Business Graduate Schemes
If you're in your final year of university and thinking about your next steps, a business graduate scheme could be the perfect way to launch your career.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about business graduate jobs and schemes.
How do they work?
Business graduate schemes typically last between one and three years and offer hands-on experience, professional development, and the chance to explore different areas of a company.
Whether you're into strategy, marketing, operations or finance, these schemes include rotations across different departments, giving you a deep dive into how the business works and helping you find the area that suits you best.
Alongside day-to-day work, you'll receive formal training, mentoring, and possibly the chance to work toward professional qualifications. The aim is to build your skills, confidence, and leadership potential, with many schemes leading to a permanent role at the end. They're a great way to gain real experience, develop quickly, and set yourself up for long-term success in the business world.
At the end of your scheme, you are free to leave the company and find another job elsewhere, or you can find an alternative, more senior position where you currently are. There are lots of options.
Business graduate jobs vs schemes
It’s important to ask yourself if it is worth doing a graduate scheme over a normal job. And, this will depend on what exactly you want from this experience.
Below, we have outlined the difference between them:
Business Graduate Schemes
Grad schemes follow a set structure with training, rotations, and development plans
They include ongoing training, mentorship, and sometimes professional qualifications
Many graduate schemes offer rotations so you can experience different parts of the business
They're specifically tailored for recent university grads with little to no experience (but it will help!)
Lastly, graduate schemes are designed to fast-track you into leadership or specialist roles
Business Graduate Jobs
These roles last indefinitely, as schemes tend to last for 2-3 years
Graduate jobs tend to focus on a specific role with less formal progression
They may offer training, but it's usually less intensive or formal
You typically stay within one team or function
They may require prior work experience or industry knowledge
Graduate jobs may offer progression, but not as quickly or as clearly defined
You can find out more about these differences in our individual guides below.
Types of business schemes for graduates
As business is such a large industry, there are so many different types of schemes available. Some of the most common schemes are:
General Management Graduate Schemes
These programmes rotate you through various departments (e.g. operations, finance, marketing, HR) to develop well-rounded future leaders.
Check out Unilever’s grad scheme for one like this!
Commercial & Business Development Schemes
Focus on strategy, sales, client management, and identifying growth opportunities. Great for those who enjoy problem-solving and strategic thinking.
L’Oréal have a grad scheme in this, so make sure to keep an eye out for that.
Finance Graduate Schemes (Non-Banking)
Offered by large firms outside of banking, these roles focus on internal finance, budgeting, forecasting, and business analysis. Often aligned with professional qualifications like ACCA or CIMA.
Sounds like something you’d want to do? Check out BMW Group for their finance graduate schemes.
Retail & Buying Graduate Schemes
Perfect for those interested in consumer behaviour, product strategy, and fast-paced environments. These can include roles in merchandising, buying, or category management.
Aldi is great for these schemes!
Supply Chain & Operations Graduate Schemes
These programmes focus on the logistics, planning, and processes that keep a business running smoothly, from sourcing materials to delivering products or services. Ideal for analytical thinkers and those who enjoy improving systems.
Check out GSK’s grad schemes if this sounds like your thing.
Which companies offer business graduate schemes?
On top of the companies mentioned above, there are other companies that offer grad schemes in business too.
Check out all these companies to see if any of them offer something you’re interested in:
How much do you get paid on a business graduate scheme?
On average, grads on a business scheme earn on average £27,000 to £32,000 per year. It’s also good to know that business jobs out of university tend to pay a little less than this, with a range starting at £20,000 and going up to £28,000.
It’s important to note that this will vary depending on your company and your location. You can expect to have a salary on the higher end of the average if you are based in London to help support your living expenses.
What qualifications do you need for a business graduate job?
Most employers ask for at least a 2:2, but some will prefer a 2:1. Sometimes, employers will also ask for specific degree disciplines like business management or marketing, but that isn’t always the case.
It’s always best to check with the employer what their entry requirements are, you can view it on the job description. Or, you can reach out to their hiring manager.
Having an internship, placement year, or other professional work experience will also help you to stand out, especially if you have done one in business. It's imperative these days to have some form of work experience on your CV if you want to have a chance at securing a graduate role.
When should I apply for a graduate job or scheme?
The best time to apply for a graduate role is a year before you start, so ideally, you want to start looking in September/October time.
It’s important to note that you can apply for grad schemes up to two years after you graduate, so there is no rush if you want to go travelling after you finish university or need more time to focus on your final year.
How to apply
We compiled a 6-step guide on how to apply for business grad schemes for the best chance of success.
Start Early. Applications for many schemes open in the autumn term of your final year and can close quickly. Get ahead by researching companies over the summer and preparing your CV and cover letter in advance.
Tailor Your Application. Don’t use the same CV or cover letter for every role. Make sure you highlight skills and experiences that match the specific scheme and company values.
Understand the Business. Read up on the company’s recent news, core services, and values. Showing genuine interest and commercial awareness can set you apart in interviews and application questions.
Practice Online Tests. Many schemes use psychometric tests as part of the process. Practising ahead of time can improve your confidence and performance.
Use Career Services. Your university’s career team can review your application, run mock interviews, and help you prepare for assessment centres. Make the most of them!
Apply Through Our Website. To find current business graduate opportunities and more application tips, head over to Higherin (us!). You can also register your interest to be the first to know when new roles go live!
Apply for Business Graduate Schemes and Jobs
Ready to start checking out business grad opportunities? See what we have available right now!
Business/Operations Graduate 2026 - Chorley, Birmingham
at Amey
- Graduate Scheme
- £28,500
- Birmingham, Chorley
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