Graduate Schemes
National Graduate Programme
City of Wolverhampton Council has engaged with the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) for several years and recruited graduates from all over the country. Please watch the video below to hear from our Chief Executive Tim Johnson and current employees who have participated in the NGDP scheme.
Here you can find out more about the National Graduate Programme or to apply. To discuss the programme or for any further questions please contact the Organisational Development Team on OD.Team@wolverhampton.gov.uk .
Graduate case studies
Chloe Elwell
When thinking about what I wanted to do with my career, I knew that what motivated me was being able to help others, so when I heard about the NGDP I felt that working in local government would be a good fit. I joined City of Wolverhampton Council as part of the NGDP in October 2021.
During my time on the NGDP, I worked across a number of services such as Organisational Development, Climate Change, City Investment and Elections. The breadth of experience really helped to develop my knowledge about how the Council operates and develop my network with colleagues across the Council. I was given the opportunity to work on several high-level projects, work directly with residents, present at leadership teams and gain exposure to senior employees at the Council.
Following the support that I received whilst on the scheme, I was successful in securing an Organisational Development Advisor position and re-joined the Organisational Development Team in May 2023. I am now helping other employees to feel supported in their career, advising on development opportunities that are available at the Council.
Joshua Mallet
After a 7-year interlude working in the entertainment industry after finishing my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted more from my career. The NGDP scheme offered an opportunity to develop new skills and effect positive change for residents who live in a wonderful city that nonetheless is challenged by pockets of significant deprivation and unemployment.
I joined City of Wolverhampton's Business Improvement Team at the start of October 2021 and within two days had been tasked with writing a 5000-word area profile of the city - a draft due within the week - as part of a 20-page Jubilee Honours bid. Blimey; what a start to the scheme - but it was great fun, and I was well supported by colleagues throughout. One election, a webcasting bid, and a new electronic signature system later (amongst many other smaller projects!) and I had moved on to my second placement in Policy and Strategy. Here, I have had a wonderfully varied role and eventually secured a permanent position in the team as a Senior Policy and Strategy Officer. I now work in a matrix way to support the design and delivery of strategic frameworks, strategic planning and policy development across the organisation to ensure better outcomes for residents.
Wolverhampton is undoubtedly a wonderful place to work. Colleagues across the council are friendly and supportive and, as a graduate, I was given many opportunities to develop new skills and progress my career. If you are reading this and feel unsure whether to apply, I say go for it!
Kester Sleeman - Cohort 21 Programme Manager
I chose the NGDP programme as a great route into local government, after working for a few years in the private sector. It has been a fantastic experience, allowing me to get involved in a huge breadth of projects. The exposure to director level management, and the real responsibility that is given to graduates from an early stage in the scheme gives huge opportunities for development. Thanks to the scheme, I have been able to secure a role as a programme manager working across the four Black Country local authorities, coordinating the delivery of a multi-million-pound programme of electric vehicle infrastructure, as well as developing a range of policy interventions.
Michael Hallows - Cohort 20 Commercial Manager
I joined City of Wolverhampton Council through the NGDP in September 2018. When applying I looked at dozens of graduate schemes, but my motivation to apply for the NGDP came from wanting to work for an organisation, and in a sector, that strived to support and enhance communities on a local level. As a former teacher, I wanted to continue to make a difference in my career and the NGDP really sold that aspect of the scheme. I did some reading up on local government before applying and soon realised the sector faced huge challenges which would make the work, I would be doing even more meaningful.
Since joining Wolverhampton, I have worked in the Commercial Services team on several high-profile and interesting projects. In the last three years I have learned a great amount about how councils operate and are able to deliver their services, through gaining skills and experience in commercialisation, finance, project management, governance and contract management. Through ongoing support and development, I have also been able to progress within my team, securing a permanent role as Commercial Manager after one year on the graduate scheme, and more recently I have been promoted to Commercial Business Partner.
The NGDP provided me with a great opportunity to kick-start my career in local government and I would recommend it to any graduate who is looking for a challenging yet rewarding role with immediate development prospects.
Laura Noonan - Cohort 13 Electoral Services Manager
I studied Social Policy at University and always knew that I wanted to work in the public sector so when I left university I started working for my local council as an administrator.
Whilst at the council I heard about the NGDP scheme, and it sounded like the perfect graduate programme for me. I joined the NGDP scheme in 2013 and worked in a variety of front line and strategic services and benefited from the opportunity to work with senior managers and councillors from the outset, which gave me the skills and experience I needed to progress into management roles. After the scheme ended, I secured a job as a Project Officer and then a Project Manager continuing to work with a variety of services on various improvement programmes of work from adult social care to ICT agile working projects. I was interested in specialising in a service, so I secured a secondment in the Councils elections team, and I am now Electoral Services Manager, responsible for managing a team who deliver all elections in the Wolverhampton area and keeping the register of electors up to date. I have since had the opportunity to have NGDP graduates undertake placements with me in the Elections Team. I would highly recommend the NGDP scheme to anyone interested in establishing a career in delivering services that help local communities.
