UK local government

Local government provides a variety of services including education, environmental health, housing, social services, leisure and planning.  Local authorities include City Councils, County Councils, District Councils, London Borough Councils, Metropolitan Councils and Unitary authorities.

Local Government Association (LGA)

The LGA is a voluntary lobbying organisation, acting as a spokesperson on behalf of the local government sector. 466 authorities make up the LGA and all together they represent over 50 million people and spend around £113 billion a year on local services. LGA Recruitment website. 

Local councils

Councils tend to advertise job vacancies on their own websites.  Positions are varied and include working in areas such as environment, planning, community work, legal work, housing/development, finance, education, HR, marketing, policy and many more.   Some councils offer graduate schemes so it may be beneficial to search their websites for more details.

National Graduate Development Programme (NGPD)

The NGPD is a government funded scheme designed to fast track graduates to senior management roles as quickly as possible.  The programme involves learning about local government, gaining experience from a work placement, and ongoing mentoring - the scheme lasts 2 years. NGPD website. 

London local government

Greater London Authority (GLA)

The GLA, the mayor and the London Assembly form the strategic London government.  They advetise their vacancies on their websites and offer year long paid industrial placements. GLA Jobs

Transport for London (TfL)

TFL run various recruitment campaigns including; graduate recruitment, information management and investment programmes. TFL Jobs

Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA)

The MPA monitors and scrutinises MPs and ensures that London has a high quality and sufficient police service. All vacancies here are advertised on the MPA Careers pages. MPA Careers

Useful links

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

  COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, is the representative voice of Scottish local government and also acts as the employers' association on behalf of all Scottish councils.

• Government Jobs Direct

  Directory of careers pages on the websites of UK government, civil service and other publicly funded organizations

• Info4local - Information for local government

  Information gateway for local public services - news and information for public bodies, central government departments and agencies, searchable by department and subject.

• Local Authorities Research Intelligence Authority

  (Local Authorities Research Intelligence Association) - supports local researchers in the public sector, includes job vacancies.

• Local Government Association - Job search

  This LGA jobs site is designed to provide you with information on working within the Local Government Association and help you find exciting roles working at a national level, having a local impact.

• Local Government Chronicle

  Local government website and magazine and host of the annual National Awards for Local Government.

• Local government Jobs

  The official recruitment site for local government, with information and searchable vacancy database for training contracts and legal assistant positions in local government. The LG Careers website provides extensive information on careers within Local Government

• Local Government Ombudsman

  Look after complaints about local government and authorities.

• Metropolitan Police Authority - Jobs

  The MPA monitors and scrutinises MPs and ensures that London has a high quality and sufficient police service. All vacancies here are advertised on the MPA Careers pages.

• Opportunities magazine

  Public sector recruitment news and job listings Search for jobs in the public sector

• Oultwood

  The Oultwood website provides a comprehensive local government website index for Europe and other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India

• The Job Crowd - public sector and development

  Government & public sector reviews, salaries, interview tips, jobs, the top public sector organisations and more – based on thousands of reviews posted anonymously by graduates working in government and the public sector.

• w4mpjobs

  Job vacancies, guides, salaries, training and events. All you need to know about working for an MP.