Fast Track: A-Z of Employers - L'Oreal: Because they're worth it

Age: 66

History: The parent company was founded in France in 1907 by Eugene Schueller, a chemist, and is now the largest cosmetics producer in the world. Its portfolio includes the signature brand L'Oreal Paris; Laboratoires Garnier; L'Oreal Coiffure; Maybelline New York; Redken; Lancome; Helena Rubinstein; Vichy; Prestige and Collection. It also produces perfumes for Armani, Ralph Lauren and Cacharel.

Address: Headquarters are at 30 Kensington Church Street in west London. There's also a factory in Wales and a distribution centre in Manchester.

Ambience: The company says that "everybody's opinion counts" and describes its working environment as a place that's "informal, friendly, innovative, challenging, energetic, international and stylish" - as befits a company that sets trends.

Vital statistics: Annual turnover exceeds pounds 300m, and there are nearly 2,000 employees in the UK, plus 800 staff world-wide.

Lifestyle: Some trainees move around the UK during their training period; there's also the chance to work in different functions and to take responsibility early. The company says it takes a "flexible approach" to employees.

Easy to get into? There are around 30 places on L'Oreal's management trainee scheme, incorporating functions which include sales, marketing, logistics, finance, IT, manufacturing and distribution. Applicants will need to be "first-rate academics" with intellectual rigour, a combination of analytical and creative skills, and an aptitude for languages, says the company, but no specific degree is asked for. For more details, access the company's website on www.loreal.com

Glittering alumni: L'Oreal's chief executive, Lindsay Owen-Jones, is the only Brit heading a major French company. He is an officer of the French Legion of Honour. The ex-deputy chairman of Sainsbury, Tom Vyner, has just joined L'Oreal UK as its vice-chairman.

Pay: Graduate trainees start on around pounds 20,000, but those with previous relevant qualifications may get extra. There's a six-monthly review, plus pension and medical insurance arrangements "and lots of informal feedback".

Training: The company's management training programme lasts from nine to 12 months and is tailored to individual needs, with a modular structure. There are also formal internal and external courses, and in addition, L'Oreal was a founder member of the Cedep (Centre europeen d'education permanente) which uses the business school Insead for training, and has an international management perspective.

Facilities: There's a subsidised canteen and gym, plus a staff shop that sells lots of L'Oreal goodies.

Who's the boss? Lindsay Owen-Jones is the company's chairman and chief executive-in-one. Managing director in the UK is Jean-Jacques Lebel.