Business Graduate Schemes

How do they work?

Business graduate schemes typically last between 1 and 3 years. These schemes often include rotations across different departments, such as marketing, operations, finance, or strategy, giving you a broad understanding of 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 grad 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 Scheme

Grad schemes follow a set structure with training, rotations, and development plans.

Grad schemes include ongoing training, mentorship, and sometimes professional qualifications.

Many graduate schemes offer rotations so you can experience different parts of the business.

Graduate schemes are specifically tailored for recent university grads with little to no experience (but it will help!).

Grad schemes are designed to fast-track you into leadership or specialist roles.

Job in Business

Normal jobs tend to focus on a specific role with less formal progression.

Regular jobs may offer training, but it's usually less intensive or formal.

In a normal job, you typically stay within one team or function.

Normal jobs may require prior work experience or industry knowledge.

Regular jobs may offer progression, but not as quickly or as clearly defined.

Focus on what you want, don’t just follow what everyone else is doing.

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:

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 in a business graduate scheme?

On average, grads on a business scheme earn £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 stand out, especially if you have done one in business.

When should I apply for a graduate job?

The best time to apply for a grad job is a year before you start, so ideally, you want to start looking at around 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!