Arco launches its first graduate placement programme
NEW TALENT: From left, Harry Shepherd, finance graduate; Charlotte Andrews, commercial graduate; Darren Ford, Arco’s Head of Learning and Development; Olivia Richardson, marketing graduate; and Tom Newman, HR graduate
By Simon Bristow
Arco has launched its first dedicated graduate placement programme as part of its ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of talent in the safety industry.
From hundreds of initial applications, Charlotte Andrews, Tom Newman, Olivia Richardson, and Harry Shepherd have joined the fifth-generation family business as part of the 18-month paid programme, based at Arco’s new office and collaborative workspace at Blackfriargate, Hull.
Developed in-house by Arco’s Learning and Development Team, the programme will see the graduates develop their skills and knowledge within diverse areas of the business, including in finance, the commercial team, marketing and HR, as well as acquiring further relevant qualifications in their areas of specialism.
Darren Ford, Head of Learning and Development at Arco, said: This is the first time we have run a dedicated graduate recruitment programme, which further demonstrates our business’s commitment to developing talent.
“It’s fantastic that we were able to attract so many high-calibre applications and we’re delighted to have successfully recruited four exceptional candidates in Charlotte, Tom, Olivia, and Harry, to Arco.
“They will bring fresh ideas and ways of working to our business while we offer them an invaluable early career development opportunity in return.”
Olivia is a media and screen studies graduate from the University of Hull, who will be joining Arco’s marketing team as a marketing graduate.
She said: “Having lived in Hull all my life, I was always aware of Arco and knew that they had a strong reputation of being a good company to work for and that they really contribute to the local community, so I knew that it would be a company that would fit with my own values.
“The graduate assessment day I took part in for the programme was a real challenge and pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed it and was excited to be chosen as one of the four graduates.
“After completing my course at university, I had established my own online business and this project had introduced me to digital marketing and the principles on how to create and grow a brand. I knew at that time that this was something that I wanted to explore further as a career.
“During my placement I will be dividing my time between three different teams, something I am really looking forward to as it will mean developing a variety of new skills and learning from different experiences. I think this will be a very valuable opportunity to have at the start of my career, as I can explore different roles and decide which area I would like to specialise in.
“Upon completing the graduate programme, it would be great if I could eventually go on to help others do the same thing as they start out in their careers.”
Arco has a strong history in attracting and nurturing talent, including through its Future Experts programme, which has supported nearly 60 apprentices since its launch in 2016.
It is hoped that the Graduate Placement Programme will become a regular avenue for recruitment for Arco in the future, and that the placements will provide a platform for career development at the business.