“The Co-operative appealed to me for a number of reasons. The combination of size, success, the mergers with Somerfield and The Britannia, and forthcoming plans for growth were obviously attractive in these ‘interesting’ times. But then there were the ethics too, and the Group’s position as a key UK retailer. So many reasons to join.
“It was the right choice, as I discovered at the end of my first two weeks. We’d been asked to research and produce a presentation to an audience of senior managers – so no pressure there then! But the warm reception we received gave us all a huge amount of confidence, and the reassurance that graduates are highly valued in the Group. It also showed us what we were capable of achieving.
“The value given to graduates shows in a number of ways. In fact, the time and effort invested in my development is second to none. There are many compulsory courses to attend, but I also have my own budget to spend on professional courses. It’s fast-paced and challenging work, but The Co-operative is keen to make sure I have a good work-life balance and, from what I gather, this can be neglected in other companies’ graduate experiences. It’s all part of what The Co-operative is, though, and reflects our unique combination of commerce and ethics.
“In terms of what I’ve been doing, variety is the key word. I’ve planned and created a Fairtrade event for schools; I’ve investigated and presented recommendations for the use of social media – and secured funding for it; I’ve built useful relationships with external suppliers; and, perhaps most excitingly, I’ve been involved in building a new Academy for which the Group is lead sponsor. I love the community involvement, and I’m proud to be working for business that strives for profit, but uses that profit for the benefit of others. I don’t believe any other business can offer graduates this combination of challenge, variety and sheer feel-good satisfaction, and I’d thoroughly recommend the experience. I know I’m in the right place for a great future.”
