LONDON, 2014-9-8 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kingfisher plc, Europe’s largest home improvement retailer, this week welcomes nine new graduates to its International Graduate Programme. Now in its third year, the programme gives graduates the opportunity to work in the Commercial functions of two of Kingfisher’s Operating Companies over a two-year period.
The nine new recruits, from the UK, France and China, will take up roles at B&Q UK, Castorama France, Screwfix, Brico Dépôt France and Kingfisher Sourcing & Offer in France and the UK – reflecting the expansion of the programme across more of our Operating Companies since its inception in 2012. They will start by shadowing buyers, merchandisers and category managers to understand our commercial principles, before being assigned projects and categories of their own to review, develop and deliver within the following 12 months.
After 12 months they will move to another Operating Company for a further year. The aim is to give them an international mind-set and make working across our varied businesses second nature.
After two years they will have the opportunity to move into permanent roles around the Group. The first intake of graduates, from 2012, have just taken this next step, with two graduates in particular taking up roles in the buying team at Brico Dépôt France and in the Group Net Positive team at Kingfisher’s London head office.
Liz Bell, Kingfisher’s Group Talent Development Director, said: “I’m excited to see the arrival of our latest intake of graduates. The time they spend within our Operating Companies will give them insight into how our businesses work, both independently of each other and also how they collaborate in areas of product development and sourcing. The aim at the end of the formal two-year programme is that they are able to work seamlessly across the Commercial Divisions of Kingfisher’s Operating Companies.”
Two graduates have also joined the Kingfisher IT Services (KITS) Graduate Programme. They will gain experience in all aspects of Kingfisher’s IT support services provision.
Applications for the 2015 programme will open in October. For more information about the programme visit our Graduates page.
###
