skills, data skills, and research skills amongst many more.

My second placement was in the Corporate Leadership Team, where I acted as an Executive Officer to the Chief Executive. This placement was extremely valuable in giving me an array of skills and opportunities to build my confidence and learn about the organisation from a strategic perspective.

Key workstreams that I was involved in during this placement related to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, opportunities around public service reform, and a review into our partnership landscape. This placement gave me the key skills needed to progress on from the programme.

Being on the programme gives you the ability to throw yourself into a wide range of different activities and projects. As a graduate, you’re a valued member of a team, and your insight and ideas provide a new perspective that many teams across the organisation are really keen to hear.

You’re supported in a variety of ways, through a buddy system with other graduates, through mentoring systems, and through the growing network of graduates that the council is building on each year.

You’re encouraged to expand your horizons and get involved in things of interest, and things that might not be!

How you did you get a job with us and what do you do now in your current job?

The programme gives you the opportunity to really expand your network across the whole organisation, through my network I was informed of an opening in the Policy and Research team. After speaking with the hiring manager, I went through the application process, which involved an online written application and an in-person interview. The interview involved a written task and questions with a panel.

In my job, I’m involved in a number of key corporate processes including the development of our Nottinghamshire Plan, the Annual Delivery Plan, performance management, and service planning. The team sits in our Transformation and Change Department, so I often receive research requests from a variety of projects, with varying subject matters. I also do lots of horizon scanning, both nationally and locally, writing briefings on new policies or legislations and help keep the organisation’s monthly Policy Digest up to date.

What is your advice for future applicants?

The Graduate Development Programme is a great way to start your career, I’d highly recommend it to all graduates who are looking for an opportunity in local government, or the public sector more generally. Nottinghamshire County Council gives its graduates an incredible range of opportunities to help develop your skills and knowledge, so don’t be afraid to apply if you’re new to the world of local government!

Your personal and professional development is both encouraged and valued at the council, and you're supported throughout your journey in the organisation.

Alex joined Nottinghamshire County Council in January 2021 following the completion of his Economics and Finance Degree at The University of Lincoln. Alex qualified for the scheme due to living in the County.

What attracted you to the programme?

Following the completion of my studies I was searching for a role that provided me with the opportunity to work in an environment that gave me the chance to add value to the organisation whilst also prioritising the progression of my career.

It was for these reasons that the Programme was so attractive to me. I could see from the advertisement online, that the role was a real opportunity for me to make an impact on the communities that surround us, whilst also providing me with high quality training and professional qualifications.

How did you find the recruitment process?

Following my successful application, the remainder of the recruitment process was really rewarding and we were always made to feel at ease about what to expect and we were regularly kept up to date on what was happening. Throughout the process it was clear that the recruiters were interested in me and my motivations, rather than just what is written down on a piece of paper.

After getting accepted onto the scheme, I joined the authority along with five other trainees in January 2021 during one of the national lockdowns. Joining any organisation remotely was always going to be a challenge, but the best efforts were made to ensure that we settled into the scheme and were supported along the way. Right from the off, it was clear that there was an endless amount of support available to graduates who joined, whether that was in the form of the programme leader, our senior mentor or our line manager.

What did the programme involve?

During my time on the scheme, I was fortunate enough to work in 3 different departments and gained a wealth of really valuable experiences that put me in good stead to secure a permanent position within the organisation. I spent the first 9 months of the scheme working within the Children’s and Families Department, focussing on Service Improvement in Youth, Families and Social Work, followed by a 6-month placement in the Growth, Infrastructure and Development Team. I then finished my time on the scheme supporting both Waste Management and Cultural Services which is the area of the organisation in which I now work as a Waste Strategy and Development Officer.

Each area of work has provided me with great opportunities to develop my project management capabilities and has given me the chance to work, and interact, with a wide variety of officers, both internal and external. It is something that can often be under appreciated, but the exposure you receive as a trainee is second to none.

As you will be able to tell by now, the graduate programme provides you with the opportunity to find what you enjoy, and the support you receive from officers and Councillor’s across the organisation is excellent. One of the standout things for me during my time on the scheme is that my opinion was always appreciated, and I was always encouraged to be part of important strategic discussions, allowing me to feel valued whilst also developing my confidence to challenge the status quo.

