Graduate - Derbyshire County Council

Public
Derbyshire County Council
Transformation Service
Incorporating Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Student Placement & Graduate Scheme
Business & Technical
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
Contents
Page
Derbyshire County Council
2
Why Derbyshire County Council?
3
Student Placement Scheme
4
Graduate Schemes
6
- Business Graduate Scheme
7
- Technical Graduate Scheme
9
Graduate Salary & Benefits
12
Graduate Application Process
13
Mentoring
14
A MESSAGE FROM THE
DIRECTOR OF TRANSFORMATION SERVICE
“As an organisation we need to attract talented individuals that we can support and develop to
ensure our future success.
To achieve this we introduced the graduate and student placement schemes in 2009 and they’ve
proven to be very effective. Both schemes are a fantastic opportunity for those interested in
developing a career in Business & ICT.
All student and graduate trainees can expect a structured role with scope to experience a broad
range of work. Each individual is allocated a mentor and on-going reviews are undertaken to
ensure skills, knowledge and practical experience are being developed.
In this brochure you’ll find case studies relating to a number of past recruits who have gone on to
forge very successful careers with the Council. If you’re still not sure, you can speak to one of our
recruiting advisors who will provide you with any further information you need; details can be
found towards the end of this brochure
I hope you find the information in this brochure useful and it persuades you to apply for one of our
schemes. I look forward to receiving an application from you.”
David Hickman
Director of Transformation
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DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
ABOUT DERBYSHIRE COUNTY
COUNCIL
The Council employs around 16,000 members of staff and is represented by
64 elected members who are elected every 4 years. Elected members are
democratically accountable to residents who live in their electoral division.
The county of Derbyshire has a population of around 780,000, to which the
council provides a vast array of services.
The Council departments are:
 Chief Executives
 Corporate Resources
 Adult Care
 Children's Services
 Health and Communities
 Economy, Transport and Environment
OUR FIVE PLEDGES
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A Derbyshire that Works
 A Strong Economy
 Well-Connected Communities
 A Skilled and Confident Workforce
A Healthy Derbyshire
 Healthier Communities with Reduced Health Inequalities
A Safer Derbyshire
 Resilient and Safe Communities
 People Supported in Hard Times
 Sustainable and Green Communities
A Derbyshire that Cares
 Thriving Children, Young People and Families
 Independent and Supported Older People
 Adults with Physical and Learning Disabilities Leading Independent
and Fulfilled Lives
A Local Derbyshire
 An Ambitious and Dynamic Council
 Communities at the Heart of Decision Making
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WHY DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL?
TRANSFORMATION SERVICE
In common with many large organisations, the County Council is becoming increasingly reliant on ICT to
maintain the delivery of existing services and to support their continual improvement. If our systems fail
or end-users don’t understand how to use them, serious disruption to services can occur and the
authority will not maximise the benefits from the investments it has made.
In the coming years, the demands on the Transformation Service to support major corporate and service
specific programmes and projects is expected to increase significantly. The aim of the Service is to
address these new demands and resolve a broad range of existing challenges, together with ensuring
that business as usual operational services are maintained.
The intention is that the service will become a key driver in changing the way the Council works and
expectations on the service are high.
The Student Placement and Graduate Scheme cover all three areas of the Transformation Service:
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Commissioning, Contracts, Programmes & Projects

Customer Services

Infrastructure
“Derbyshire County Council is a large
organisation with lots of opportunities to
develop and progress.”
Holly Corso,
BSc Media Production & Technology
(2015 Graduate)
STUDENT & GRADUATE
OPPORTUNITIES
 Central Location, based in Matlock, Derbyshire
 Links to Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and
Nottingham
 Large public sector organisation
 Opportunities for Progression
 Challenging
 Opportunities across the service, undertaking a
range of activities
We are looking for talented individuals that
we can support and develop to ensure our
sustainability and future success. To support
this we offer both a student work placement
and graduate recruitment scheme.
3
©Crown copyright and database rights 2015.
