Graduate Scheme Facts

• You receive intense training, development and support
• It could be a fast track to more responsible roles within the organisation
• Contacts made throughout the organisation during your training period may assist you later
• Provides an excellent platform to start your career
• The possibility of access to a mentor or buddy may assist you in finding your feet in the initial few months of work
• Provides invaluable access to each department and the issues faced by each function
• The opportunity to study for a professional qualification may be funded by your employer

Graduate Scheme Format

• Typically a graduate training scheme will entail the following:
• Induction: an introduction to the business, structure and culture.
• Location: Schemes could be located at sites across the UK, you must be willing to travel or temporarily relocate.
• Training: Generally work place skills including project management, people management, decision making, negotiation and communication skills are covered across many of the company business units e.g. Marketing, Internal Communications, Finance, Operations, Strategy, Sales and Human Resources. These can be project based roles or working in teams, and often (but not always) graduates are assessed during this time.
• Professional Qualification: Although companies do not insist you study for professional qualifications, many provide advice and support if you wish to do so. Many graduates wait until the end of the programme to pursue a professional qualification when they have decided what area they want to specialise in. Relevant courses could include those offered by CIMA or the ICSA.
• Mentoring: Often a mentor is assigned and these are often a Senior Manager or Director. Your mentor's role is to offer valuable ongoing advice on your career goals and how best to achieve them. You could also be assigned a 'Buddy', typically this is someone who has recently completed the graduate scheme, with whom you can share thoughts and ideas and can provide you with support.
• Completion: Once completed the company will place you in the role that you both feel most comfortable for your skills and attributes. Usually this will be a junior managerial role, with the opportunity to fulfill your potential by quickly progressing through the organisation.

Find a Graduate Scheme

Search Graduate opportunities on IMI Auto Jobs
Alternatively, you can find Individual manufacturer’s websites careers pages:

• Aston Martin
  Product Development, Purchasing, Finance, IT, Quality, Brand Communications and Manufacturing
• Bentley
  Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Purchasing, Production, Logistics, Pre-series Centre, Information Systems and Personnel
• BMW
  Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, Computing and IT, Logistics, Purchasing, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Public Relations and Business, Product Marketing, Corporate and Dealer Marketing to Internet, Logistics and After-Sales
• Ford
  Manufacturing, Product Development, Sales & Marketing, HR, IT, Finance and Purchasing.
• Jaguar Land Rover
  HR, Product Development Engineering, IT and Manufacturing
• Nissan
  Finance, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Quality Assurance, Operations Management, Purchasing, HR, IT, Supply Chain Management and Business
• PSA Citroen
  Sales & network Operations, Distribution, Marketing & PR and Finance
• Renault http://www.renault.co.uk/careers/graduates/
  From import to delivery, sales and marketing, dealership, head office and managerial
• Rolls Royce
  Commercial, Engineering, Health Safety and Environment, Project Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing and Supply Chain Planning and Control, The Leadership Program, Customer Management, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Manufacturing Engineering or Operations Management.
• Toyota
  Logistics, HR and Finance
• Vauxhall Motors
  HR, Marketing, Sales and Finance
• Volkswagen Group
  Finance, Marketing and Sales

Graduate routes into the industry

There are currently 52 providers of Automotive related higher qualifications available in the UK including undergraduate degrees, HND, DipHE, Foundation Degree, HNC, CertHE and Foundation Certificate.  Other routes into the industry include:

• Logistics
• Human Recourses
• Marketing
• Finance
• Business
• Managerial
• IT
• Sales
• Purchasing

To find out more about and to apply for courses please visit UCAS.     For additional information, search the Which? guide to university.

There are also 56 Post Graduate opportunities, these can be found on the UCAS post graduate site.