Business Management

Induction

You’ll start the programme with a week long introduction to the business – and to the people you’ll be doing business with. These include our managers and directors, as well as your buddy: someone who’s already been through the programme and can help you on your own journey.

As part of your induction you’ll undertake a mini project, which will help you get to grips with the other business areas whilst giving you the opportunity to build your network of contacts.

 

Customer insight project

Your first big project will focus on our customers, and for good reason. They’re central to everything we do. We’ll team you up with other graduates, and give you a challenging customer issue to investigate.

You’ll need to plan your approach as a team, manage your time and get to the heart of the issue. Then comes the hard bit: identifying recommendations and presenting to senior managers. This isn’t a paper exercise. We’d like to see ideas we can use to improve the business.

  

Business projects

Next comes a sequence of real life projects, across a number of different business functions. In each, you’ll be helping shape our future by working on high profile change initiatives that span the length and breadth of our business.

There are all kinds of areas to get involved in: from marketing and buying, to human resources and strategic planning. Crucially too, rather than being passed from function to function, you’ll be able to choose the projects that you work on. In other words, you’ll make the experience what you want it to be and shape your own career in the process. Whether you’re launching a new product or helping to integrate an acquired business, you’ll learn how to lead projects, manage people, negotiate successfully and respond effectively to the huge challenges – and potential – of a growing and changing business. You’ll have tough but realistic personal objectives to meet, and you’ll always have valuable exposure to senior managers through providing presentations and monthly progress reports.

On the left of this page, you’ll find links to some past examples of projects our graduates have worked on. They’ll give you a real feel for the quality of work, and the level of responsibility, challenge and variety on offer. They’re sure to give you everything you need to become a future leader at The Co-operative Group.

 

Learning & development reviews

Learning is constant, and so we make sure we review your performance and progress continually. You’ll have regular formal review meetings with your line manager, during which you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your experiences and performance. This will help plan the next steps, helping you to focus on your future development needs.

 

Management development programmes

Starting with feedback from your assessment centre, your development path will draw together every aspect of your learning. You will undertake a structured development programme covering everything from commercial awareness to leadership skills. Essentially,  it will give you everything you'll need to take your career – and the business - forward. You’ll have a wide range of support including a mentor, a personal development plan, together with all the encouragement you need to drive your career.

 

Business role

To help launch your career, you’ll undertake a six-month business role within your chosen business area. This will ensure you get the specialist skills needed to undertake a management role at the end of the programme.  Previous graduates have become Strategic Planning Analysts, Procurement Managers, Senior Marketing Managers, to name just a few of the roles. As you can see, the opportunities available are varied and we will work with you to ensure that it is the right opportunity, whichever direction you choose.