Graduate Development Programme

Our graduate development roles, fall into two distinct categories:

• Specialists
• Generalists

Specialists

‘Specialist’ graduates are recruited to fulfil a specific identified need in a particular department.  Whilst you will have a more clearly defined career path, we do not want you to lose out on the benefits the ‘generalist’ graduates gain by being exposed to different departments around the business and building a strong network.  Whilst you are likely to spend less time than ‘generalists’ in other departments, we will create opportunities for you to obtain an insight into other parts of the business.

Even if we recruit you for a ‘specialist’ role, if you decide you want to take a different career path, other opportunities are still open to you within NWL.

Generalists

We know from analysing our employment statistics that we are going to need additional effective managers in a few years time.  This programme is an opportunity for you to develop a rounded view of the business and to develop your skills so that you are ready to take up one of these opportunities.

In this programme, we aim to balance structure with flexibility and choice. A clear message from people who have been on our graduate development programme previously is that they have benefited from flexibility and the opportunity to choose which departments they work in.

We will identify your first placement, which will generally last 3 – 6 months, a list of future opportunities will be maintained and you will be able to apply to departments for these opportunities.

Everyone

• Will have a line manager who you will report to for the duration of the programme.  ‘Generalists’ will also have a placement manager wherever they work.

• Will have appraisals.  As with all new employees, you will have a 3 and 6 month review and then a formal annual review.  This is in addition to the ongoing discussions you will have with your line manager / placement managers.

• Will have a mentor, a senior manager in the business.

• Will have the opportunity to ‘buddy’ with one of our previous graduates, if you feel it would be helpful.

We will create formal opportunities from time to time for you to meet up with others on the graduate development programme, to enable you to build up a strong network.  We will also encourage you to keep in touch with each other informally on a regular basis.

We will encourage you to gain exposure to both our Essex & Suffolk Water and our Northumbrian Water operations.

Some of our previous graduates have gained a great deal from their involvement with the IWO, the institution of the water industry (http://www.iwo.org.uk/) and they are keen to support you to get involved too.