Work experience

Finding a Work Experience placement can be hard, that’s why at Devon County Council we can help you take your First Step towards a future career by offering placements and experiences to students across a broad scope of job roles and service areas. We are currently working on new and exciting programmes and opportunities for 2022 to gain work experience here with us at Devon County Council.

What work experience programmes do we offer?

In accordance with current Government guidelines, most of our staff continue to work remotely. We are therefore offering ‘Virtual’ work experience opportunities only during the 2022 academic year. We will consider this again for 2022/23 year to see if we are also able to offer any physical work experience. You can register your interest below.

How to apply

You can register an interest in applying for our 2022 work experience placements by emailing us at firststep-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.

What further opportunities could work experience at Devon County Council lead to?

Whether you’ve done your work experience elsewhere or if you’ve taken your First Step with us at Devon County Council, we have a wide range of Apprenticeship opportunities across the organisation that you can apply for.

Find out more about our apprenticeship programme.

Supported internships

Supported internships are an unpaid study programme specifically aimed at young people aged 16-24, who have a statement of special educational needs, or an education, health and care plan, and who want to move into employment, but need extra support to do so.

Our supported internship aims to help develop knowledge, work and life skills, experience, and independence.

Supported internships are for a period of up to 1 academic year, normally working two days per week, plus one day per week ‘learning’ at college, which includes functional and employability skills, including English and maths.

This is facilitated and funded via the further education college. The days of the placement can be flexible.

• How to apply
  Please contact us at firststep-mailbox@devon.gov.uk for more information on how to apply for a supported internship.


• What is the nature of the work of a supported intern at Devon County Council?
  A supported intern can be given a range of pieces to work on, depending on the needs of the business. We will always ensure that new starters settle in well and get to know their colleagues as their workload gradually increases over time to ensure that nobody is left feeling uncomfortable or overwhelmed with their work at any time.

  We have some amazing line managers for current supported internships at Devon County Council.

  Hear from some of Devon County Council’s previous supported interns. Ruben – Commissioning Support Team



• What further opportunities could a supported internship at Devon County Council lead to?
  Many of our supported interns have progressed into a supported apprenticeship role when their internship ends.

  Find out more about our supported apprenticeship programme.

Kickstart Scheme

In order to improve career and work experience opportunities for young people, we have committed to support the government’s Kickstart Scheme at Devon County Council.

The Scheme aims to create new six-month paid job placements for young people aged 16-24 who are currently on Universal Credit.

Here at Devon County Council, we are a gateway organisation for Kickstart placements and have worked to offer a variety of fantastic job placements around Devon. Kickstart job adverts can be found on Devon Jobs.

What are the benefits of being employed in a Kickstart job role?

Should an applicant be successful in applying for a Kickstart position, they will receive a high-quality six-month placement that will look brilliant on CVs when applying for future roles, whether that’s at the same place the Kickstart placement is or elsewhere.

We have also agreed that we would use our existing pay policy for Kickstart and pay £9.25 per hour for up to 50 Kickstart placements that start with us by 31 March 2022, meaning we are offering a highly competitive hourly wage in addition to the invaluable experience that would be gained during the placement.