Sanctuary Group | Graduates

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Imagine contributing to the success of a multi-million pound organisation, making decisions that have a positive impact on communities throughout the UK and developing to become a leader of the future.

As we have a small annual intake of graduates, we tailor our Graduate Development Programmes to the strengths and aspirations of each individual. This year we will be offering three different programmes including our Core Programme, one in Development and one in Sanctuary Supported Living.

Graduate Development Programme

We will be open for applications from the 4^th October 2021 for our 2022 Graduate Development Programmes.

Register your interest in our 2023 Graduate Development Programme

Who we look for

We’re an ambitious organisation and we want our graduates to share those ambitions.

Graduating in any degree subject and with a passion for your chosen programme, you will be in your final year of study, or have finished your studies within the past two years, and will need or be predicted a minimum of a 2:1 degree.

Your personal skills will be just as important. Determined and focused, you will be a natural at building relationships and inspiring others. You’ll also need adaptability, ideas and initiative, strong problem-solving skills and confidence in your own ability. Above all, you’ll have the commercial aptitude and desire to take us forward.

We are looking for people who demonstrate the Sanctuary Group values and behaviours and in particular show a high degree of potential in the following areas:

Commercial aptitude
Ambition and drive
Leadership
Communication
Adaptability

Decision making
Creativity
Influencing
Problem solving and analysis

Sanctuary Group is committed to equality and diversity and is proud to have signed up to the Tech Talent Charter, a commitment to deliver greater gender diversity in the information technology workforce.

What's in it for you?

Rewards and benefits

We offer a competitive salary, a generous contributory pension scheme and a range of other benefits including 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, leisure and retail discounts and exclusive employee offers through our MyRewards scheme.

Training and development

Your training and development will be a priority at Sanctuary Group. You’ll have a comprehensive induction, where you will be introduced to several senior leaders throughout the business and visit a range of our operations across the UK. Throughout your time on the programme, we’ll make sure you have the right balance of on-the-job training, more formal learning and professional development.

After the programme

From Corporate Services to Development, Supported Living to Housing, our former graduates work across all areas of the business. Your future is in your hands. We’ll be expecting you to have the ambition and focus to progress within Sanctuary Group and have a significant impact on our operations. But don’t worry, you won’t be on your own, your development doesn’t stop when you complete the programme, and we will continue to nurture your potential and help you to realise your career aspirations.

Application process

The application process is as follows:

Complete an online application form

The first part of the application process is to complete an online application form. We will be looking for you to demonstrate why you want to work for Sanctuary Group so please ensure you have done your research about each of our business areas and our core values.

When providing answers to questions, please provide specific examples which are appropriate and can relate to the role you have applied for.

First stage interviews

These will be about an hour long and will be conducted remotely via MS Team or Zoom. The interviews will take place at the end of January. We will be looking to find out why you want to join your chosen Graduate Development Programme. We are looking for future potential in our Graduates so think about how you can best demonstrate your potential.

Pre Assessment Centre Meting

For those successful at first stage interview we’ll invite you to a virtual meeting prior to the Assessment Centre. This meeting will enable you to meet some of our Directors and find out more about Sanctuary Group. You will also have the opportunity to network with our current graduates to find out what life is really like as a graduate at Sanctuary Group.

Assessment Centre

The Assessment Centre is a great opportunity for you to show that you are genuinely interested in the role. The one-day Assessment Centre will be held at our Worcester Head Office which is easily accessible by road and rail. Overnight accommodation prior to the assessment centre will be provided to applicants with a long distance to travel. Reasonable travel expenses to the Assessment Centre will also be reimbursed.

You will be informed of the outcome of the assessment centre within 24 hours and a member of the Graduate Recruitment Team will schedule in time with you to deliver detailed feedback on your performance at the assessment centre.

Top tips for applying

We receive a high volume of applications, so it is essential that your application stands out from the crowd. Below are some top tips on completing an award winning application form:

Do your research. We want to hear why you are passionate about wanting to work for our organisation and how your values and behaviours align to Sanctuary Group’s set of values and behaviours
Carefully check your spelling and grammar and proof read your application before submitting it – do not rely on spellcheckers to auto correct words
Ensure you sell yourself, demonstrating your passion and enthusiasm for both our organisation but also the programme you are applying for
Use short, succinct sentences and paragraphs which are easy to follow and focus on answering the question

Frequently asked questions

How long does the application process last?

We are looking to commence recruitment in early October 2021 for the September 2022 intake.

Applications will close in early January 2022.
First stage interviews will be held at the end of January
The Assessment Centre will be held at the end of February.

Where will I be based?

Our central services office is in Worcester, and this is where you will be primarily based too. Where placements allow there will be a degree of flexibility balancing time spent at the office and working from home. However, dependent on the programme some placements may take place in one of our regional offices, which are located throughout England and Scotland. All placements are agreed ahead of time with our graduates and continued support is offered wherever they are based.

When will I start?

Our graduates start in September each year.

How long do the Graduate Development Programmes last?

Each of our Graduate Development Programmes last for two years. You'll have an induction programme, followed by up to four rotational placements. Our Graduate Development Programmes are structured to ensure you have enough time to deliver results in each placement.

What happens once the programme is finished?

The Graduate Development Programmes are two-year fixed-term contracts. The vast majority of our graduates have secured full-time roles with Sanctuary Group at the end of the programme. Our graduates have gone on to work in a number of different roles throughout the business and across the UK.

Can I apply for more than one of the Graduate Development Programmes?

Yes, you can. If you want to apply for more than one you will need to make a separate application for each Programme due to the nature of the specific questions asked. You will be asked to list your applications in order of preference.

Graduate stories

We're committed to helping everyone who works here achieve their own individual ambitions.

Graduates