Graduate Scheme
AO started small. An infamous £1 pub bet led to our launch in 2000. Fifteen years later, we have over two million customers, 1.7 million Facebook fans, with one in every four appliances bought online purchased through us. Our mission is to be the Best Electrical Retailer in Europe!
We are on the lookout for people who are driven to learn, have the ability to have fun as well as being smart and bold enough to try the unknown. Genuine, caring people make the difference, that’s why we only recruit people who embody the AO DNA.
Why not start your AO journey today?
What's the Graduate Scheme all about?
Our graduate scheme has been designed to help you to understand the challenges faced as we strive to become the best electrical retailer in Europe, providing you with a great foundation for a successful career with us. Over the course of the scheme you will gain a breadth of experience through varied placements on a rotational basis. You will also be given the opportunity to spend some time at our European HQ in Germany.
What can you expect?
- Work within our operations, finance, ecommerce and international departments
- Team building opportunities throughout the scheme to get to know your cohort
- Building and maintaining relationships with key stake holders and suppliers
- Opportunities to present your ideas and learnings to our board of directors
- Helping shape our strategy as a potential future business leader
- Regular appraisals throughout the scheme to ensure consistent feedback
- The autonomy to make an impact on high value projects
Your Responsibilities
You can’t sit on your hands here at AO; you need to be ahead of the curve so self-development is something you will be expected to invest in to ensure your own success.
Your rotations will mainly be based in the Northwest across our different sites. If you are interested in working at our European HQ you will need to be flexible and prepared to travel regularly.
Our Responsibilities
- Provide you with the tools and support needed to progress
- Offer you the in-depth experience of how such a complex organisation really works
- Give you experiences that will both stretch you and which you will find personally enriching
- Underpin your professional development with accredited training e.g. CIMA
- Back your personal development via an established mentor within the business
- Develop your individual leadership skills by working on high value projects
What skills do I NEED to have to be successful on the Graduate Scheme?
Qualifications are important but it’s who you are that really matters; at AO our core values are Fun, Caring, Smart, Bold and Driven
- 2:1 in a mathematical / business orientated degree or equivalent
- Strong numeracy skills
- Strong analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail
- Intermediate excel skills
- Good communication skills
- Good influencer / negotiator
- Logical and methodical approach to solving problems
- Good organisation and prioritisation skills due to fast paced environment
Utterly brilliant benefits you will receive on our Graduate Scheme
At AO, you’re not just starting a job, you’re starting a career. People are our biggest asset and our vibrant and engaging culture is our biggest differentiator. We ensure that we create a happy, stimulating and challenging environment for all our employees to thrive in and be the best they can be.
You also gets to enjoy the following benefits:
- 33 days holiday – Including Bank Holidays for the perfect work/life balance
- New Year bonus for 100% attendance – (subject to start date)
- Free breakfasts, snacks & drinks all day, every day
- A hugely discounted gym membership at Bolton Arena and certain Manchester gyms
- Childcare vouchers to take care of the little people
- An enhanced Maternity and Paternity package for those with a new arrival (subject to length of service)
- A cycle to work scheme to encourage wellbeing
- Staff discount on ao.com products
- Contributory company pension scheme
- A world-class management training program
- Our Engage Me programme – we’ll stump up 50% of the cost of any activity you fancy doing with your work friends. So far we’ve done everything from snowboarding to scuba diving.
- Huge companywide social events every year…because we like to play hard as well as work hard
- Make a Difference days – 2 extra days paid leave to spend helping out a charity or worthy cause of your choice
Why not be part of our future, join us on our Graduate Scheme and click apply- your career journey starts now!