Sainsbury’s is launching a new graduate programme, designed to support early career professionals in “developing the essential skills all future retail leaders will need”.
The FutureMaker programme enables graduates to spend two years at Sainsbury’s, developing critical skills in four areas, identified as the skills shaping the future of retail: digital and AI, data and analytics, change and transformation and business decision making.
The three-part programme will run for 24 months, and will be split into eight-month rotations within a chosen store support centre (SSC) specialism.
Participants will then be able to apply for relevant roles within the business.
With nearly 50 roles available, the programme enables graduates to work on real projects with Sainsbury’s and Argos and learn from industry experts.
Roles will include buying, commercial operations, digital retail, merchandising, data science and analytics, food technology, logistics and fulfilment, supply chain, transformation, property and procurement, and product and innovation.
Related Story
Applications for the FutureMaker programme open on Friday (9 January).
The launch of the programme will be followed by a broader range of early careers programmes across Sainsbury’s, according to the supermarket.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “As a proud people-first business, our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do.
“We’re committed to investing in early careers and have spent time identifying the skills our future leaders will need to help us build a sustainable retail talent pipeline.
“The FutureMaker programme will nurture critical skills in digital and AI; data and analytics; change and transformation; and business decision making.”
They added: “By opening accessible pathways for graduates, we’re investing in both our business growth and a more inclusive workforce, ensuring our teams reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.”
The launch comes after Asda Opticians rolled out a training scheme for budding optometrists in September, as it boosted investment in staff development.
The business began its first training programme specifically for university graduates who studied optometry, offering them hands-on experience in stores across the UK.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
