We’re looking for outstanding Engineering graduates to join our Engineering graduate programme beginning in September 2024. We’re the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions and your role within DS Smith will be to ensure our packaging machines are successfully operating, improving our processes, reducing waste and adhering to health and safety protocol.
Locations
Your initial placement will be in one of the following locations*:
- Hinckley, Leicestershire
- Burscough, Lancashire
- Fordham, Cambridgeshire
- Featherstone, West Yorkshire
- Belper, Derbyshire
*Please note that these locations may be subject to change and your second placement could take you to a different location so we’re looking for graduates who are geographically flexible.
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
You’ll begin the programme in one of our UK Packaging sites where you’ll be responsible for ensuring that we keep our packaging machines running. You’ll maintain the machines, predicting potential issues and overcoming problems which would result in a costly pause in our operations. You’ll get involved in continuous improvement projects and will find ways to increase productivity, reduce waste and ensure health and safety. You’ll also be an ambassador for the DS Smith Way, reviewing processes and ensuring we work in the most productive way.
Due to the nature of the programme, some of your placements may take place in another location, therefore to get the best out of the programme, we require candidates who will be geographically flexible.
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 engineering – mechanical, process, electrical or other disciplines considered- (or due to complete this by September 2024).
- Be able to start in the business full time on 2nd September 2024.
- Speak fluently in English (minimum B2 level).
- Hold the relevant right to work within the UK.
- Be fully flexible and geographically mobile as there will be placements across the country.
Benefits
So what’s in it for you?
- A starting salary of £30,000.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Company pension.
- Life insurance.
- Income protection.
- Employee Assistance programme (which entitles you to 8x free counselling sessions per year).
- Cycle to work scheme.
*Assessment Centres will be held on 19th and 20th March 2024 at our Fordham, Cambridgeshire site.
