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Work experience placement options

Some students know which area they would like work experience in. Others know they would like to apply for work experience with us, but would value space to explore what careers interest them.

This is why we have different placement options available. One size does not fit all. It is important that you get what you need from your time with us.

Placement options

You may request work experience in one specific area (Option 1) if you know which team you would like to spend time with. However, our places are limited. Your chances of being offered a place may increase if you list as many teams as you would consider. If Option 1 feels too restrictive, consider applying for Option 2 or Option 3. These will be less in depth, but will allow you an overview of the teams you're based with and the work involved, or requirements for the jobs.

Option 1 - Specified service area

You will be assigned to one team for the majority of your work experience, where you will gain greater insight into what skills you require for a career in this expertise. If there are other areas which you would like to see, this may still be arranged depending on capacity in the teams.

Option 2 - Council-wide experience

You will be assigned to a variety of service areas over the course of your placement, where you will gain a general overview of working in the public sector. Remember to specify if you have particular areas of interest on your application.

Option 3 - Skills-based experience

If you are unsure which service area to choose, but know what skills you'd like to learn, please specify this on your application. We will do our best to provide a tailored placement to suit your skill requirements and support needs. This placement will enable you to learn new skills to put on your CV and to boost your confidence in the work environment.

Our teams

You probably know that we keep your streets clean, provide housing and social care, support schools, fix the roads and make decisions on planning permission requests. But did you know that we have over 200 different occupations in local government?

Peterborough City Council is made up of directorates that each deliver particular services that we are responsible for as a local government.

The list below should help you understand the variety of teams we have. You should refer to this if you choose to apply.

All directorates have a Business Support team. If this is of interest, you can select 'any area of Peterborough City Council' on the application form and then use the space to specify you would like a placement with Business Support.

Adult Services and Commissioning works in partnership with health services, the voluntary sector, and our partners, to deliver services that enable adults to remain living independently in their own homes, and to safeguard them.

This directorate also includes Public Health.

To understand more, visit our Adult Services and Health page.

Children and Young People Services provides a range of support and care for children and families. This includes:

Corporate Services is responsible for a wide range of functions that support the overall operations of the council:

  • IT, Digital and Customer Access Services - providing information technology support and services
  • Internal Audit and Insurance - conducting audits to ensure compliance with laws, regulations and organisational policies
  • Finance - overseeing our financial management, budgeting and accounting
  • Health and Safety
  • Human Resources - managing employee relations, recruitment, training, workforce planning and development
  • Communications - managing internal and external communications, media relations, branding, campaigns, social media, sponsorship, advertising, design and print
  • Customer Services
  • Business Support

It also includes:

  • Registration Services - births, deaths, marriages, ceremonies and citizenship
  • Bereavement Services - crematorium, cemeteries, memorials

Place and Economy is responsible for a wide range of services aimed at improving the city's infrastructure, environment, and economic growth. Teams include:

  • Regulatory Services - overseeing regulatory compliance and enforcement such as Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Licensing, Housing Enforcement, Food Safety, Pollution Control etc
  • Highways and Transport - responsible for transport infrastructure, traffic management, flooding, drainage, road repairs, parking etc
  • Westcombe Engineering
  • Environment - work on sustainability and climate change initiatives
  • Waste Management - household waste collections, Household Recycling Centre, waste and recycling education
  • Growth and Regeneration - economic development, planning, building control, regeneration projects, archaeology, trees, biodiversity, natural and historic environment etc
  • Housing and Communities - focuses on housing services, domestic abuse, promoting safer communities etc
  • Property Services - managing our property portfolio