Graduate Management Training Programme

Job overview

We’re seeking graduates who want to work in a values driven, fast paced and evolving workplace to join our Graduate Management Training Scheme, set to begin in September 2025. This is an opportunity to kickstart your career in one of the UK’s largest and most respected NHS Trusts, gaining invaluable operational management experience and insight into how our hospitals are run and how services are delivered.

As an internationally renowned NHS Trust and one of the largest teaching hospitals in England we employ over 13,000 people, serve 1.9 million patients within the Southampton and Hampshire area and provide specialist services to almost 4 Million people in central Southern England and the channel Islands. Our graduate program offers broad exposure to a complex NHS organisational structure with a qualification to support a management position within the Trust at the successful conclusion of the scheme.

Our graduates work in operational roles with exposure to departments which serve our patients. As an operational manager in our Trust, you will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where every day presents new challenges.  You’ll be at the heart of service delivery, working alongside front-line colleagues to solve problems and balance competing priorities to ensure the best possible care for our patients. This scheme will prepare you to take on an operational manager position in the NHS – we work 24/7, 365 days per year supporting our patients and their families.

Main duties of the job

At UHS, we believe in creating opportunities for growth, as we know that developing our people is key to delivering world-class care. That's why a career here is an exciting and evolving journey with endless opportunities to learn and thrive.

Our two-year Graduate Programme involves two one-year placements: one focusing on operational management and the other on strategic planning.

During this time will gain hands-on experience within the NHS, developing essential competencies, including:

• Leadership skills

• Communication and collaboration within a complex organisation

• Operational and performance management

• Financial management

• Strategic planning

• Staff management

• Change management, project management, and service improvement

You’ll receive mentorship from a senior leader at UHS who will guide you through the programme. In addition to the work-based experience, you will also complete a formal operational management qualification and leadership programme with one of our national training partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What We’re Looking For:

During your recruitment journey, we will be evaluating your ability to:

• Foster and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse teams across the Trust, with a strong emphasis on communication

• Work effectively under pressure, supported by an encouraging and motivated team

• Analyse problems and develop practical, workable solutions

The person specification document, attached, outlines the essential and desirable skills and experience required to succeed in this role. For a detailed description of the day-to-day responsibilities, please refer to the full job description, also attached.

Essential Application Criteria:

• You will have, or be predicted to achieve, a 2:2 or higher in any degree subject

• You will demonstrate UHS’s core values of Working Together, Patients First, and Always Improving

Apprenticeship Criteria:

These roles are funded by the Government Apprenticeship Scheme and do not offer visa sponsorship. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• You should have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the past 3 years

• You must have permission from the UK government to live in the UK (for non-educational purposes) or hold pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

Additional Information:

Key dates for our Graduate Recruitment and Assessment Programme:

• Application deadline: 10 March 2025 (Please attach, in one file, your CV including evidence of how you demonstrate our values)

• Online testing deadline: w/c 21st March 2025

• Pre-screening interview deadline: w/c 7th April 2025

• Virtual Assessment Centre : 29th April 2025

• Final Interview Panel and UHS visit: w/c 5th May 2025

• Programme Start Date:  1st September 2025 (non-deferable)