How graduates are given helping hand at Shropshire Council
You’re hired! It may not quite be the council version of The Apprentice, but as part of an innovative scheme to give graduates on-the-job training, thirteen young candidates have been thrown in at the deep end helping to drive huge savings at Shropshire Council.
In the face of rising youth and graduate unemployment, the council’s new Internship Programme is believed to be one of the only ones of its kind in the country run by a local authority.
And it’s no work experience junket either. All 13, recruited at the end of June until September, are working on real life projects worth tens of thousands of pounds and which affect real people, and which are also part of the council’s Transformation Project – making the authority operate more like a business and saving the authority, or generating for it, large sums of taxpayers’ money.
Council leaders say local government is entering into a phase of change and Shropshire Council is one authority which recognises the need to attract graduates to develop into future leaders of the public sector.
They say the new internship programme – in simple terms an apprenticeship scheme for white collar workers – is part of a commitment to give recent graduates crucial paid work experience and exposure into working in a rapidly changing local government environment for the duration of the summer.
Tom Collins, from Shifnal, is delighted to be among those taking the challenge. The 24-year-old graduated from Wolverhampton University in 2010 with a degree in property asset management.
But with rising youth unemployment, he, like many other graduates, could not find work in his specialist field.
“I had interviews with five surveying firms without success,” he says. With the downturn coinciding with a downturn in the property market, Tom says, surveying companies were more likely to be laying people off than taking them on.
Now he is working in property asset management office at Shire Hall in Shrewsbury, applying what he has learnt in the lecture theatre to a very real life situation – the selling off of council assets, both land and buildings, to raise revenues and cut costs.
“We are in the process of putting 13 assets – land and buildings – under auction in September,” adds Tom. “It is interesting working alongside people in the office because of their experience of the political side – all the rules and regulations. I have not had that much experience of that so it’s a good insight into how councils work as opposed to private firms.
“Hopefully it’s a stepping stone to getting back into the property market and applying for Shropshire Council’s graduate programme in October.
“I always had the perception that the council was a closed book and not for young people.” Clearly not.
Grace Towers, 21, from Wem, graduated this summer with a degree in international relations from Birmingham University and makes an important point in the plight of job-seeking graduates: many are forced to leave Shropshire to find work. “I would prefer to live and work in Shropshire,” says Grace.
And with an interest in politics, her role in the council is providing an ideal opportunity to apply the knowledge she gained at college within a large political organisation.
Grace is working within a team trying to improve children’s services, by analysing feedback from young people and parent Ms on what they think of council services.
“We are trying to provide the best services, analysing how the feedback is received to improve them,” she says. My job at the end is to compile a ten-page report on the findings and present them to senior directors.”
Sounds like the Alan Sugar boardroom situation but Grace is far from daunted.“I’m excited to have this opportunity. We are certainly thrown in!”
Simon Alton, senior press officer for the authority, adds: “It could be seen as quite daunting because they are learning how the organisation works, and how it works is changing, but this part of the change is very exciting. “There is a feeling that things are changing (within the council) and there is scope for change – and having fresh ideas and a fresh way of working is part of it.”
Most, if not all, of the candidates will be applying for Shropshire Council’s successful Graduate Programme over the summer, which is entering into its third year, and a successful internship can only look good on the CV and be good for future job prospects.
Many graduates have already contributed to the implementation of the authority’s programme of change. Internships could even lead to a job. And who knows – one of them could be a top brain spearheading change at the council over the coming years.
Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, says: “We are one of the only councils in the country to be offering this kind of programme, and I instigated the initiative because I feel it’s vital that as a council we do what we can to provide employment opportunities to young people.
“It’s hugely beneficial for everyone concerned – the interns get valuable experience and the council has enthusiastic, fresh thinkers helping to improve the way we work.”
