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Commercial Graduate Schemes
SUPPORT GUIDE
2021 - 2022
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE | Careers Service
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Commercial Graduate Schemes: Resources
Commercial graduate schemes are opportunities for employment and training following the completion of an undergraduate degree. They are offered in a
number if sectors and industries and give access to professional training and qualifications.
Most commonly schemes are provided by large employers offering multiple roles in various departments, they are classified as attractive to graduates who
want to develop their early career with management-level responsibility. It is, at this point, worth noting that while this document focuses on commercial
schemes there are several technical and research-based graduate schemes that offer similar opportunities.
Please note that this document is intended as an illustrative guide of example graduate schemes that you can use in your research of potential employers
and gives a variety of schemes to illustrate their diversity. It also lists some useful search engines and publications that can start your research into whether
a graduate scheme is right for you.
What do we mean by ‘Commercial’?
In this document ‘commercial’ refers to graduate schemes that deal with general management in business strategy, supply chain, operations, logistics and
development of an organisation. This includes HR, Marketing and general sales and finance. Schemes take place in a wide range of employers.
• Find out more about various career sectors in our Sector A-Z
Recordings to support this guide
• Careers Service Video: ‘Is a Graduate Scheme right for Me?’ on YouTube
• Careers Service Video: ‘What is a Commercial Graduate Scheme?’ on YouTube
• Careers Service Video: ‘Graduate Schemes: Application Advice’ on YouTube
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Decision making
• Making Career Decisions article from 80000 hours to help with high-impact decision making
• Careers Service Self-reflection Toolkit in Handshake which will enable you to reflect on your skills and experience for career-fit
• Careers Service ‘Profiling for Success’ programme which enables you to undertake a range of psychometric tests and personality tests for career-fit
• psychometric tests and personality tests for career-fit
• Careers Service Video: ‘How to Find an Internship: Getting Started’ on YouTube
• Careers Service Video: Questions to ask an employer on YouTube
Researching Vacancies & Opportunities
The ‘Digital Publications’ resource section on Handshake offers useful employer guides.
1. Handshake Handshake is the University of Cambridge Careers Services’ vacancy and events platform, featuring employer events, vacancies and
resources
2. Careers Service Website University of Cambridge’s Careers Service home website featuring podcasts, sector information, CV and application guides and
access to external subscriptions
3. Prospects.ac.uk Prospects is a careers research and vacancy portal featuring example job profiles
4. TargetJobs.co.uk TargetJobs has a focus on recruitment advice and vacancies with large employers
5. Vault.com Industry insights and careers advice, in-depth insight into sectors via rankings and guides (you can access Vault via the Careers Service using
your [email protected].uk address)
6. Bright Network Careers advice, vacancies, employer listings, virtual internships and e-training
7. RatemyPlacement Peer reviews on internship experiences, employer listings and internship vacancies
8. The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers annual guide to Britain’s most sought-after and prestigious graduate employer (also accessible via Handshake)
9. Gradcracker useful site with graduate schemes across STEM subjects
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Example Opportunities
Below are listed several example graduate level programmes. They have been chosen for a combination of two or more factors: prestige, compensation,
commercial focus and training.
Overview
• Roles are used for illustrative purposes; they are not an exhaustive list and we ask you use your own judgement about their suitability for your needs.
The links are updated each academic year but if you find the link does not work then a Google of the scheme name should bring it up.
• Some opportunities will have passed at the time of looking and some will be yet to open – this is illustrated where possible – the list is for illustrative
purposes.
• Most programmes are designed for graduate entry (not specifically Masters, PhD or PostDoc though all would accept those candidates depending on
level of work experience and time-lapsed since undergraduate degree)
• Programmes tend to open and close across October – December, but some will open in Spring
• These are formal training programmes, but you can also apply for entry level positions which are advertised off-cycle
• Graduate internships can be a valuable way of gaining insight and experience following graduation or before undertaking a postgraduate programme of
study
Professional Services (a.k.a The ‘Big 4’)
The ‘Big 4’ are KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and EY. They are known as the Big 4’ because of the range of professional services they offer, their market-share in
their field and of course, their size.
Graduate programmes are a popular and sought-after training route and can lead to professional qualification. They have a wide UK and global reach
(e.g ~150 countries; 700 offices), as well as robust training.
