Placements
A placement at Sainsbury's is an opportunity to become involved in real projects that have an impact on our business. You'll develop business skills like project management, networking, business influencing, big picture thinking, accountability and decision-making.
Depending on which placement you join, you'll be based at our London Store Support Centre or in one of our distribution centres across the country.
From day one you will have responsibility for a project intended to have a significant effect on the business. You'll also get a chance to experience many different aspects of life within Sainsbury's, and there will be plenty of support to help you learn the ropes and deliver your business critical project.
Every placement ends with a performance review and if you're particularly successful, a place on a graduate training scheme.
Location Planning
A summer placement in the Location Planning team will provide an early opportunity to gain awareness of the strategic focus in ensuring our stores are in the right place for both our business and our customers.
Entry requirements
Ideally working towards a geography degree, although other disciplines including Town Planning, Retail or Business Management will also be considered.
Logistics
The eight week placement allows you to really add value through your business project whilst gaining valuable hands on experience; you could be based at one of our distribution centres, regional offices or our London Store Support Centre and find yourself planning volumes, forecasting for new lines, setting up a temporary warehouse, testing a new system, looking at key line availability, or making recommendations for transport planning.
Entry requirements
Working towards a degree in logistics, retail or business management.
What is it like?
“With so much change in Logistics there were lots of opportunities for me to get involved in really exciting projects whilst meeting a wide variety of people. It also helped me with my degree on my return to university.”
Will McGrath - Logistics placement
Information Technology
A placement in our IT division will provide an insight into the complexities of the IT function within a Retail environment, developing project management, influencing and IT technical skills along the way.
Entry requirements
Any degree discipline is welcome although Information Technology Management for Business, Business or Retail Management is preferred.
What is it like?
“A placement was the perfect way to find out about IT roles prior to starting my career whilst getting some great experience. I look forward to joining permanently after my degree.”
Terry Jordan - Information Technology placement
Human Resources
The HR placement will allow you to work on a high profile project across one or more of the core HR areas including Reward, Leadership Development and Recruitment. You will have the opportunity to consult with our teams in stores and distribution centres on the work you do as this is vital to the success of initiatives designed at the London Store Support Centre. We'll measure your success on your levels of drive as well as your ability to influence the teams around you.
Entry requirements
You will be completing your undergraduate degree preferably in Human Resource Management or Occupational Psychology and be keen to work towards a Masters degree in this field.
What is it like?
“The placement was a great opportunity to put into practice the theory from my undergraduate degree, and see how policies and projects are implemented on the ground.”
Sarah Tucker - Human Resources placement
Commercial
Spending your summer working with us will ensure that you get an insight into one of the diverse areas in the Commercial team, from becoming involved in delivering best value in all our goods not for resale or experiencing at first hand a refurbishment, extension or new store build.
Entry requirements
Ideally studying for a Business or Retail Management related degree, or Architecture or Engineering, but our priority is your potential to deliver creative customer focused solutions within the retail environment.
What is it like?
“I got real satisfaction from seeing the ideas I came up with implemented at the end of my placement, knowing that I have helped to improve customers' shopping experiences.”
Rachel Chatterton - Commercial placement
Buying
What will you be doing?
This placement is designed to give you a broad insight into the different areas of buying including Product Range Reviews, Category Plans, Product launches, Product Sourcing or our Fairtrade and Organic ranges. By the end of the eight weeks you will have an understanding of what goes on behind the scenes to deliver an ever improving quality shopping experience for our customers.
Entry requirements
You may be studying towards a degree in any discipline.
What is it like?
“The buying placement was a great way to gain an insight into the dynamic world of Sainsbury's and I developed crucial business skills.”
Rebecca Loftus - Buying placement
Product Technology
We offer a very limited number of one year placements to students from a food science, food technology or biological science nutritional background. Please contact the Graduate Recruitment Team on 0845 603 6290 for the latest opportunities.
Product Development
We offer a very limited number of one year placements to students ideally from a food related degree science, food technology or nutrition background. Please contact the Graduate Recruitment Team on 0845 603 6290 for the latest opportunities.
Own Brand Marketing
25% of products at Sainsbury's are from one of our Own Brands, be it Taste The Difference or Basics, Free From or Organics. The Own Brand team is instrumental in setting the innovation agenda, managing product propositions and inspiring and engaging our colleagues in the Sainsbury's brand. One year placements are available in Own Brand Marketing, with limited opportunities in Product Development and Product Technology.
Entry requirements
You will be studying for a retail, business management or marketing degree.
What is it like?
“The work I have done has been engaging; customer orientated, and has allowed me to develop my leadership qualities. The team I work within have been fantastic at helping me manage my work load and settle in to working life.”
Oliver Espinasse - Own Brand placement
Apply now
Buying, HR and Customer & Marketing graduate schemes close on 31st October 2008.
All other schemes close on 31st December 2008.
