Graduate Trainee
Starting Salary: £30,195 increasing to £31,212 p.a. inc.
Contract: Fixed term (2 years)
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Civic Centre and other locations from time to time
Brent Council’s local graduate scheme
We participate in the National Graduate Development (NGDP) programme, which is run by the Local Government Association (LGA). The NGDP is a two-year high profile national management trainee programme for high calibre graduates with the potential to become senior managerial leaders in local government within the next ten years.
If you have never thought of working for your local council before, now is the time. We are offering Brent residents the opportunity to apply to join our graduate scheme from October 2024.
A prime location – on your doorstep! It takes under 10 minutes to walk from Wembley Park station to the Civic Centre and 20 minutes from Wembley Central station. We are well served by public transport within and out of the borough.
We welcome Brent locals who are passionate about making their borough a better place to live.
Benefits of Brent Council’s local scheme
• Support throughout the application process: All local applicants will be given the opportunity to receive support throughout the process from existing Brent graduates. Please see our Graduate Programme page for more details on our skills session we are holding to support applicants for the online tests during stage
• Optional third year: Brent Council will guarantee graduates, who complete the core programme satisfactorily, a further 1 year fixed-term contract.
• Live and work in a diverse area you are familiar with: The local scheme is a unique opportunity for Brent locals to make a positive impact in their borough and provide experience in a dynamic, exciting and socially responsible council.
• Exposure to senior leaders: All graduates are assigned a senior mentor who will be a director from the Senior Management Team. Alongside this, graduates will be given the opportunity to have informal lunches with the Chief Executive.
• Strong support network: All graduates will be provided with an existing graduate as a buddy, regular feedback sessions and 1:1 meetings with the graduate scheme’s placement coordinator. With 16 graduates currently on the programme, peer support will be provided throughout the scheme and beyond.
If applicants are unsuccessful after interviewing at Brent Council (Stage 4), they will have the opportunity to be absorbed into the NGDP’s national pool of candidates and where possible, may interview at other councils.
Essential Requirements
Applicants must meet the following essential criteria in order to apply:
• Obtained at least a 2:2 (or higher) undergraduate degree in any subject by Summer 2022
• Have the right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship
You can apply for the scheme regardless of when you graduated.
To be eligible for a place on the scheme at Brent, you must also meet one of the criteria below:
• Currently a Brent resident and have been for 2 or more years.
• Former student at a Brent secondary or further education establishment (this includes school, college, PRU)
• Brent Care leaver
• Brent Council Employee for more than a year
The application process
Successful applicants will need to demonstrate their understanding of the NGDP’s key skills and behaviours through a competitive, multi-stage application process. Local candidates participate in the same process as national candidates but have the advantage of a guaranteed interview with Brent.
Your local application will progress in the same timeframe as the NGDP’s national campaign and you will be assessed at the same time as national candidates. The NGDP support team will invite successful candidates to each stage of the NGDP recruitment process.
They will then refer those that are successful at the assessment centre (stage 3) for an interview with Brent council. The NGDP facilitates the assessment of all nominated local candidates in line with national candidates to ensure they meet the same standard.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying as a local candidate for Brent Council and meet the above eligibility criteria, please apply via the Local Recruitment for the NGDP – London Borough of Brent. Please only apply using this link, if you meet the eligibility criteria and want to specifically work for Brent.
Closing Date: 3 January 2024 (23:59)
We support the NGDP’s goal to recruit graduates from all different backgrounds, universities and degree disciplines; our aim is to reflect the diverse community that we serve. We are looking for people who have the right values and attitudes and who can demonstrate their motivation for a career in the public sector, and who is genuinely interested in the borough.
Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.
As a disability confident employer Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on recruitment@brent.gov.uk. Please note the information you provide will be treated fairly and confidentially.
Data transparency statement
Before applying, you will be directed to the LGA’s privacy statement. Please be advised that by applying for this local campaign you are accepting that the local authority will have access to view your application in order to shortlist effectively against their criteria.
The LGA use anonymised/blind recruitment for all applications. This means that the local authority will not be able to see your personal details at shortlisting stage.
After shortlisting has taken place, the council will be able to view your name and will have access to contact you at each stage unless you choose to withdraw.