They offer graduate programmes in a range of services, such as (but not limited to):
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• Accounting & Finance (inc. audit and tax)
• Legal services
• Consulting (across several specialisms)
• Business programme (flexible programmes)
• Cyber & Technology
• Governance
• Deals & Advisory
Commercial Management, Strategy and Business Development (A-Z)
Scheme or Employer name
Web link
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Allen & Ovary Consulting Graduate
Programme
• https://www.aograduate.com/graduate
-consultancy-programme
• Regulatory and strategic consulting services
• Normally opens in December
American Express
• https://www.americanexpress.com/en-
us/careers/
• Consulting
• Finance
• Marketing
• Tech
• Risk
• Business Strategy
Blackrock Business Management &
Strategy programmes
• https://blackrock.tal.net/vx/candidate/j
obboard/vacancy/1/adv
• Strategic Initiatives & Business Management
• Corporate Strategy & Development
• Business Operations
• Human Resources
• Sales & Relationship Management
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Scheme or Employer name
Web link
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Deloitte
• https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/page
s/careers/articles/graduate-
opportunities.html
• Audit & Assurance
• Business & Financial Advisory
• Consulting
• Human Capital & Actuarial
• Real Estate
• Governance, Risk, Regulation
..Other technical roles available
Jane’s Street Business Development
Internships and Graduate Rotational
Development Programme
• https://www.janestreet.com/join-jane-
street/bd-rdp/
• Summer internships
• Graduate rotational roles
Linklaters: Legal operations graduate
scheme
• https://careers.linklaters.com/en/busin
ess-teams/legal-operations-graduate-
scheme
• Legal project management
• Innovation
• Pricing
Other technical programme available
Mercedes-Benz Consulting Trainee
• https://www.daimler.com/career/gradu
ates/
Philips
• https://www.careers.philips.com/stude
nt/global/en
• HealthTech Commercial Graduate Scheme
(normally opens in January)
• Marketing & E-Commerce
• Customer Service
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Scheme or Employer name
Web link
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Samsung Emerging Talent Graduate
Programme
• https://www.samsung.com/uk/aboutsa
msung/careers/emerging-
talent/graduate-opportunities/
• Sales
• Marketing
• Finance
• Product Management
• Customer Experience
• People
• Technical
• Paralegal
Siemens Strategy Consultant (Graduate
and intern)
• https://www.smc.siemens.de/global/en
.html
• Germany
• China
• India
• UAE
• USA
Search opportunities by country
Sky Business Strategy Rotational
Programme
• https://careers.sky.com/earlycareers/b
usiness-strategy-rotational-graduate-
programme/
• Commercial
• Marketing
• Change Delivery
• Strategy
• Corporate Affairs
TPP Commercial Graduate Programme
• https://tpp-
careers.com/roles/commercial-
manager/
• No commercial experience required
(normally)
Risk & Corporate Finance There are many more examples, please see note on Finance below
Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Houlihan Lokey Graduate Programme
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Restructuring
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Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
• Financial and Valuation Advisory
Marsh Graduate Programme 2022
• Corporate
• Risk Management
• Commercial
Not rotational
Goldman Sachs New Analyst Programme
• Little to no work experience needed
• Final year undergraduates and
graduates
• Advanced Degree route also available
(search Summer Associate)
• Any degree subject
Rothschild & Co London Global Advisory
Programme
Also try..
• Summer Internship
• Long-term internship
• Insight programme
• International opportunities
Commercial Business Services: Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, Logistics, Supply Chain, HR, Marketing
Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Nissan: Business Operations & Logistics
or Production Leadership
• Bookmark for when the programme
opens or search similar schemes
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Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Amazon Business Development Graduate
Programme
See also
• Internships
• Commercial Sales
• Software development
• Data Science
Kraft Heinz International Management
Trainee Program
• Schemes available globally
• Internships
Novo Nordisk Business, marketing, HR
and market access (international
operations and global business)
• Graduate programme usually requires
Masters
• Business, marketing, HR
• Finance & Procurement
• Research & Development
INEO Commercial Programme
• Rotational
• Trading
• Procurement
• Marketing
• Production Planning
See also…Engineering
Kerry Europe Graduate Programme 2020
– Supply Chain
They also offer:
• Sales
• Marketing
• RD&A
• Operations
• Procurement
• Quality
• ICT
• Engineering
• HE
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Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
• Accounting & Finance
Go Ahead Management Programme
(Transport)
• All roles offer a variety of placements
and rotations over 18 months to two
years.
• Bus
• Rail
• Engineering
P&G Supply Chain Graduate Entry
programme
Also available:
• Brand and Marketing
• Research & Development
• Product Supply
• Information Technology
• Finance and Accounting
• Human Resources
• Sales
• Legal/IP
Gist Operational Management
Programme
• Operations management
Network Rail Graduate Programme
Areas available:
• Commercial and procurement
• Finance
• IT & Business Services
• Network planning and strategy
• Operations and General Management
• Project Management
• Property
• See also: Engineering schemes
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Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Jaguar Landrover: Corporate Programme
• Global purchasing
• IT – Software engineering
• HR
• Finance
Allen & Overy: LawTech Programme
• Prefer STEM and Economics degree
but open to all
Unilever: Future Leaders Graduate
Programme
• Opens at different times of year
depending on your location
Cancer Research Finance Programme
Also available:
• Fundraising and Marketing
• Policy, information and
Communications
• Scientific Strategy and Funding
• Technology
• HR
NHS Graduate General Management
Programme
Also available:
• Finance
• HR
• Policy & Strategy
• Health Informatics
• Health Analysis
Civil Service Fast Stream: Commercial
• Internships also available
MI5 Business Enablers Entry Scheme
• Programme covers: Finance, Legal,
Information Management, HR, Project
Management, Compliance,
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Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
Recruitment, Policy, and Data
Management
Wellcome Trust Investments or
Generalist Graduate Programme
• In the development programme you
can do up to four rotations during
your two years.
Property
Scheme name
Notes (e.g. service areas, program type)
BNP Paribas Commercial Graduate
Programme
Savills Graduate Programme
• Surveying
• Rural, Energy & Projects
• Building & Project Consultancy
• Planning
• Sustainability, Energy and Engineering
Knight Frank Valuations Schemes
• Other programmes available that
require an accredited degree
Legal & General
• Finance
• Actuary
• Look out for property specific
schemes, previous had an Affordable
Homes Graduate scheme
Guide updated October 2021