Rewarding your ambition and talent

• Learn

  On-placement experience and internal development opportunities give you a well-rounded understanding of methodologies and processes.

• Exposure

  With a Director as a mentor and regular 1-2-1s with the Chief Executive, you’ll get used to working with senior figures and thinking strategically.

• Community

  There are a number of forums and events purely for trainees and alumni, so you’ll develop alongside like-minded people and build a strong, supportive network.

• Wellbeing

  With 26 days’ leave (plus bank holidays), flexitime and flexible working you can make the most of life in and out of the office.

• Rewards

  There’s a £28,482 starting salary, Local Government Pension and unique discounts. And after the programme, you’ll likely apply for manager-level roles.

• Convenience

  Stratford Station is just 8 mins away from Romford, the City only 17 mins — with Romford Station a 13-min walk from the main site. Add the flexibility of remote working and you have all the convenience you need. As we move out of the pandemic your place of work and times of working will be agreed between you and your placement manager.

• Your first two years here

  Picture yourself in two years’ time. What will you have learned? What kind of leader will you be?

  We invite you to be curious, and take the time to invest in yourself and to take advantage of the many formal and informal learning and development opportunities.

  The NGDP programme is designed to help you build a reputation as a rising star. You’ll have expert support from colleagues. With placements and projects to develop not just your understanding of how things work; but how to inspire people to make those things happen. It’s up to you to work towards fulfilling your potential and make the most of every opportunity.

  

• 1. Apply to join us

  Apply to join us and we will schedule an on-line interview so we can get to know you and what you expect from your career.

  If you’re successful, we’ll offer you a place. We appreciate you may have a number of offers – it’s up to you to choose the borough that gives you the best opportunity to succeed.

  

• 2. Before you start

  Once you agree to join us, we’ll get in touch to talk through your first placement. You’ll start work towards the end of September 2022.

  We have a detailed induction too, with the opportunity to spend time with all the people who’ll feature heavily in your development over the next two years – including current trainees who can let you know what life’s really like here.

  

• 3. First placement

  Just because you’re new, don’t expect to be left doing low level work. You’ll have your own responsibilities, likely before the end of your first week; and there’ll be times when you will have to rely on colleagues to find solutions.

  You’ll be in regular contact with your mentor and our NGDP co-ordinator: they’ll get in touch around a month before you complete your first placement to help plan your next move. This will usually mean switching departments to give you the widest possible range of experiences and knowledge.

  

• 4. Placements 2 & 3

  Your placements will provide more than an insight into the work. It’s vital that you take every opportunity to innovate – to develop better ways of working, canvas opinions, and champion your ideas.

  Whether you’re embedded in a team for the entirety of a project, or parachuted in to take a pivotal role within an existing project, the more you achieve during these two years, the stronger your CV when it comes to finding a permanent role.

  

• 5. Throughout the programme

  Expect to build long-lasting relationships with other trainees and alumni. And, as well as sharing your experiences with them, your mentor will always be on hand with valuable advice and support too.

  There are also a variety of training courses offered by the NGDP. Some are online, others classroom-based or residential – all subject to change at the current time. Many include on-the-job projects. Arguably, the most prestigious is the ILM Level 7 in Leadership and Management, which focuses on the local government challenges and managing in the public sector.

  

• 6. Fulfilling your ambition

  Since this is a two-year trainee contract, you won’t automatically move into a permanent role. However, all our graduates so far have found jobs either here at Havering or elsewhere.

  Ultimately, the NGDP programme is your springboard to success. A first step on a far-reaching public sector career that could see you becoming not just a high-profile figure here at the Council, but a force on the national stage.

  

• Your first
  two years
  here
• Apply to
  join us
• Before you
  start
• First
  placement
• Placements
  2 & 3
• Throughout the
  programme
• Fulfilling
  your
  ambition

• 

  Lucy Sullivan-Allsop, 2nd year National Management Trainee

  Best piece of advice:

  “My advice for grads is pursue what you are interested in – even if unrelated to your council. Reaching out to different departments may get you a side project or set up networks for potential future placements. Get to know different areas in the council as you never know what opportunities this can create!”

