Opportunities in
EARLY CAREERS
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If you have the ambition to become a future leader, our programmes can help you develop the skills, gain the experience and form the professional relationships you’ll need. Many previous graduates and interns have gone on to make a huge impact in our businesses. You could too.
HR Graduate Scheme
This scheme takes your passion for people and turns it into exceptional HR management expertise. You’ll start by spending 12 weeks among our operational teams. Then it's about building up specialist skills in areas such as Resourcing, Reward and Learning and Skills. We also offer training wherever you need it and will fully fund your CIPD qualification
What you’ll need:- Minimum 2:1 in any subject
- A passion for people
- An understanding of the tools a business can use to create happy, healthy, productive workforces
- The ability to work with others to achieve success together
Finance Graduate Scheme
Working in a business-critical role from day one, you’ll provide the commercial analysis our strategic management decisions are based on. We offer full financial cover for your CIMA qualification plus all the support you need to fast-track your career. Show exceptional talent and you could be moving into a top-level role within three years.
What you’ll need:- Minimum 2:1 in any subject
- An inquisitive nature
- Good analytical skills
Premier Inn Operations Graduate Scheme
Designed for driven, commercially focused graduates, this scheme exposes you to various Premier Inn roles and operational areas, giving you a deep understanding of how the business works. Add in all the mentoring you’ll get from senior managers and you should be able to run your own £multi-million site within 12 months. Leadership ability is a must.
What you’ll need:- Minimum 2:2 in any subject
- National mobility
- Willingness to work shifts including occasional evenings and weekends
Internships
HR Internship
This internship will give you real insight into how HR operates at Whitbread, and prepare you for a successful career. It’s a chance to work alongside senior HR professionals and business leaders, and learn first-hand how we enable our people to deliver a fantastic experience to customers. You’ll work on real projects, enjoy lots of opportunities to network and gain exposure to some of the country’s best-loved hospitality brands, such as Premier Inn, Costa Coffee or one of our much-loved restaurants brands.
Finance Internship
How would you like the chance to discover first-hand what it’s like to work in the finance function of one of the FTSE 100’s strongest-performing organisations? This 12-week summer internship allows you to do just that, as you take on a role with genuine accountability, learn about different areas of our business, and gain experience of various types of financial modelling. Prove yourself, and we may even offer you a place on our graduate scheme at the end of it.
What it takes to make it
It’s not easy to become a Whitbread Graduate or Intern. Follow these application hints and tips, and you’ll give yourself the best possible chance.
It’s worth putting quite a lot of effort in here. You’d be surprised how much it will show up in your application if you do that extra bit of research up front.
It’s also important to make yourself stand out . So think hard about what makes you different and try to qualify your statements with real examples , rather than resorting to the usual clichés.
Please remember to check and re-check your application for grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes.
The key thing here is to practise and prepare . Depending on the scheme you’ve applied to, the assessment may involve ability testing, such as numerical or logical reasoning, a situational judgement test or an occupational personality questionnaire. Make sure you know which of them you’re going to face. For the tests themselves, choose somewhere you won’t be disturbed , as you won’t be able to go back once you’ve started. Please flag any technical issues by contacting the graduate team as soon as you can.
For telephone interviews, it’s really important to get ready beforehand . Make sure the interviewer has the right number for you, double-check your phone is fully charged and has good reception, and find a quiet room where you won’t be interrupted. It’s also worth familiarising yourself with your CV and application as we may well refer to them. During the interview itself, focus on answering the questions you’re asked . Avoid rambling. Don’t be afraid to pause to gather your thoughts. And if you need us to repeat a question, just ask. It’s supposed to be a two-way conversation, so please prepare some questions of your own . Above all, be yourself . This is all about us getting to know you better and finding the role that suits you.
The trick here is to come with an open mind . The people who do best are those who listen carefully to instructions and are prepared to interact with other candidates and Whitbread employees. It’s also important to be genuine . Have confidence in your abilities, but don’t be overbearing or pretend to be someone you’re not. What we’re really looking for are people who display our values and show drive, judgement, confidence, commitment and the ability to influence others. Please remember the basics too: be punctual, wear business attire and switch your mobile off.
Supporting people into work
One of the things we’re committed to here at Whitbread is supporting people into work. Our WISE programme (Whitbread Investing in Skills and Employment) plays a big part in this by offering a non-traditional route to training and qualifications. We work with a number of partners to deliver the programme, including Believe in Young People, Job Centre Plus and The Prince’s Trust. There are four key areas we focus on:
Apprenticeships
We’re passionate about apprenticeships at Whitbread, with a commitment to take on around 1,200 apprentices every year across our Premier Inn, Costa and restaurant brands. So far, our schemes have proved a real success – both for the business and for the apprentices themselves. Apprentices are 45% more likely to stay with the company than non-apprentices, and 34% of them gain a promotion within 15 months.
The Premier Inn Apprenticeship scheme has been running since 2010. Since then, 1,100 people have successfully completed an apprenticeship, with a further 950 trainees currently working towards one. Programmes now include an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Hospitality Services, an Advanced Programme in Hospitality Supervision and a Higher Programme in Hospitality Management. Whitbread also has opportunities for apprentices in its support team in areas such as Business Administration and Digital.
The Costa Apprenticeship programme provides an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Customer Service and Barista Skills.
Graduate and Internship FAQ's
If you pass our online ability tests, you’ll receive an invitation to one of our recruitment events. The rest is up to you. Show us why you’re ready for the challenges and rewards of a career at Whitbread, and you’re in with a great chance.
We try not to put a figure on the number of graduates we take because the business is growing and expanding all the time. Rest assured, if you’re good enough you’ll be hired.
We operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So while there is no fixed deadline for applications, we would advise you to get yours in as soon as you can. We open for applications in October and aim to run our assessment centres from as early as November onwards.
Each programme has different requirements based on what the job involves. While we will take your educational background into consideration, we are actually far more interested in finding out about the real you!
Lots. We aim to provide you with all the training and development opportunities you need, and there are no limitations to the career path you can choose.
Yes, as long as they are relevant to your career development.
Our Support Centre is in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. If you join one of our operational schemes, however, you could be based anywhere in the UK.
You can expect a highly competitive salary with an extensive benefits package.
Everyone is welcome to apply to any of our schemes as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.
Your programme is designed to set you up for your career. At the end of it, you’ll be promoted into the role you’ve been working hard to achieve – and from there, the opportunities are endless.
Of course! But make sure you’ve taken on board any feedback you received last time around.
We ask that you only apply to one scheme. The application you submit first is the one we’ll consider.
Absolutely. We welcome recent graduates of any age!
Please visit the NARIC website where you will easily be able to convert your qualifications.
You’re welcome to apply. However, you will have to secure a visa for yourself, as this is something we are unable to support people with.
Please don’t. We ask that you submit your application via our website so we can accurately track it.
