The Government has announced plans to streamline several apprenticeships from September 2026, including the Level 5 Operations Manager apprenticeship currently used within our Graduate Development Programme.
As a result, we will be unable to deliver the programme in its existing form and have made the decision to pause recruitment for this year. This will allow time to review the programme and identify a suitable alternative apprenticeship for future intakes.
Those currently on the Graduate Development Programme will be unaffected by this change and we will continue to support them through the programme.
We will continue to work closely with managers to identify any specialist graduate roles within departments and with local universities to source talent pipelines and explore opportunities to place graduates in alternative ways.
Full information can be found online
Our Graduate Development Programme started in September 2018 since when we have recruited 48 trainees across seven cohorts. The two-year traineeship offers talented graduates from Nottinghamshire the opportunity to develop their leadership and management capabilities through accessing six-month placements across different services and departments within the organisation. Our programme is designed to shape the next generation of senior local government managers, providing insight and experience in the decisions required to provide over 400 services to more than 800,000 local people.
We’re now once again looking for talented, ambitious recent graduates and final year students to join us.
To be eligible you need to meet one of the following criteria:
- Currently studying at Nottingham Trent University or the University of Nottingham
- Resident of Nottinghamshire or Nottingham
- Currently employed by the County Council.
You will also need to have either graduated in the last five years or expect to graduate during summer 2025 with a 2:1 degree or above in any subject.
If you think you have what it takes to make a positive difference to the people of Nottinghamshire and to help us deliver on the aims and aspirations of our 10-year Council Plan, then find out more about the scheme here before applying.
