The 2015 Central Graduate Programme
WE STAND OUT BECAUSE OF YOU
...from store colleagues to store support,
food scientists to retail strategists...
from new graduates to our new Chief Executive...
CON T E N T S
Introduction from Mike Coupe
We Stand Out in Retail
Central Programme
Being a Central Leader
Your Support and Development
Rewards
Placements
What Next?
An Application that Stands Out
Talented people, and everyone plays
their part in making us stand out....
Sainsbury’s is a business
full of people. 160,000 of us.
All of our new graduates start
with a week-long induction.
It’s a chance to settle in, get
to know each other and get to
know us. You’ll really enjoy it.
Mike Coupe... everybody plays their part...
WE STAND OUT BECAUSE OF YOU
IN T RODUC T ION
Hello and welcome to Leaders by Sainsbury’s. I’d like to thank you for showing
an interest in joining our business.
At Sainsbury’s our Vision is to be the most trusted retailer where people love to
work and shop. And I believe it’s the talented people right across our business that
really make us different. That’s why Leaders by Sainsbury’s is so important.
Your generation of graduates can look forward to opportunities like never before,
which will really set you up as leaders of the future.
That’s exactly why, from the moment you arrive, we’re so dedicated to
developing your talent. We invest in you, reward you and give you the platform
you need to become a business leader and take Sainsbury’s to greater heights.
Good luck with your application.
Mike Coupe, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive
Mike Coupe,
Sainsbury’s
Chief Executive
Because Sainsbury’s is such a diverse business, leadership can mean different things. It can mean
leading a store with a £1 million turnover and a team of more than 200 people. It can mean taking
ownership of product development, from concept through to packaging and delivery. Or it can mean
taking the reins on a major, strategic project in any of our Store Support Centres.
Awaiting shot and
new copy
Some of our graduates got involved with
the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.
As one of the UK’s largest and most trusted
retailers, we are always looking for new
ways to promote our values.
Others did a
‘Sponsored Spin’,
cycling 250 miles
in 12 hours and
raising over £1,500
for Sport Relief!
Some did a 12-hour sponsored walk
for Comic Relief - wearing ‘onesies’!
There are so many
different careers at
Sainsbury’s. Did you
know we employ our
own beekeeper?
W E S TA N D O U T I N R E TA I L
Sainsbury’s is one of Britain’s best-loved retail
brands. We’ve more than 1,200 stores, over 160,000
colleagues and we look after more than 24 million
customer transactions every single week. We stand
out because of our heritage, our commitment to
quality and our values. Our Vision is, quite simply,
to be the most trusted retailer where people love to
work and shop.
Of course, we move with the times too. We have a
‘2020 Vision’ that is transforming how we operate as
a retailer to ensure that we’re ready for the future of
retail. We’re well on our way to achieving our goals.
We’re diversifying our product ranges and offering
our customers much more choice: expanding our
clothing, energy, banking, online, entertainment,
pharmacy and mobile businesses. We’ve been
investing in every area of our business, our systems,
our stores and our people.
This is exactly why Sainsbury’s is such an exciting
retailer. Our size, growth and sheer ambition are
creating a constant flow of career development
opportunities. Joining us as a graduate now, you’ll
be perfectly placed to grow with us, gaining a really
diverse range of skills that will enable you to stand
out as a future leader.
Along the way, there’ll also be lots of opportunity
to develop as a person. We’ve a deep-seated
commitment to supporting charities and all of
our graduates are encouraged to get involved.
Keep up with the blog to see what our grads have
been up to.
Some worked on sustainability
and ethical sourcing projects.
Did you know we were the first major
supermarket to sell 100% Fairtrade bananas?
C E N T R A L P ROGR A MME
The Central
Scheme will
open doors
throughout
our business.
It’s a structured and rigorous development programme that explores
every aspect of business leadership.
Once you’ve completed your one-week induction, you’ll undertake a series
of six-month placements that could be in any division. So you’ll need to
think fast and adapt quickly. You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly,
engage colleagues and have the skills to influence the people around you.
Most importantly, you’ll be visible right across our business from a very
early stage in your career. You’ll build a diverse skill set and business-wide
knowledge – the perfect platform for development.
When you’ve proved you can do it, you’ll spend time in a role with greater
business responsibility. It’s a steep learning curve - which includes working
on a graduate project that will stretch you even further – calling on your
strategic thinking, your commercial acumen and, of course, your natural
leadership skills.
“It’s not all talking the corporate talk.” To find out more
about Leaders by Sainsbury’s, and the many different
things our graduates do, watch our video online.
What makes our Central Programme so impressive is the challenge that
underpins it. We’ll evaluate your progress closely and we’ll expect you to
achieve key milestones and move up very quickly. So you’ll never be waiting
for the next opportunity. When you’re ready to develop, we’ll be right there
with you, supporting, encouraging and giving you the chance to take on
more responsibility and autonomy.
