Top ten graduate schemes to apply for – with an average salary of £33,500

IT is National Graduate Week and the key time for employers to open applications for job schemes aimed at uni leavers.

With around 800,000 undergraduates and postgraduates completing courses at higher education level each year, winning a coveted place on a grad scheme can give you the edge in the jobs market.

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The programmes, which last from 12 months to four years, offer structured learning and industry experience on a competitive salary.

Most major firms, and many smaller ones, run them.

But the competition is fierce, with employers receiving an average of 39 applications per graduate vacancy in 2022.

The latest High Fliers Graduate Market report reveals grad scheme hiring is expected to rise by 6.3 per cent this year, with accounting and professional services firms taking on the biggest numbers.

And with average starting salaries hitting £33,500, while some roles in law and banking pay up to £52,000, here is Sunemployment’s guide on the top ten schemes to apply for.

MARKS & SPENCER: The high street favourite has quadrupled the number of places available for its 2024 Retail Leaders programme, with 76 graduate jobs up for grabs.

For more information, see jobs.marksandspencer.com/early- careers.

KPMG: As one of the top grad employers, the professional services firm will recruit 1,000 graduates this year across audit and tax, consulting, law and technology.

See kpmgcareers.co.uk/graduates.

BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS: The housebuilder’s Aspire programme covers sales, land, technical, construction, finance and commercial, and is open to graduates with a minimum 2:2 degree.

Applications open on November 8.

See barrattcareers.co.uk/early-careers/ graduates/aspire-programme.

BRITISH AIRWAYS: Watch your career take off as the airline offers 90 grad places.

Roles include future leaders, data science, engineering and operations planning.

See careers.ba.com/graduates.

TEACH FIRST: There are 1,750 trainee teaching positions available.

The greatest need is for trainees to teach science, maths and modern foreign languages.

See teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme.

VEOLIA: The waste and water management giant has 52 grad roles, including engineering, technology and project management, environmental and marketing.

See veolia.co.uk/careers/graduates.

STANTEC: The architectural specialist is offering 170 places, with jobs in everything from civil engineering and hydrology to town planning, urban design and landscape architecture.

HR director Gill Blandin-Ellis said: “If you’re interested in working in a diverse, fun and inclusive environment, we would love to hear from you.”

See stantec.com/uk/careers/graduates-apprentices.

ZURICH: There are 33 places on the insurance group’s courses, including business management, change and tech, plus data and analytics.

Apply by November 5. See zurich.co.uk/careers/graduate-schemes.

BAKKAVOR: Hungry for success?

The fresh-prepared food provider is hiring for 18 grad jobs in manufacturing, finance, technical, HR, development and engineering.

See bakkavor.com/careers.

THG: The e-commerce expert is hiring 125 graduates across technology, marketing, finance, PR and communications, buying and merchandising, supply chain, logistics, procurement, and operations, plus customer experience.

Chief people officer Konrad Hill said: “We’re known for helping our people go further, faster.”

See thg.com/talent/job-search.

• Find out more at nationalgraduate week.co.uk.

Gabriel Donohoe, 24

GABRIEL studied nursing and criminology but got a place on the Marks & Spencer retail management graduate scheme.

The 24-year-old from Islington, London, said: “A common misunderstanding is that you have to have a business degree or lots of retail experience to get a place on the M&S course. Both statements are false.

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“The key qualities are a passion for retail and customers, the desire to consistently learn and the confidence to be open and grow yourself alongside your career.”

Pay is a top priority

SEVENTY per cent of grads are prioritising schemes paying a high salary, to combat the cost- of-living crisis.

Two in five say the low pay in their preferred sector is their biggest concern regarding career prospects, the annual CFA Institute Global Graduate Outlook Survey reports.

So, 93 per cent are considering upskilling and taking post-graduate qualifications.

The CFA Institute’s Rhodri Preece said of the tough economic climate: “It’s directly impacting career choices and it is no surprise grads seek industries offering higher pay.”

Rise up from crowd

COMPETITION for places on grad schemes is stiff, so how can you make your application stand out?

Sophie Phillipson, co-author of Survive & Thrive: A Graduate’s Guide to Life After University, shares her advice.

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1. Relevant work experience is the most important addition to your CV.

If you don’t have any, get some.

Use your network, which is anyone you’ve ever met and all their contacts.

Make some calls, send some emails, get on LinkedIn, and approach companies cold, even if they don’t advertise a structured work experience programme.

2. Some firms use testing to narrow down the huge pool of applicants.

If you are invited to take part in a psychometric or numeric test, you can practise them online in advance.

3. If you reach an interview stage, prepare with thorough research.

Make sure you know the names of the CEO and the leadership team, read the company website and follow all its social media channels.

Read press coverage, industry trade publications and newsletters to get a broader view, and identify and learn more about their main competitors.

4. Always take questions into an interview with you.

We know graduates who didn’t ask any questions and lost out on jobs because the interviewer read that as lack of interest.

5. If you don’t get on to a grad scheme, don’t be despondent.

You can continue to apply annually for up to three years after graduation.

Also, this is not the only way to get a job – there are plenty of other routes into paid work.

PR world opens

FINDING a job in the glamorous world of public relations used to be tough without contacts – but a number of firms are now offering specialist graduate schemes.

Touchdown PR has four places for junior account executives.

Managing director Lesley Booth said: “We provide training, support our team’s professional development and provide opportunities to flourish in a fast-paced, exciting environment.”

Email [email protected].

Global PR giant Weber Shandwick has joined forces with the University of Salford for a programme focused on social mobility.

Each year, two graduates will be given a place with the firm, preparing them with skills to work in the dynamic PR world.

Logistics drive

THE logistics boom is driving up the number of graduate-scheme vacancies with major firms increasing recruitment.

Wincanton has 15 places, ranging from transport management roles to automation analyst jobs.

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Apply at wincanton. co.uk/careers/early-career- opportunities.

GXO is running four graduate schemes in operations, finance, HR and technology, with no cap on vacancy numbers.

Email [email protected].

Ceva Logistics has opened applications at cevalogistics.com/en/careers.

Sandra McKenzie-Day, Ceva HR director and Generation Logistics sponsor, said: “It is vital to showcase logistics as an industry of choice to a generation who may not know much about it.”

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk