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Work experience and apprenticeships

Work Experience

During the year we offer many individuals of different ages and abilities a variety of opportunities for voluntary work experience with our Services.

pdf icon Click here to download our Careers Information Pack [311kb]

The length of our placements vary according to the needs and interests of the individual applicant as well as the resources and workload of the department hosting the placement.

We continually receive a large number of enquiries about work experience and we consider each request on its own merits and offer opportunities to people where this is possible.

The most frequently requested placements include:

General ClericalLegal Services
Customer ServicesEnvironmental Health
MuseumsSports Centres
Park RangerEvents Management
Financial ServicesMechanical Workshop
Climate Change SupportCommunications and Marketing
Planning ServicesCrematorium & Cemetery
Human ResourcesDemocratic Services
Strategic ResearchRegeneration and Architecture

If you are particularly interested in an area not covered by the above list we are happy for you to contact us to demonstrate why you want to gain experience of this field and what skills you will bring to this role as we view work experience as a mutually beneficial arrangement. We will contact the relevant manager on your behalf in an attempt to secure you a placement.

To apply for a work experience placement please send the following details to hrservicecentre@colchester.gov.uk:

  • An up-to-date CV with your full contact details
  • What career and/or Service area you want to gain experience in and the reasons for this
  • Why you would particularly like to work in local government
  • What you hope to gain from the placement
  • Timescales for your proposed placement

We support apprenticeships on an ad hoc basis and in recent years our apprentices have undertaken qualifications in Business Administration and Customer Service in a number of different departments. Our apprenticeship opportunities are advertised on the national website www.apprenticeships.org.uk and the training element is delivered in partnership with the local provider Career Track. Apprenticeships with the Council can last for up to 3.5 years and during this time the apprentice is able to gain a wide skills set and improved understanding of our Services whilst being paid at National Minimum Wage levels and gaining formally recognised qualifications "on the job".