Local Recruitment for the National Graduate Development Programme – London Borough of Southwark

Opportunity for local candidates to apply to become a National Management Trainee
as part of Cohort 26 of the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) on
a fixed-term contract until Autumn 2026 for The London Borough of Southwark. 

The role

Tackle youth unemployment. Fight social isolation. Improve social housing.

The national graduate development programme for local government is recruiting over 250 talented National Management Trainees for its Autumn 2024 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.

Here at Southwark, our biggest issues are:

• Housing (we have 36,578 council owned properties, have the largest council house building programme in the country and are the biggest local authority social landlord in London)
• Building for the future – looking at closing the gaps in our borough whether that be health or deprivation to neighbourhoods and how we support them to make decisions that benefit their area
• Becoming truly people powered – putting our residents at the heart of everything we do as well as empowering staff in our journey of becoming one Southwark

We are looking for two candidates from the local area to help influence on tackling these issues.

Employed on a fixed-term contract, trainees will rotate between different placements to develop their skills and knowledge alongside studying for a postgraduate-level qualification from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). This is a varied and prestigious programme which has a high record of success developing graduates into local government managers and leaders.

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.

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 during (or after) April 2024. Please be aware that local candidates will be exclusively interviewed by their chosen council, and interviews are usually held earlier than those held nationally.

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 will have obtained a 2.2 undergraduate degree in any subject by summer 2024
• You have the right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship (

Successful applicants will be required to provide documentary evidence of their entitlement to work in the UK from the start of the programme for the full duration. The NGDP is unable to sponsor a visa for candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK)

You must also meet one of the criteria below:

• Have lived in Southwark for part of your childhood; or currently live in Southwark
• Have studied (at a secondary or further education establishment, including school, college, PRU) in Southwark; or
• Be a Southwark Care leaver

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 communities 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 are genuinely interested in our area.

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 participating authority.

Applications will be assessed on the NGDP key skills and behaviours:

1. Working with others
2. Persuasive communication
3. Planning and organisation
4. Drive for results
5. Analysis and problem solving
6. Motivation for learning and personal resilience
7. Commitment to local government and the wider community
8. Leadership potential

Additional information

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.

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.

For further information please visit https://www.local.gov.uk/national-graduatedevelopment-programme or contact the NGDP support team at ngdp.support@local.gov.uk.