Graduate
Programme
Wales

Graduate Programme Wales

Our Graduate Programme’s offer a genuine opportunity to fast track your career in Financial Services and Data & AI.

Managed by The Welsh Contact Centre Forum and delivered in collaboration with leading Welsh-based employers and University partners to ensure the skills you develop will make you stand out to employers.

We been delivering our unique rotational and collaborative graduate programmes since 2013 with enviable results. 98% of our graduates have secured permanent roles with some of Wales’ most notable employers.

Our multi-award winning programmes are part-funded by the European Social Fund.

Our employers include:

185 talented graduates have taken part in the programmes to date

85 of graduates would “highly recommend” the Graduate Programme

14 Employers offering a variety of work placements

About

Our programmes offer a combination of ‘on the job’ development, along side academic learning through the study of a fully funded, industry-designed Master’s qualification (Financial Services Programme) or Post Graduate Diploma (Data/AI Programme).

The structure of the programmes enables the application of learning from academia into workplace projects, strengthening graduate’s CVs and delivering real value to employers.

This unique approach means that Graduates are in demand in the employment market when they finish the programme.

We’ve seen extremely high permanent employment rates — 98% of our participants move into permanent employment by the end of our programmes.

As you can imagine, demand is high to make it onto our programmes so we have a rigorous entry process, but the rewards for successful candidates are high.

So, what do you need to apply?

Our Programme is inclusive, we are passionate about diversity and welcome all applications who meet the following criteria.

A Degree graded 2:1 or above along with the right to live and work in the UK.

Due to the nature of the Programme, we are unable to recruit students who require a visa or sponsorship.

Recruitment Process

Applications open

Video interviews

Assessment centres

Applications open

Applications open

All applicants who meet the eligibility criteria should submit their CV and a cover letter explaining why they are interested in the Programme and working within their chosen field.

Video interviews

Video interviews

Candidates who get through the first stage of screening are invited to video interview where you’ll speak to an interviewer in real time over interviewer over Zoom. You can prepare in advance by considering the key points you want to get across.

Assessment centres

Assessment centres

The Assessment Centre is designed to show a candidate’s strengths and highlight any areas for development. We will observe competencies and behaviours through set tasks and interaction with fellow applicants.

Programme structure

Our two Programmes offer different pathways into long term careers.

The Fast Track Data/AI Programme has a unique structure, designed to condense your experience into 10 months.

1x 4 week intensive bootcamp
1x 9 month work placement with top UK employer
Fully funded Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Data and AI, delivered by our University partner (includes weekly taught sessions, support sessions and independent learning)
Salary paid from outset of Programme
Support from a Graduate Liaison Manager
Employability Training
Opportunity to apply for permanent job once you’ve achieved your Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data and AI.

The Financial Services Programme spans two years and has the unique element of allowing graduates to experience 3 x 8-month placements with a top Financial Services employer in Wales.

3 x 8-month work placements at top UK employers
Fully funded part-time MSc in a relevant discipline
Salary paid from outset of Programme
Support from our Programme Liaison Manager
Employability Training.

Placement 1

First employer placement begins
Graduates will be given a full induction on to the programme during which you’ll spend time with fellow graduates, learn more about the consortium employers and the MSc course.Top tip: Throw yourself into your first placement as soon as you can because time will go fast. Absorb as much information as possible to help you figure out what you want to try next.
First employer placement ends

Placement 2

Second employer placement begins
During each placement you have a development and performance plan that travels with you throughout the two year programme. This will help determine which placement you undertake next.Top Tip: By now you will feel more comfortable in your surroundings so work on growing your network across the employers and wider industry.
Second employer placement ends

Placement 3

Final employer placement begins
By the final placement you’ll have a stronger idea of which direction you see your career moving. Our graduate coach will support you with your ambitions through employability training and other techniques. Top Tip: Utilise all the support on offer from The Graduate Programme Wales team.
Final employer placement ends
MSc graduation

Programme information

The Programmes are managed by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and are partly funded by the European Social Fund.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about the programmes, contact the Project Team by emailing recruitment@wccf.uk

For a copy of the Welsh Graduate’s privacy policy, please download the PDF.