Ordnance Survey 100023251
Student
STUDENT PLACEMENT
STUDENT PLACEMENT SCHEME
We are looking for dynamic, customer focused individuals with excellent verbal and written
communication skills who are keen to learn and develop, and have an interest in the way business and
ICT can be used to enhance and transform the organisation.
The scheme offers a one year fixed term contract and the successful candidates will be offered
structured experience in the wide range of ICT related work undertaken by the service.
The student placement programme will enable the successful candidates to work across one of the
three areas of the Transformation Service; Commissioning, Contracts, Programmes & Projects,
Customer Services and Infrastructure.
We are looking for students who are studying for a degree in an ICT, Business or Information Systems
discipline and are on target to achieve a minimum 2:1 degree.
Benefits
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Salary - £17,123
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37 Hours per Week
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Flexi Time
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Mentoring Scheme
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25 days Annual Leave + 8 Bank Holidays
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Personal Development Opportunities
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Application Process - via CV and supporting letter - contact your Careers Advisor for more
details and to apply
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Provide an opportunity for students to gain practical work experience and an insight into the
public sector ICT and transformational change agenda.
“The student placement scheme enabled me to put university theory into practice in a live business
environment. Working in a public sector environment enabled me to build in confidence and showcased
the additional challenges faced compared to private sector taught at university. The placement scheme
enabled me to return to university with a greater knowledge and experience of business practice to
apply in my final year; and undertake my dissertation on a Derbyshire County Council discipline.”
Emily Smith, Assistant Project Manager, BA Business
(2011 Student & 2013 Graduate)
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
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Good Communication Skills
Well Motivated Individual
A Willingness to Learn
Good Problem Solving Skills
Good Organisation Skills
Good Team Working Skills
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Interest in working in an IT environment
Attention to detail
Good Interpersonal Skills
An Aptitude for Researching, Analysing Information
A Willingness to provide Good Customer Service
The Ability to follow Policies and Procedures
4
Student
STUDENT PLACEMENT - CASE STUDIES
“The Student Placement Scheme at Derbyshire County Council provided
me with the ideal opportunity to apply the skills that I had learned at
university and gain valuable industry experience. The advertised salary
was also very competitive in relation to other student placement schemes
that were around at the time.
I joined the Network Team at the start of a large and complicated project
to replace the Council’s core network infrastructure. Even though I was a
student on placement from university I was involved in key elements of the
project that included the planning, implementation and post
documentation stages.
There is also a good social element to working at Derbyshire County
Council. My immediate team and the Transformation Service made me
feel very welcome and there wasn’t a shortage of work nights out!
The Student Placement scheme gave me the valuable experience I
required to become a sought after candidate in today’s job market when I
graduated. After working for Derbyshire County Council and then
completing my degree I had no problem applying for and being offered
opportunities with other organisations. The scheme and experience
reinforced my knowledge relating to Network Infrastructure and how it
can be deployed in large organisations.”
CRAIG CARTLIDGE
Network Technician
2012 Student
BSc Network Management
“I chose the student placement scheme at Derbyshire County Council,
as it is a large reputable organisation, offering a huge level of variation
in the breadth of services it provides. I felt this would provide the best
experience and ultimately would look impressive on my CV. The
scheme provides different job profiles and the option to work in
different areas of the Transformation Service. I was placed in the
Commissioning & Contracts team, which is providing me with a range
of opportunities to showcase my skills and knowledge that I’ve learned
from studying for my degree in Business Management.
The most enjoyable part of the student placement scheme is being
made to feel like you are a member of the “team”. You are not here to
make tea and do the photocopying! You are a valued member of staff
with a real role to play within the Council. I have been given the
responsibility to manage around 200 routine ICT contracts; this
involves building supplier relationships, negotiating contract renewals
and attending cross-departmental meetings. It is providing me with real
workplace experience.
JULIE COLE
2015 Student
Studying for a BA Business
Management Degree
5
The scheme provides an opportunity to work within various
departments within the Council, network with others, learn valuable
new skills and attend the different training courses and events; all of
which help to widen and develop my skill set.
