Saga has been “inundated” with applications for its new graduate scheme, which is being reintroduced after nine years.
The training programme, spearheaded by managing director of Saga’s tour operating division, Jeannette Linfoot, will involve graduates undertaking a two-year placement across the Saga group of companies.
Linfoot said the business had received more than 345 applications for the six places on offer, including 20 from inside the company.
The successful applicants will undertake a four to six-week placement overseas as a holiday rep or on board a ship, and the second half in a contact centre.
Linfoot, who herself rose up the ranks at Tui after entering through a Thomson graduate scheme, before working as a government economist, said several senior Saga staff had begun their careers on graduate schemes.
“It’s proven that schemes allow graduates to get a wide variety of experience across the business,” she said. “Companies benefit because they end up with someone who has well rounded experience and stay with the group. So it’s a win-win.”
Each graduate will be mentored by one of the company’s senior team members.
But Linfoot said graduate schemes were not for everybody. “Some people come out of school who want to get straight into a role and we take a lot of people like that,” she said. “But some people like to have the structure of a scheme.”
Saga is also offering existing staff the chance to gain degree-level qualifications through its Senior Leaders programme.
The company is using part of its Apprenticeship Levy funding to support the scheme.
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