Entry to work

Opportunities aplenty

Alongside all the permanent and temporary roles you’d expect, we have a range of opportunities for you to work with us. We call these entry routes.

We’re passionate about better lives for the people of Essex. And for us, that means employing a diverse workforce, drawing on the different values and experiences that not only reflect the communities that we serve, but make us a better performing organisation.

Whether you are just starting to think about your career options, searching for your first job, want to gain professional qualifications, you’re looking for a change of career or to return to work following a break, our entry-to-work routes aim to support everyone.

However you join us, we’ll tailor to the process, ensuring we support you in a way that works for you. And it doesn’t stop there…once you become part of the team, we’ll work hard to ensure the right opportunities are available so you develop and grow, and take ownership of your future with us.

Learn more in our Annual Plan.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

We have three Job Interview Schemes within Essex County Council:

Disability Confident – for applicants with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Armed Forces Covenant, for all veterans, reservists and their families.

Care Leaver Covenant, for applicants who have been looked after by a local authority at any time during their life.

These schemes demonstrate our commitment to interviewing applicants who apply under any of our Job Interview Schemes and meet the minimum job requirements. We ask about your eligibility solely to ensure you qualify for a guaranteed interview. This information is not used for any other purpose.

Entry to Work Opportunities

Apprenticeships

We offer a range of apprenticeship opportunities from Level 2 to 7, covering Accounting, Business Administration, Customer Service, Youth Support Worker, Education, HR, Leadership, Marketing, Water Environment Worker, and Payroll, to name just a few. Over the next few years, we will continue to develop Green Apprenticeships within ECC to ensure we achieve the 2050 target of being net zero carbon.

Apprenticeships are a great way to start your career or to change your career and learn something new. During your working hours, you’ll have a dedicated 6 hours per week of off job training – this is where you will complete the theory part of your apprenticeship. There are over 700 apprenticeship standards approved for delivery, which you can view on https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards

Earning and learning at the same time, it doesn’t get better than this!

Our new ‘Apprenticeship Stories’ page delivers eight unique experiences from our employees.
Accessible Apprenticeships

As well as standard apprenticeship programmes, we also offer accessible apprenticeships. If you have had an Education Health Care Plan, LDA statement or previous statement of need, this could be for you. The length of the programme and hours you work each week can be flexible to meet your particular needs and the Institute of Apprenticeships ensures end-point assessments are reasonably adjusted as required.

Graduate Pathways

We offer a variety of graduate pathways within Essex County Council:

Graduate Programmes

Our graduate programmes are within Finance, Procurement, Pensions, Legal or Technology Services. Three years in length, our graduate programmes offer great experience, the chance to work with hugely experienced colleagues and high-calibre training, as well as gain a recognised qualification in your chosen discipline. They are designed to fast-track you into management positions once you’ve completed the graduate programme.

As part of the graduate programme, you may also have the opportunity to complete a Level 7 Apprenticeship standard, which is the equivalent of a Masters.
Industry Placements

We offer paid Industry placements, which are between 40 – 52 weeks and undertaken as part of an individual’s degree (sandwich year). University students can apply their academic knowledge in the workplace, enhancing their professional skills, enabling them to learn more about a particular sector, business or job role and preparing them for their future career. These are advertised on an ad hoc basis.
Internships & Short placements

We offer a range of paid internship opportunities throughout the year within various teams such as Active Travel, Finance, Procurement, Research, Insight and Innovation, Housing, Policy and lots more. The internships range from 8 weeks to one year in length and give university students and graduates the opportunity to develop their knowledge within a working environment. These are advertised on an ad hoc basis.

As well as the above, we partner with Anglia Ruskin University to provide their students with paid 8-12 week Spring & Summer Internships within various teams, and with University of Essex to provide their Journalism Students with an unpaid 5 day virtual short placement.
10,000 Black Interns

Working with the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation, ECC make annual pledges to offer paid 6 week internships to university students and graduates of black heritage, with the aim to transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the UK.

Learn more about this programme on our Intern Stories page, and watch our video for insights from the interns here.
SHoKE and Live Briefs – ARU partnership

We partner with Anglia Ruskin University to provide university students from underrepresented communities opportunities to solve business problems that make a social impact. Projects typically focus on organisational challenges relating to social value initiatives and sustainability. Student teams generate ideas, scoping, analysis and research, formally presenting their findings at the end of the project with a presentation and report. SHoKE projects range from 24 hours to one month.

Live Briefs provide students with real-world tasks to produce a fresh and creative solution, or ideas, that can benefit ECC. A Live Brief gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to a professionally relevant task and is an integral part of their assessments. Live Briefs are one trimester / term.