Graduates offer a partial solution not only to the sector's recruitment crisis, but also its lack of diversity, delegates at the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference have heard.

Alumni of the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) run by the LGA highlighted that 94% of authorities faced recruitment and retention difficulties, while just 3% of chief executives came from a black or ethnic minority background and one third were women.

Jamie Slagel, a national management trainee at Oxfordshire CC said young people ‘don't see' the sector when looking for career options or are put off by a ‘stereotype' of being ‘boring'.

Georgia Goddard, another alumni now working on policy at the LGA, added: ‘One million people work in local government, but you would never know that.'

Nasik Mian, NGDP assistant programme manager, said the sector ‘had always felt it was closed off to me', primarily due to a lack of experience until he discovered the NGDP.

However, they maintain there are opportunities in tapping into a rich vein of candidates, but the sector needed to promote itself more as a career option.

Ms Goddard said: ‘There's so much more we can do with all age groups. You are investing in your long-term future.'

In addition, there was a need to broaden understanding of the role local government plays in tackling issues relevant to young people.

Mr Slagel said: ‘Young people are passionate about the issues we are passionate about.'