I’m thoroughly enjoying my time at Derbyshire County Council, and look
forward to see what the rest of the student placement has to offer.”
Graduate
GRADUATE SCHEMES
GRADUATE SCHEME - BUSINESS & TECHNICAL
The Graduate Scheme provides a two year fixed term contract and offers enthusiastic, dynamic
graduates the opportunity to work with technical experts in a fast paced, ever changing public
sector environment. The graduate is offered a structured programme of experience in the wide
range of work undertaken by the Service, focusing on achieving the Council’s vision; to use ICT in
new and creative ways to support the Council to deliver services which are high quality, value for
money and customer focused.
The Graduate Scheme salary is £21,321 and is evaluated in line with the duties and job profile of the
role. Subject to satisfactory performance you would be assisted in identifying suitable vacancies
within the Council that you can apply for.
The graduates are allocated a line manager and mentor, to provide support, professional advice and
guidance throughout the graduate scheme, encouraging and challenging you along the way.
 Minimum of 2:1 degree in an ICT, Business or Information System discipline.
 We welcome all graduates; newly qualified or not, as long as they meet the criteria.
“The Graduate Scheme has provided me with a lot of enjoyment working with different people from
different backgrounds and sharing knowledge, gaining experience and skills which have led to a variety of
promotions and progression.”
Lucy Wardle, Transformation Challenge Award Co-ordinator, BSc Business & ICT
(2010 Student & 2012 Graduate)
“The Graduate Scheme offered me the opportunity to learn and develop after my degree; working with a
variety of teams, learning different skills and business acumen whilst gaining a technical knowledge.
The graduate scheme has benefitted me in a variety of ways, providing personal development and an
increased skill set which has enabled me to gain a permanent post as Corporate Applications Technician
within Transformation Service.”
Kerry Osborne, Corporate Application Support , BA International Marketing and Business
(2012 Graduate)
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
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Innovative & Creative Individual
A Confident Outlook
Good Leadership Skills
Good Problem Solving
Ability to Use Initiative
An Enthusiastic Individual
Attention to Detail
A Positive Approach
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Effective Written & Verbal Communication Skills
An Aptitude for Researching, Analysing Information
Dynamic Individuals
A Customer Focused Approach
Good Team Working Skills
Motivated Individuals
Well Developed Organisation Skills
A Willingness to Learn
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Graduate
GRADUATE SCHEME - BUSINESS
GRADUATE SCHEME - BUSINESS
Business Graduates will be given the opportunity to work in the Commissioning & Contracts or
Programme & Projects areas. There are a wide variety of functions covered between these teams:
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The procurement, management and supplier liaison for over 370 ICT contracts.
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The management of complex ICT projects, forming part of an over-arching ICT work
programme in order to meet the needs of departments and customers throughout Derbyshire.
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A programme of service/business process re-engineering projects to ensure that the council
are streamlining processes and running as efficiently as possible through the use of ICT,
We are looking for graduates who have an understanding or interest in:
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How ICT can transform business
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Project management methodologies and the importance of project planning and delivery
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The procurement of ICT Systems
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Contract management & supplier liaison
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Researching and analysing information, presenting results and developing reports.
Your journey will begin in Commissioning,
Contracts, Programmes & Projects where you will gain
an understanding of the Council’s business including
project planning, business analysis, commissioning of
software and hardware, as well as contract
management.
We will provide you with the mentoring, experience and
support, all we need from you is your commitment and
enthusiasm!
As you progress you will be given the opportunity to
lead on the end-to-end delivery of projects involving
planning, organising resources, and managing any
risks, issues or challenges that may impact on the
success of the project.
Sara Hydon
Senior Programme Manager
7
Graduate
BUSINESS GRADUATE - CASE STUDIES
“Unlike most other graduates, I didn't apply for the scheme straight out
of university. When I graduated I worked for a private sector company
that did not offer the long term career opportunities I had hoped for.
