Council careers – making a real difference

Edition: July 2026

Working for the Council can offer a varied and rewarding professional path, whether you are at the start of your career or an established expert.

From June this year we took a cohort of 40 local students for work experience placements. Officers helped them see the range of services we manage.

Building Control work experience student

Students spent time working with many teams including Building Control and Strategic Planning (see right), Communities, Legal and Democratic Services, IT, Finance, Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing, and Recycling and Waste. They were able to experience first-hand jobs which have a positive impact on real people's lives within their own communities.

From work experience to the workplace

From our last cohort of work experience students, we are delighted that one participant has gone on to secure a permanent role with us. Reflecting on her new role, Housing Services Assistant Ellie said:

Being given the opportunity to do work experience with Horsham District Council a few years ago, I got a great insight into an office workspace. The environment was great, and the team culture was supportive, so when I saw the role in housing I knew not only that it would be a place I’d enjoy working, but I also wanted to do something that would make a difference.

Our offer

Our teams deliver services to over 66,000 households. We provide community, health and wellbeing support, look after green spaces, leisure and arts facilities, and manage local democracy and elections. We provide expertise on areas such as environmental
health, sustainability, building control and planning, and contribute to the success of local businesses and our local voluntary sector. This all means we have a huge variety of opportunities both in front‑facing roles and behind the scenes.

As an employer, we are inclusive and disability friendly. We offer flexible working practices, an environment where you are respected and where development opportunities are prioritised. We support staff to grow rewarding and impactful careers with training and development opportunities including degree apprenticeships and through graduate programmes.

The Local Government Graduate Programme

We take on graduates for the two‑year ‘Impact’ programme for candidates looking to start a career in local government. Current graduate placement participant Alice told us:

The Impact scheme has given me the chance to work across a wide range of Council projects, from organising community events such as our Volunteer Awards to setting up an AI working group and supporting the project management of the Capitol Theatre Refurbishment. I’ve really valued the variety of work and the support from mentors who are genuinely invested in your development.

Our vacancies

Find out about our vacancies and careers at: www.horsham.gov.uk/jobs‑and‑careers. Click through to find out about working with us, including a link to a Q&A where some of our apprentices talk about their experiences.

Don’t forget, you can meet our teams along with lots of other local employers at the Horsham District Jobs and Skills Fair.

Find out more

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