On the 8th September the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards was held in Bristol. The event was attended by Public Service organisations from across the UK. The awards are dedicated to those who provide frontline public services to communities throughout the UK, and demonstrate excellence in their delivery.
APSE is a not for profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK including Milton Keynes Council (MKC). MKC were finalists for four categories at this years awards including the Best Public/Voluntary partnership working initiative category due to their partnership with CHANGE AGENTS UK.
During the past year Milton Keynes Council has worked with Change Agents using its graduate employment program, taking on five Change Agents and another due to start this month. The program benefits the Council by employing high calibre staff on a fixed term contract to undertake a range of projects, often requiring strong communication, organisational and analytical skills, in return for employment, providing training and the opportunity for additional qualifications.
It has been an enriching and valuable experience creating a strong foundation for the Change Agents to build their career upon, with the right amount of guidance from both parties for them to act in a supportive role as well as lead projects. The work has been varied and challenging, enabling the Change Agents to enhance their knowledge across a range of topics, develop a broad skill set and gain a strategic and operational understanding of local authority.
Two of the graduates have secured permanent positions within the Council whilst the others are coming to the end of their placement, looking into new and exciting challenges elsewhere using the skills and experience they have developed during their placement.
Mhairi Adams and Davina Rai, Project Support Officers, Milton Keynes Council