IT Graduate Programme

DS Smith

We’re looking for outstanding IT Graduates to join our graduate programme in September 2024.

Our business and the world in which we operate have changed rapidly over the past decade. Emerging core technologies, alongside digital and data solutions, are going to transform the way we position ourselves for growth and continue to delight our customers, as well as help tackle some of our planet’s biggest sustainability challenges. Technology solutions through core and evolving digital and data capabilities are key enablers for DS Smith to help supercharge our company’s growth.

The programme will give graduates insight into all aspects of Information and Technology, so they gain a clear understanding of the full scope of our activities. From Data Analytics and IT Business Partnering, to Cyber Security and Infrastructure Services and Development, the programme will help individuals develop an excellent foundation to build an outstanding career in IT.

As well as gaining excellent IT experience you will also receive personal and leadership development within a network of graduates, be given a mentor and partnered with a former graduate who will be there to support you.

Who are DS Smith?

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services worldwide. Over the past 80 years our organisation has grown dramatically, as have our services and areas of expertise. You’ll likely have handled our products on a daily basis. We operate in over thirty countries across the UK, Europe and the United States. From food and beverage packaging in your local supermarket to every Amazon parcel which arrives at your door, DS Smith has created packaging, which is innovative, secure and kinder to our planet.

• We work tirelessly to find solutions to design out waste and pollution.
• We aim to remove 1 billion pieces of problem plastics from supermarket shelves by 2025 (and we removed 170 million in 2020/21 alone)
• We constantly expand our portfolio of packaging solutions that can replace problem plastics

About the programme

Based in our new headquarters in London (Paddington), the IT scheme is a 2-year programme designed to give you a great foundation in all aspects of IT to enable you to develop a good understanding of the end-to-end IT delivery model supported by broader development as part of our graduate cohorts.

Successful graduates will rotate in placements across these 5 areas of IT over the 2 years:

• Business Partnering – Interfacing with the business, understanding needs, shaping and delivering digital and data portfolios.?
• Cyber Security – Securing our business by detecting, protecting, & responding to the emerging cyber security threats. ?
• Infrastructure Services – Delivering and continually improving the resilience and scalability of technology services to our business.?
• Solutions Architecture – Helping shape, communicate, and govern the most critical business, data, and technology choices for DS Smith. Exploring our data and technology landscape and emerging trends from IOT to the metaverse and aligning our direction.?
• Digital & Data Hub – Driving digital transformation across the company focusing on 5 key areas of Machine optimisation; supply chain optimisation; energy efficiency, customer experience and work force productivity. ?

Development

Alongside your on-the-job training, you’ll go on the DS Smith Graduate Journey where you’ll have a roadmap of development to support your career. When you join us, you’ll be given a full induction to the business, including a tour of some of our paper, packaging, and innovation factories.

In year one, you’ll learn about Self Leadership and Personal Effectiveness, while in year two, you’ll learn about leadership, stakeholder management and influencing. Finally, when the programme ends, you’ll deliver a presentation about your learnings, celebrate your success with a graduation dinner and work with your Talent Lead to find the best permanent home for you.

About you

To be considered for this role you must have as a minimum:

• A degree in an IT related discipline (or due to complete this by September 2024).
• Be able to start in the business full time on 2nd September 2024.
• Speak fluently in English (a second European language would be beneficial too).
• Hold the relevant right to work within the UK.
• Be able to travel flexibly as part of the role.
• A passion for learning, great customer focus and a love of driving technology solutions.

Benefits

So what’s in it for you?

• A starting salary of £30,000.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Company pension.
• Cycle to work programme.
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers up to eight free counselling sessions per year.
• Life insurance.
• Income protection.

Assessment Centres will be held on the 20th and 27th March.