The structured development really makes this scheme stand out. It’s intense
and there are times when you’ll feel out of your comfort zone. After all, the
graduates of today could be our business leaders of tomorrow. So when the
challenges arrive, we’ll expect you to embrace them.
WE STAND OUT BECAUSE OF YOU
As a Central Leader, you’ll need great networking skills. We’re a big, diverse organisation,
so achieving our goals means being able to work together at every level. Don’t forget,
there’s over 160,000 of us - so it’s probably not dissimilar to moving to a new town.
You’ve got to find your way round, get to know people and work out the best ways to
get things done.
Right from the outset, you need more than the usual people skills. You need to be able to
engage, influence and present at a senior level, getting your ideas across and helping to
change how other people see something. You’ll never lose sight of commercial objectives,
but you’ll understand that, at Sainsbury’s, achieving strategic goals will always mean
bringing the talents of a team together to make change happen.
Entry Requirements:
- 2:1 degree
- at least one A and two Bs at A-level
- at least a B in GCSE Maths and English
- some relevant work experience
- natural leadership skills
- outstanding communication and people skills
BE ING A C E N T R A L L E A DE R
On the Central Leaders programme you’ll undertake
a series of six month placements. These will be in a
range of central divisions, and one will be in-store,
giving you maximum exposure to our business.
C E N T R A L : INDU C T ION
F OUR S I X - MON T H P L A C E ME N T S IN C E N T R A L A ND IN - S T ORE S E T T ING S
M A N A GE ME N T ROL E A ND GR A DU A T E P RO JE C T
(1 WEEK)
(2 YEARS )
(1 YEAR)
WE STAND OUT BECAUSE OF YOU
A S S E S S ME N T, F OL L O W E D B Y P ROGRE S S ION T O P E RM A NE N T ROL E
Y OUR S UP P OR T A ND DE V E L OP ME N T
We make sure you
get the support
you need to help
you stand out.
We make sure you get the support you need to help you stand out. This includes
a comprehensive induction programme, during which you’ll spend time with key
figures in the business – including Board Directors. We’ll organise a couple
of social events too.
When you join us, we’ll also assign you a mentor. Your mentor will be a senior
business leader who can share their knowledge and expertise with you.
It’s really good to have that kind of help during the early stages of your career.
Finally, you’ll also benefit from a host of training programmes and learning
activities so you can develop your leadership skills, such as negotiation,
influencing and people management.
Competitive
Starting Salary
Pay Progression
We make a commitment
to reviewing your salary
regularly and ensuring it
progresses if you perform.
RE WA RDS
We value your contribution to the success of our
business. For the graduates who join us on our
Central Programme, the rewards are excellent.
Discount Card
(eligible after six months’ service)
Every colleague receives a
discount card. This entitles you
to a discount on shopping at
Sainsbury’s stores and through our
online shopping channels.
Other Benefits
Bonus
Your annual bonus is
based on business and
personal performance.
We also offer a host of other
benefits that reward people
for dedication, support
and service. Many of our
benefits are flexible, so you
can choose those which suit
your lifestyle best.
A placement is the perfect
first step in your career at
Sainsbury’s
PL A CEME N T S
Placements are a great way to spend a
year with us during your degree. You’ll
be able to see how we work, learn about
retail and really get an understanding of
our company culture. You’ll see at first
hand why we’re a great place to work
and the breadth of career opportunities
you can enjoy in the future. We offer
placements on both our Sainsbury’s
Brand and Central Programmes.
and it will look great on
your application for the
Graduate Programmes
next year!
W H AT NE X T ?
You can find out much more about Sainsbury’s and about each
particular programme at sainsburys.jobs/graduates
If you like what you see, you can also apply online sainsburys.jobs
WE STAND OUT BECAUSE OF YOU
Keep up with last year’s graduates
Some of our 2014 graduates are blogging their
experiences of the Programme. It gives you the
perfect insight into what it’s really like.
Don’t rush it
Don’t forget that you can save your online
application and return to it. No need to
power through it all before breakfast.
A N A P P L IC AT ION
T H AT
S TA ND S OU T
We want all of our candidates to apply online. You can only apply for one scheme
within the Graduate Programme, so you must choose carefully and ensure that your
application stands out. When you’ve chosen the scheme that best suits your skills and
ambitions, here’s a few tips to help you prepare a winning application:
Plan your application carefully
If you need to, write down the key points you want to
include on paper before you begin your application.
A few bullet points often helps to focus the mind.
Get to know our business
Sainsbury’s is a big brand and we’re always
in the news. A little bit of extra research
and knowledge can take you a long way.
WE STAND OUT BECAUSE OF YOU
check...check...
...check again
Good grammar and spelling make a big difference.
Maybe get someone else to check it through for
you – a fresh pair of eyes often helps.
Have you supplied all the information required?
Answered every question fully? Have you fully
showcased your ability to be a Leader by Sainsbury’s?
sainsburys.jobs/graduates