Name: Emma Pochin
Age: 22 years
University Attended: University of Derby
Degree: BA Business Management & Marketing

I graduated from the University of Derby with a BA honours degree in Business Management and Marketing, and joined Pendragon on the graduate programme in July 2004.

Pendragon are a really ambitious, forward- thinking Company which first attracted me to apply. The potential career opportunities are excellent as the Company constantly seeks opportunities to grow and strive to maintain their current position, as number one in a very competitive marketplace.

I was impressed with the flexible structure of the graduate programme and believe there to be few graduate programmes around that allow you to get such practical hands on experience through exposure to all areas of the business.

I spent the first fourteen months based at the Company’s head office in Nottingham, where I undertook a range of centralised projects assisting the Chief Operating Officer. This experience was essential to furnish me with the necessary understanding of the Company structure, culture and strategic aims to achieve the collective vision of being ‘the no. 1 choice’.

From this phase onwards I knew I would be based at several of the Company’s best dealerships across the country. I have spent four months as a Service Advisor in a Land Rover dealership where I have obtained practical hands on aftersales experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge, and relished the opportunity to work with different people who welcomed my ideas and suggestions for process improvements.

I am currently preparing to work in Ford dealership where I shall be based in Lincoln for the next six months. Again I will be undertaking the role of a Service Advisor to develop a different level of understanding of the aftersales function within the volume market.

Dedication and flexibility are definitely pre-requisites of the graduate programme. However, I am confident in six months time I will have developed my skills and understanding even further, and will be looking forward to beginning my sales experience and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead of me.