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CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY - Graduate Recruitment |
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The Two-Year Management Trainee Programme
Each year Wolseley UK embarks on a recruitment campaign to bring recently graduated university students into our business. As a group, Wolseley is one of the largest recruiters of graduates from UK universities, offering more than 100 places in 2006. The graduate programme operates across all UK brands and opens up a wide range of opportunities in many different aspects of the UK business to both external graduates and suitably qualified internal employees. The purpose of this annual recruitment is to generate fresh talent by encouraging young, highly educated people to join our company, and thereby become a source of intellectual capital for the future. The two-year programme has been devised to fast track graduates into a supervisory or management post. However, this programme is not about job creation: each graduate can apply for any suitable post and will be measured against any other internal or external candidate that applies. Training & DevelopmentThe training and development of staff is key to the continued success of the company. Individuals joining Wolseley UK are given not only quality training in line with their specific job requirements, but also extensive development programmes, enabling them to pursue a wide and varied career within the company. Examples of Training Courses include:
Last year was our most successful ever campaign, attracting more than 1,300 applications from high quality graduates looking for one of 90 places on our management trainee programme. The two year programme allows graduates to maximise their experience of UK branch businesses, gaining basic knowledge and hands-on training within the organisation. Graduate fairs take place across the country in Glasgow, London, Manchester and Birmingham. The scheme is also advertised through recruitment initiatives such as Milkround and Prospects Online. Throughout the two years as a management trainee, one is expected to complete a series of management courses, some of which relate specifically to the business. The programme involves undertaking courses to acquire sales techniques, people management skills, product knowledge and internal company systems and procedures. Training include classroom sessions as well as practical experience of the operational side of the business. After the two years, management trainees gain the Professional Diploma in Management Studies. Management trainees are also required to complete Manchester Open Learning modules, which relate to different areas of the construction industry. The learning programme has full tutor support for individuals who have long experience of both working and training in the sector. Career OpportunitiesThe opportunities for career development created through the graduate programme are considerable. As the business expands, the pressure to provide suitable intellectual capital intensifies. Not only is there a need to manage our trading outlets, but there are also considerable opportunities in sales management, field support roles and corporate office functions. We are proud of our high graduate retention rate – 84% of our intake between 2001 and 2005 are still with the company (December 2006). They enjoy the responsibility they are given at an early stage of their career, as well as the regular review processes in place and the range of roles and work locations offered at the end of the programme. 
The diversity of opportunity is demonstrated by the following list of positions that former management trainees now occupy: 
Wolseley UK |
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