About us
Coventry City Council is a very special place. As a council with improvement at its heart, we’re committed to making life better for the people who live and work in Coventry. By joining us, you won’t just be helping the community, you’ll be helping yourself too.
Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our organisation, so we are keen to recruit graduates from all different backgrounds to reflect the diverse communities that we serve. We are looking for graduates who have different perspectives, the right values and attitudes, and who are keen to kick-start their career in local government.
Our values [/onecoventryvalues] define us as an organisation and influence everything we do and how we treat each other.
Our service areas
Local government does more than you think! The work we do at Coventry City Council improves people’s lives - from helping them into work to providing clean and green places to live, to keeping them safe and protected. Our service areas include:
- Adult Services
- Business, Culture and Investment
- Children’s Services
- Education and Skills
- Legal and Governance Services
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Project Management and Property
- Public Health and Insight
- Streetscene and Regulatory Services
- Transportation and Highways
Graduate development
What our people say
Jasmin Johal - Employee Engagement Graduate Intern
View the transcript [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory-record/59015/jasmin-johal-%E2%80%93-project-support-assistant]
How does Coventry City Council compare to your other work experiences?
Before working as a Graduate Intern at Coventry City Council, I had mainly retail experience. I applied for the internship to take the first step in my career as a HR professional. Although I didn’t dislike retail, working at Coventry City Council has widened my eyes to what an inclusive and welcoming employer looks like. Unlike my other employers, Coventry City Council has a great approach to flexible working. This allowed me to balance both my work at the Council with my university work.
What else do you get involved in Coventry City Council?
Whilst at Coventry City Council I have been able to be part of a variety of projects outside of my department such as Black History Month. Coventry City Council also arrange a mentoring circle for interns which was beneficial as it helped to have a support network experiencing similar things to you.
Lucy Higgins - National Management Trainee in Finance
How does Coventry City Council compare to your other work experiences?
Before I joined Coventry City Council, the majority of my work experience had been in the hospitality sector, which can often include working unsociable hours. Working at the council is so different from that, they are great at offering flexible working hours and flexi-leave, which means that you can easily work around other commitments. My placement co-ordinator is fantastic at making sure that I have a good work-life balance, particularly whilst completing my day-to-day job, alongside accountancy exams and my graduate programme.
What else is going on at Coventry City Council?
There’s so much going on at Coventry City Council with multiple employee networks, including the Young Employees Network, where I am a member of the steering group. We hold both social and professional events including a podcast series which featured an episode on apprenticeships, along with the annual Christmas quiz!
The Council has got so much going on, whatever your interests might be, there are lunchtime yoga sessions, as well as, a Council choir which meets every Thursday for an hour! The Council also offers team challenges such as Kaido (which encourages being more active and focusing on wellness amongst teams, as you can earn points and win prizes for doing so!). And it goes without saying that individual teams within the council also hold their own social events, so there is lots to get involved in!
Graduate development
All graduate schemes
We are committed to nurturing and developing future talent here at Coventry City Council, so in addition to our live vacancies, we also provide the following opportunities for you to come and work for us.
National Graduate Development Programme
The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) is a two-year programme for graduates who want to make a difference in local communities while launching their management career in the public sector and is managed by the Local Government Association.
Our graduates typically rotate through at least three placements at the Council, while working on an exciting range of projects and services. The programme includes a fully-funded postgraduate qualification in leadership and management and a starting salary over £25k. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and disciplines, particularly those from under-represented groups. All we ask is that you have achieved a 2:2 or above, have the right to work in the UK and can demonstrate a real interest in working in the public sector. We particularly welcome applicants who can evidence a local connection to the city either through living, working or studying here.
The National Graduate Development Programme [https://www.local.gov.uk/national-graduate-development-programme] website contains further information and key tips on the application process.
Hear what some of our former graduates have to say about the NGDP:
Madihah Murshed - Prevent Communication Engagement Officer
View the transcript of Madihah's video [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory-record/59017/madihah-murshed---prevent-communication-engagement-officer]
Georgia Shelton - Business Partner Accountant
View the transcript of Georgia's video [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory-record/59016/georgia-shelton---business-partner-accountant]
Work placements
We have worked in partnership with Coventry University for a number of years to provide a variety of work placement opportunities for talented graduates across different areas of the Council and continue to do so. These work placements are a great way for you to kick-start your career in the public sector, by putting your existing skills and knowledge to use in our fast-paced working environment. No two days are ever the same at Coventry City Council, so you will have the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting projects, whilst expanding your professional network and developing your skillset.
Speak to Coventry University’s Talent Team now:
Call 024 7765 2011 [tel:02477652011] or email talentteam@coventry.ac.uk [mailto:talentteam@coventry.ac.uk]
Career progression
Due to the size of our organisation and the variety of different services we provide, there are a number of different career paths you can take upon completion of your programme. Many of our former graduates have chosen to develop their careers within the Council by taking up roles within Finance, Transformation, Human Resources and Children’s Services.
Graduate development
Live vacancies
View all of our live vacancies [https://careers.coventry.gov.uk/]
Before you apply, we suggest you visit our Careers Page [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/careers] to learn more about our organisation and what it is like to work at Coventry City Council. You can also review the Job Description and Person Specification for the position you are applying for. This is where you will learn about the duties and responsibilities of the role as well as the key skills and experience required.