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    1. Home
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    4. Design & Innovation Graduate Programme Hinckley 2024
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    We’re looking for outstanding design graduates to join our Design & Innovation Graduate Programme in Hinckley, Leicestershire* in September 2024. We’re the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions and your role will be to create innovative packaging which meets our customer’s requirements. If you’re looking for a career which will be both creative and have a positive impact on the planet, this one’s for you. You’ll work with our customers, sales teams, and engineering to establish the art of the possible and bringing innovative ideas to life. The role holder will represent design and innovation across the business, engaging with cross-functional teams developing long term business strategies, and support us on our journey to double the size of our business.

    *location could be subject to change and the second placement may require you to relocate, therefore full geographical flexibility will be required.

    Who are DS Smith?

    You might not have heard of us before, but you’ll likely have handled our products on a daily basis. We’re the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services. We’ve been around for over eighty years and operate in over thirty countries across the UK, Europe and the United States. From food and beverage packaging in your local supermarket to every Amazon parcel which arrives at your door, DS Smith has created packaging, which is innovative, secure and kinder to our planet.

    About the programme

    Based in Hinckley*, you’ll work with our sales teams to understand the customer’s packaging requirements, creating prototypes which fit the brief. Your designs will be innovative, robust, sustainable, and cost effective. You’ll work with our engineers to establish whether our proposals will be possible using the machinery at our disposal.

    This is an opportunity to really get creative, to push the boundaries and work on products which are not yet available in the market. You’ll work with big brands to bring their products to life, considering how we can reduce waste, overcome the client’s challenges, and maximise the opportunities for growth. You’ll conduct SWOT analysis, analysing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as part of our strategic plans, assessing our internal processes and market trends.

    *location could be subject to change and the second placement may require you to relocate, therefore full geographical flexibility will be required.

    Development

    Alongside your on-the-job training, you’ll go on the DS Smith Graduate Journey where you’ll have a roadmap of development to support your career. When you join us, you’ll be given a full induction to the business, including a tour of some of our paper, packaging, and innovation factories.

    In year one, you’ll learn about Self Leadership and Personal Effectiveness, while in year two, you’ll learn about leadership, stakeholder management and influencing. Finally, when the programme ends, you’ll deliver a presentation about your learnings, celebrate your success with a graduation dinner and work with your Talent Lead to find the best permanent home for you.

    But don’t worry, you won’t be doing this alone. You’ll have a network of graduates to bounce ideas off, be given a mentor and a former graduate will be there for guidance and support throughout your journey.

    About you

    To be considered for this role you must have as a minimum:

    • A degree in design – preferably product or packaging - (or due to complete this by September 2024).
    • Be competent in using CAD.
    • Be able to start in the business full time on 2nd September 2024.
    • Speak fluent in English (minimum B2 level).
    • Hold the relevant right to work within the UK.
    • Be geographically flexible and be willing to travel as part of the role.

    Benefits

    So what’s in it for you?

    • A starting salary of £30,000.
    • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
    • Company pension.
    • Cycle to work programme.
    • Employee Assistance Programme which offers up to eight free counselling sessions per year.
    • Life insurance.
    • Income protection.

    *Assessment Centres will be held on the 19th and 20th March in Fordham, Cambridgeshire