I would recommend the scheme to any graduates looking for an opportunity to develop themselves, as the scheme offers some excellent opportunities that are unheard of elsewhere.

Christie joined the scheme in September 2021 as part of cohort four

Coming into my second year on the graduate scheme, I have gained more responsibilities and further developed skills in a number of management areas. I now supervise a group of graduates working on a project for us and which is allowing them to build the skills which employers are looking for. I am taking aspects of the apprenticeship into my work and have seen and managed projects from beginning to end. Finally, I have learnt about commissioning, and can see how I can use these new skills and transfer them into new forthcoming roles.

What attracted you to the programme?

After finishing university, I secured myself a full-time role in the voluntary sector as a project officer.

The job initially seemed great, however I quickly discovered I wasn’t given the freedom to express myself in the way I wanted. This led me to seek new and exciting job opportunities, one of which was the Graduate Development Programme.

How did you find the recruitment process?

When thinking about this process, one of the main words which stand out to me is reassurance.

During the process any questions I or anyone else may have had were answered quickly by an email or phone call.

Regular updates were also provided throughout the different stages of the application process, as well as information on how best to prepare for each stage.

The recruitment process itself started off with the online application form which asked me to highlight my experiences and skills in answer to a number of questions.

The assessment centre also gave me a chance to learn more about the Council and its plans for the coming years through chatting with some current trainees.

I like the way that during the assessment centre you are able to show your individuality, strengths, and weaknesses, and to be able to demonstrate that you can work both as a team and individual.

It was tough but enjoyable.

Finally, the last stage of the process was a formal interview where I was questioned by a panel of three.

There are many opportunities during the process for you to show who you are and what you can bring to the role.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of applying?

My main piece of advice would be to be honest, be yourself and try and enjoy the process.

Naomi joined us in September 2022 after completing her Politics and International Relations degree and subsequent master’s in International Security and Terrorism, both from the University of Nottingham.

Towards the end of my Master’s degree, I started to search for a graduate job that was right for me. I knew that I wanted a role that would offer me a variety of experiences, and help me to further refine the area I would like to pursue a career in. I was also looking for a job that I would find rewarding. This is what drove me to look at roles in the public sector.

What attracted you to the programme?

I came across the Nottinghamshire County Council Graduate Development Programme through an online advert. I was most interested by the opportunity to work in different departments throughout the scheme. I was also excited to see that the scheme involved studying for a professional qualification alongside my work. It was important to me in my job search that I was valued by my organisation, and this clear interest in professional development was a selling point for me.

How did you find the recruitment process?

Following my successful written application, I was invited to an assessment centre. I was nervous about this at first, but from the beginning of the assessment day I felt at ease and ultimately had an enjoyable day. After this I was offered an interview. I made sure that I was prepared for it and it was clear to me that those interviewing me were more interested in getting to know me and my motivations than with catching me out and so this eased my nerves. When I was offered the job, I was ecstatic. I had been wanting to stay in Nottingham to work and to have a role so well suited to my career ambitions was perfect.

How are you finding your first placement?

I joined the organisation in September 2022. During my first week I was introduced to my fellow graduates in my cohort and we were able to complete the induction process together. We were also introduced to different cohorts of graduates and senior officers including the Chief Executive. This induction week was a great way to help us to settle into our new roles where we were also told our first placements and introduced to our managers. I finished this week feeling extremely positive about my future at the organisation and excited that I would be going through the process with my peers within my cohort.

In my first placement I have been working on the Financial Resilience Group. It has involved a variety of work including the production of communications documents, stakeholder mapping, facilitation work across all group workstreams, and collecting data sets to help direct action. I have found it interesting to work on something as relevant as the impact of the cost of living. I have been able to meet colleagues from across the organisation and make links with different departments; this level of networking is invaluable.

After a few months of studying, I now feel like I have a strong understanding of my Level 5 diploma in Leadership and Management. The teaching is delivered to us as a cohort, and our trainer is always available to us if we need help with an assignment. I am finding it interesting and can see the value this offers me in my professional development.

Going forward, I am excited to find out what my next placement is and to begin to learn about a new department/project. I have had a positive experience of the scheme so far, having made friends, professional connections, and gained valuable professional experiences. I would recommend to anyone considering applying that they should take the shot as the opportunities available are unparalleled.