apprentice Democratic & Governance Officer

This is a great opportunity if you have recently left school or college and are interested in starting a career in Local Government, or if you are looking to advance your career in Local Government administration. As an apprentice Democratic & Governance Officer you will join a small experienced team of professional officers who will help to support and guide you as you learn and progress in the role to ensure the delivery of a high quality customer focused service to councillors, officers and members of the public. This is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to the decision-making processes in a large unitary council and will provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge to progress your own personal development. You will work towards completing a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship so that you gain both a qualification and local government experience during the 18-month apprenticeship. Our apprenticeships are designed to give you the hands-on experience needed in a real job that brings out the best in you, with real responsibilities, real challenges, real projects and scope to grow your career. Apprenticeships are for anyone of any age, we welcome applications from school/college leavers or from those working in an administrative role looking for a job opportunity in local government. What you can expect to be doing: You will be part of the Democratic & Governance Team providing administrative support to all of the council's formal committee meetings and informal working groups. You will work on a variety of tasks including:

• Organising meetings, publishing agendas and taking minutes at committee meetings
• Dealing with communications from councillors, members of the public and council officers
• Using MS Teams to deliver hybrid committee meetings and facilitate remote attendance at meetings
Under supervision and guidance you will assist with being a point of contact for councillors, officers and members of the public, meeting co-ordination & management, preparing and publishing agendas and minute taking at meetings.


• You will be a proactive, organised individual with good attention to detail, with strong communication skills and a keen interest to learn
• You must have a high standard of written English, grammar, punctuation and spelling, along with excellent active listening skills
• You will have a good working knowledge of using a wide range of IT applications including Microsoft Outlook and Word, with a positive 'can do' attitude
• You will work with colleagues to deliver services efficiently and resolve problems that arise
• You will be able to prioritise and work to deadlines as well as working on your own initiative and as part of a team
• Ideally you will possess the skills to deal with difficult people sensitively and assertively, As part of Dorset Council's flexible working arrangements you will be able to work from home when not required to be in the office or attending committee meetings. Committee meetings are held in County Hall. Dorchester, Wimborne and Sturminster Newton. Occasional attendance at evening committee meetings maybe required.
This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. This post requires you to have access to sensitive information. It will be subject to a Basic Criminal Records Check.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video: At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future. We:
• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive
You will:
• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress
We are where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. If you're passionate about making a difference, we'd love you to join us.