Graduate scheme

We offer a graduate programme every 2 years that provides an excellent opportunity for graduates to gain valuable experience in the workplace, whilst completing an apprenticeship. The scheme offers paid employment, whilst allowing graduates to gain an accurate understanding of the expectations and challenges of working in local government. Over the 2-year programme, graduates will gain a deeper understanding of how the public sector works via stimulating and challenging placements as well as taking part in additional learning opportunities. The programme consists of 2 placements, each lasting 12 months, across 2 different organisations participating in the scheme.

The programme is designed to offer graduates a realistic workload, alongside their apprenticeship, to complete. This enables them to gain hands-on experience in both project work and everyday business-as-usual (BAU) work.

We work collaboratively with Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, West Suffolk Council and East Suffolk Council under the Rising High brand to provide the graduate scheme. 

We offered placements in the following services for the 2022-24 cohort:

• Children and Young People Inclusion Team,
• Environment Strategy,
• Human Resources (HR),
• Suffolk Fire & Rescue People and Resources,
• Adult Community Services Strategies and Change Team.

Listen to some of our 2022-24 graduates below talking about their experience in the Suffolk Partnership graduate scheme. They reflect on both of their year-long placements, each gaining experience in both the county council and one of the district councils that we work collaboratively alongside.

The scheme commences in September, with applications opening in December of the previous year. Applicants will go through a modern application process, including submitting a written application and participating in an in-person assessment centre at one of our offices in Suffolk.

To be eligible for the scheme, you’ll need at least a 2:2 degree in any subject. Ideally, you will also have completed your degree within 2 years of the scheme's start date.

For more information, please email Rising.High@suffolk.gov.uk or read some case studies to hear directly from our graduates.

Other opportunities

Graduate opportunities in social work, teaching and other professional disciplines, such as law, are also sometimes available. These are generally promoted at universities, through the media and on Suffolk Jobs Direct. You will usually need to have studied a relevant qualification to be considered for these roles.