There are many reasons why I don’t struggle to get out of bed in the morning and enjoy going to work. Here are some of the reasons why I feel lucky to be a Brakes Finance Graduate.
Career Progression:
From day one of joining the graduate programme at Brakes it is clear that everyone expects you to progress in the company, and there is no cap on what can be achieved. There is a defined path for progression at Brakes so I always know what I’m aiming for and there is training provided across all business areas so there’s nothing holding me back. It's great to see that Brakes are ready to invest in helping me develop and progress. With the commitment that they show to my career development, it's key that I display my passion and motivation to succeed.
Exposure across the business
As a finance graduate I’ve been lucky enough to interact and get involved with work across a variety of specialties. In my first few weeks I was out on the road with the Sales reps and the delivery drivers; meeting customers and getting an end-to-end overview of the business. My current role involves supporting the Procurement team in managing suppliers, helping them improve financial processes and get the most from these vital supplier relationships. Sometimes sample foods arrive in the office and we are lucky enough to try them. My favourite so far has been the Eton Mess Cheesecake!
Level of responsibility
When I started with Brakes I was hoping to be given responsibility early on in the graduate programme. Many companies promise this but Brakes really delivers. They are ready to put their trust in you and it’s a great feeling to know that what I am doing makes a real difference. As finance graduates you are expected to be able to provide detailed insights and understand high-level figures on which multi million pound decisions are made. I met the majority of the finance directors in the first few months and the work I do daily gets shared with senior management and board level execs.
Variety of work
As a diverse company, there is huge scope in the work that we might be requested to support. Having the chance to work across many different projects is the best way to build up knowledge and experience. Often I will be working on a specific project and there will be adhoc requests for me to support another activity for an interim period. It certainly keeps things interesting.
The People
One of the best things about starting a career with Brakes is the people I get to work and socialise with. The support from everyone across finance and beyond is fantastic, all the way up to senior management. The office is a lively, friendly place to work and there are always conversations about Economics and Politics going on.