  Programme highlight

  “Attending the in-person council, cabinet and committee meetings to witness the debates that are central to democracy in local government!”

  What’s next

  “I have just started at the JCU with loads of projects to get involved with. Specifically I am involved in the current restructuring of healthcare provision within the tri-borough area.”

• 

  Tiffany Evripidou, Ex-National Management Trainee

  Best piece of advice:

  “Network! Get to know as many people and find out what they’re working on. This can open new doors in the future and build your awareness of what’s going on at the council.”

  Programme highlight

  “The NGDP introduction event in Warwick. It was a really fun conference and opportunity to meet other Grads on the scheme.”

  What’s next

  “I am moving into the Health & Social Care Academy and am really excited to get started, looking at developing a strategy for best practice.”

• 

  Henry Salvini, Ex-National Management Trainee

  Best piece of advice:

  “Take confidence from your own personal unique strengths and don’t hold back in finding ways to apply them in real work contexts. Your unique knowledge and perspective can bring a lot to the plate when it comes to working in Local Government.”

  Programme highlight

  “Exposure and connections with high status individuals including the Leader, Councillors and even the Mayor. This has given me a privileged experience, allowing me to develop a great understanding of what goes into the running of Havering Council.”

  What’s next

  “I am very excited to be moving into the Social Care service for my next placement. This will challenge me to perform a variety of roles which includes exposure to project management work for the Havering Social Care Academy (HSCA). As an NGDP graduate, this is a placement I have chosen myself after receiving a list of bidding service areas.”

• 

  Max Graham, Ex-National Management Trainee

  Best piece of advice:

  “Don’t hold back and wait for opportunities to present themselves, you will often find that managers are eager to hear new ideas and are willing for you to pursue them.”

  Programme highlight

  “The opportunity to assist with full council meetings and being witness to the ‘behind the scenes’ work that goes into the operation of local democracy.”

  What’s next

  “My next placement will be working with both the Highways, Traffic and Parking team to develop electric vehicle infrastructure in the Borough and the Public Realm team to improve upon the borough’s recycling strategy.”

• 

  Parth Pillai, 2019 Alumni

  Best piece of advice:

  “Express your interests once you’re here, so you can find placements that are meaningful as well as enjoyable.”

  Programme highlight

  “Assessing seven preventative service providers that help people facing social isolation and loneliness – a subject I already had a background in.

  “The objective was to see what long-term cost savings the services could deliver, like if a service delayed an elderly person requiring a care home by x years, it could save the council y in care home subsidies.”

  What’s next

  “I stayed with the team to focus on a new project; getting more GPs to refer patients to our preventative services earlier, so they can pick up cases sooner and tackle the illnesses associated with social isolation and loneliness.

• 

  Emily Knight, 2019 Alumni

  Best piece of advice:

  “As well as the obvious challenges of a project or placement, think about the way it might get your name and face known within the Council.”

  Programme highlight

  “I ran the entire Violence Against Women and Girls Communication Campaign, which involved teaching college students about healthy relationships and encouraging the public to use our support services.”

  “The campaign’s #16DaysOfAction tweets were viewed over 14,500 times and saw 150 engagements, and more than 400 White Ribbons were worn by staff and residents.

  What’s next

  After working in various roles, I am looking to develop in my role as the Prevent and Hate Crime Coordinator.

• 

  Joseph Jenkinson, Ex-National Management Trainee

  Best piece of advice:

  “Ask for help when you need it. Throughout my time here, I’ve completed large pieces of work only because there were people willing to help me at key moments.

  Programme highlight

  “In the middle of April, the Department of Education asked us to provide laptops to children with social workers who couldn’t access one.

  “This has already gone from a little logistical project run by a handful of heads of service, to including large swathes of children’s social care, the corporate IT team, the town hall room management team, and business support.

  What’s next

  “I’ve really enjoyed the logistical challenge of this placement, and hope to take on a similarly tough assignment in housing next.”

• 

  Boshra Begum, Ex-National Management Trainee

  Best piece of advice:

  “It’s easy to get too focused on a particular project. Always consider external factors that might affect it, like wider Council strategies.

