Job Profiles
Apprentice
I applied to work for Chorley Council this summer after attending the Apprentice Open Day. I was very impressed with the event and was pleasantly surprised with the many different areas within the Council we could work in, whilst completing a two-year apprenticeship. This meant we had the chance to gain valuable work experience with the Council alongside an NVQ through college. I could tell on the day that Chorley Council was a good place to work by the way the staff giving presentations were so positive about their time here. Many had started exactly the same way - as an apprentice, including the Chief Executive, and gave an impressive account of how far you can go working at Chorley Council.
On my first day, I knew straight away I would enjoy working here. The staff were really friendly and helpful and made me feel as part of the team. I met the other apprentices who were also the same and any worries soon vanished when we met the Chief Executive who seemed like just one of the gang!
From then on I have really got stuck into my work in the HR & OD team and enjoyed working with my colleagues. I have also had a lot of support with my studies for my NVQ.
With working in HR I know quite a lot about the benefits of working for Chorley Council and the help and support on offer to staff. It is really well run and organized. I particularly like the flexi time system and the internal website. With flexi time, it doesn't feel like you're constantly at work. The internal website (theloop) is really helpful and keeps everyone up to date with everything going on. There are also fun things like a discussion forum and weekly staff blogs.
The main thing I have noticed is how friendly the place is and this makes you enjoy coming to work everyday. I think this is why Chorley Council is successful.
Former Apprentice now employed
I came to Chorley after visiting the open day at St Mary's hall and liking the wide choice in work and skills that Chorley Council had to offer.
On the apprenticeship I completed NVQ levels 2 and 3 at Runshaw adult college.
I have developed my skills by working in different departments using different skills, working with different people and carrying out my own individual projects and tasks.
The people are really nice here and the work is really interesting.
Graduate
Why a chose Chorley:
As part of the National Graduate Development Programme for Local Government (NGDP for short), I was interviewed by a total of 4 authorities. The most important thing I was looking for was a sense of commitment and enthusiasm from my prospective employers and get a 'buzz' from staff at the Council. Chorley definitely provided that, with a background of excellent achievements and community impact. I was also looking for somewhere I could develop my skills as part of the graduate programme, and felt that the support structure, the work and the guidance would help me along the scheme.
I gained a great impression from touring the area, speaking to staff and from questions in the interview itself, but also from the research I did about the council and the Chorley area before my arrival. I had lived in Astley Village from 1987-1989, although that made me very young at the time, so I was familiar with the location, could talk to family about my time here and relate to the North West from my time at Manchester University.
I like working at Chorley because I feel I can always ask if I have a problem or if I need some advice. As someone new to local government and yet entering at a relatively high level, it is important to me to build expertise and knowledge and so being able to ask for help is critical. I feel like my contribution matters at Chorley, and I get a sense of achievement and job satisfaction when my work is reviewed at a higher level.
Commuter
The commute from Manchester to Chorley, even at nearly 30 miles, is only 45 minutes in traffic, which is about the maximum I am prepared to do on a daily basis and still less than the drive some locals have through school traffic. Traveling along the M61 in the morning and seeing everyone stuck in traffic makes me realise that I have definitely got the better journey. The commute coupled with flexi time which means that set my own hours and can leave early to miss the traffic (e.g. when Manchester United is playing or when the whole of Lancashire and Cheshire comes to the Trafford Centre for their Christmas shopping), ensures that I rarely commute for more than an hour each way. Finally Chorley offers the opportunity to work from home and the Citrix system allows me to access everything at home the way I see them at work, which means that I can catch up on work and fit in around training and family commitments.
