Four students recently completed a work experience placement with Northampton Council, where they gained valuable insight into local government operations. As part of their experience, they were invited to observe Citizenship ceremonies and had the opportunity to speak with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff.
Habibat (Abby) has shared a short reflection outlining their activities and experiences during the placement.
"Our work experience at West Northamptonshire Council was not only an invaluable opportunity to start our journeys into our respective careers, but also an overall fantastic experience that we will remember and cherish for a long time.
Our week at the council exposed us to how much work, effort, and planning go into the numerous projects and initiatives that we see around the town.We were given a tour of the guild hall and all the history of Northampton that it symbolised. We were able to see the homes and diaries of so many judges who came to Northampton, the High Court, and meet the lovely butler who hosted them each time.
Shadowing the communications department, the four of us were given opportunities to sit in meetings and take part in team-building mornings, which we learned were key to forming a cohesive team. We were also given tasks to complete, which contributed to different projects while also giving us an insight into the different roles. We each also had the opportunity to speak to different members of staff who work in our desired career paths, like the council engineers, legal team, and business management team. This was so invaluable and insightful as we were able to ask them questions and for advice as professionals.
Speaking to the representative of the Lord Lieutenant led to us receiving an invitation to be guests at a citizenship ceremony taking place on the Wednesday after our placement week. We were able to meet the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, and many lovely people who became citizens of the UK. This was an absolutely surreal experience and was the perfect end to our week at the Council."