I applied to the NGDP because I wanted to make a difference in local communities and help to improve service delivery.
University: University of Edinburgh
Degree/year of graduation: MA (Hons) History and Politics (2018), MSc Contemporary History (2019)
Current Council: St Albans City & District Council
Current role: Currently placed across the Community Services department
What first inspired you to apply to NGDP?
Having been a youth councillor in my hometown before going to university, I already had some insight into local government and knew this was an area of work which I would be interested in pursuing.
I applied to the NGDP because I wanted to make a difference in local communities and help to improve service delivery.
I also knew that local government had been undergoing significant change for some time and I wanted to help to find solutions to the challenges which face the sector.
How much did you know about the NGDP before you applied?
I hadn’t realised that such a broad and versatile scheme for local government existed, so it was a pleasant surprise when I came across it!
What was the recruitment process like?
It was a long recruitment process over several months, but it provided plenty of opportunities for me to gain a good idea as to what it’s like to work in local government. The NGDP website is full of helpful tips for each stage of the application process and the LGA’s NGDP team answered any questions I had quickly.
What would be your advice to people thinking about applying to NGDP?
Even if you don’t intend to work in local government for the rest of your life, it is an excellent place to start a career. Local government now faces a plethora of challenges instigated by the Covid-19 pandemic, so there will be many opportunities for you to shape the future of the sector and your local community. Be prepared to harness the skills that you developed while at university and bring your fresh perspectives – shaped by wherever you grew up and studied – to the table.
