Case Studies

Lizzie joined Nottinghamshire County Council in 2016 and spent two years working as a Business Support Administrator in the Early Childhood Services team after completing a Biology degree at Leeds University.

I worked with a great team and my time in the role encouraged me to seek opportunities to progress my career within the council, as my experience up to that point had made me keen to remain working in local government.

It is at this point that I decided to apply for the graduate scheme.

What did your placements involve?

During my time on the scheme, I had the chance to work across a number of different departments, expanding my knowledge of the Council’s vast number of services, including placements with

• Children’s and Families
• Adult Social Care
• Public Health

All of my placements helped me develop crucial project management skills and I found every team I worked in during my time on the programme to be incredibly supportive of providing  fantastic opportunities for professional development.

These opportunities I may not have been able to access outside of the scheme.

How did your experience on the programme benefit you?

My experience on the programme was incredibly rewarding and instrumental in helping me secure my current role as a Public Health and Commissioning Manager, supporting the Nottinghamshire COVID-19 outbreak response.

I successfully applied for the role while on placement in the division, allowing me to strengthen my partnership working skills in particular, whilst supporting a high priority and unique area of work.

I think the scheme shows how seriously Nottinghamshire County Council takes career development within the organisation.

I would definitely encourage any graduates to apply, as you will be provided with some genuinely unique and valuable opportunities and experiences.

These will set you up with the necessary skills to pursue a career in local government.

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.