Amy, Graduate Project Officer

I joined the Suffolk Graduate Programme in September 2022, after completing an MA in Design and Culture and working in the public sector for two years. I became really interested in pursuing a role at the local council after moving to Lowestoft and seeing all the exciting projects the council are currently implementing.

My first placement was with the Public Realm team at Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council, where I worked on a project to refurbish play areas across both districts. I collaborated with several teams, including the Housing team, Communities team, Operations team, and Communications team. This gave me valuable experience in working collaboratively within the council and understanding how different departments at the council effectively work together as a team.

In my second year, I joined the Climate and Sustainability team at East Suffolk Council, contributing to projects on electric vehicle infrastructure, regenerative food and farming, and raising the profile of the Greenprint Forum through event management.

I have gone on to secure a role as Kittiwake Partnership Project Officer at East Suffolk Council. My manager from the Climate and Sustainability team supported me through the application process and tailored my role to give me the experience I needed to be successful.

During my programme, I earned a Level 4 Associate Project Management qualification. By doing so, I gained knowledge and skills in project management, which helped me to attain my role project managing the Kittiwake Partnership.

The Suffolk Graduate Programme has been an excellent start to my career in local government, it provided me a hands-on experience and a deep understanding of working within local authorities. I would recommend it to anyone looking to make a positive impact in their community through their career.