The Consultation Institute are seeking Trainee Researchers or Policy Officers

High-value experience in a unique not-for-profit organisation.

The Consultation Institute holds a unique position in the increasingly important area of Consultation. Established in 2004, it is the leading provider of public engagement training for civil servants, local government officers, Councillors and countless other professionals. It is also the only organisation of its kind that delivers accreditation services in promoting best practice in an area where standards are often ignored.

The Consultation Institute focuses on all aspects of public engagement and stakeholder dialogues and therefore becomes involved in a wide range of politically-contentious issues.

The work experience assignments will be for 4 months and based at the Institute’s Centre of Excellence at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire (40 minutes from London Kings Cross, 5 mins from the A1)

Successful applicants can expect exposure to a range of consultation exercises, analysing their effectiveness and conformance to standards. Projects will include research preparation for training courses, seminars, roundtables and other Institute programme related items. Subjects of current interest include:-

 -Deficit reduction & public expenditure consultations

-Renewable and other energy-related consultations

-Energy from Waste (Incinerators)

-Major infrastructure projects & public engagement (nuclear, High-speed2 etc)

-Health & Social Care – consultations on Government reform plans

-Impact of the Localism Bill

 

Sample Projects 

Trainees under supervision will be allocated a Topic area, and will gather public domain information about public engagement and consultation exercises that are relevant. This may include building a database of recent or current initiatives and may include on-going monitoring of selected consultations. Inevitably, this will oblige trainees to become very familiar with key public policy issues and their evolution. We may therefore ask trainees to contact Government departments and stakeholders as part of their research.

Data, once assembled, may be used in Briefing Papers, Topic Reports or Power Point presentations. It is hoped that trainees may have opportunities to present to selected audiences either at the Biggleswade Centre or at events the Institute regularly organises throughout the UK.

 

The Institute is led by renowned, authoritative and respected experts in the field of Consultation and is therefore, a great place to learn. It is developing its services in the public, private or third sectors, and is working to a strategic plan that includes international expansion. Career prospects in the medium term, are therefore, excellent and the Board is seriously “talent-spotting” for the future.

 After four months, we expect Trainees to have learnt:-

-The complex landscape of public engagement in the UK and how to research it

-How to analyse consultation exercises.

-Basic Report-writing and presentation preparation

-Working in a best-practice Institute

Ideal candidates will be of graduate or equivalent standard, have a strong interest in current affairs, and be incurably inquisitive and able to work quickly and accurately. Excellent verbal and written communications are important, as is familiarity with online technologies ... and a well-developed sense of humour is essential!

Contact:

Candidates should express their interest in being selected for these positions, by emailing a one page application giving details of their name, address, phone and email contacts, and their qualifications already obtained and/or their current course of study. In addition, and in no more than three paragraphs, the reasons why you are the ideal candidate for one of the available opportunities.

Applications should be sent to Karen Fourie via email to karenf@consultationinstitute.org