Name: Christopher Steele
Age: 22
University attended: University of Kent- BSc Hons in Computer Science with Management Science and a Year in Industry.
Current Role: Management Trainee- Children Centres role out.

Introduction

When searching for a graduate job the Kent Graduate Programme stood out.  With its promises of early responsibility and career progression, with good training and unlimited opportunities within an organisation of 30,000 employees, it caught my eye.

How it all started 

Having graduated from university in the summer I wanted to do something challenging and rewarding, whilst building on what I’d learnt during my degree.  Not knowing exactly where my future career was headed, Kent’s Graduate Programme gave me the opportunity to gain experience in a range of different areas within the public sector, allowing me to develop transferable skills and begin to get an idea about where I want to end up. 

From day one I had to hit the ground running, learning on the job- I was an important part of the team, with my own responsibilities.  It was a steep learning curve, but with a number of support options available there was always someone to consult when I needed them.

The Programme

The Kent Graduate Programme is a two year scheme, consisting of four six month placements, which is designed to ensure that by the time you’ve finished you have the range of skills and experiences needed to take on a managerial position within the organisation.  The programme offers responsibility and support from the word go, with networking opportunities and training schemes such as the Prince 2 Project management methodology and a diploma in management.  The huge variety of roles within KCC offer massive scope for the future, allowing you to follow almost any career path.

One of the greatest strengths of the graduate scheme is having one day a week dedicated to the Graduates, allowing time for meetings, and providing chances to network, discuss experiences, work on group projects and socialise with the rest of the Graduates.  During these days we have had visits from heads of the major areas of the organisation, giving us a broad view of KCCs structure and services, and an insight into how the different departments contribute to KCCs 4* rating, making it one of the best county councils in the country.

Working for KCC

Working with Kent County Council allows you to give something back to the local community, and make a difference in a variety of ways.  One project that the Kent Graduates have been working on involves organising a two day residential conference for local sixth form students at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus, in conjunction with local businesses and all of Kent’s Universities. My previous placement had me travelling all over Kent; visiting local nature reserves and country parks to discuss their management; contributing to strategies for the enhancement of some of the most deprived areas of the south east; writing reports on improvements that could be made, to push through change and make a real difference to peoples lives.  My next placement is in the rollout of Childrens’ Centres countywide and promises to be even more rewarding than the last.