Virtual

Local Authority Virtual Work Experience: Diverse Roles Exploration

Job sector

Government & Politics

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This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Over 9 hours worth of content

Overview
Unlock the vibrant world of local community transformation with Brighton & Hove City Council's Business Careers Virtual Work Experience. Dive into the heartbeat of local authorities, where essential services and support shape our communities. With over 7000 diverse roles, Brighton & Hove Council stands as a prime example of how wide-ranging the career opportunities can be with a local authority. In collaboration with Springpod, this virtual work experience equips you to embark on a career journey that resonates with your local community. Uncover invaluable insights into Brighton & Hove City Council's careers and opportunities, paving the way to your ideal path. Explore various roles and pathways across the council's five directorates, gaining a profound understanding of its pivotal role in the local area. Engage in interactive activities, put your skills to the test with quizzes, and connect with inspiring professionals through live webinars. Take the first step toward a rewarding career that shapes and uplifts your local community!

What's included
This programme will cover many diverse roles and pathways available at Brighton & Hove City Council. By exploring the five directorates of the council - a section of departments responsible for specific areas - you’ll get an insight into how the council has a part to play in the local area. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to participate in activities that’ll put you in the hot seat, test your knowledge on some great quizzes, and speak to inspiring professionals in live webinars.

Introduction to Brighton & Hove City Council

We all have a local authority that is responsible for the public services and facilities in our local regions, but how much do you really know about what goes on? This module covers everything you need to know about what goes on at a local authority - from how it's funded, the services it provides, and even what it’s like to really work for the council.

Green Futures, Sustainable Careers

Now more than ever, sustainability is vital to local authorities like Brighton & Hove City Council, and it’s important to have the right roles in place to put sustainable policies and ambitions into real changes. But, sustainability doesn’t just have one focus, and this module will help explain that! From looking at the types of sustainability to how sustainability is a focus for the local authority through policies and campaigns, we’ll show you what’s involved with sustainable careers that are working towards a greener future for the region!

Economy, Environment, and Culture

Local authorities are responsible for so many things within our local communities. From improving council and privately rented housing to reducing homelessness and crime, the economy, environment, and culture directorate has a real focus on making Brighton & Hove a safer and better place to live, work, and play. In this module, we’ll take a look at some of the careers that can be involved in this area, alongside a career deep dive into the vital work of architects, fleet mechanics, and more!

Families, Children, and Learning

Education lies at the heart of our communities, and ensuring everyone has access to high-quality education is a must. From looking at how high-quality and inclusive education can be provided to improving outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable families and children throughout the region, the families, children, and learning directorate look to deliver safe and inclusive services that address any disadvantages that exist. In this module, we’ll see some of the careers that can be involved in this area, alongside a career deep dive into the rewarding work of early years teams and holiday activities and food managers!

Governance, People, and Resources

Above everything else, it’s crucial that a council can provide trusted services and deliver on promises- it’s a big part of the governance, people, and resources directorate to make this a reality. From looking at financial strategies, modernising council practices and providing effective governance, it’s central to the performance of the council itself. In this module, we’ll take a look at some of the careers that can be involved in this area, alongside a career deep dive into the world of trainee solicitors and IT trainers!

Health and Adult Social Care

Although we often think of the NHS being the main provider of care in our regions, the way care is delivered is actually quite different. Social care, which is the main way that individuals within our communities receive care and support, is a collaborative effort between care providers and local authorities. One of the biggest areas of focus for local authorities is to improve health and wellbeing, and reduce any health inequalities. In this module, we’ll take a closer look at roles involved in this area, alongside a career deep dive into the vital work of care home managers and care support workers!

Housing, Neighbourhoods, and Communities

Brighton & Hove is an area that has lots of high-quality services which improve the lives of many within the region. However, there’s always continual improvement to make it more inclusive for all. To make sure that it’s a fairer city, a healthy and caring city, and a city to call home, the housing, neighbourhoods, and communities directorate focus on making a positive difference in the community. In this module, we’ll look at some of the careers in this directorate, alongside a career deep dive into the varied worlds of electricians and librarians!

Getting Career Ready

Available dates

On demand

Programme dates

27th February 2024 - 27th February 2025

Hear from our student community

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Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.

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Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.

“

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about my application or programme eligibility

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any potential clashes.

Who can take part in the programme? (Age limits, some programmes have location constraints but most don’t etc.)

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

I have a question about my assignment

How long does it take for assignments to be reviewed?

Assignments can take up to a week or longer to review and be marked complete. Rest assured, it will be reviewed soon and your certificate will be generated once your programme has been marked as complete.

What do I do if I upload the wrong file?

If you make a mistake when uploading a file, please email hello@springpod.com. We will be able to make a note on our system. Don’t worry, the outcome of your programme will not be affected by this.

I have a question about the programme dates, deadline or workload

How long will I have to complete this programme?

There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

When does the programme start?

Our programmes have various start dates, you can find the exact date on the programme website page. These are available here: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search

You will be notified if your application has been successful, 3 days before the programme start date.

What happens if I can't finish the work experience in time?

All programme material will remain accessible after the end date of the programme. Students can continue to work through their programme after the official end date. Although, if possible, we would strongly encourage students to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions.

How much work is required for these programmes? (Will I be able/should I complete more than one programme at a time)?

There is around 10 hours worth of work in total, spread across a two week period. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any work whenever possible.

When do the programmes run? (programme structure etc.)

Once you have access, you can view and complete the material as and when you can, within the time frame of the course in question (for example, within a two week period). In total, there is around 10 hours worth of work. The live talks will take place during weekday working hours. However, all live talks will be available as recordings and the courses can be completed at your own convenience. . There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

I have a question about the live talks

What happens if I can't make a live talk/webinar?

All live talks will be available as recordings. You can access these at the same link used to access the live event. So don’t worry if you can’t attend a live webinar, a recording will be available for you to access through your programme within 24 hours of the live event finishing.

What software is required for the live talks?

We use a piece of software called BigMarker. It is a cloud based video hosting software. It requires no installations or downloads on your end, and will provide everything you need to join the live webinars through one simple link.

Will I be able to ask questions/do I have to have my microphone on?

You will have a chance to ask questions at the end of each webinar. These questions are typed out and then read to the presenter by the host of the live talk. There is no need to speak, and all student microphones will be muted for the duration of the live webinar.

I have a question about the certificate

I have a question about in-person work experience

Do you offer in-person work experience?
We don't directly manage in person work experience but many of our virtual programmes can lead to in person opportunities, look for the programmes marked as 'Virtual to Reality'. You will need to complete the virtual programme and declare your interest via the embedded form.
When will I hear if there is an in-person opportunity?
Our employer partner will contact you directly about any opportunities, timescales can vary Springpod won't be able to provide any updates on progress.

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