Charity & public sector graduate jobs & schemes 2025

Graduate roles in these sectors vary widely, but common areas include:

• Civil Service & Government – Policy, administration, international relations, social research.
• Local Government – Community development, planning, housing, education, and social services.
• Public Sector Finance – Managing budgets, taxation, economic policy, and procurement.
• Healthcare & NHS Management – Roles in hospital administration, public health, and operational management.
• Education & Teaching – Training schemes like Teach First or local authority education roles.
• Law Enforcement & Security – Policing, intelligence, and cybersecurity roles in public institutions.
• Nonprofits & NGOs – Working in fundraising, advocacy, project management, or humanitarian aid.
• Environmental & Sustainability Roles – Managing conservation efforts, climate policy, and sustainability programs.

Not necessarily - many roles in policy, administration, and management accept graduates from any discipline . However, some specialisms require specific backgrounds:

• Economics, finance, or statistics for government finance and treasury roles.
• Law or public policy for policy and legal work.
• STEM degrees for technical roles in health, engineering, and environmental work.
• Social sciences or humanities for NGO and charity roles in advocacy, international development, and community work.

Charities and the public sector are very wide fields – the skills you will need will vary massively from role to role. However, there’s a high chance you will be a stronger candidate if you can display some of the following:

• Communication & teamwork – Especially important in policy, charity, and education roles.
• Analytical thinking – Key for research, data analysis, and policy development.
• Resilience & adaptability – Public sector jobs can involve challenging social issues.
• Project management – Essential for charity work, event planning, and government initiatives.
• Negotiation & stakeholder engagement – Used in policy, funding, and community outreach.
• Fundraising & financial management – Critical for NGOs and charities reliant on external funding.

Salaries in the public and charity sectors can be lower than private sector equivalents but offer job stability, pensions, and benefits :

• Civil Service Fast Stream: £28,000 – £32,000, rising with experience.
• Local Government Graduate Schemes: £25,000 – £30,000.
• NHS Graduate Management Scheme: £27,000 – £30,000.
• Police Graduate Schemes: £28,000 – £33,000 (varies by location).
• Charity & NGO Graduate Roles: £22,000 – £28,000, with higher salaries in senior fundraising and management roles.
  

Salaries tend to increase with experience, especially in leadership and policy roles.

• Public sector schemes (e.g., Civil Service Fast Stream, NHS, local government) are very competitive , with thousands of applicants.
• Charity and NGO roles vary in competitiveness, but those with strong networks or experience in volunteering have an advantage.
• Specialist roles in policy, healthcare, and policing can have fewer applicants but require specific skills or training.
  

To improve your chances:

✔ Gain internships or voluntary experience in public service, charities, or student organisations.
✔ Develop knowledge of public policy, government structures, and social issues .
✔ Show experience in project management, fundraising, or stakeholder engagement .
✔ Stay informed about government policies and charity sector trends .

• Show public service motivation – Demonstrate an understanding of policy, governance, or social issues.
• Highlight voluntary experience – Many public sector and charity employers value extracurricular involvement.
• Develop strong writing skills – Public sector and charity roles often require policy writing, proposals, or grant applications.
• Network with professionals – Attend sector events, follow key organisations on LinkedIn, and seek mentorship.