Any local graduates who are interested in the Graduate Programme Shropshire Council offers should email shropshiregraduates@shropshire.gov.uk
Comments for: "How graduates are given helping hand at Shropshire Council"
green guru
really pleased for them, well done all this is a good idea to keep young and talented people in our county!
eva land
I saw a full time job advertised for Shropshire Council about 3 years ago for a graduate council officer post. It was offered for a whopping £13,000 per annum.
I notice this article avoids mentioning what these young professionals are being paid.
It is chilling to think that a county councillor gets £12,000 in allowances before other allowance claims that can then be added on.
If these graduates are interested in politics then a councillor led council is certainly an interesting start, I just hope they don't think all councils are run in the same way.
BTW Tom council assets are OUR assets, the tax payers. This seems to be completely forgotten.
Thanks to our incredibly over priced Theatre Severn using up most of the assets made from selling off our council houses, you are now what is called, helping sell the family silver!
When that's all gone, as in Spain, perhaps we'll see the light and get rid of most of the councillors!
Devilschair
Who thought clever in this piece to insult MANY of Shropshire's young people of the county and MANY of Shropshire's employers to use the phrase (and I'll leave some space around it )
"And it’s no work experience junket either"
Contrary to your off-handedness - many employers who advertise with the Star do operate good work experience where BOTH sides get something out of it.
Aside from that - good luck to 'em - just think of Shrosphire people's lives and environment before you click the SELL button please. (it's not just the money..)
tom
its not exploiting cheap labour if they are being given training,
READ THE ARTICLE
these young people were UNEMPLOYED before the council is giving them work experience! i for one am happy that this is a good use of my taxes and i bet these young people work harder than most and are getting alot out of it too,
so its a win win, the council reduce labour costs and the kids get a foot on the career ladder thus going on to bigger and better things and paying more taxes
Shrop2
Agree with Tom - by the sounds of it,these graduates were unemployed before entering the programme, as are hundreds more who are struggling to get on the career ladder. The graduate labour market is incredibly tough at the moment, and even tougher for rural counties.
Graduates want to return to Shropshire to start a career - they are passionate about their home county - however, there are very little opportunities for them to embark on a career, hence why most of them leave for the city.
As one of the largest employers in the county, it is great to see Shropshire Council taking on their responsibilities and offering paid employment to young, ambitious and talented graduates, and I am sure there are other illustrations of how they help 16-24 unemployed people who aren't graduates as well.
For those wishing to comment on the article in a negative tone, or make assumptions about their salary or other elements of the programme, I would suggest a quick email to the email address promoted, shropshiregradautes@shropshire.gov.uk would be suffice, rather than speculate on a public forum. Let's get behind our young people rather than attack and negatively comment on what is a very good programme of work experience.
Brian Thompson
It's good that the council are investing in the future by employing young people but they also should be looking to keep the staff they already have
and this is not the case. Many of the present workforce are looking to leave as there is so much discontent and insercurity.
Ok employing graduates but who is it doing the training of these people "the enthusiastic council employees" thats if you can find any Mr Barrow.
Peaky
i dont see why people with a degree are so special, this should be offered to ALL young people from mechanics to shopkeepers and sweepers and administrators they all make a contribution to society, not just the lucky priveledged rich few who went to good schools. after all we all pay into the council so we are paying their wages and we need jobs for ALL young people! The real issue of the day is how the old have concentrated all the assets and wealth and we need to transfer that down the chain now not wait for inheritances i propose all over 60s should retire to be replaced by apprentices from long term unemployed youths this would sort the crisis out
eva land
[It's good that the council are investing in the future by employing young people ]
Brian, who said anything about employing?
[one of them could be a top brain spearheading change at the council over the coming years.]
Not if they tread on any toes.
Emma
Peaky
If you took the time to investigate the details further, you would know that the council are also considering talented young people who do not have degrees onto the programme.
Jane
Great to see the council investing in the future by giving these young graduates an opportunity! "Fresh blood" and not "dead man's shoes" for a change, these young people represent the future so I'm 100% behind them. It can only be a plus