Camden Council Communications Apprentices

Job Description

Job title: Camden Council Communications Apprentices

Company: Camden Council

Job description: Description

Qualification: Public Relations Level 4

Contract Length: 24 months

Role Purpose:

These roles will support the delivery of communications to support the council’s priority campaigns and services as part of the strategic communications team. The team requires two creative, enthusiastic and hard-working individual who is keen to learn and develop their skills in a supported environment.

The apprentices will be responsible for researching and drafting evidence-based communications plans, and for the delivery of content and evaluation. The role is for a highly creative individual who has the skills to create and manage content through all channels, plus they’ll be supported to develop a good understanding of our channel strategy and applying that to campaigns. The post holder will provide support to campaigns and service priorities drafting copy for print and digital channels including social media and web-copy. The post holder will work with the council’s Creative Services team on design and branding for campaigns and communications materials.

Working to criteria as set out in their Apprenticeship Assessment Plan, the apprentice will take responsibility for an agreed programme of work managing all aspects of communications planning under the guidance of their line manager – the Communications Lead. Examples of the work the post holder will undertake include researching and developing a communications plan for a campaign and leading on delivery and evaluation. This will include creating content for all council channels using our channel research to plan the best approach and creating stories/narrative to successfully engage our audiences, and evaluation. The post holder will also work with directorates to communicate our services and help to engage with residents on different priorities across the council.

This will include working with Communications Managers and Officers on campaigns and projects aligned to

As part of this role, the post holder will complete structured professional development, completing a Level 4 apprenticeship in Public Relations and Communications.

Role Context/structure

The role sits in the Strategic Communications team within the Council’s Communications service. This apprentice will report to the Communications Lead in Strategic Communications. They will work closely with Communications Managers and Officers and the wider communications team on projects, specifically providing support for priority campaigns and service communications.

The apprentice will form relationships with colleagues in directorates, providing advice to a wide range of customers and partners.

They will work with their apprenticeship coordinator and the Communications Lead to complete the Level 4 apprenticeship in Public Relations to the best of their ability.

Duties

Example outcomes or objectives that the apprentice will learn to deliver during their contract:

• High-quality, evidence-based communications plans for priority work
• Accurate, well written, creative content for all channels including print and digital – producing high-quality, well-designed materials in a range of formats
• A good understanding of evidence-based communications and the channel strategy
• Work on campaigns to support council priorities and services – delivered on time and evaluated
• Ability to work with external partners on joint projects, and with colleagues in other services such as Participation and Partnerships to reach and engage with Camden’s communities
• The post holder may support specific media and external relations work such as supporting content for news items and social media
• Work with Creative Services on design and branding for campaigns and to produce materials
• Achieving professional development milestones, learning and qualifications, and in particular, completing the Level 4 apprenticeship in Public Relations and Communications to the best of their ability.

Work environment

The Communications service is based at 5 Pancras Square. The apprentice may participate in an out of hours emergency planning rota once sufficient experience has been gained and may occasionally be required to attend weekend and evening meetings.

The appretnice will work in accordance to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity and work in a politically-neutral way.

As per the council’s Flexible and Agile Working Policy, our team works from the council’s office in 5 Pancras Square and from time-to-time other locations in the borough, as well as from home.

Essential criteria

• Level 1 qualifications in maths and English (if you do not have a GCSE grade C or above, you have the opportunity to study for a Level 2 qualification as part of the apprenticeship
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience and interest in working in communications, campaigns or media, or a related field, or a demonstrable interest in these areas.
• Experience of using digital channels and social media to create engaging, professional digital content
• Experience of using digital and social media to deliver campaigns messages and communications priorities
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of individuals and groups.
• Good project management skills
• Political awareness, sound judgement and interest in the public sector/ government.

Additional information

To apply for this role, you must:

• Be a 16+ years old, Camden resident or Camden care leaver, former Camden Secondary school student.
• Have a real desire to work and learn and complete the apprenticeship qualification.
• You must NOT already have a level 4 qualification or higher in Public Relations or Communications.
• Not be an overseas national subject to employment or learning restrictions and/or a time or a limit on my stay (other than a refugee or asylum seeker)
• Be ordinarily resident in the England, EU or EAA for at least the previous three years before the start of the programme.
• Not be attending any other school, Further Education or Higher Education institution.

Camden care leavers and people with learning difficulties or disabilities will be prioritised for final interviews provided they meet the minimum requirements of the role.

Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for people who have a disability or long-term health condition and finding out if part time work options are available. If this affects you, please contact us to discuss at apprenticeships@camden.gov.uk

Diversity and Inclusion

We want to ensure that our communities are represented across our apprenticeship scheme. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive service that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

Asking for Adjustments

Camden Apprenticeships is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes, making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neuro-diverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you have would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know on your registration form in the section about reasonable adjustments. Alternatively, you can email apprenticeships@camden.gov.uk or call 02079748778 to discuss.

How to apply

1. If you have not done so already, please register with us on this portal before you proceed

2. Please ensure you have uploaded your tailored CV before attempting to apply

3. If you have not completed the additional questions previously, you will be prompted to do so before you can proceed. You will only need to complete these questions once.

4. Select ‘apply’ and complete the personal statement section. Please use this section to tell us why you have applied and how your skills make this role suitable for you. Recommended word count: 150 words

Expected salary:

Location: Camden Town, North West London

Job date: Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:13:37 GMT

Apply for the job now!