Argos corporate news
Argos begins new graduate search for future business leaders
14 February 2008
Argos has begun the search for six of the country’s top university students, capable of becoming the Company’s business leaders of the future. The six successful students will gain a place on this year’s graduate leadership programme, and will join five graduates who began the programme last year.
Unique within the corporate retail careers marketplace, Argos’ intensive, fast-track, 24-month graduate programme provides the six successful graduates with exposure to key business functions, ensuring they gain experience in real jobs in those functions.
Unlike many other graduate retail schemes, the Argos leadership programme equips graduates for a career in organisational management, not just in retail management, giving them real experience and understanding of the key disciplines that underpin a retail business: commercial trading; commercial supply; marketing; e-commerce and retail. Because numbers are small, the programme can be tailored to meet the strengths and skills of individual graduates.
Sara Weller, Argos’ managing director, said the programme, which was successfully launched last year, is much more modern and rooted in the e-world than ‘traditional’ retail schemes: “Argos is already recognised as being the first truly multi-channel retailer in the UK, with the second most visited retail website in the UK, but our success requires us to innovate and improve our offer to stay ahead. To do this we need bright young people who have the ability to drive innovation, challenge decisions and lead the business forward. The fact that there are just six places on the graduate scheme reflects the level of investment and support each colleague will receive during the programme, and ensures they are provided with the stretch and challenge that graduates seek in their career.”
This year’s graduates, who are required to have a 2:1 degree or above and 300 UCAS points or above, will officially start their leadership programme in September 2008. Meanwhile, since joining the Company, last year’s graduates have spent five months working in stores, gaining a solid knowledge of the all-important customer-facing side of the business. As the search for next year’s graduates begins, they have moved into the first of their three five-month placements in key areas of the business.
Owned and overseen by board directors responsible for each of the business disciplines, the graduate leadership programme provides graduates with tailored guidance to map the direction and pace of their career development during the programme and to ensure their aspirations are met.
Sara Weller added: “We are looking to these graduates to lead our business within the next ten years, starting now. They’ll receive the best mentoring from senior members of staff and have the opportunity to contribute their energy, ambition and ideas at the most senior levels. It’s the career opportunity of a lifetime.”
-ENDS-
Note to News Editors:
For more information contact Sarah Leatherbarrow, Media Relations Manager, tel: 0845 1204365, mobile: 0771 3064079, email: media.relations@argos.co.uk
Graduate website address: www.argoscareers.com/graduates
About Argos
Argos is a unique retailer recognised for choice, value and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home from over 700 stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, online and over the telephone. In the last financial year, Argos sales grew 8% to £4.2 billion and it employed some 34,000 people across the business.
Argos serves over 130 million customers a year through its stores and takes four million customer orders either online or over the phone. On average, 17 million UK households, or around two thirds of the population, have an Argos catalogue at home at any time.
Argos expects to add around 30 stores per annum with the chain expected to exceed 800 over time. Its Internet site, www.argos.co.uk, is the second most visited retail site in the UK. Argos is part of Home Retail Group, the UK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer.
