Whether you have a small amount of experience and/or qualifications or a lot, there is something in local government for you! The following information gives you an idea of the kind of qualification and training initiatives that may be available:

• National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQs)

  N/SVQs are work-based qualifications, based on National Occupational Standards (NOS), which are awarded to students who provide evidence of competence in work situations. N/SVQs are not time limited or age restricted and are taken by employees. Assessment takes place in the workplace and there are 5 N/SVQ levels ranging from fairly routine competencies at level 1 up to much more complex, technical or professional work activities at level 5. There are no exams, although some formal learning may be needed if there are skills gaps. There are numerous different occupational areas to choose from and many of these are relevant to local government.

  N/SVQs are nationally recognised qualifications which are not simply knowledge-based, but are centred around practical skills for work. Therefore, they provide the student with useful work related competencies and the employer with highly skilled, motivated staff.

  For more information about NVQs check the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and Department for Education & Skills (DfES) websites.

• Apprenticeships

  The Government is keen for young people to take up these work based training opportunities. Apprenticeships are available at two different levels:

  1. Apprenticeships
     These lead to an NVQ at level 2. Specific training and/or qualifications will be selected by individual councils to meet trainees’ needs and additional training will help you to progress to an Advanced Apprenticeship.
  2. Advanced Apprenticeships
     These include the achievement of an NVQ at level 3.

  All Apprenticeships include key skills in literacy, numeracy, IT, team working, problem solving and personal development. Most Apprenticeships also include a technical certificate.

  Specific training will vary from council to council, but there will be development opportunities to enable Apprentices to progress further.

  Councils run Apprenticeships in the following occupational areas: Accounting, Amenity Horticulture, Arts & Entertainment, Business Administration, Cleaning & Support Services, Construction, Customer Service, Early Years and Education, Emergency Fire Service Operations, Environmental Conservation, Health & Safety (Occupational Health & Safety Practice), Health & Social Care, Heritage Sector, Housing, Information Services, Information Technology, Insurance, Personnel Support, Sport, Recreation & Allied Occupations and Telecommunications. For more information about Apprenticeships in England check the Apprenticeships website.

  Apprenticeships are known as Modern Apprenticeships in Wales and Scotland.

  For Modern Apprenticeship information in Wales check the ELWa site.

  For Modern Apprenticeship information in Scotland check the MASCOT site.

• New Deal

  New Deal for young people, part of the Government’s Welfare to Work programme, is targeted at 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for six months or more. The aim of New Deal is to improve a young person’s employability by offering subsidised employment and training opportunities.

  New Deal is also available to the long term unemployed, those aged over 25, disabled people, lone parents, partners of people seeking jobseeker’s allowance and those aged over 50.

  Local councils all over the country are getting involved in the New Deals and actively promote opportunities.

  Further information can be found at http://www.newdeal.gov.uk/.

• Graduate Training Schemes

  Local government is one of the largest graduate employers in the country.

  Graduates are taken on by all councils in all service areas and can complete professional training while working. Some councils are developing individual graduate training programmes in many different occupational areas, as well as general fast-track schemes in management.

  The IDeA manages the national graduate development programme (ngdp) for local government. Find out more at http://www.ngdp.co.uk/.

  A wide variety of opportunities for graduates are also available outside such training programmes to work as technicians, assistants and administrators. You can search for these opportunities on LGjobs.com.

• Graduate apprenticeships

  So far 50 universities and businesses have been involved in graduate apprenticeship pilot schemes. For more information about the development of this work based qualification check the DfES website or the University Vocational Awards Council.

• Work experience placements

  A strong academic background and CV no longer guarantee you a job in today’s competitive market. You also need important key skills that can only be gained from work experience. Whether you are at school, college or university, finding work experience is crucial if you want to present yourself as an attractive prospect to possible future employers.

  What does work experience help you do?

  • Develop valuable transferable skills such as administration, communication and organisation, which all employers are looking for.
  • Make important decisions about the kind of career you are considering for the future.
  • Gain specialist knowledge in certain areas.
  • Earn money.
  • Boost your CV and gain reliable references.

  How do you get a work placement with a local council?

  • Telephone or write to them describing your skills and what you are interested in doing and asking whether they have work experience opportunities available.
  • Find out from the Personnel Department whether they run any work placement/shadowing schemes and how to apply.
  • Check the temporary and part-time work currently being advertised on LGjobs.com to see if there is anything suitable.

• Positive Action

  The term ‘positive action’ means that employers are legally allowed to target recruitment or training to encourage people from ethnic minorities, women/men or disabled people to apply for jobs in labour forces where they are under-represented. They still have to compete on equal terms with all other candidates, but the intention is to increase the number of applicants from these groups. Positive Action Training Schemes have been set up in local councils all over the country to enable people to gain work experience in the relevant occupational areas and under some circumstances the training can be limited to people from the under-represented groups.