  Programme highlight

  “I chose a placement in Adult Social Care (ASC) around improving information and quickly realised that different teams had the scope to affect the advice they gave.

  “So I met with teams, and helped oversee a move away from a silo culture to a smarter way of working where people combine expertise and processes from different departments.”

  What’s next

  “I want to continue to look at the broader operations and processes within the Council. I feel it’s giving me a great grounding for a senior role here.”

• 

  Jonny Morrison, 2019 Alumni

  Best piece of advice:

  “If there’s a meeting you’d like to be part of – however senior – just ask to join it. I’ve never been told ‘no’ here.

  Programme highlight

  “During the snap election last year, I was seconded to the Elections team and given the same responsibilities as the Elections Officers. It was a really proud moment to play a role in the functioning of democracy.

  What’s next

  “I’m looking forward to my next two placements. I’ve found that my meetings with the Chief Executive and my mentor aren’t just for a catch up – they’re where you can find out about opportunities to join different projects.”

   

• 

  Jessica, NGDP Alumni

  Best piece of advice:

  “The scheme helped me find the area of work I’m now in. It also gave me great exposure across the council, so I know a little bit of everything – and have at least one person in every area I can call on.”

  Programme highlight

  “I spent time in Audit, Corporate Policy and Community Safety before moving to become a Community Development Officer – and I loved that close contact with the public.”

  What’s next

  “We have massive new housing zones being built in the Borough, and that means lots of new challenges and opportunities to overcome.”

Havering at a glance

• A green Borough

  We’ve more green space than anywhere else in London, with over half of the Borough protected Metropolitan Green Belt. Our parks also have 16 green flag awards.

• Urban culture

  Our largest town, Romford, is home to a market dating back to 1247, plus The Brookside Theatre, multi-screen cinemas and many restaurants and bars. The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, also won Stage’s London Theatre of the Year 2020 award.

• Well connected

  With three Crossrail stations and a new station at Beam Park, we’re intimately connected to London and much of the South East, giving residents exceptional employment opportunities.

• Local prospects

  We’ve a growing proportion of younger residents and a strong local economy – fuelled by the 10,000 businesses registered in the Borough.

Frequently asked questions

• How long is the Havering NGDP graduate management trainee programme?

  It takes two years to move through four different placements.

• When does the Havering NGDP graduate management trainee programme start?

  The next intake joins us in September 2021.

• Where will I be located during the programme?

  Depending on your placement you will work remotely or be based in one of our sites across the borough.

• Is there a guaranteed job when I complete the programme?

  Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee a permanent position. But all our Graduate Management Trainees have moved into a role here or with another borough. In fact, most land a job before they complete the two years, and seamlessly move into the new role after completing the NGDP scheme. Ultimately, we’ll give you the skills and experience to be in the best possible position to secure a permanent role.

• Can I choose all of my placements?

  Placements will be determined by both our corporate priorities and your interests. Naturally, we want you to be engaged by your work and stay on with us; so expect to join projects that excite you.

• I already work for Havering Council; how do I apply?

  So long as you have a 2:2 degree, you simply apply through the NGDP site as normal, contact the NGDP team to find out the timescales for the 2022 cohort.

• Can I book a different interview time?

  It may be possible to rearrange your interview. If you are sent an invitation that isn’t convenient, please get in touch with the NGDP team to see if it can be rearranged.

• How will I know if I’m through to the next stage?

  The NGDP team will email you whether you’re selected or not. Please be patient as many roles often require a number of interviews.

• What will the interview involve?

  The interview is your chance to decide whether Havering’s right for you – and us to see if you’re a good fit for our team. The interviews will be held online, and you’ll get full details once a date and time has been arranged.

• What will I earn when I start?

  Starting Salary £27,852 (based on 2022 pay award) rising to £28,371 on successfully passing probation.

• How long are the individual placements?

  These are dependent on the project but are usually around six months.

• How do I choose a borough to join?

  We recommend building a shortlist from brochures on the NGDP portal, websites like these, and further researching individual boroughs.

• Can I work at different boroughs during the programme?

  Not usually.

• If I’m not successful, will I still get feedback on my application?

  Of course. You’ll get feedback on your performance at every stage of the application process.