JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 228

Graduate schemes
JOIN THE FAST TRACK INTO LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

Supply chain assistant
Supply chain and logistics are all about
the movement of goods from suppliers to
stores. A supply chain assistant negotiates
with suppliers, tracks shipments of food,
maintains stock levels and forecasts
needs - for example, what foods will be
popular at which times of the year. You
can move on to supply chain management,
senior planning roles or consultancy.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? A qualification in logistics or
supply chain management is a common
requirement, but many people learn
on a supermarket graduate scheme or
apprenticeship (see box, right). You'll need
strong organisational, problem-solving
and communication skills. Proficiency
in foreign languages is helpful, as food
is imported from around the world.
How much can I earn? Salaries
start at £20,000, rising to £60,000
for experienced managers.

Supermarkets rely
on large teams of
skilled IT experts
and software
developers

Supermarket graduate
schemes tend to be
one or two years
long and focus on a
particular discipline
such as management,
marketing, supply
chain or food buying,
although some provide
experience in all
aspects of a business.
The retail sector pays
some of the highest

salaries to graduate
trainees, with an
average of £30,000.
Some employers pay
considerably more. For
example, Lidl's graduate
trainee area manager

scheme has a starting
salary of £40,000, while
Aldi's area manager
programme starts at
£44,000 a year and
rises incrementally
to £75,360 after
four years. Both also
include fully-expensed
company cars.
For further details,
visit supermarkets'
careers websites.

Apprenticeships
SUPERMARKETS ARE RECOGNISED BY THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP
AWARDS AS SOME OF THE TOP APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYERS
All the big food retails
companies and many
smaller chains offer
apprenticeships, which
allow you to earn while
you learn. Schemes
are available in areas
such as logistics,
store management,

driving, and software
development or
information systems.
You'll be paid at least
the national minimum
wage and have paid
holidays and training
days. The length of
schemes vary, but three

years is typical. By the
end, you'll achieve a
respected qualification
and potentially a
permanent job.
Visit gov.uk/
apprenticeships-guide
and company websites
for more information.

Software engineer
Food retail chains increasingly rely
on digital technology to monitor and
order stock, streamline checkout
and payment processes, process data,
manage online shopping and even run
robots in the warehouses. To do that,
they rely on large teams of skilled IT
experts and software developers.
With experience, engineers can
move on to become project leaders or
software development managers.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? Most software engineers will
have a degree in computer science
or software engineering, although
apprenticeships in software development
and/or information systems are available
at some supermarkets. You'll need
high levels of technological expertise
and great problem-solving skills.


http://www.gov.uk/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/jcspring2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com