A perfectly balanced combination of on-the-job learning, classroom training and real-life project work. A hand-picked development path and fast-track route into senior-level management. A chance to become one of the future leaders of a well-known, quality brand. This is not just any graduate scheme. This is the M&S graduate scheme. Over the course of around 12 months, you’ll take on between three and four placements, designed to give you a thorough grounding in retail. At the same time, you’ll receive on-the-job training and regular classroom tuition to help you develop both expert knowledge and personal skills in areas such as negotiation and leadership. And you’ll be making real decisions about real business issues from the very first day you start. By the end of it you should have everything you need to take on your first big management role. That could mean leading a team of people or running an area of the business worth millions of pounds. In all likelihood, it will mean both. Where can you join us? Most of our graduates join us in a store-based role, and are placed on a fast-track route into senior level retail management. If everything goes as planned then, within a year, you could be running your own small store or managing a whole department of a large one. Alternatively, you could join us on our 18-month store-based HR programme. Choose this route and you’ll have the chance to develop specialist skills and expertise, gain professional qualifications, and build yourself a successful, long-term career. And if you’re after something outside the store environment, we recruit for a range of head office areas, including IT, design, buying, merchandising, garment and food technology, and product development. We also offer 12-month business placements. So if you’re a student, and you’re required to do a placement as part of your degree, then there could be an opportunity for you to spend time with us either in stores or head office. Who are we looking for? As you might expect, we’re not just looking for any graduates. We’re looking for the best around. People with the drive and ambition to make the most of their expected 2.1 and all the opportunities we offer. People who are happy to start anywhere in the country, and move around to move up. People who can match the energy, vision and ideas that have kept us at the forefront of our industry for so long. If you’re one of them, find out more at www.marksandspencer.com/gradcareers