Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has announced the launch of its 2016/17 Field Sales Apprenticeships Scheme which will see the business double its intake of field sales apprentices across the UK.
CCEP is bringing back the recruitment programme, which began in 2o16 and saw 10 students offered year-long apprenticeships in a variety of roles in London and Peterborough. CCEP now wants to double the amount of students enrolled to 20 students for the upcoming year and spread the programme to Leeds and Manchester as well as London and Peterborough.
The programme offers an alternative route to join the business and this year has challenged students to a ‘Market You’ challenge to college and sixth form students aged 17 and up. The challenge is to market their hometown through any chosen medium, such as a blog, poster, video etc.
In support of students’ applications CCEP will be running several workshops in schools focussed on up-skilling. The events look to enable students to develop business skills and insights by bringing the world of work to the classroom.
At these workshops students will be given the opportunity to partake in a range of skills based exercises, including interview techniques and presentation skills. Successful candidates will be invited to several assessment days to put the skills they have learnt to the test.
The initiative forms part of CCEP’s mission to support the development of young talent and encourage a diverse workforce in Great Britain. During the 2015/16 programme, 97 per cent of candidates who attended the recruitment events stated they now feel more confident about their future careers.
An Vermeulen, VP of Field Sales at Coca-Cola European Partners said, “Following the success of the scheme last year, we’re very pleased to be continuing the initiative and are particularly excited to be expanding our engagement to students in the Leeds and Manchester areas.
“With even more apprenticeships on offer for the 2017 programme, we’re very excited to see the depth of talent we know GB schools have to offer, and to continue our work engaging with local students in new and innovative ways, helping them to develop important business skills.
“This scheme is a great way of providing an alternative route for young talent to enter the business, supporting one of our core values of encouraging a diverse workforce within GB.”
Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills said: “Apprenticeships lie at the heart of our commitment to give everyone the chance they deserve to get on by offering a ladder of opportunity to learners of all ages and backgrounds.
“It’s brilliant to see such a large global employer like Coca-Cola European Partners offering apprenticeship schemes. Exciting programmes like this will help give people around the country a chance to fulfil their true potential.”
