Local government careers

1
Local government careers

• Welcome to the local government careers
  presentation. This is an introductory slide and
  can be deleted before using the presentation.
• This document contains guidelines only and can be
  amended as required by individual councils to fit
  their own needs. It is intended to help council
  staff and teachers when giving local government
  careers presentations to young people.
• The following 19 example slides provide a general
  overview of local government careers and give
  information from a national perspective. Where
  indicated in italics in the presentation slides
  or suggested in the notes pages, more relevant
  local information can be substituted or added.
• It may not be necessary to use all the slides in
  one presentation it will depend on the target
  audience as to which slides are selected for use
  on any one occasion.

2
Local government talent careers

• www.LGtalent.com
• Insert council web address here

3
What is local government?

• Local government is a collective name for local
  councils/authorities e.g. Surrey County Council,
  Birmingham City Council etc.
• Councils provide services to the public what
  council services can you think of?

Insert council name and logo here
4
What services does the council provide?

• Schools
• Leisure centres
• Libraries
• Collection of household rubbish
• Environmental health officers to ensure good
  hygiene standards in shops and restaurants

5
What services does the council provide?

• Nurseries
• Care for elderly people
• Housing
• Pollution control
• Building control officers to ensure that
  buildings are safe and energy efficient
• Plus many more

6
Did you know?

• There are 468 local councils in the UK
• There are 8 types of council county, district,
  metropolitan, London borough, English, Welsh
  Scottish unitary, Northern Irish district
• There are 11 000 town, parish community
  councils
• Councils spend over 70 billion per year
• There are 21 000 democratically elected
  councillors
• There are over 2 million employees

7
Why work for local government?

• Making a difference helping people
• Salary scales with annual increases
• Training and development
• Diverse range of jobs and people
• Flexible working conditions
• Generous annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Other benefits e.g. price reductions on public
  transport/gym facilities

8
What kind of jobs are there?
Around 600 different kinds of job including

• Accountant
• Engineer
• Housing Assistant
• IT Technician
• Marketing Officer

• Office Assistant
• Planner
• Social Worker
• Sports Development Officer
• Teacher and many more.

9
What skills are council employers looking for?

• Particular skills may be required for certain
• jobs, but councils may also look for
• Good communication skills
• Commitment, enthusiasm flexibility
• Some knowledge of local government
• Willingness to provide public service
• Sensitivity to diversity issues
• Research skills
• Organisational skills
• Creativity innovative thinking

10
What opportunities are there?

• For school/college leavers?
• Apprenticeships
• Other youth trainee schemes
• Clerical/assistant roles
• For graduates?
• Professional routes e.g. Environmental Health,
  Accountancy, Solicitors etc.
• Project work/technicians/administrators etc.
• Individual graduate trainee schemes
• national graduate development programme (ngdp)

11
national graduatedevelopment programme (ngdp)

• Aim To recruit graduates with the potential to
  become senior managers in local government within
  10-15 years
• 50-100 ngdp National Management Trainees
  recruited every year

12
ngdp content

• Duration 2 years
• Several core placements in host authority in 3
  key areas strategy, front-line service and
  support service
• Membership of Graduate Leadership Academy
• Induction
• Postgraduate diploma in local government
  management
• Skills development
• Mentoring

13
ngdp entry requirements

• Achieved or predicted 21 in any subject
• Ability to demonstrate following skills
• working with others
• drive for results
• analysis
• persuasive communication
• planning and organisation
• motivation for learning
• interest in the local government sector

14
ngdp further details

• Salary 21,588 per annum ( London weighting
  where appropriate)
• Benefits In line with individual authority
  policy, but will include pension, generous
  holiday entitlement and flexible working
  arrangements
• Selection process online application form, first
  round telephone interview, assessment centre,
  local authority interview

15
ngdp further details continued

• Apply via www.ngdp.co.uk
• If successful, placements begin in autumn
• If unsuccessful at interview or assessment
  centre opportunity to register on a secure
  website the Local Government Talent Pool
  where authorities can see your details and invite
  you to apply for other positions

16
Where are jobs advertised?

• www.LGjobs.com
• And
• Local newspapers national newspapers
• Job bulletins from local councils available
  from public buildings e.g. library, town hall
  etc.
• Local council websites
• Local government press e.g. LGC, MJ,
  Opportunities
• Professional bodies/journals
• Recruitment agencies other recruitment websites

17
Where to find more local government information

• www.LGtalent.com - local government careers and
  jobs information
• www.idea.gov.uk - Improvement Development
  Agency
• www.lga.gov.uk - Local Government Association
• www.localdemocracy.org - Local Democracy Campaign
• www.lge.gov.uk - Local Government Employers
• www.local.gov.uk - local authorities gateway

18
Where to find information continued

• www.lgiu.gov.uk - Local Government Information
  Unit
• www.lgcnet.com - Local Government Chronicle
• http//society.guardian.co.uk/localgovt/ - The
  Guardian
• www.communities.gov.uk - Department for
  Communities and Local Government
• www.info4local.gov.uk - Information from central
  Government for local government

19
Other useful websites

• www.apprenticeships.org.uk - Apprenticeship
  information
• www.nya.org.uk - National Youth Agency
• www.connexions.gov.uk - Connexions Service -
  information and advice