Making an impact

Online video advertising the National Graduate Development Programme (ngdp) is awarded ìbest work of the yearí in the January 2009 Recruitment Advertising awards.

The video is called ìBuilding a Wallî, and was produced for the Improvement and Development Agency (which manages the programme) by WORK communications. It focuses on a project carried out by ngdp trainee Josh McDonald at Leeds City Council.

The video is part of the 2008/9 recruitment campaign which attracted over 2,000 applications, a 15% increase on the number of applications received last year.

Malcolm Craig, manager of the national graduate development programme comments,

ìWe want to promote the programme to ambitious graduates, and show the value that a career in local government has – for them personally, and for the local people they serve. We wanted to communicate these messages to potential applicants in an innovative and engaging way. The concept behind the video was conceived by the IDeAís managerial leadership team. We feel that it clearly illustrates the reality of what a trainee can expect to experience during their placements on the scheme and importantly, the difference that they can make to local communities.î

A second video is soon to be launched online, to continue to promote the scheme to graduates and managers in local government. It shows an interview with Deena, a graduate of the programme, who spent six months working on Basildon Councilís homelessness strategy.

The National Graduate Development Programme runs over two years, during which trainees take part in:

A national induction event
Placements within local authorities – these are for up to six months, and provide trainees with experience across three areas: strategy and policy formulation, service delivery, and support services such as human resources, information technology, or finance
Post graduate study for the Diploma in Local Government Management at Warwick University
External mentoring by a senior public sector manager