Horizons - Internship

About Us

Job Title:

Horizons 26 - Internship

Contract Length:
Fixed Term (6 weeks)

Salary:
London Living Wage – £14.80 per hour (equivalent to £27,778 per annum)

Working Hours:

36 hours per week

Contract Type:
Full‑time

Location:

Richmond or Wandsworth (dependent on placement team)

Horizons 26 is a paid, six‑week summer internship for people aged 16 and above, offering the chance to gain meaningful, hands‑on experience across our council services. As an intern, you’ll contribute to projects that support the delivery of key council initiatives, reflecting our commitment to innovation, inclusion, and improving public services for our communities.

To get a real sense of what the programme is like, you can hear directly from last year’s interns in this short video, where they talk about their experiences and what they gained from taking part.

The Horizons Internship Programme forms a key part of our wider Early Careers strategy, designed to open up pathways into local government and help develop future talent.

To help you learn more about the Horizons 26 Internship Programme, we’ll be holding online information sessions covering an overview of the programme, application tips, and a chance to ask questions.

Tuesday 3 March 2026 from 12:30pm–1:15pm and Wednesday 18 March 2026 from 4:00pm–4:45pm

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in the workplace.

We are committed to supporting Richmond and Wandsworth young people from both SEND and care leaver backgrounds with routes into employment. Therefore, Richmond and Wandsworth SEND or care leaver applicants will be guaranteed an interview upon submitting an application.

We are also proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.

To be eligible, applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

• Skills development relevant to public service and professional working environments
• Mentoring and guidance from experienced council staff
• Exposure to real projects that make a meaningful difference in our communities
• Insight into careers within local government, including career pathways and future opportunities
• Networking opportunities with teams, managers, and leaders across the councils

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisation and time‑management abilities
• Effective teamwork and collaboration skills
• A willingness to learn and take on feedback
• Basic IT skills, including use of email and standard Microsoft 365 applications

If you have any questions, please contact us at: earlycareersandapprenticeships@

Closing Date:
Sunday 29th March 2026.

Shortlisting Date:
April 2026

Interview Date:
May 2026

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils

• Anonymised Application Guide for