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Local Government, Public Services and Administration

The Local Government, Public Services, and Administration sector in the UK is a cornerstone of public life, responsible for delivering essential services and supporting democratic governance across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It encompasses local authorities, devolved administrations, and a wide range of public sector organisations.  

Key Functions  

Local Government and Administration: UK local authorities are responsible for implementing national policies at the local level while managing their own budgets and services. Councils operate through elected members and professional officers who oversee planning, finance, legal services, and democratic functions.  

Public Services: Local councils deliver frontline services including:  

  • Education and childcare
  • Housing and homelessness services
  • Waste collection and environmental health
  • Social care (adults and children)
  • Libraries, leisure, and cultural services
  • Transport and road maintenance
  • Licensing
  • Port Authority
  • Urban Planning and Development: Councils manage local planning applications, regeneration projects, land use, and climate adaptation strategies
  • Community and Democratic Services: Councils facilitate local elections, community engagement, and public consultations, helping ensure residents have a voice in decisions affecting them.  

The UK’s local government sector employs over 1.3 million people, making it one of the country’s largest employers. Roles range from administrative and clerical work to specialist positions in:  

  • Public policy and strategy
  • Environmental and urban planning
  • Social work and community outreach
  • Legal, finance, and procurement.  

Some graduates like the idea of public service and having the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the general public through making and carrying out policy decisions.  

 In local government, roles can be found in areas including:  

  • architecture, heritage and housing
  • environmental health
  • media and communications
  • social services
  • surveying and town planning
  • Trading Standards
  • youth and community work.  

Other notable employers in the public services sector include:  

  • The armed forces
  • Bank of England (BoE)
  • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
  • Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
  • Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  • National Audit Office (NAO)
  • National Highways
  • National Probation Service (NPS)
  • Network Rail
  • NHS
  • ONS
  • Ordnance Survey
  • The British Museum. 

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for. 

  • Analytical and Critical Thinking
  • Collaboration and Partnership Working
  • Commitment to Public Service and Inclusion
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Digital and Data Literacy
  • Political Awareness and Ethical Judgment
  • Problem-Solving and Adaptability
  • Project Management

Prospects have noted some additional skills in their Local government officer and Policy officer job profiles. 

To develop these skills, remember Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications. 

 

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in: 

Volunteering 

  • Citizens Advice, local charities, and housing associations often work closely with councils and provide insight into public service delivery.
  • School and University governor roles, where appropriate (some universities allow students to sit on boards or committees).
  • Volunteer police cadets or support roles with the NHS, local libraries, or food banks.
  • Do-it.org – Volunteering roles in local authorities or charities working with them.
  • Reach Volunteering – Strategic volunteer roles (great for governance, public policy). 

University Involvement 

  • Run for student union positions, especially those related to governance, welfare, campaigns, or finance. These mimic public administration duties. 
  • Join societies like: 
    • Politics or public policy societies
    • Model United Nations or Debating Society (for policy thinking and communication skills)
    • Participate in university committees or student representative bodies—e.g., academic boards or equality and diversity panels. 
  •  

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements.
  • Exeter Award: The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university.
  • The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience 

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. Before visiting the sites below you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page 

Finding part time work 

You could also have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students 

  • Admin roles at university, such as in student services, admissions, or HR.
  • Work in local libraries, registrar offices, or community centres.
  • You could contact MPs for work experience. 

These jobs develop transferrable skills like policy understanding, data handling, communication, and public engagement. 

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

  • Prospects.ac.uk – Lists internships and grad roles by sector. Try: Graduate jobs > Public services and administration
  • TargetJobs – Offers sector insights and job listings. Explore “Public Sector” section for internships and grad schemes.
  • GraduateJobs.com – Filter by “Public Sector” or “Government”. 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. 

Graduate Schemes and Internships 

Local Government 

  • Local Government Jobs (jobsgopublic.com) - Lists council jobs and internships across the UK, including admin, policy, housing, planning, and education roles.
  • Local Government Association (LGA). The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) is the flagship local government grad scheme. Applications usually open in autumn for final-year students.
  • Individual Local Council Websites E.g., Manchester City Council, Camden Council, Birmingham City Council often advertise roles directly. Search: "[Your Council Name] careers or graduate scheme" 

Health/Public Sector 

  • NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (GMTS): Structured graduate scheme with tracks like Policy & Strategy, Health Informatics, General Management.
  • HealthJobsUK: NHS's central job board – sometimes includes student internships or admin placements.
  • Public Health England, Care Quality Commission, and local NHS trusts may list opportunities on their own sites. 

Placements  

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

For help with making speculative applications, you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

Use the Prospects website to search for postgraduate courses in fields such as public administration, public policy, public sector management, local government management.  

  • FindAMasters.com and mastersavenue.com offer comprehensive databases of postgraduate Master's courses, featuring a wide range of Master's degree programmes from universities in the UK and across the globe.
  • Find further information about Postgraduate Study on the Career Zone website.  

For more information on continuing onto further study (taught programmes and research degrees) visit the Prospects website, or the Target Postgraduate site. 

Advice

If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.