Management Trainee (Apprenticeship)

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values. Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti‑racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there; we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

This is an exciting opportunity to become a Management Trainee apprentice in Level 5 Operations / Departmental Management which will give participants exposure to a range of frontline services and management. Our objective is to develop future service managers in local government.

The specific purpose of the job is to undertake a variety of placements over two years across a range of council departments, with exposure to front‑line resident focused services and support services. Placements will be aligned to our Corporate Transformation Programme and placement selection will be based on Corporate priorities. The programme aims to ensure that we are a council that focuses on:

• Putting residents first by providing for the people who live and work in Hackney.
• Securing Hackney’s future by maintaining financial stability and investing in what matters most.
• Changing together by acting as one Council. Modernised, flexible, collaborative and skilled to meet our future challenges.

Placements will typically last six months and entail a significant level of responsibility or impact. It is important to note that all placements will be varied by department but will have a main focus on transformation work.

We are looking for a talented, motivated and driven individual who sees a career working in and for local government as inspirational. The scheme aims to develop individuals who will act as effective change agents and enablers in the council and is designed to help individuals realise their leadership potential in a vibrant and rapidly changing sector.

The post holder will be a member of the Strategy and Transformation Division and be expected to get involved in corporate activity and priorities as well as have an increased awareness of the wider community.

During this 2-year fixed‑term apprenticeship, you will spend at least 20% of your employed time completing training & learning activities to complete the Operations Manager Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard. You will also have access to the apprenticeship development, networking & progression workshops that we run regularly.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this Apprenticeship qualification you will already have either:

• A Level 3 qualification in any subject – for example, 3 or more A‑Levels at grades A‑C/4‑9 OR an apprenticeship OR BTEC extended diploma at Level 3 or above
• GCSEs in both Maths and English (Grades A‑C or 4‑) or Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English
• A Level 3 Qualification in any subject

You will not be eligible for the apprenticeship if you already hold a management‑related qualification at Level 5 or above.

You must have at least one of the below links to the borough:

• You are a current resident of the London Borough of Hackney
• You are a current student at a Hackney education institution (School, College, University, PRU/Alternative Provision, Adult Learning Provision)
• You are a former student at a Hackney Secondary Education Institution and completed at least one GCSE or equivalent Level 2 Qualification there within the last 8 years
• You are a current or former recipient of Hackney Leaving Care services.
• You are a current employee of Hackney Council

NB – we will ask for proof of your link to the borough (e.g. proof of address, school or college registration/certificates).

For Funding Purposes

You must hold a British or EEA passport or have permission from the UK government to live in the UK and have been resident in the UK or EEA for at least the last three years. EEA applicants must have settled or confirm settled status in the UK.

You must be able to evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria – please ensure that you have read the eligibility criteria in the Job Description & Person Specification. You will not be eligible if you cannot provide this evidence.

About the Hackney Management Trainee Apprenticeship

Hackney Council’s Apprenticeship Programme is designed to create quality opportunities for Hackney residents and Hackney school leavers. All of our programmes combine work and study towards a mandatory recognised qualification. As an apprentice with us, you will receive a competitive salary, holiday entitlement and a package of support.

We are looking for candidates who demonstrate:

• A commitment to undertake a qualification
• Passion and enthusiasm
• Reliability
• Good organisational skills
• A desire to deliver a high‑quality service to Hackney residents
• The ability to form good working relationships with others

There are more than 100 apprentices at the Council. To find out more about what it is like to be an apprentice at Hackney Council – check out our Apprentice Blog.

Hackney is one of the UK’s highest performing local authorities, serving as one of London’s best places to live and work. We have achieved a huge amount: our services, our schools, our public spaces are all amongst the very best. We have changed the reputation, not just of the Council, but of Hackney itself. Bringing jobs and investment into the borough, securing the legacy from the 2012 Games and making this a place of which we can all be proud.

Equal Opportunities

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances and we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under‑represented in our workforce.