Opportunities for Graduates wishing to join Local Government

National Graduate Development Programme

Staffordshire County Council is taking part in the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP).

If you would like to find out what schemes Staffordshire County Council currently offer please see the links on the left for further information.

The NGDP was established to support the development of a new generation of highly skilled and effective managers.  They have the potential to be senior managers in 10 -15 years and have a significant influence in local authorities.

The NGDP is delivered in partnership between the IDEA and local authorities. National recruitment by the IDEA provides a pool of high calibre graduates with good honours degrees.   Participating authorities select and recruit from this pool.  Authorities are responsible for employing the graduates on a two-year placement and setting their core work place activities within a nationally agreed framework.

Beyond this period it is anticipated (but not guaranteed) that their employment with us will continue and that they will develop further into various management roles.

Who are the National Management Trainees?

Staffordshire County Council employees four National Management Trainees (NMTs). Two NMTs start each September and work in the Authority for two years.

Current NMTs within the Authority are:

Louise Marsh Profile louise.marsh@staffordshire.gov.uk

John Shenton Profile john.shenton@staffordshire.gov.uk

Saima Khan Profile saima.khan@staffordshire.gov.uk

Erin Withers Profile erin.withers@staffordshire.gov.uk

Previous NMTs within the Authority are:

Jon Horan Profile jon.horan@staffordshire.gov.uk

Gemma Morris Profile gemma.morris@staffordshire.gov.uk

Lucy Hayles Profile lucy.hayles@staffordshire.gov.uk

Project Placements

Each graduate gains experience through a series of project placements during the two-year programme.  These need to be demanding, well organised and managed with specific outcomes.  Directorates will provide officers to co-ordinate the Management Trainee work locally.

It is a requirement of the programme that we offer a minimum of three types of placement for each National Management Trainee throughout their two years with us.  These are: 1) Front line service; 2) Support service; 3) Strategy. 

Past placements

The following list gives some of the many examples of the type of activity that graduates have undertaken in our own Authority during their placements:

• Auditing directorates on their approach to older people to assist the creation of a corporate strategy
• Engaging children in the democratic process for Local Democracy Week
• Managing a project to find visitor transport for the Shugborough site
• Analysing and reporting on the financial viability of an in-house service
• Evaluation of community safety project, including securing external funding for its continuation
• Self assessment of Trading Standards as part of national Peer Review programme, based on EFQM Business Excellence Model
• Project-managing a new partnership scheme to establish a register of home improvement traders across Staffordshire to protect consumers
• Writing guidance for managers on Equalities employment law
• Worked towards getting domestic violence as a target for the LPSA2
• Working as a member of the Local Area Agreement Core Team with a particular focus on supporting voluntary sector engagement
• Managing a project on improving consultation and engagement with potential adult learners
• Developing and managing the Policy and Research role within Social Care and Health and providing policy support to the DMT
• Ensuring Staffordshire County Council meets its legislative duties and has in place an up-to-date, meaningful Race Equality Scheme

Further information

Full ngdp information, including how to apply, can be found on the following website: www.ngdp.com

The main point of contact within the County Council over ngdp matters is kim.davies2@staffordshire.gov.uk

Other Opportunities

We offer a variety of other employment opportunities, which are not part of the national graduate development programme, but which you may be interested in. View the Vacancies pages.

Last Modified: 16/07/2008 11:43:52
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