You don't know your dream job exists yet
We can offer a variety of ways to get meaningful work experience with us.
You don't know your dream job exists
With such a broad range of services comes an equally broad range of careers and you can come get a taste of what we do through our work experience.
We do lots more than collecting your recycling! We put on exciting events like the English Riviera Airshow and the Christmas Bay of Lights, as well as keeping children and vulnerable adults safe, making sure our restaurants and cafes maintain food safety standards, provide support for those who find themselves homeless and so much more.
When it comes to making decisions about your future career, nothing beats real life experience.
We do lots more than collecting your recycling! We put on exciting events like the English Riviera Airshow and the Christmas Bay of Lights, as well as keeping children and vulnerable adults safe, making sure our restaurants and cafes maintain food safety standards, provide support for those who find themselves homeless and so much more.
When it comes to making decisions about your future career, nothing beats real life experience.
Our work experience is a fantastic way to gain insight into a particular career. It can also be a valuable way of gaining confidence and experience of working in a team and supporting our community.
We have opportunities for under 16's, please scroll down to find out more and if you are a schools and careers officer.
Explore our different work experience opportunities.
We have opportunities for under 16's, please scroll down to find out more and if you are a schools and careers officer.
Explore our different work experience opportunities.
Work Experience vacancies for certain dates - Apply now!
Some of our services offer work experience placements at specific times of the year. These opportunities are advertised throughout the year and you can apply directly when they become available. This approach helps you develop strong application skills and demonstrates your potential for roles that align with your interests and ambitions.
Career focused placements - Apply now!
If you have a specific role in mind, our career focused work experience placements are matched to your interests to support your career goals. This is aimed at individuals who are aged 16 and over. We can help you discover what a career in your chosen field is really like.
You can apply at any time, and we will review your application to see if we can accommodate your placement within our teams. This flexible approach allows us to match you with our opportunities without a formal selection process.
Apply for a placement by completing our work experience application.
Apply for a placement by completing our work experience application.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an acknowledgement email.
Your application will be considered by the placement manager, and if a suitable placement is available you will receive a work experience offer email, please confirm your acceptance by email. Please let us know as soon as possible if you require any support or accessibility needs.
If you have not received an offer email within ten days of application, unfortunately we were not able to accommodate your request and we will keep your application on file for six months.
Group rotation week placements
If you are Torbay student, aged 16 and over, you can have the chance to explore a range of our departments by taking part in our group rotation week placement.
You will learn about a mix of insights and take part in activities to help you discover which areas spark your interest.
Apply for our rotation weeks
Please contact your Careers Officer. They will then discuss these opportunities with us. We work closely with schools across the area, and this partnership helps us to allocate placements fairly and in line with our priority placement model.
How we operate a priority placement scheme.
Applicants must be aged over 16 and first consideration is given to the following priority groups:
Priority One - placements are considered first to people with care experience currently under Torbay Council’s care, who either live in TQ1 – TQ5 or may live outside of the area but are or have been under the care of Torbay Council.
Priority Two - placements are then considered to residents in the Torbay area and who attend a Torbay School or College, which consists of five postcode districts TQ1 – TQ5 covering Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
Priority Three - opportunities are extended to people who reside outside of Torbay and who attend a Torbay School or College.
We will consider applications from other people from outside of the Torbay area or another school/educational facility once priority 1,2 and 3 have been accommodated.
If you're under 16 - Information for schools and college careers officers
Meaningful encounters for young people in education
Our meaningful encounters programme connects us directly with Torbay schools and offers outreach activities. We attend careers fairs, deliver career talks, host career information sessions and provide ad-hoc classroom work experience activities. These encounters are designed to inspire and help young people prepare for their future careers.
Our meaningful encounters programme connects us directly with Torbay schools and offers outreach activities. We attend careers fairs, deliver career talks, host career information sessions and provide ad-hoc classroom work experience activities. These encounters are designed to inspire and help young people prepare for their future careers.
If your school is interested in discussing career events, please email our HR training team: HRtraining@torbay.gov.uk
Find out more about feedback and stories from previous placements.
Find out more about feedback and stories from previous placements.
Top tips when filling in an application form
- Explore our services. It would help us to find the best opportunity available if you can identify a department that interests you.
- Check your spelling and grammar.
- Check that your personal details are correct, for example, contact telephone number, email address and date of birth.
- Information in your application should relate to the service area or job role you are expressing an interest in.
- Read the details and criteria about the service area you are interested carefully.
- Fill in all sections carefully and fully, it will be good practice for when you complete applications for jobs in future.
- If you attend school or college and require assistance completing your application form, please ask your parent, guardian or teacher for support.
- Before you start your work experience try to research the service or role you are working in and get an understanding of the kind of work they do on a day-to-day basis
On your work experience placement
- Take time to discuss with your placement manager what your interests, skills and previous experience are and also what you would like to get out of the placement
- Be proactive and work hard on every task, however big or small
- Talk to the people working within the team to broaden your understanding and experience and learn about their own career paths and what their role is in the Council
- If you don't know what you are doing or you are feeling overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for help from your placement manager or buddy
- Listen to and act on any feedback you receive from your placement manager
- Finally, keep a record of the work you have done while at the Council, as this may be useful for your CV.
Questions and answers
Can I work with my family member?
You can work with a member of your family who works in the Council, providing their service area has an opportunity and you have completed the online application form.
You can work with a member of your family who works in the Council, providing their service area has an opportunity and you have completed the online application form.
What is the dress code for work experience?
The dress code depends on where the placement is, this will be confirmed if you are successful. For example, you may need personal protective equipment, which will be supplied by us.
How will I get to my placement?
You will be expected to make your own arrangements to travel to and from your placement.
Will I be paid for the work I do whilst on placement?
No. Work experience placements are unpaid and we are unable to cover any expenses.
No. Work experience placements are unpaid and we are unable to cover any expenses.
How many hours is the placement for?
This is for you and the line manager to agree. Usually, they will be no more than eight hours a day and will not start before 7am or finish later than 7pm. You will also work no more than five consecutive days out of seven. Regular breaks will be provided throughout the day.
Am I covered by the council’s insurance and health and safety policies whilst on my placement?
Yes. You are covered by our insurance and health and safety policies.
Yes. You are covered by our insurance and health and safety policies.
We take the health and safety of all our people seriously. All department managers are required to assess and address any risks before starting a work placement.
For students over 16 and under 18 that carry out a work experience placement, will need to have had a risk assessment completed prior to them starting with us. This needs to be conducted by the line manager and copies of these will need to be shared with either the parent, guardian and school or college.
Induction, confidentiality and code of conduct
As part of your induction into your service area, you will need to review our employee code of conduct and sign a work experience confidentiality agreement.
Can I apply for job vacancies whilst on my placement?
Yes, you can apply for any vacancies with us.
Who can I contact to find out more?
If you have any queries about work experience please contact recruitment@torbay.gov.uk