Public Servant Lifestyle

The national graduate development programme (NGDP) – the body dedicated to supplying local authorities with high quality graduates for careers in local government and public services - is recruiting external mentors to support the development of the national management trainees (NMTs).

External mentoring is one of the four key components of the NGDP, and provides NMTs with advice and guidance outside their host authority. As they formulate their post-programme career plans, an outside mentor enables the NMT to connect with new networks within the sector.

Build Confidence

Malcolm Craig, senior NGDP consultant, believes that an objective sounding board for ideas and issues will offer inspiration and build confidence: "The trainees will benefit enormously from external mentors who will provide them with a different perspective on how to reach the top in local government."

On the flipside, external mentors can use this opportunity to develop their own leadership and development capabilities and take the opportunity to put something back into local government. Mike Moseley, Deputy Chief Executive of the East of England Regional Assembly said: "When do you get the chance to discuss the future of local government with one of the brightest young people in the sector? It's an opportunity not to be missed - and hopefully they will get something out of it too!"

Since the launch of the NGDP programme in May 2002, the organisation has received around 6000 applications from interested graduates - and has the involvement of over 50 local authorities around the country. To find out more about the work of the NGDP, click here. Anyone wishing to become an NGDP external mentor should contact the NGDP project co-ordinator Jill Martin at the Employers’ Organisation For Local Government via email: jill.martin@lg-employers.gov.uk, or telephone on: 020 7296 6760.

More information available in Job Centre