Cutting Edge Careers At Council
| Published: 5th September 2008 12:17 |
More graduates have joined Somerset County Council's graduate development scheme this year than any other local authority graduate programme in the country.
The 21 graduates who started the three-year scheme earlier this year will be formally welcomed to Somerset County Council at a Graduate Induction Day on the 9 September at Exchange House.
Out of almost 200 applications and after intensive tests, interviews and presentations, 21 candidates have now obtained permanent employment with Somerset County Council and Southwest One.
The Graduate Induction Day aims to welcome the graduates to Somerset County Council and provide an opportunity to meet graduate colleagues, employees from previous graduate schemes and key managers. The day will also involve a presentation from Somerset County Council Chief Executive Alan Jones.
The Graduate Scheme, which is managed by Southwest One, attracts prospective candidates from both in and outside of the County. Somerset born and bred Sarah Cooper, 26 from Taunton, attended Cardiff University where she achieved a 2:1 BSc Honours in Business Administration. Sarah was accepted into the Graduate Scheme this year and now works as a Graduate Management Trainee in the Chief Executive's Office.
Sarah said: "The main things that attracted me to the scheme were the excellent opportunities for training and professional development. I'm enjoying the challenges and it has been a good way of developing new skills and working with partner organisations across Somerset."
Councillor Sam Crabb, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Resources and Finance, said: "Somerset County Council's Graduate Development Scheme is an effective way of sourcing talented professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Through the scheme we are able to select the most suitable candidates for positions throughout Somerset County Council, which will enable us to continue to provide excellent services to the residents of Somerset."
Somerset County Council's Chief Executive, Alan Jones, said: "We believe that we have one of the most innovative and creative local government graduate schemes in the whole of the UK. Applications were of an extremely high calibre this year and the graduates are exceeding expectations."
The next recruitment drive will begin in April 2009. For further information visit: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/gds/.
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