Paid Summer Internships 2026
Paid Graduate Internships – Summer 2026 (up to 7 placements)
£490.62 per week (13 weeks including 6.5 days annual leave from June to September 2026)
Fixed Term Contract
Full-time (37 hours per week)
Flexible working options (including hybrid)
Are you looking for a meaningful role after graduation where your work makes a real difference to local communities?
Join us for a 13‑week paid summer internship and discover what a career in local government could look like.
About the role
Our internships offer hands-on experience across key council services, giving you the chance to:
- Gain real insight into how local government operates and delivers essential services
- Build skills that employers value - communication, collaboration, digital confidence and problem solving
- Work on projects that directly impact local residents and communities
- Grow your professional network across teams, partners and service users
- Develop confidence and capability with support from experienced managers and colleagues
Placements are available across key service teams in the following Directorates:
- Customer, Business and Corporate Support
- Community and Place Delivery
- Strategy and Policy
We will give you full support and guidance to develop your employability skills and gain confidence in taking on new tasks. However, as you progress and become familiar with the Council in your role, we will give you more responsibility and independence.
There may also be opportunities to extend the placement or apply for future roles within the Council.
About you
Each placement is unique so there is no single job description.
We are looking for motivated individuals who wish to explore and develop their career in the public sector and who are particularly interested in local government. If you’re eager to contribute to local communities, develop your professional skills, and explore a meaningful career pathway, we’d love to hear from you.
Successful candidates will need to demonstrate they meet the criteria below:
- be in their final year of a degree / degree apprenticeship or recently graduated*
- have confident digital skills including use of AI and web-based platforms (e.g., Microsoft Office 365, PowerBI, Co-Pilot)
- have a practical understanding of project management
- have good communication and interpersonal skills
- have customer service or administrative work experience
- be able to organise, prioritise and manage tasks in a busy environment
- have analytical skills and confidence in handling data
- be able to work effectively in a hybrid way (in the office, on site and at home)
*(Desirable subject areas include Economics, Finance, Geography, Town Planning, Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, Environmental Health, Marketing and Communications, Social Sciences, Law and Business)
About Us
St Albans is a unique English Cathedral City with a colourful history which can be seen in the Roman remains and variety of beautiful architecture, heritage sites and conservation areas. Set within green belt, off the M25, A1M and M1 the District includes a cathedral, vibrant city centre and thriving villages. Our centrally located offices in the city are near to the station (London St Pancras 20 minutes), shops and restaurants. In short it is a great place to live and work.
If you meet the above criteria, please apply ensuring you evidence each of the criteria in your application form and also specify which Directorate or Service Area you would prefer to work in.
For full details and to learn more about us, please visit our Jobs and Careers Page. Any questions please email recruitment@stalbans.gov.uk
This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Check.
Closing date for applications: Friday 20 March 2026
First interviews (virtual) will be scheduled for: w/c 6 April 2026
Second interviews for placement: w/c 20 and 27 April 2026
Starting Date: ideally Monday 15 June 2026
Salary range
- £490.62 per week