Local government might not be the first career path that comes to mind for most graduates, but that started to change last week at De Montfort University. Here’s what we learned from two busy days at the DMU Careers Fair, speaking with students about the opportunities that exist in councils across the region.  

Last week, East Midlands Councils returned to De Montfort University for the annual DMU Careers Fair, as part of ongoing work to support the Leicestershire Districts and Rutland Recruitment Campaign and the wider national effort to promote careers in local government. 

Over two busy days at The Venue, the EMC team spoke to hundreds of students, part of a crowd of around 1,500, about the wide variety of roles available in local government. Colleagues from Melton Borough Council, Harborough District Council and Blaby District Council joined the stand to help showcase what working in local government is really like. 

Here are three key takeaways from the event for those council’s looking to attract graduates:

1. Students are open-minded once they know what’s out there 

Many students said they had not previously considered local government or realised how many roles exist across councils. Once conversations began about the range of opportunities, from planning and housing to communications, IT, law and finance, interest quickly grew. 

Local government is not always front of mind for graduates, but when students understand the purpose behind the work and the development opportunities available, they are keen to learn more. 

It was encouraging to hear how many students were motivated by the idea of working to support their wider community. They were also pleased to learn that councils actively invest in professional development and provide genuine opportunities for progression. 

When promoting local government careers, it is important to emphasise these professional benefits as much as any added perks such as flexible working or local discounts. Graduates are keen to progress, develop skills and gain professional recognition, and knowing that their council will encourage this is a major attraction. 

2. Placements and graduate schemes remain the main focus 

Many students were looking for placements, internships or graduate programmes. While these structured routes are popular, a number were surprised to learn that councils also recruit directly into entry-level and professional roles. 

The fair was a valuable opportunity to highlight the different routes into local government and to explain how these roles offer early responsibility, varied experience and genuine opportunities for advancement. 

That said, a large number of students are looking for practical experience while studying, and some international students are limited in the hours they can work under their visa. It is therefore useful for councils to identify roles that could suit students or recent graduates, and to clearly label opportunities suitable for early-career applicants. 

Councils could also explore offering short placements or project-based opportunities to help students gain insight into local government. University students are often highly focused and motivated, so even a short placement can be a valuable introduction to the sector. 

Any roles suitable for graduates can be added to the university-specific job boards, such as DMU’s My Gateway: https://my-gateway.dmu.ac.uk/employer 

3. Collaboration makes a big difference 

Having colleagues from Melton, Harborough and Blaby on the stand made the conversations richer and helped students understand the breadth of opportunities available across Leicestershire. Having Annette, Mike, Raj, Melissa, June, Doug, Hannah and Victoria from those councils meant that more students could be reached, but also ensured conversations covered a broader range of topics. Their role-specific expertise helped demonstrate the value and variety of careers within local government.  

The collaboration between councils brought the local government recruitment campaign to life and demonstrated how local authorities are working together to attract new talent and promote local government as a rewarding and purposeful career choice. 

Earlier this year, at Loughborough University’s Careers Fair, EMC was joined by Richard Bennett, Head of Planning and Growth at Charnwood Borough Council, who provided valuable insight to students about the variety of roles available in the sector. 

The DMU Careers Fair followed similar outreach activity supported by EMC at Loughborough University and the University of Leicester (with support from the team at Hinckley and Bosworth), as well as a recent Careers in the Public Sector session at DMU. Together, these events formed part of EMC’s wider work alongside the Leicestershire Districts and Rutland to raise awareness of the vital roles councils play, the rewarding careers that are available, and to inspire the next generation of public sector professionals. 

East Midlands Councils would like to thank all Leicestershire Districts and Rutland authorities for their engagement throughout this programme, and to extend particular thanks to Melton, Harborough and Blaby District Councils for their support at DMU. 

Councils across the East Midlands that are interested in taking part in future university outreach or recruitment activity are encouraged to contact the EMC team to learn more about opportunities to work together to promote careers in local government.