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Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme is a bespoke fast-track two-year graduate programme with opportunities to work across different services to influence, shape and improve services for residents.

The Impact learning and development offer comes with a fully funded Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 7 qualification in Leadership and Management (equivalent to 20 credits at postgraduate level) which has been designed specifically to equip trainees with the required knowledge, skills and understanding to be a leader in the public sector.

Who can apply?

To be eligible, graduates from all backgrounds and areas of study are welcome to apply with the requirement of a minimum 2.2 undergraduate degree by July 2025 and the right to work in the UK. We recruit to the programme from the National Pool and a local route. To be eligible to apply for our local route, you must be able to demonstrate that you are either a Borough care leaver, Borough resident or an employee of Barking and Dagenham Council.

Our offer

Graduates are employed on a two-year fixed term contract as a National Management Trainee and are expected to complete three to four placements on rotation over the two years. We provide a rich variety of learning and development opportunities and exposure, with opportunities to contribute to all kinds of projects, initiatives and operational work. We have open conversation with trainees about their work preferences as the two years progresses and match their specific interests and skills to one of our corporate, strategic, operational, or front-line service areas.

Our Graduate Trainee Mentoring Programme aims to support graduate trainee’s career aspirations, learning and development. Graduate trainees are mentored by a more experienced senior leader who has no other formal responsibility for the trainee to offer work-based learning and development support which complements that which is already available from line managers and placement mangers.

We understand that a solid network of peers provides enhanced learning and development opportunities whilst on the scheme. Therefore, we have put together the Early Careers Network. The network provides a space in which graduate trainees from the various graduate career pathways and those who are early in their careers can come together based on a shared identity to share their learning, arrange events, discuss issues, raise awareness, and advocate for development and improvement of trainee provision.

National Management Trainees are employed at Scale 6 £32,925. In addition to a generous annual leave, we also offer employees privileged access to a package of benefits and discounts, all designed to make your money stretch further on our Wider Wallet Hub.

Hints and Tips for the Situational Judgement Test 

Situational judgement tests assess your ability to choose the most appropriate action in workplace situations. The assessment is designed to assess how you would handle situations that you could encounter in your role as a National Management Trainee. If you missed our virtual workshop, you can now view the recording of the workshop below.

How to apply

Applications are currently open for 2025. 

Please note there are two application routes for 3 positions:

1. Route for Barking & Dagenham Residents

We welcome residents and employees who are passionate about making our borough a better place to live to apply online through our local route.  

2. Route for those living outside of Barking & Dagenham

Information on the Local Government scheme is available on the local.gov.uk website.

Candidates from all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply.