Graduate Management Trainee on Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme – Cohort 29 Local Recruitment for Westminster City Council
Location
Westminster City Council
Salary
£39,915 per annum
Programme
Impact Graduate
Description
This is an opportunity for local candidates (or those with a local connection) to apply to become a Graduate Management Trainee as part of Cohort 29 of Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme on a fixed-term contract until Autumn 2029 for Westminster City Council.
Local applications will progress in the same timeframe as Impact’s , and local candidates will be assessed alongside national candidates – with the exception of the final interview stage. By applying as a local candidate, you will be guaranteed an interview with us around April 2027 if you reach the final stage of the recruitment process. Please be aware that local candidates will interview only with their local authority, and interviews are usually held earlier than for those applying nationally.
The role
Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme is a fast-track graduate programme for bright and passionate individuals who want to make a difference while excelling in their career. It offers the chance to work directly with communities, but also to influence policy at a senior level. All while earning a graduate salary and completing a leadership and management qualification.
We are looking for the next generation of leaders who have the passion and skills to navigate the biggest challenges facing communities and the sector. From sustainability, homelessness and unemployment to town centre regeneration, social care, and education, local councils are at the forefront of delivering real change.
As a Graduate Management Trainee on the Impact programme, you will work for two years at Westminster City Council on a minimum salary of £39,915 (this may increase pending pay negotiations).
Over a minimum of three different placements, you will have the opportunity to work on challenging projects in key areas of council life where you can make a real contribution and gain valuable, career-shaping experiences. You will be supported in these roles through mentoring and a fully-funded learning programme, culminating in a qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.
Impact is a national graduate programme specifically for local government and has a high record of success with many graduates moving into management positions in councils after they complete the scheme. If you want a career leading change in the public sector, this is the programme for you.
About us
Westminster City Council has always encouraged agile working, and this has only increased since the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Council understands the importance of employees being able to balance their work and home lives. One of the ways of supporting this is through facilitating agile working. By enabling our staff to work agilely, we aim to create a more responsive, efficient and effective organisation; which advances business performance, increases customer satisfaction and improves the health and wellbeing of our staff.
The key principles of Agile working at Westminster are below:
- There are no hard and fast rules on how to work
- There is no one‑size‑fits‑all approach to agile working, agile working needs to work for the employee, their team and the Council.
- Agile working is more than just working from home or in the office, it is also about how and where we work most effectively.
- Agile working and accountability go hand‑in‑hand; we expect everybody to take responsibility for ensuring their work is completed on time and to high
All council employees are provided with the equipment (laptop, phone etc) to enable them to work in an agile way.
Council Services
- Adult Social Care and Public Health – Another Bi-Borough services with RBKC providing support to vulnerable adults, people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and careers as well as public health services.
- Children’s Services – This is a Bi-Borough service with Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) providing support to Westminster’s children, young people and families.
- Corporate Services – Provides Human Resources (HR) services to the council along with People and Culture. It also includes Policy and Communications.
- Environment & Communities – Various front‑line services including our greener and cleaner environment agenda, climate, public protection and licensing, street cleansing, waste, parks and open spaces, sports and leisure, registrars, parking and highways.
- Finance and Resources – Includes services such as Finance, Procurement, Legal Services and Strategy and Intelligence.
- Housing & Commercial Partnerships – HCP includes Procurement, Commercial Services and Housing
- Regeneration, Economy and Planning – Deliver development and regeneration, programmes, Events, planning services and Westminster’s adult education
Our People Strategy – Our Westminster Way
Our Westminster Way is at the heart of Westminster, it sits at the core of the organisation’s ambitions and acts as a key enabler to the delivery for the council’s strategy.
Our Westminster Way is made up of three core elements – our purpose, promises and principles – that should guide everything we do.
Our Purpose
We act together to improve lives for a better Westminster
- We act together – this is about working collaboratively, across teams, services and with our partners and communities
- To improve lives – is about showing up, with care, consistency and purpose, to make life in Westminster work better for everyone every day
- A better Westminster – is an inclusive place where all can thrive, feeling heard, safe, supported and proud to be part of our city, whoever they are, wherever they come from
Our Promises
- Our people promise: everyone has talent- This is the promise we make to help you thrive at work, grow your career, and feel backed by challenges.
- Our community commitment: Participation Charter – This is the promise we make to our communities to listen, design together and deliver better for all.
Our Principles
- Everyone is a leader – We believe in responsible stewardship at every level of our organisation. Therefore, we take ownership of our roles, act equitably, and support each other to succeed. We use our influence to create positive change, no matter our role or job title.
- Everyone is valued – We believe in the equality of all people, and we recognise that diversity is a strength that enriches our work and our communities. When we each play our part in making others feel respected, included, and valued, we shape a council and a city, where everyone can belong and thrive.
- Everyone is connected – We believe that our greatest achievements come when we unite as one, working together across roles, teams, and communities. So, we break down silos and collaborate to drive innovation, impact and growth for the communities we serve.
