Whether you’re starting your career or looking for a new challenge, Central Bedfordshire Council gives you the chance to make a real difference for our residents and businesses, and be part of a supportive team striving to deliver excellence.
Don’t just take our word for it - hear from our staff and discover how we embrace opportunity and value every contribution.
Kirstie - Social Worker
I started here as a newly qualified social worker, and since then I’ve progressed to a senior social worker, and eventually into a management role. The council is really committed to training, learning, and developing, and understands the benefit this has, not only to employees but also the children and families we work with. I’m now doing my PhD, and it has been really supportive.
Neve - former apprentice
I didn’t want to go to university, and with an apprenticeship I was able to learn and earn at the same time. My apprenticeship experience has been a positive one; it has provided me with the opportunity to attain a qualification, but best of all, I have made a career!
Christina, who is currently completing a Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship at the Council
Applying for an apprenticeship at the Council is the best thing I’ve done – it allowed me to step onto a new career path. Now I look forward to going to work, and the future looks so much brighter.
Fanella Hackney, Senior Planning Officer
Landing this job was a fantastic opportunity for me as I knew I had an interest in planning and urban design but had no formal training or previous work experience. The Academy Team within Central Bedfordshire is unique from a lot of other graduate planning jobs within a local authority setting because it enabled me to enroll in a fully funded master’s degree accredited by the RTPI, and receive on-the-job training whilst studying.
I completed my master’s part-time over two years between 2020-2022, by which time I’d been promoted to Senior Planning Officer within the Council. I’m really enjoying my current role as I get to work on more complex and larger-scale developments where I feel I can make a genuine positive influence in achieving high-quality design to benefit the area.
I could not be more positive about my time spent at Central Bedfordshire so far. There are excellent opportunities for career progression and a strong network of support from managers and through a peer-mentoring scheme.
What we can offer you
No matter which role you join us in, you'll have access to a wide range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, development, and work-life balance, including:
- for hybrid contracts - a hybrid working arrangement giving you the option to work from home and any of our office locations. We recognise and value the importance of supporting our employees to balance their home and work life and to be able to work in the most efficient way
- a £250 one-off hybrid worker payment (for hybrid contracts only) to help you adapt your home for safe and suitable working conditions, this is irrespective of whether you work full-time or part-time
- a comprehensive IT package to support you to work safely and effectively
- annually paid social work fees for qualified social workers in adults and children’s (including senior practitioners) and team managers where required
- the ability to work abroad for up to a month a year (hybrid roles only)
- the opportunity to lease electric vehicles at competitive rates with our staff electric vehicle (EV) leasing scheme
- generous family-friendly policies and practices
- a welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers differences
- friendly and supportive staff networks
- for our NJC contracts an annual leave allowance 25 days + statutory holidays rising to 32 days with length of service – we also recognise continuous service from eligible organisations listed under the RPMO
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This is a valuable part of our rewards package for employees and includes Life Assurance. You can find out more on the Bedfordshire Pension Fund website
- an exceptional Employee Assistance Programme which helps support employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family, and personal issues
- a huge variety of courses and role-specific training and learning to help you succeed and develop
- access to discounts on top UK retailers and local retailers
More about Hybrid working at Central Bedfordshire Council
We're committed to creating a more sustainable future, and flexible ways of working play an important part in that journey. By reducing the need for daily commuting, hybrid working can help lower carbon emissions while giving our people greater flexibility and choice in how they work.
Many of our roles offer hybrid working opportunities, allowing you to balance time between home and the office in a way that supports both your wellbeing and productivity. We recognise that everyone has different preferences and circumstances, so we encourage open conversations about working arrangements throughout the recruitment process.
We value the contribution our people make more than where they're based. Our hybrid approach empowers colleagues to work from home or from one of our office locations, while staying connected through regular in-person collaboration. Depending on the role, this may include meeting with your wider team in one of our offices at least once a month, or more frequently where business needs require it.