When I came across the DCC graduate scheme, it immediately
appeared to offer what I was searching for in terms of both a natural
progression from my degree and the chance to work for a large and
diverse organisation. Even though this meant I was leaving the security
of a full time permanent position for a 2-year fixed term scheme with no
guaranteed employment at the end, I felt that in the long term the
opportunities, experiences and learning I would gain would far
outweigh any short term uncertainties.
I have particularity enjoyed meeting people from different areas of the
Council. I have worked with Elected Members and officers at different
levels across all departments. This in turn gave me a much better
understanding of how local government works and the range of
activities undertaken. The people are always welcoming, interested in
me, and take time to brief me on the workings of the department/
section and their individual roles.
GEMMA WALKER
Commissioning & Contract
Officer
2014 Graduate
BA Communication &
Business Joint Hons
The Graduate scheme has assisted me to think about my own learning,
skills and experiences to date and how I might make best use of these
along with the new experiences gained through the scheme to make a
contribution to the workings of the Council. Such was the value of my
experiences that I went on to secure my current position as a
Commissioning and Contracts Officer, after 6 months into the scheme,
this has allowed me to return to university to study for my Chartered
Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) qualification.”
“Having been on the Student Placement Scheme at Derbyshire
County Council for 14 months, and having learnt so much, the
choice to apply for the Graduate Scheme was a simple one. I wanted
to come back and work in a great environment, continue to develop
my skills through interacting with knowledgeable colleagues, and
take the opportunity to grow throughout my career. I have worked
within two teams in Transformation Service; Commissioning &
Contracts on Student placement and I am currently working in
Programmes & Projects on the Graduate Scheme. The people in
both of these teams have been great to be around, which makes
coming to work so much more enjoyable.
In my current role as a Project Officer, every day is different. I work
on a variety of different ICT projects which enables me to meet new
people from different departments on a daily basis. This has given
me a much rounder knowledge and experience of working in a
professional environment. Since being a graduate, I have been
encouraged to undertake the many different training opportunities
for both professional and personal development to enhance my
current skill set.
Having studied a technical course, working in Transformation gave
me the opportunity to put my technical skills to use, whilst also
enhancing my business knowledge. Another enjoyable part of
working at the Council is the flexible working the chance for the
occasional long lunch with colleagues or early finish is definitely a
bonus!”
JAKE LONGDEN
2015 Graduate
BSC Computer Studies
8
Graduate
GRADUATE SCHEME - TECHNICAL
GRADUATE SCHEME - TECHNICAL
ICT is delivered through the Transformation Service as a central ICT function. Technical students will be
given the opportunity to work in the Infrastructure or Customer Services areas. As a division,
Transformation Service supports and manages:
 The maintenance of two data centres comprising of over 400 servers, many of whish are virtualised in
a Microsoft Hyper-V environment
 The data and voice network covering over 300 establishments connected via a private Wide Area
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Network
The support of over 270 corporate and business applications, including;
 SAP Enterprise Resource Planning system:
 Electronic Social Care Record system
 Electronic Document Records Management
A desktop estate of 7,000 PCs and laptops
A user base of over 9,000
ICT Traded services for 400+ schools.
We are looking for graduates who have an understanding
or interest in one or more of the following areas:
 Support
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& Configuration of ICT Systems or
Infrastructure
IT Infrastructure required in large organisations
Appreciation for application support and programming
Detail of network infrastructure and corporate server
environments
Change control, documentation and reporting
Data Centre and Server Management
Customer Services including Desktop Management,
Device Configuration Management and ICT Service
Desk
Network Management
Database Administration and Management
Information Security
“Join the Council on the Technical Graduate Scheme
as a member of the Network Management Team and
develop your CISCO skills whilst supporting and
developing the Councils enterprise network which
extends to over 300 sites from two data centres’.”
Judy Matkin,
Derbyshire County Council Network Manager
9
Graduate
TECHNICAL GRADUATE - CASE STUDIES
“I picked the Graduate Scheme at Derbyshire County Council as it
provided an opportunity to experience each area of the Transformation
Service, this appealed because at the time I wasn’t sure which area of the
service would most appeal within a working environment.
