It is not your average graduate programme that offers the potential to deliver a multi-million pound project, aid the integration of state-of-the-art aircraft, manage an overseas operation and travel the world as a member of cabin crew. But then again, British Airways is not your average company.
All of these opportunities, and more, await successful applicants to British Airways? flagship ?Leaders for Business? graduate programme, which is open for applications until January 10. Approximately 40 places will be on offer across seven graduate schemes and British Airways promises to offer real responsibility from day one ? something that top graduates demand.
Sara Philp, strategic resourcing manager at British Airways, describes the ?Leaders for Business? programme as both demanding and rewarding. She said: ?Our general management programme is specifically designed to develop high calibre managers and the future leaders of British Airways.
?It will develop and stretch graduates who will be performing real roles with measurable objectives. As such, ambition, leadership skills, eagerness to learn and resilience are all required in abundance.?
The three-year scheme typically comprises three placements across different areas of the business, as well as the opportunity to experience customer service roles both in Terminal 5 and on board aircraft as a member of cabin crew.
And this is an exciting time to be joining British Airways. ?We are currently investing ?5 billion in state-of-the-art aircraft, new products and ever-improving service for our customers?, says Andy Lord, British Airways? director of operations; an alumnus of the Engineering graduate programme from the early 1990s.
He added: ?We have recently integrated Bmi into our business and are, this winter, offering our largest ever Heathrow schedule. Carrying in excess of 34 million customers each year in more than 250 aircraft is no mean feat.
?British Airways was the pioneer in offering flat beds in business class, the first to offer four classes of cabin on long-haul flights and the first to provide cabin crew with iPads in order to improve customer service. This is an ever-changing industry and British Airways requires top graduates to help drive us forward and continue to innovate.?
The airline?s commitment to recruit top graduate talent highlights the important role that graduates are expected to play in shaping the future of British Airways. As well as the ?Leaders for Business? programme, there are graduate opportunities in Operational Research, Engineering, IT, Finance, Procurement and HR.
?With our involvement in the Olympics, recent high-profile marketing campaigns and the A380s and 787 Dreamliners joining our fleet next year, there is a real buzz around the company?, says Tom Cannell, a 2012 ?Leaders for Business? graduate who is currently working on a pioneering project for pilots and cabin crew.
British Airways promises graduates a competitive remuneration package, including substantial flight discounts for friends and family, as well as offering the potential to travel on the airline?s global network for holidays.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
British Airways offers seven graduate schemes:
1. Leaders for Business: open for applications until 10/01/2013
2. Operational Research: open for applications until 10/01/2013
3. IT: open for applications until 10/01/2013
4. HR: open for applications until 06/01/2013
5. Engineering: will be opening for applications soon
6. Finance: now closed for 2013 applications
7. Procurement: now closed for 2013 applications
All programmes commence October 2013.