Argos corporate news
Argos searches for future business leaders in new graduate programme
23 January 2007
Argos starts its search for six of the country’s top university students next week with the launch of its new graduate leadership programme, designed to develop the business leaders of the future.
Unique within the corporate retail careers marketplace, this intensive, fast-track, 24 month programme will expose the select six to every key area of the business. And, unlike many other graduate retail programmes, this leadership scheme will allow them to gain real experience and understand the key disciplines that underpin a retail business; commercial trading, commercial supply, marketing, e-commerce and retail.
Sara Weller, Argos’ managing director, said the scheme is being positioned as much more modern and rooted in the e-world than ‘traditional’ retail schemes: “Driving innovation, challenging decisions and leading the business forward – these are the skills which Argos is looking for. Because we are the UK’s leading multi-channel retailer and our internet site, www.argos.co.uk, is the second most visited internet retail site in the UK, our business is cutting-edge and we need bright young people, to whom emerging technologies are a way of life, to fuel our future innovation. Having just six places on the scheme reflects the level of investment and support each colleague will have during the programme and we can ensure it provides them with the stretch and challenge that graduates seek in their career.”
The graduates, who will be required to have a 2:1 degree or above, and 300 UCAS points or above, will officially start their leadership programme in September. Retail training will first launch them into the business, after which they will gain experience for five months at a time in each of the key disciplines. They will then have the option to return to one of the disciplines for a further five months to gain additional experience and then prepare them for their permanent role. Owned and overseen by board directors responsible for each of the disciplines, there will be tailored guidance to map the direction and pace of the graduates’ career development during the programme to ensure it meets their aspirations.
The Argos HR team, supported by the board directors, will be visiting six universities to launch awareness of the programme, all of which have been selected for their reputation for business skills. Warwick kicks off on 31 January, followed by Bath, Aston, Manchester, Loughborough and Nottingham on 22 February.
Sara added: “We want to find the right people to lead our business within the next ten years, starting now. It’s the career opportunity of a lifetime.”
