Food Business Graduate Programme – Commercial

At M&S, retail has an energy. Our customers feel it because our colleagues bring it. And it creates careers that outdo anything you may have imagined.

Setting new standards in shopping experiences. Creating food that gives the nation fresh flavours. Standing for sustainability. Making fashion that dials up expectations. That’s what we do here, and more. This is Retail. Turned up.

About this programme

Live for food? Want to help sell products people love? On this fast-paced programme, you’ll discover how to deliver quality and innovative products for one of the UK’s most-loved food brands.

Over the course of the programme, you’ll get under the skin of how our commercial teams work together – from spotting what customers want next, to sourcing it, planning it and getting it onto shelves in the right stores, at the right time. It’s your chance to build genuine commercial expertise while working on products the whole nation knows and loves.

You’ll be given real responsibility from the outset, making decisions that shape our ranges and influence how millions of customers shop with us. And you’ll do it all with the support of experienced leaders who are invested in helping you grow.

What you'll be doing

You’ll start with a four-month placement in one of our stores where you’ll scale up your understanding of our customers, colleagues and operations, gaining valuable experience to take into your commercial rotations.

This is followed by time working with teams in Supply Chain, Space, Range and Display, and Buying. Here’s a taste of what you’ll get involved in across your rotations:

Analysing customer data to help forecast demand and make sure the right products are in the right place at the right time.

Working with great suppliers to source and develop products that meet our high standards for quality and value.

Helping to plan and build new product ranges that get the nation talking.

Getting to grips with how space and display decisions influence what customers buy.

Developing the commercial awareness to understand how your decisions shape business performance.

What it takes to succeed

High standards and a passion for food. That’s what you’ll need.

It’s not about having a specific degree. This is about real enthusiasm for M&S and the quality food products we create. This is a commercial role, so you’ll need to be comfortable with numbers and able to look at data with an analytic mind.

A ‘give it your all’ mindset is most important. Alongside that, this is what we’re looking for.

• Ambition to lead and the confidence to resolve situations.

• Desire to learn quickly and strive for high standards.

• Genuine interest in customer needs and an ability to innovate to meet them.

• Ability to build strong relationships and communicate clearly across teams.

Where it could lead

On this programme, you’ll grow strong commercial awareness, a deep understanding of how our Food business works and a clear sense of where you’re headed.

You’ll finish with a permanent role within M&S Food and be on track for a long-term career with leadership potential. That could mean roles involving buying, planning ranges, managing supply and demand or shaping strategies.

Why choose M&S Food?

Our food is not just any food.

We’ve got a reputation for quality, value and innovation. And it shows, with over 32 million customers and new stores continuing to open across the nation. We’re continually looking for new ways to improve and stay ahead in a fast-changing market. Our five-year vision is to reshape retail for the future and as a future leader of our Food business, you could play an important role in this transformation.