FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, today revealed that its UK graduate schemes has attracted 749 applications – a record for the company.
First also confirmed that it has recruited 17 applicants for its 2011/12 graduate programmes – also a record for the company.
Linda Guthrie, FirstGroup’s Head of Learning and Development, said she was overwhelmed by the response:
“Our graduate schemes are always popular, we’ve earned a very good reputation for the quality and variety of our programmes.
“We generally receive around 500 applications each year, so to have received 50% more this year is quite surprising.
“It’s certainly encouraging that First has become the most sought out company in our industry to work for amongst UK graduates.
“We’ve taken on a record 17 graduates for the coming year. They will experience life across both bus and rail divisions in a variety of disciplines ensuring that they have a sound understand of the business as a whole.
“At FirstGroup we are very conscious of the need to invest, train and develop our staff. The transport industry plays a vital role in keeping the economy moving. It is imperative therefore that we attract talented, enthusiastic people to our industry.
“We want to attract the cream of Britain’s graduates – we’ve certainly achieved that given the calibre and potential of our 17 new recruits.”
The 17 graduates, 12 male and five female, begin work at FirstGroup on September 5 with a four day induction at the company’s headquarters in Aberdeen.
