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Communications Assistant (UKC)

Employer
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Location
Solihull Council House, Manor Square, Solihull, B91 3QB
Salary
£20,092 - £23,080
Closing date
17 May 2021
Reference
SOL000003824

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Sector
Local Councils
Job Type
Communications / Marketing / PR
Contract Type
Fixed Term Contract
Working Pattern
Standard
Hours
Full-Time

Job Details

Hours:
37.0 Hours per Week

1 Year Fixed Term Contract

 

Solihull Council is looking for a Communications Assistant to join a small UK Central communications team promoting the Council’s ambitious development programme on a fixed term contract.

The Council’s UKC programme, is about delivering key infrastructure projects to support economic growth across the borough. It will complement the investment already in place such as the forthcoming HS2 Interchange. UKC seeks to capitalise on Solihull’s central location, its national and international connectivity, and strong regional links, to make it an even more attractive place to live, work and invest in.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with previous communications experience to take the next step in their career working on complex and high profile projects. The role offers excellent communications and engagement experience with on the job training and support throughout.  Currently all work is being undertaken remotely but once restrictions are relaxed there will be office based work as well as being involved in engagement events with members of the public.

Joining our friendly and highly regarded Communications Team, you will take calls from journalists, respond to enquiries, write and issue press releases and statements; as well as help to set up interviews and briefings with the media.  You will work in a political but not party political environment.

We are looking for candidates with a strong academic background coupled with bags of common sense and a desire to work in communications. You will need to have great written and spoken communication skills with the ability to interact and engage with people from diverse backgrounds. 

We want someone who is enthusiastic, with a real willingness to learn and develop throughout the fixed term contract.

This is a fixed term contract for a period of 12 months with the potential to be extended dependent on business needs.

Please note this position is not a ‘a first job’ or appropriate for someone without any communications experience.  However, in previous years we have run a graduate internship programme for those wanting a career in communications who have no experience. if you would like to be informed when the applications go live for the next intake – hopefully in the next couple of months, please sign-up here.

To apply, please click on the link below. If you have a specific question or require further information please email comms@solihull.gov.uk

Deadline for applications is Sunday, 16 May 2021.

Shortlisting and testing is scheduled for week commencing 17 May 2021.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend a virtual interview week commencing 24 May 2021

Please note we do not accept CVs.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and a commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Supporting documents
Job description and person specification

Company

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About Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Solihull

Solihull is regarded as a popular and vibrant place to live in the UK. As one of the most prosperous towns in the Midlands, almost two thirds of our borough is designated as green belt. We have over 1,500 acres of parks across the borough, with 16 Green Flag Awards. Solihull is very well connected, with great transport links such as the M40, M42 and M6 all close by, and an excellent rail network, plus, of course, an international airport. We are home to the award-winning Touchwood Shopping Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Resorts World Birmingham, and the Resorts World Arena.

It is an exciting time for Solihull, although we are a relatively small local authority (c. 6000 employees), we still have ambitious plans including the development of UK Central and HS2.

Here at Solihull Council, we want to ensure that all our citizens have an equal chance to share in Solihull’s success. We do this by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.

We recognise that our employees are the key factor in achieving our vision and as such, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals, who want to make a real positive difference to people’s lives and can help us to continue building on our success.

Both Smarter Ways of Working and Employee Wellbeing are key Council Priorities.

The transition to Smarter Ways of Working has presented us with the opportunity to re-think how and where we work. With the option to access portable technology, dependent upon the requirements of the role, a lot of our people are not bound to a single workplace or traditional ways of working, with many choosing to spend a good proportion of their week working from home.

tomOur people told us that they value flexibility, and that choice enables them to have a better work-life balance, manage family responsibilities, enhance their personal wellbeing, and continue to deliver excellent outcomes for the residents of Solihull.

Our people are our number one asset, and our aim is to have a healthy, happy engaged and thriving workforce.

Wellbeing is at the heart of our employee offer and we are a bronze accredited West Midlands Combined Authority Thrive at Work employer.  This recognises our commitment and action in support of employee wellbeing; we are currently working towards silver accreditation.

Unpaid carers carry out a key role within our community and know that this can be challenging when combined with employment.  Our Carer’s Policy and the ongoing support we give to our employees has resulted in us winning Employer of the Year 2022 at the Carer Friendly Awards.

We will offer you:

  • A friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment;
  • Competitive salaries including, for those at the top of their scale, the opportunity to receive a non-consolidated lump sum;
  • A range of flexible working options;
  • Annual leave starting at 25 days and rising to 30 days after 5 years' service in addition to public holidays with an opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days' holiday per year;
  • A generous flexitime scheme (available for most roles);
  • Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme;
  • A wide range of learning and development opportunities;
  • A range of family friendly policies;
  • Employee benefits including subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and staff discounts.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

As users of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

For roles eligible for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check this will be indicated in the advert and supporting recruitment documents.  Where the post involves working with children, other vulnerable groups or in a position of trust it is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Further guidance is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945449/rehabilitation-of-offenders-guidance.pdf

Please note, where sufficient numbers of applications are received, we reserve the right to close a vacancy before the advertised closing date. We therefore advise that you submit your application as soon as possible.

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Company info
Website
Telephone
0121 704 6000
Location
Council House
Manor Square
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 3QB
United Kingdom

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