NGDP – A Brighter Future

Many will think it curious to be advocating graduate recruitment at a time of financial austerity, but feedback from the sector tells us that this is exactly the time to bring bright, innovative talent into the sector.

The National Graduate Development Programme (ngdp) is very highly regarded, it brings credibility to the career choice of local government, placing it firmly within the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and Guardian 300. The ngdp has provided a pipeline of consistently high calibre graduates to 135 authorities over 13 cohorts.

For many councils restricted budgets have meant that graduate recruitment has been temporarily reduced or suspended. At IMPOWER we recognise the need for efficiency but firmly believe that this is an opportune time to be investing in graduate recruitment. Without investing in the pipeline of talent for the future there is likely to be adverse consequences for councils and the sector in the medium to longer term.

IMPOWER, the Local Government Association (LGA) and SOLACE Enterprises are working in partnership with a common belief in the potential that ngdp can bring to the sector a shared recognition of the need to make the scheme sustainable and attractive to councils both now and in the future.

Read our publication “A Brighter Future” which explains the value of ngdp and wider graduate talent to local government and stimulates the debate as to how it will develop over the medium term.

February 2012

If you would like more information on the publication please contact Alex Khaldi, Managing Director, akhaldi@impower.co.uk or Ebony Hughes, Manager, ehughes@impower.co.uk or call 020 7017 8030.