Local Recruitment for the National Graduate Programme – Bedford Borough Council
Opportunity for local candidates to apply to become a National Management Trainee on the national graduate development programme (NGDP) on a fixed term contract until August 2023 for Bedford Borough Council.
Closing Date: midnight on 5th January 2021
Department: Varied
Hours Per week: 37
Commencing salary: £25,991
Please read before applying
Should you choose to apply to this role please note that your application will be held by the Local Government Association (LGA) who host the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). As the employer, we will have access to view essential details that allow us to shortlist against our criteria for local candidates. You can find more information regarding the LGA’s privacy statement on the application page (follow link below)
Your local application will progress in the same timeframe as the NGDP’s national campaign and you will be assessed alongside national candidates. The NGDP facilitates the assessment of all nominated local candidates in line with national candidates to ensure they meet the same standard. Successful candidates will become part of the national cohort with access to NGDP learning and development, networks and knowledge events, but will be exclusively interviewed by their chosen council as a successful local candidate.
The requirements
In order to apply for our local position for the chance to be our local National Management Trainee, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must live, work or study in Bedford borough
- You will have obtained a 2.2 undergraduate degree in any subject by summer 2021
- You have the right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship (successful applicants be required to provide documentary evidence of their entitlement to work in the UK (in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006). The NGDP is unable to apply to sponsor a visa for candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK)
The role
Tackle youth unemployment. Fight social isolation. Improve social housing.
The national graduate development programme for local government (NGDP) is recruiting over 120 talented National Management Trainees for its Autumn 2021 intake. Successful applicants will have two years to influence some of society’s big issues, from social care and housing to education and the environment, while training to be one of local government’s next generation of managers. It is the only national graduate programme specifically for local government.
Bedford Borough Council is committed to making the Borough a better place to live, work and visit. As a National Management Trainee, you will be joining us during a time of regeneration and change, helping us to create a shared vision of the future as we undertake a number of exciting projects that will have a positive impact on the future of the Borough.
We are looking for two candidates from the local area to join us on this journey.
This is what our Chief Executive Philip Simpkins, has to say about the National Graduate Development Programme;
“Bedford Borough Council is committed to the National Graduate Development Programme. If you want to be fully supported throughout your training, feel valued by your organisation and gain experience in a variety of assignments and placements, then Bedford Borough is the Council for you. We look forward to hearing from you.”
Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said: “The NGDP is a great programme for people looking to take the next step in their career. At Bedford Borough Council, we’ve invest a lot into making sure that our graduates have the best possible experience and get the most out of their time with the Council.
“Our previous and current graduates have brought a great deal to Bedford Borough Council and have had a real impact on the services they have worked in. We’re looking forward to seeing what the next cohort of graduates bring to the Council.”
Employed on a two year fixed-term contract, trainees rotate between different placements to develop their skills and knowledge alongside studying for a postgraduate-level certificate from the Institute for Leadership and Management (ILM). This is a varied and prestigious programme which has a high record of success placing graduates in positions of management in local government upon completion of the scheme.
By applying as a local candidate for our local authority, successful applicants who reach the final stage of the recruitment process will be guaranteed an interview with us after April 2021.
About you
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.
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 their desired authority.
Candidates can apply only once each year to the NGDP and candidates that choose to apply for a local role cannot apply to the national scheme alongside the local application. For further information please visit https://www.local.gov.uk/national-graduate-development-programme or contact the NGDP support team at NGDP.support@local.gov.uk
Please read the following before applying
The Local Government Association’s (LGA) NGDP support team are hosting the applications for Bedford's local campaign for the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP).
The LGA and Bedford council will review your application in partnership and the council will be responsible for shortlisting your application against their set criteria for local candidates, whilst the LGA ensure that you have met the boundaries for the NGDP test and assessments during the recruitment process as well as the education requirement for the programme.
Your local application will progress in the same timeframe and alongside the NGDP’s national campaign and you will be assessed alongside national candidates. The NGDP facilitates the assessment of all nominated local candidates in line with national candidates to ensure they meet the same standard. The NGDP support team will invite successful candidates to each stage of the NGDP recruitment process including the online tests, video interview and assessment centres and will refer those that are successful at stage 3 for an interview with the council.
Successful candidates will become part of the national cohort with access to NGDP learning and development, networks and knowledge events, but will be exclusively interviewed by their chosen council as a successful local candidate.
What is different about applying to become a local candidate versus the national campaign?
Local campaigns offer an opportunity for the authority to recruit within their community and their existing graduate employees.
By applying to be a local candidate, if successful at stage three, you will interview exclusively with your chosen authority. If successful at interview, you will be offered an exciting opportunity to contribute to your community by working at the local council and as a National Management Trainee, you will be valued by the organisation and will be encouraged to challenge, innovate and improve services.
You will not be required to compete with the national candidates for an interview with your chosen council and will be guaranteed an interview should you meet the pass boundaries at stage three. Please be advised that as a local candidate you will interview for this authority only and will not be guaranteed an interview anywhere else.
Graduates who are offered and accept a place will be employed by the local authority and work in different departments throughout the programme. More information on NGDP is available on the LGA website www.local.gov.uk/national-graduate-development-programme
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 Local Government Association used anonymised/blind recruitment for all applications. This means that the local authority will not you will not be able to see the personal details of the candidates applying to their campaign at shortlisting stage. Instead, they will be able to see the unique candidate ID of each candidate. 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.