I have most enjoyed the variation of the tasks and projects given, and the
colleagues I worked with. I commenced the Graduate Scheme in
Programmes and Projects, and was particularly impressed with the
responsibility I was given, this included organising the ICT resources and
support for a local elections event at the Council Head Quarters. This
event included a live graphical output of the results, and involved
significant exposure for the council as various media teams, including the
BBC, who were present for the event. Once I’d completed my time in
projects, I moved into Customer Services, this provided a more technical
role and required more technical skills and knowledge; a benefit of being
on the graduate scheme is the opportunity to attend a variety of training
courses; I attended a Microsoft PowerShell training course which
provided me with the skills to undertake bulk admin tasks on Microsoft
Exchange, part of my new role in the Customer Services team.
This scheme provided a mentor who was independent to the work I was
assigned, this coupled with the opportunities given, allowed me to
discuss and progress my ICT career to achieve a permanent role in a
more technical area of Transformation Service. I currently work as an ICT
Technician on the ICT Service Desk, providing 1 st & 2nd line support for
the desktop estate.”
TOM WOOD
ICT Technician
2012 Graduate
BSc Applied Computing
“I chose the Derbyshire County Council graduate scheme
because of the good salary, provision for flexible working, the
breadth and depth of ICT teams within the County Council,
along with the opportunity to work within these different IT
teams, and finally, the locality – an opportunity to work for a
company that helps to improve lives for local people.
For me, the most enjoyable part of the Derbyshire County
Council graduate scheme is that within the Business
Application Team, I enjoy the daily challenge of supporting
and developing a wide range of Business Applications, which
are used internally and externally by small to large user
groups. No two days are the same!
FIONA BUCKINGHAM
Application Support
2014 Graduate
BSc Information Systems
The graduate scheme has provided me with many different
opportunities. I have undertaken training courses on
C# Programming Language and Microsoft SQL. I have been
given the opportunity to work within the different IT teams
within the Transformation Service i.e. Business Applications,
Corporate Applications, Server Team, Network Team,
Service Desk and have the responsibility to engage in the
development of new and existing web applications.”
10
Graduate
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SERVER & STORAGE
MANGEMENT
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400 Windows Servers hosted on HP Hardware.
Data replication across two datacentres.
A variety of physical and virtual servers using
Microsoft Hyper V as the hypervisor.
Store 280TB of data at each site utilising
NetApp FAS8040, FAS2240 and FAS2552.
Storage platforms configured as RAID 6 DP.
COMMUNICATION
NETWORK
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Mixed Wired & Wireless Network Infrastructure;
1Gbps Ethernet Backbone and 100Mbps
switched Ethernet to the desktop.
Cisco networking equipment used across all
Council corporate sites.
Virtual Switching System (VSS) deployed using
Cisco Catalyst 6500 series switches routed
across two data centres.
Converged network infrastructure within the
data centres is based on dual 10Gbps
connections to the VSS network cores.
Cisco Nexus 5696Q series switch pairs
connecting the 6500 to the data centre fabric
operating at 40Gbps
Primary and secondary data centres connected
by two diversely routed 10Gbps circuits
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone
system run on a Mitel 3300 Platform with over
6000 handsets
INFORMATION SECURITY
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The Council has
accreditation.
acquired
the
ISO27001
DESKTOP
MANAGEMENT
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Utilises Microsoft System Centre Configuration
Manager 2012 to manage the Council’s ICT
Assets.
Windows 7 Desktop and Laptop Estate.
ICT Service Desk providing 1st and 2nd line
support between 8.00 - 6.00pm.
Microsoft System Centre Service Manager 2012
is used to track system calls.
APPLICATION
DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT
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Transformation Service support over 270
Council ICT Systems
Support for these systems is split between two
teams; Business Applications and Corporate
Applications
Systems development is web-based and usually
undertaken using Visual Studio 2010 (.NET
framework) in conjunction with SQL 2008/2012.
Legacy systems utilising Microsoft Access and
Visual Basic.
