Seven of the best graduate schemes

You’ve got your degree, now how do you kickstart your career? Russ Thorne investigates graduate programmes – and how to choose your perfect match

The trend appears to be new and consistent across different sectors, suggesting a systemic change in graduate behaviour (Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi)

There is, of course, no definitive ‘best’ graduate scheme. You'll find plenty of lists out there, including The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers. However, this is a highly subjective area - after all, one person's dream job is another's Kafkaesque office horror show.

But there are steps you can take to avoid your personal nightmare. Firstly, it’s best to look into the details of any graduate scheme.

“A good graduate programme would include clear marketing on how the scheme works, what the recruiters expect and what they offer – package, support, career progression and so on,” says Norman Day, director of careers and employability at the University of Hull.

Make sure the programme will treat you as more than just a number, too.

“We would always advocate opportunities that place the individual at the heart of the process,” adds Katie Seymour-Smith, senior careers consultant at the University of Derby. “A quality programme nurtures talent and seeks to enhance graduate skills to ensure they are portable and translatable to future opportunities.”

Finally, see if your university can connect you to local opportunities alongside the big national names, advises Maggie Westgarth, head of employability and enterprise at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

“In addition to working with larger organisations, we also work with small and medium-sized businesses across the region,” she says. “Historically they would not have had the resources to offer a traditional graduate programme. We enable them to provide the opportunities our graduates want.”

So which scheme should you join? Here’s seven to consider:

Generation UK internship, Tata Consultancy Services

One for globetrotters, this intern scheme is run in partnership with the British Council, and recruits live and train in India, developing digital skills. Shankar Narayanan, head of UK&I for Tata Consultancy Services, explains: “Our aim is to foster the next generation of digital talent for the UK.”

BP

The oil giant's graduate programme is designed to build both technical and soft skills, with mentoring built in throughout. “The programme gave me a wide breath of experience,” says former graduate trainee Chloe Middleton, now working in supply and operations.

Ogilvy & Mather

The creative agency's new six-month paid internship programme, The Pipe, is open to all grads regardless of degree background. “All we are looking for is smart people with evidence of creativity,” says Emma de la Fosse, group chief creative officer.

Ordnance Survey

Launched in 2012, the mapping specialists’ graduate scheme offers no less an incentive than ‘to change the world’. CEO Nigel Clifford says: “It’s rare to have the opportunity to improve the lives of a whole country. This is the opportunity graduates joining Ordnance Survey have.”

Accenture

Consistently bothering the top of those best grad employers lists, consultants Accenture have strength in depth. “The main reason people choose Accenture is the variety of work we do,” says Candida Mottershead, HR director for the UK and Ireland. “Whatever you want to do, there’s an avenue open to you.”

Aldi

Aldi's notoriously tough area manager grad scheme is loaded with perks, including a new Audi A4 and starting salary of £42,000 – it’s a top-rated grad employer for a reason. Be prepared, though. “You have to show a significant amount of dedication in order to succeed,” says Philip Johnston, who came through the programme and is now a director for the retailer.

Penguin Random House

Although the publishing behemoth’s programme is somewhat prosaically titled The Scheme, it's something a little different: a 13-month, fully paid traineeship, open to applicants from all backgrounds. This year's intake included a cake-maker and a history graduate.