Apprentice (Social Value Practitioner)

Summary

As a Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner, you will work closely with the Social Value Officer and procurement team to help ensure that our contracts and suppliers contribute to the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of our local communities.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

We offer a wide range of rewards and benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement – find out more information here

Training course

Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner (level 4)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm with flexible and hybrid working available.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

To study and develop soft skills delivered by NEPO
To learn and support the Social Value Officer working with all internal service groupings as well as developing and maintaining external relationships with key stakeholders
To learn and support PCS’s in the provision of procurement support
To learn and support PCS’s in the development and implementation of category management processes to secure quality and deliver value for money across the council
To support the Social Value Officer to embedded social value and the delivery of the Council’s social value strategy across the organisation

Where you'll work

Corten House
Aykley Heads
Co Durham
DH1 5TS

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

GATESHEAD COLLEGE

Your training course

Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Select and implement project management and planning tools applicable to the type of project/ campaign lifecycle.
Assess the effectiveness of change and identify opportunities to improve outcomes, guiding and supporting others to deliver results.
Balance own CR&S workload to prioritise competing demands and achieve key performance indicators.
Utilise strengths of internal organisational structures to help build self-sustaining CR&S populations.
Tailor approach to maintaining new/existing external stakeholder relationships to achieve progress on plans (e.g objectives, key initiatives and shared interests).
Contribute to the negotiation of external CR&S projects of mutual benefit.
Adopt a communication method that takes account of the audience and is suitable for the circumstances.
Recommend opportunities for external engagement, articulating the mutual benefits and risks.
Contribute to written reports on CR&S performance in line with organisational requirements.
Contribute to the drafting of the CR&S strategy.
Adjust leadership style to achieve results, having regard to the needs of the individual/teams involved.
Select data that is relevant to the CR&S issue being considered.
Analyse data to form evidence-based conclusions on CR&S performance.
Deliver CR&S events in accordance with contractual arrangements.
Quality assure own and others work in accordance with organisational requirements
Contribute to reporting externally on CR&S Strategy and delivery in line with industry and legislative requirements.
Identify own organisations CR&S opportunities and threats. Escalate risks within own organisation when needed.
Research the CR&S landscape, escalating best practice opportunities within own organisation.
Apply management techniques needed to deliver CR&S projects within budget.
Train colleagues in CR&S techniques, tailoring the learning style to the circumstances.
Identify and deliver initiatives that may raise funds for CR&S projects.
Identify and apply relevant IT solutions to CR&S issues.
Select and implement project management and planning tools applicable to the type of project/ campaign lifecycle.
Assess the effectiveness of change and identify opportunities to improve outcomes, guiding and supporting others to deliver results.
Balance own CR&S workload to prioritise competing demands and achieve key performance indicators.
Utilise strengths of internal organisational structures to help build self-sustaining CR&S populations.
Tailor approach to maintaining new/existing external stakeholder relationships to achieve progress on plans (e.g objectives, key initiatives and shared interests).
Contribute to the negotiation of external CR&S projects of mutual benefit.
Adopt a communication method that takes account of the audience and is suitable for the circumstances.
Recommend opportunities for external engagement, articulating the mutual benefits and risks.
Contribute to written reports on CR&S performance in line with organisational requirements.
Contribute to the drafting of the CR&S strategy.
Adjust leadership style to achieve results, having regard to the needs of the individual/teams involved.
Select data that is relevant to the CR&S issue being considered.
Analyse data to form evidence-based conclusions on CR&S performance.
Deliver CR&S events in accordance with contractual arrangements.
Quality assure own and others work in accordance with organisational requirements
Contribute to reporting externally on CR&S Strategy and delivery in line with industry and legislative requirements.
Identify own organisations CR&S opportunities and threats. Escalate risks within own organisation when needed.
Research the CR&S landscape, escalating best practice opportunities within own organisation.
Apply management techniques needed to deliver CR&S projects within budget.
Train colleagues in CR&S techniques, tailoring the learning style to the circumstances.
Identify and deliver initiatives that may raise funds for CR&S projects.
Identify and apply relevant IT solutions to CR&S issues.

Your training plan

As part of your apprenticeship, you will study towards the Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner (level 4) Apprenticeship Standard at Gateshead College

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

any (grade C or above)
any (grade C or above)
any (grade C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Problem solving skills
Team working

About this company

Durham County Council is the largest council in the North East, we employ over 16,000 people and have a budget of around £1.3 billion which helps us provide services for more than 513,000 people. We are a forward-looking council and recognise that we need passionate people who share our enthusiasm to deliver fantastic services to the people of County Durham.

http://www.durham.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

We are unable to guarantee a job role but progressing opportunities will be available during the apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Durham County Council

Antonia Smith

antonia.smith@durham.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328632.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Sunday 13 July 2025)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

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