Graduate scheme at NHS Digital

Our two-year graduate scheme is a unique multidisciplinary programme teaming you with experts in the essential digital health skills and knowledge that drive NHS Digital's mission.

Early careers Home Behind the front line Summer internships

No graduate recruitment in 2023

Thank you for your interest in our graduate programme. NHS Digital will be merging with NHS England and Health Education England to create a new organisation in 2023. As part of this transition, we are reviewing our early talent offer and are therefore not recruiting for a graduate programme in 2023. Please continue to review our careers page for updates.

Graduate scheme

At NHS Digital what we do matters. We engineer digital health and care services and solutions because we believe passionately in improving lives using data and technology. Our graduates are shaping the future of health tech and utilising technology and data to enable better healthcare for our customers. Now more than ever, digital is on the front line. Are you ready?

What will you do?

The NHS Digital Graduate Scheme is a unique multidisciplinary programme teaming you with experts in the essential digital health skills and knowledge that drives NHS Digital's mission.

Your four six-month rotations could include:

IT operations
Data services
Platforms and infrastructure
Product development
Cyber security

Whilst we are working virtually at the moment, the majority of these roles are based in Leeds and there may be an opportunity for you to work in London dependent on your assignment.

What do we offer?

You will join NHS Digital on a two-year fixed-term contract starting at a salary of £24,907 increasing to c. £38,890 upon successful completion of the scheme.

During the scheme, we will work with you to develop and enhance your skills and capabilities, ensuring we bring out the best in you. At NHS Digital, we see our graduates as future leaders and influential specialists.

You will also have access to a range of benefits including:

annual leave starting at 27 days per annum plus statutory bank holidays
an excellent contributory pension scheme
a flexible approach to working
NHS discount that can be used at a range of retailers and restaurants!

Supporting your development

You will get a blend of specialist learning and development activities covering technical and leadership training, including:

agile working - for example, professional scrum developer
cloud technologies - for example, AWS cloud practitioner
specialist skills - for example, Splunk, cybersecurity
presenting, writing and verbal communication skills

What you'll get in return

Defined and clear progression routes, whatever your journey
Support and mentoring as your career develops
A varied portfolio of experience delivering with multi-disciplinary agile teams
A strong early talent community that supports each other as they progress and develop
A vibrant, connected and collaborative range of diversity and inclusion staff networks that support and promote the interests of all of our staff
An organisation that, from top to bottom, values diverse talents, experiences and skills and uses these to improve heath care

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who are interested in digital, dedicated to professional development and have a passion for making a difference.

You will:

have (or be expecting) a 2:1 undergraduate degree in any discipline, but you must have some coding and technological capabilities
have a masters or postgraduate degree, but you must have some coding and technological capabilities
be a pragmatic problem solver, always curious in your approach to your work
be flexible and adaptable in a fast-moving environment
be passionate about improving the lives of others through data and technology
have the ability to efficiently and effectively work in multidisciplinary teams

Testimonial

The coronavirus work was intense but immensely rewarding. Whatever you contribute affects people, and you can use that as a source of motivation for wanting to do better, chase leads and work that little bit extra.

Tosin, Graduate Trainee, NHS Digital

Application process

How to apply

Step 1

Apply online

Step 2

We'll be in touch

Step 3

Short technical test

Step 4

Assessment centre

Step 1: apply

Fill in our application form, answer a few questions, and submit your CV.

Step 2: we'll be in touch

If you look like a good fit, we'll get in touch to talk through your interest in the scheme, and what skills and experience you can bring.

Step 3: technical test

After we've been in touch, we will invite you to take a technical test, that will assess your technological competency and potential.

Step 4: assessment centre

If you're what we're looking for, we'll invite you to an assessment centre. At the assessment centre, you'll do individual and group tasks, and meet some of the people from our business.

Internet explorer is no longer supported