Early careers at MHR

The journey between leaving school or university and finding a job that you enjoy and are good at can be challenging. As we all know, it can be very difficult knowing what you want to do after leaving education, and, sometimes, it can be even harder finding somewhere that will give you the opportunity to thrive.

At MHR, we know how challenging it can be, and so we’re keen to do our bit and help young people to take a step forward in their careers.

Opportunities for graduates and apprentices

The main way we support young people comes in the form of our graduate and apprenticeship opportunities. 

There are two graduate schemes at MHR, a management and a software graduate scheme, and both provide excellent opportunities for young people just out of university to step into the world of work. Over two years we support their development so that they learn valuable skills and make real contributions. Once they finish the scheme, many of our graduates go from success to success, building long-term careers with us.

We also support numerous young people completing apprenticeships whilst working with us, with apprentices working in departments such as Software, Product Design, and IT. We’re proud to help them to achieve their qualifications whilst giving them the opportunity to gain important professional experience.

Insight days and work experience

Our early careers support continues outside of graduate schemes and apprenticeships. In the last three months, we have delivered two immersive, on-site insight days to support and inspire the next generation. 

The first insight day was dedicated to careers in the software sector and it saw us hosting school students completing their T-levels. As well as providing them with guidance on the range of careers available in this sector, from Software Engineering to Cyber Security, we also gave them information on the specific career paths open to them at MHR.

The second insight day saw us hosting students from Nottingham Trent University, as part of the RISE programme, supporting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. During the day, the students were introduced to the key areas of our business, including Software Engineering, Marketing, HR, and Payroll. They also received practical guidance on strengthening their LinkedIn profiles, CVs, and personal brand. 

We also provide meaningful, hands-on work experience placements. Since the turn of the year, we have provided placements to numerous local school students in departments such as Sales, Marketing, and Cyber Security. These placements give them exposure to real working environments, allowing them to develop real skills. One of our work experience students in January recently returned to begin an IT apprenticeship with us.

Support for local universities and schools

Finally, we also support young people by working closely with local schools and universities to help students better understand their options, preparing them for the workplace, and giving them guidance on the kind of skills and experiences that would be most valuable to gain.

We’ve sent members of our academy and early careers team to university careers fairs including the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, and Loughborough University, engaging with students on routes into the workplace and how to stand out during the graduate application process, and providing them with guidance on early career pathways and graduate positions at MHR. 

We’ve also visited a number of local schools, delivering a mock interview day at one, helping Year 10 students to build their confidence and develop their interview skills. At other schools, we’ve offered advice to students and parents about routes into apprenticeships and building a strong CV.

The work continues

We’re proud of all the support we give to young people, and we’re always looking for ways to create these valuable opportunities.

If you’d like to find out more about the work MHR does for early careers, or if you’re interested in gaining work experience yourself, email us at MHRAcademy@mhr.co.uk