Graduate Management Trainee on Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme - Cohort 29 Local Recruitment for City of London Corporation

This is an opportunity for local candidates (or those with a local connection) to apply to become a Graduate Management Trainee as part of Cohort 29 of Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme on a fixed-term contract until Autumn 2029 with City of London Corporation.

Local applications will progress in the same timeframe as Impact's national recruitment process, and local candidates will be assessed alongside national candidates - with the exception of the final interview stage. By applying as a local candidate, you will be guaranteed an interview with us around April 2027 if you reach the final stage of the recruitment process. Please be aware that local candidates will interview only with their local authority, and interviews are usually held earlier than for those applying nationally.

The role

Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme is a fast-track graduate programme for bright and passionate individuals who want to make a difference while excelling in their career. It offers the chance to work directly with communities, but also to influence policy at a senior level. All while earning a graduate salary and completing a leadership and management qualification.

We are looking for the next generation of leaders who have the passion and skills to navigate the biggest challenges facing communities and the sector. From sustainability, homelessness and unemployment to town centre regeneration, social care, and education, local councils are at the forefront of delivering real change.

As a Graduate Management Trainee on the Impact programme, you will work for two years at City of London Corporation on a minimum salary of £36,500 (year 1) and £39,410 (year 2).

Over a minimum of three different placements, you will have the opportunity to work on challenging projects in key areas of council life where you can make a real contribution and gain valuable, career-shaping experiences. You will be supported in these roles through mentoring and a fully-funded learning programme, culminating in a qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.

Impact is a national graduate programme specifically for local government and has a high record of success with many graduates moving into management positions in councils after they complete the scheme. If you want a career leading change in the public sector, this is the programme for you.

About us

The City of London Corporation is one of the oldest continuous governments in the world, predating the founding of Parliament and the formation of the United Kingdom. Today, the City of London Corporation administers the historic square-mile which serves as the central business district for greater London. The square mile in 2026 generated £113bn in economic output annually, or 4% of all UK growth value add.

In addition to governing the square mile, the Corporation oversees several key greens spaces and historic sites across London. The Corporation administers Epping Forest, the Old Bailey, the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, the renowned Barbican Arts Centre and serves as the Port Health Authority for London. Through the City Bridge Foundation (CBF), the City of London Corporation maintains five Thames bridges: London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Blackfriars, Southwark, and Millennium Bridge.

The Corporation has its own government (with its own Lord/Lady Mayor) distinct from the Greater London Authority. Its formal constitutional origins date back to the time of William the Conqueror. Unlike other local authorities, the Corporation is directly represented in Parliament by a special (non-voting) representative called the Remembrancer. The main governing bodies are the Court of Common Council (with 100 members) and the Court of Aldermen (with 25 members). Members of both bodies are elected both by residents and business from within the square mile. City of London uses a committee system to make decisions. The committees are ultimately overseen by the Common Council and the Court of Aldermen. Both bodies are officially non- party-political.

Liverymen (members of the City of London's historic Livery Companies) play a key role in the Corporation's governance by electing the Lord/Lady Mayor and both sheriffs from among the members of the Court of Aldermen.

City of London Key Issues

Here at City of London, our biggest issues are protecting the economic interests of the square mile whilst delivering excellent services for our residents and service users. We are looking for 5 candidates from (or with a close connection to) the local area to help influence on tackling these issues. You can learn more about the current issues of the City of London Corporation by reviewing our corporate plan Live Work Learn Explore.

Placement Opportunities

Graduates with the City of London will have the opportunity to undertake a diverse array of placements across the Corporation's eighteen departments and external partner organisations. Current graduates support numerous key projects ranging from the refurbishment of the Golden Lane Leisure Centre, to shaping the future of the historic Smithfield and Billingsgate Market Sites. Graduates also work at our partner organisations such as the Barbican Centre.

About you

The Impact programme is passionate about recruiting graduates from all different backgrounds, universities and degree disciplines: our aim is to reflect the diverse communities that our partner councils serve. We are looking for people who have the right values and attitudes and who can demonstrate their motivation for a career in the public sector. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, and additional support is available for under-represented groups during our assessment processes, so all candidates have a fair chance of showing us their full potential.

The requirements

Impact welcomes graduates from all backgrounds and areas of study. In order to apply, you must meet the following programme criteria:

• You will have obtained a minimum 2.2 undergraduate degree by summer 2027
• You must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the 2-year programme. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.

For more information on eligibility and right to work requirements please visit our website.

Successful applicants will need to demonstrate their understanding of our key skills and behaviours through a competitive, multi-stage application process. Impact runs one national recruitment process each year and supports councils to run local and internal recruitment campaigns.

In addition to the above, you must also meet the following eligibility criteria in order to be considered for this local campaign:

• Be from the Greater London Area and resided within the Greater London area for the previous five years or obtained (or will obtain by summer 2027) your undergraduate degree at university based in the City of London or the Greater London Area; or
• Resident within the City of London for at least five years; or
• Be a City of London care-leaver.

Evidence of local eligibility

Candidates who progress through the recruitment process may be required to provide evidence that they meet the local eligibility criteria for this campaign. We will advise shortlisted candidates of the evidence required and the deadline for submission. Candidates who are unable to provide satisfactory evidence may not be progressed to interview for this local recruitment campaign.

Please read before applying

As part of the application process, you are required to complete a Situational Judgment Test which is the only assessment you need to complete at this stage.

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) presents you with 24 realistic scenarios that someone might experience in a role on the programme, along with multiple ways of responding. The SJT will appear after you have completed your application questions and you will need to complete the SJT before you can submit your application.

Instructions for the test:

This test is untimed, but we anticipate that it will take you around an hour on average to complete. We suggest you complete the test in one sitting, when you have at least 1-2 hours to spare, to avoid putting yourself under unnecessary pressure. If you want to take a break during the assessment, you will be able to do so after answering a question and before proceeding to the next question. You can log back in at any time to complete the entire situational judgement test by the application deadline. You will be taken to the assessment page after answering your application questions.

You will need to read each scenario, then provide an effectiveness rating for each of the provided response options. There are detailed instructions within the form.

If you have any questions or require support completing your application or situational judgement test, please do not hesitate to contact impact.support@local.gov.uk before starting your application or test.

For further information please visit the Impact website.

Closing date: 12.00pm midday, Wednesday 6 January 2027.

Please note: You can only apply for one Impact programme per year.