Graduate Management Trainee

Job Description

This is an opportunity for local candidates (or those with a local connection) to apply to become a Graduate Management Trainee as part of Cohort 28 of Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme on a fixed-term contract until Autumn 2028 for London Borough of Lewisham.

Local applications will progress in the same timeframe as Impact's national recruitment process, and local candidates will be assessed alongside national candidates - with the exception of the final interview stage. By applying as a local candidate, you will be guaranteed an interview with us around April 2026 if you reach the final stage of the recruitment process. Please be aware that local candidates will interview only with their local authority, and interviews are usually held earlier than for those applying nationally.

The role

Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme is a fast-track graduate programme for bright and passionate individuals who want to make a difference while excelling in their career. It offers the chance to work directly with communities, but also to influence policy at a senior level. All while earning a graduate salary and completing a leadership and management qualification.

We are looking for the next generation of leaders who have the passion and skills to navigate the biggest challenges facing communities and the sector. From sustainability, homelessness and unemployment to town centre regeneration, social care, and education, local councils are at the forefront of delivering real change.

As a Graduate Management Trainee on the Impact programme, you will work for two years at the London Borough of Lewisham on a minimum salary of £38,637 (this may increase pending pay negotiations). Over a minimum of three different placements, you will have the opportunity to work on challenging projects in key areas of council life where you can make a real contribution and gain valuable, career-shaping experiences. You will be supported in these roles through mentoring and a fully-funded learning programme, culminating in a qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.

Impact is the only national graduate programme specifically for local government and has a high record of success with many graduates moving into management positions in councils after they complete the scheme. If you want a career leading change in the public sector, this is the programme for you.

About us

Here at London Borough of Lewisham, the UK's first Borough of Sanctuary, we're tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing our community. From making our streets cleaner and confronting the climate crisis with an ambitious goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, to delivering more social housing and improving living conditions for renters, we're committed to building a fairer, greener future. We're also focused on creating high-quality job opportunities, supporting local businesses, and breathing new life into our high streets. To help drive this change, we're seeking 2 enthusiastic individuals from Lewisham-or with strong ties to the area-who want to make a real impact and help shape the future of our borough.

About you

The Impact programme is passionate about recruiting graduates from all different backgrounds, universities and degree disciplines: our aim is to reflect the diverse communities that councils serve. We are looking for people who have the right values and attitudes and who can demonstrate their motivation for a career in the public sector. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, and additional support is available for under-represented groups during our assessment processes, so all candidates have a fair chance of showing us their full potential.

The requirements

In order to apply for our local position for the chance to be our local Graduate Management Trainee, you must meet the following criteria:

• You will have obtained a minimum 2.2 undergraduate degree by summer 2026
• You must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the 2-year programme. Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor visas.

For more information on eligibility and right to work requirements please visit our website.

Successful applicants will need to demonstrate their understanding of our key skills and behaviours through a competitive, multi-stage application process. Impact runs one national recruitment process each year and supports councils to run local and internal recruitment campaigns.

You must also:

• Have lived in London Borough of Lewisham for at least a year; or
• Have studied (at a secondary or further education establishment, including school, college, PRU) in London Borough of Lewisham; or
• Be a London Borough of Lewisham Care leaver; or
• Have been a London Borough of Lewisham council employee for more than a year.

Please read before applying

As part of the application process, you are required to complete a Situational Judgment Test which is the only assessment you will need to complete at this stage.

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) presents you with 24 realistic scenarios that someone might experience in a role on the programme, along with multiple ways of responding. The SJT will appear after you have completed your application question, and you will need to complete the SJT before you can submit your application.

Instructions for the test:

This test is untimed, and it should be completed in one sitting. You will be taken to the assessment page after answering your application questions.

You will need to organise each scenario into the order of response, depending on what you are most appropriate or least appropriate to do for each of the 24 questions. There are detailed instructions within the form.

If you have any questions or require support completing your application or situational judgement test, please do not hesitate to contact before starting your application or test.

For further information please visit Impact website.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST APPLY FOR THIS ROLE VIA THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION WEBSITE - CLICK HERE Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme application | Local Government Association

Closing date: 12.00pm midday, Tuesday 06 January 2026.

Please note: You can only apply for one Impact programme per year.

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