Avon Rubber | Commercial Programme

Shape your future with Avon Rubber

"This has been a brilliant opportunity for me to identify and explore my career interests, whilst building the foundations to excel in my chosen pathway" - Jake Golland, second year Graduate Trainee

Successful applicants for our graduate programme will undertake a 24 month structured programme designed to give you an understanding of the entire business before entering into your first career role. As a Graduate Trainee you will cover all disciplines and business areas, for example corporate (finance, IT, legal, company secretarial), operations, product design and engineering and sales and marketing, but your placements will be tailored to fit your career aspirations. You'll have the opportunity to take on a 6 month secondment in any one of our business locations around the world, although you will primarily be based at our head office near Bath in Melksham, Wiltshire.

Through continuous reviews and feedback, and with the help of your own personal mentor, you will grow into a well-rounded business person, taking you from entry-level position to specialist, expert and beyond, in a company which is growing fast and offers opportunity for progression.

After the programme, our past graduates have gone on to take important roles within the company straight after they completed the programme. From business analysis to operations and product management, they have found their area of interest throughout the two years and secured jobs with us. We want you to do the same and grow your career with us.

£25k annual salary, with potential to rise up to £27k based on performance during the programme.
Funded optional international secondment
25 days holiday (plus statutory holidays)
Contributory pension scheme including life assurance
Eligibility for bonus after first year of the programme.
Plenty of training opportunities to help you with your placements, including 24/7 access to e-learning with LinkedIn Learning
Help with medical and health bills
You will also be eligible for site based benefits, please click here for more information

Requirements

Applicants must:

Have obtained or be about to obtain a minimum of a 2:1 for your undergraduate degree (any degree discipline considered)
Have permission to work in the UK by the start of their employment
Be able to start work in September 2021

Preferred skills/characteristics:

Excellent levels of written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate at all levels
Keen and strong problem solver with a good eye for detail
Methodical, hardworking and enthusiastic
Bright, resilient, proactive and energetic
Organised and analytical in your approach to work
Comfortable working alone and as part of a team, able to make things happen

There are five stages to our graduate recruitment process.

Step One - Apply for vacancies
The first step is to apply by filling in our online application form. You will be asked the following questions:

1. Why do you want to work for Avon Rubber?
2. Why have you decided to apply for this particular programme?
3. What strengths, skills and experience do you have which will help you succeed in Avon Rubber?
4. Tell us about the hardest challenge you've faced and how you overcame it

Step Two - Applications close
Applications for the programme will close on 26th March. After this you will receive an email informing you whether your application was successful.

Step Three - Assessment centre
We want to get to know you better so shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend our assessment centre on the 28th April or 6th May. We will be looking for strengths in communication and innovative ideas so we will ask you to complete a series of exercises and interviews to give you the opportunity to demonstrate these skills.

Step Four - Job offers are made
Within a week of the final assessment centre, we will provide the successful candidate with a job offer. If you are unsuccessful we will ensure that you are given feedback to help you with your development.

Step Five - Graduate induction
The graduate induction programme will begin in September 2021. You will spend two weeks getting to know the business, start working on your development plan and find out where your first placement will be.

"As well as the learning that comes with the 6 month rotations the opportunity to pioneer your own pathway with LinkedIn learning, mentoring and training courses means the limit to your personal development is really down to you. Some projects can be challenging and will put you out of your comfort zone but enthusiasm to learn goes a long way at Avon Rubber and there is a great support network that wants you to succeed"

- Natalie A'Bear, Business Intelligence Analyst

The Commercial Graduate Programme at Avon Rubber is like no other grad scheme. The rotational aspect allows you to get an overall view of the business and encourages you to step out of your comfort zone to take on a placement you may not have any experience in. On top of that, your personal mentor is with you every step of the way. These past months at Avon Rubber have really helped me grow on a professional and personal level, I have developed new and exciting skills as well as extended my network. A great aspect of this graduate programme is that it encourages you to carve your own career path and explore your interests. Everyone here is so welcoming and supportive, motivating you to push yourself and go further.

- Priya Raniga, first year Graduate

"The Avon Rubber Commercial Graduate Programme gave me a broad overview of all functions of the business. I was able to lead, and participate in high level projects whilst developing both my technical and interpersonal skills. Since graduating from the Programme I am using knowledge gained during my 2 years and building a successful career in my Continuous Improvement role"

- Eliot Ball, Process Improvement Engineer

Throughout my time at Avon Rubber, I have been given the opportunity to work in different areas of the business and develop a greater understanding of the industry. While I may not have known exactly what career I wanted to pursue when I left university, the continued support offered by the company has allowed me to better identify my career interests and the business areas I will look to explore in future placements.

- Sam Rees, first year Graduate

"Before I joined Avon Rubber, I didn't know what career I wanted to pursue. All I knew was that I wanted to get stuck into life within an entrepreneurial, growing business, and I wanted the opportunity to learn as much as I could. On the Commercial Programme, I was able to make a genuine impact, and carve out the beginnings of a career path, with tailored training and development opportunities readily available, and the close mentorship of our business leaders"

- Jonny Vocat, Associate Business Development Manager

“The Commercial Graduate Programme gave me the opportunity to experiment with different sides of the business to understand what I am most passionate about and pursue this with the support of the company behind me. The ability to travel to different international sites whilst doing so was a fantastic benefit.”

- Tom Williams, Associate Product Manager

Through the Commercial Graduate Programme I’ve been able to identify where my career interests lie and gain the foundation of skills and experience I’ll need. Right from the start of the programme I’ve had real responsibilities and impact on a wide variety of projects and with guidance from my manager and the team around me, I’ve had the support I need.

- Jess Mills, second year Graduate