Job Description

Public Health Apprentice | 11178 | fixed term contract/secondment opportunity for three years | 37 hours per week | £33,119 to £34,811 per annum | Grade G | Norwich/hybrid working

We’re offering an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about public health and wellbeing to join Norfolk County Council’s Public Health Team as a Public Health Apprentice.

This fully funded, three-year ‘earn as you learn’ apprenticeship combines academic study with practical experience in public health. The Apprentice will work within Norfolk County Council’s Public Health Team, contributing to real initiatives while studying for a BSc in Public Health through Coventry University via day release.

Throughout the programme, the Apprentice will build a strong academic foundation and develop a portfolio of experience across diverse public health settings. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, the Apprentice will gain a BSc in Public Health and be eligible to register as a Public Health Practitioner with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR).

As an employer, we recognise that equality, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental to how we operate. We actively encourage applications from individuals within our local communities and welcome personal lived experience as part of the application process.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of public health projects aligned with strategic policy areas, using recognised project management frameworks.
• Assist in conducting technical, statistical, quantitative, and qualitative public health analyses, including health needs assessments, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) chapters, health impact assessments, and health equity audits, in collaboration with partners.
• Contribute to the commissioning process by drafting evidence-based service specifications informed by needs assessments, supporting procurement, contract management, and service evaluations.
• Support the development and implementation of public health strategies.
• Creatively design and deliver community engagement activities and health promotion materials.
• Complete all academic and workplace assignments required for successful completion of the apprenticeship programme.

Candidate Requirements:

• Must hold UK Level 2 qualifications in GCSE Maths and English at grades A–C / 9–4.
• Must have achieved a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff Points through A-levels, BTECs, T Levels, Access to HE Diplomas, or equivalent qualifications.
• This apprenticeship is for new learning. Applicants must not already hold a public health-related degree or be working towards UKPHR Practitioner status.
• Must be aged 18 or over at the start of the apprenticeship.
• Must meet UK residency eligibility:
• Be a UK or EEA citizen with at least three years’ residency in the UK prior to the apprenticeship start date,
• Or be a non-EEA citizen with permission to live in the UK (not for education purposes) and have been a UK resident for at least one year before the apprenticeship begins.

Apprenticeship Information:

• The Public Health Apprenticeship is a three-year undergraduate degree course including both work-based and academic learning for BSc and eligibility to register as a Public Health Practitioner with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR).
• This programme is delivered by Coventry University through a combination of online lectures and on-campus days students attend through day release, the equivalent of one day per week throughout the duration. Learning is designed to fit around off the-job hours.
• The Apprentice must be willing and able to travel regularly to Coventry University for in person learning and attend meetings in a variety of settings across Norfolk.

Applicants should be prepared to undertake 3 years of study. The successful candidate should be available to start at Norfolk County Council on 11 January 2027.

Academic course induction is week commencing 18 January 2027 and Tuesday 19 January 2027 is the first in-person day on campus at Coventry University.

Supporting You to Thrive

This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment. Norfolk County Council also offers a range of benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, discounts on sports and leisure activities, and more.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.

We welcome informal enquiries about the role. To find out more, please contact: Dr David Thurkettle, Public Health Principal (Prevention), david.thurkettle@norfolk.gov.uk.

Norfolk County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

Norfolk County Council is an equal opportunities employer.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on your job role and business need.
• Financial benefits such as:
• ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.
• A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
• Relocation expenses (where applicable)
• An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.
• Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
• Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
• A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

You can find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

Redeployment closing date: 13 September 2026

All other applicants closing date: 04 October 2026

Interview date: TBC

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive daily, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

We have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage. Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food. We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk. Our county a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate.

We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 Norfolk residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.

We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation.

We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.