“The Derbyshire County Council Technical
Graduate Scheme provided a fantastic opportunity
to work in a large IT department and further
develop my technical knowledge gained from
University.
The Graduate Scheme enabled me to spend time in
other technical areas such as the Desktop
Management Team to learn about their roles and the
different pressures they faced.
Additionally, this development of knowledge along
with everything I learnt on the Graduate Scheme has
enabled me to obtain a permanent post as a Server
Technician in the Server Management Team;
working on the installation and set-up of new,
Interesting systems procured by the Council.”
Daniel Reeves, Server Team Technician
BSc Computer Systems (Networks)
(2014 Graduate)
11
Graduate
SALARY & BENEFITS
SALARY & BENEFITS
37 Hours per Week
Salary - £21,321
Benefits
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Flexi Time
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Pension Scheme
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Mentor Scheme
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25 days Annual Leave + 8 Bank Holidays
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Personal Development Opportunities
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Training Opportunities
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Car Share Scheme
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Eye Care Voucher Scheme
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Cycle to Work Scheme
SUPPORT FROM OTHER GRADUATES
12
Graduate
APPLICATION PROCESS
GRADUATE APPLICATION PROCESS
Apply Online - www.derbyshire.gov.uk/jobs
Sign up for Job Alerts
Process
 Complete the Application Form using the Person Profile as a guide to what we are looking for.
Please Note - CV’s will not be accepted.
 If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an interview.
 Following interview, successful candidates will be notified of their positions, and unsuccessful
candidates will be offered feedback.
The discipline of your degree and the skills demonstrated at interview will determine which
section of Transformation Service you are placed in.
For more information or to discuss the opportunities further, contact Mark or Gina via the details
below.
“The Graduate Scheme provided a chance to work in a variety of areas within the Transformation Service
to develop skills, gain confidence and the salary was one of the best!”
Amy Walker, Application Support Technician, BSc Information Communication Technology
(2011 Graduate)
MARK WHELAN
13
GINA KNOWLES
Student & Graduate Recruitment
Student & Graduate Recruitment
County Hall,
County Hall,
Matlock,
Matlock,
Derbyshire,
Derbyshire,
DE4 3AG
DE4 3AG
01629 538455
01629 538009
mark.whelan@derbyshire.gov.uk
gina.knowles@derbyshire.gov.uk
Student
Graduate
MENTORING
MENTORING
Mentoring
Students and graduates will be assigned a mentor who may or may not work directly with
them. Mentors will:
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Support the students and graduates throughout their contract within the Council
Help the students and graduates identify personal goals
Help students and graduates prepare to enter into their chosen career and to help them to
develop their employability skills within Derbyshire County Council

Support the students and graduates in their applications for jobs and further study/personal
development and preparation of their professional portfolio within Derbyshire County Council
Mentoring Activities
The nature of the scheme is to provide professional one to one mentoring to ensure that individuals
get the best out of their time with the Council and help them to prepare for their chosen career. Each
mentor will set aside time in order to undertake the mentoring which can take place face to face, via
email, via telephone, or preferably, a combination of all three. Meetings are informal and will cover:
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Confidence building through guidance and support
Improving communication skills
Challenging various aspects of their job
Feedback on job applications and professional portfolios
Interview techniques
Supporting students and graduates with applications for jobs, and continuing their education
and personal development
MENTORING - CASE STUDY
DAVE CRISP
“I have worked at Derbyshire County Council for many years in
a wide variety of business and technical roles, from managing
the ICT Service Desk to my current role of Senior Programme
Manager. The Student Placement and Graduate Scheme
provides an opportunity to gain real experience in an ever
changing public sector environment. I have been a mentor
since the Graduate and Placement Scheme began, sharing
knowledge and experiences with Students and Graduates
makes a big difference to their experience here at the Council. I
enjoy helping Students and Graduates in the workplace,
introducing them to social groups and encouraging them to
take opportunities and achieve their potential.”
Senior Programme Manager
Student & Graduate Mentor
14
Version 1.0
20th October 2015
www.derbyshire.gov.uk/jobs
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