- Everyone impacts communities – We believe that thriving, resilient communities are built on trust, care, and connection- and that the best outcomes happen when people are truly heard. We put people at the heart of our decisions and actions, understanding their needs, focusing on meaningful outcomes, and working with honesty and care.
As Part of Our Westminster Way, we have a number of bold initiatives including:
- Positive Action: For all middle and senior management roles we will have at least one candidate from a Global Majority background on every shortlist.
- Inclusive mentoring: Championed by our Executive Leadership Team, this enables leaders in the council to improve their cultural intelligence by being reverse mentored by colleagues from different backgrounds.
- Diverse recruitment panels: All interview panels for middle and senior manager roles are gender and Global Majority diverse.
- Focus on equity in terms of gender and ethnicity in how our staff are
- Only working with recruitment partners who have a track record in this
Need to know facts about the area
Westminster has brilliant transport links not only across London via tubes, buses and cycle routes, but the whole country.
Victoria (where our head office is based) has a fantastic selection of cafes, restaurants and shops easily accessible while on your lunch break or before and after work. You will also find Soho nearby with even more brilliant cafes, restaurants and nightlife; and of course, Oxford Street for shops galore.
Westminster is home to not only the royal family, government and 255,000 residents, it’s also home to many national landmarks and iconic places such as Buckingham Palace, House of Parliament, China Town, Covent Garden, royal parks, historic squares and many gardens. With over 170 open spaces, you are never far from some green space amongst the hustle and bustle of the Capital City. You will find most of our offices are just a short walk from one of the royal parks or open spaces.
The city hosts key events such as, the London marathon, Notting Hill Carnival. London pride, music events and festivals.
There is something for everyone in Westminster.
Benefits
- 31 days annual leave per year
- The council provides staff with one additional day of leave for their birthday each year, along with one day off around the Christmas period
- Season ticket loan
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Access to a benefits platform which officers Westminster employees a range of discounts and schemes aimed at improving their health and wellbeing and stretching their financial capacity
- A number of health and wellbeing resources including, free eyesight test and up to £65 towards reading glasses
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- We offer car schemes that provide access to discounted vehicle rates.
- We offer discounted rates on bike purchases, as well as reduced annual membership fees for Santander Cycles
- Additional annual leave of up to 10 days per year can be purchased.
- WCC staff get up to16 paid hours per year, to spend doing work for charitable organisations
Key Contacts
Name: Effie Asmah
Job Title: Emerging and Early Talent Lead
Email: / talent@westminster.gov.uk
About you
The Impact programme is passionate about recruiting graduates from all different backgrounds, universities and degree disciplines: our aim is to reflect the diverse communities that our partner councils serve. We are looking for people who have the right values and attitudes and who can demonstrate their motivation for a career in the public sector. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, and additional support is available for under‑represented groups during our assessment processes, so all candidates have a fair chance of showing us their full potential.
The requirements
Impact welcomes graduates from all backgrounds and areas of study. In order to apply, you must meet the following programme criteria:
- You will have obtained a minimum 2.2 undergraduate degree by August 2027
- You must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the 2-year programme. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.
For more information on eligibility and right to work requirements .
Successful applicants will need to demonstrate their understanding of our through a competitive, multi-stage application process. Impact runs one national recruitment process each year and supports councils to run local and internal recruitment campaigns.
In addition to the above, you must also meet the following eligibility criteria in order to be considered for this local campaign:
- Currently live in Westminster; or
- Have lived in Westminster; or
- Have studied (at a secondary or further education establishment, including school, college, PRU) in Westminster; or
- Be a Westminster Care leaver or
- Have been a Westminster council employee
Evidence of local eligibility
Candidates who progress through the recruitment process may be required to provide evidence that they meet the local eligibility criteria for this campaign. We will advise shortlisted candidates of the evidence required and the deadline for submission. Candidates who are unable to provide satisfactory evidence may not be progressed to interview for this local recruitment campaign.
Please read before applying
As part of the application process, you are required to complete a Situational Judgment Test which is the only assessment you need to complete at this stage.
The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) presents you with 24 realistic scenarios that someone might experience in a role on the programme, along with multiple ways of responding. The SJT will appear after you have completed your application questions and you will need to complete the SJT before you can submit your application.
Instructions for the test:
This test is untimed, but we anticipate that it will take you around an hour on average to complete. We suggest you complete the test in one sitting, when you have at least 1-2 hours to spare, to avoid putting yourself under unnecessary pressure.If you want to take a break during the assessment, you will be able to do so after answering a question and before proceeding to the next question. You can log back in at any time to complete the entire situational judgement test by the application deadline. You will be taken to the assessment page after answering your application questions.
You will need to read each scenario, then provide an effectiveness rating for each of the provided response options. There are detailed instructions within the form.
If you have any questions, or require support completing your application or SJT, please do not hesitate to contact before starting your application or test.
If you have any questions or require support completing your application or situational judgement test, please do not hesitate to contact before starting your application or test.
For further information please visit the .
Closing date
12.00pm midday, Wednesday 6 January 2027.
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