Vodafone UK, one of the largest employers in West Berkshire and one of the biggest employers in the telecoms sector, today announces that it is to recruit 400 graduates over the next five years.

Due to the popularity of Vodafone’s graduate programme, the scheme has now been extended from one year to two.  The first year consists of two months in a Vodafone retail store on the high street, followed by two, five month “rotations” in any part of the business plus numerous training and development days.  The second year now consists on a year long placement to consolidate and build on the skills developed earlier in the programme.

Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK CEO said: “Our graduates bring fresh thinking and energy into our business.  I always spend time with them as their ideas are interesting and we can learn as much from them as they do from us.”

Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills said: “Graduate schemes like Vodafone’s help young people get started in their careers. They show the value of investing in young people who want to train and gain experience in a successful British business.”

Vodafone UK’s beautiful campus, flexible approach to working and strong ethos of giving something back to society are just a few of the reasons for the thousands of applications that have been made to the graduate scheme over the last three years, when 50 graduates have been recruited each year.  More than 88% of those graduates are still with Vodafone.

The Vodafone UK graduate programme will re-open in the autumn.