Local government careers

							Local government
careerslocal government careers presentation. This is an introductory
Welcome to the
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.
Local government talent: careers

        www.LGtalent.com

  Insert council web address here
 What is local government?
• Local government is a collective name for local
  councils/authorities e.g. Surrey County Council,
  Birmingham City Council etc.

               Insert council
               name and logo
               here

• Councils provide services to the public – what
  council services can you think of?
 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
 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…
 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
    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
    What kind of jobs are there?
Around 600 different kinds of job including:

•   Accountant                   • Office Assistant
•   Engineer                     • Planner
•   Housing Assistant            • Social Worker
•   IT Technician                • Sports Development
•   Marketing Officer              Officer
                                 • Teacher and many
                                   more….
 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
 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)
national graduate
development 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
 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
 ngdp entry requirements

• Achieved or predicted 2:1 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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