Marketing graduate schemes 2025

Looking to start your marketing career? Learn from industry experts, work on real projects, and build a strong foundation for your future on a marketing graduate scheme

Which companies run marketing schemes?

Marketing is vital for every business. As a result, you'll find marketing graduate schemes in an array of disciplines, including:

advertising
digital marketing
in-house marketing
market research
public relations
search engine optimisation (SEO).

Leading brands across various industries offer a range of marketing graduate schemes, providing opportunities for recent graduates to gain hands-on experience, including:

Aviva - the brand and corporate affairs scheme focuses on fostering customer engagement and driving business growth. Graduates have a permanent role from day one, with a two-year development programme.
Caterpillar - two-year programme focuses on understanding customer needs, identifying opportunities, and positioning the brand and products.
JCB - an 18-month programme allows graduates to gain experience in various marketing disciplines, including event planning, communications, social media management, and web development.
Lidl - the 23-month scheme focuses on brand strategy, campaign development, media planning, and retail marketing.
Nestlé - offer a two-year programme focused on developing effective brand communication strategies and analysing emerging market trends.
Samsung - run a two-year scheme across multiple marketing disciplines, including market insights, brand management, social media marketing, and digital marketing.
Virgin Media and O2 - a two-year commercial, product, and marketing programme with four, six-month rotations, providing an overview of the marketing landscape.
Vodafone - the two-year programme empowers graduates to create and manage digital marketing campaigns, including social media and SEO strategies.
Volkswagen Group - allows graduates to specialise in either digital marketing, performance marketing, or customer management, on a two-year scheme.

Search for marketing, advertising and PR graduate schemes.

What are the benefits of marketing graduate programmes?

Graduate schemes typically offer competitive salaries and benefits packages, including pensions, healthcare, and professional development opportunities.

Providing a fast-track to a successful career, you'll gain exposure to various aspects of marketing, helping you to identify your strengths and interests and choose a specialism, meaning you'll be well-positioned for senior roles.

What do marketing graduate schemes involve?

Marketing graduate schemes typically offer hands-on experience working on real-world marketing projects. You'll likely attend workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance your knowledge and skills.

Graduates are typically provided with a mentor, allowing you to learn from experienced professionals and receive guidance on your career development. You'll also be able to take advantage of networking connections with industry leaders and build relationships with other aspiring marketers.

Many marketing graduate schemes are rotational, meaning you'll work your way through placements in different departments of the business.

For example, at Samsung, you'll be involved in a range of marketing activities, from concept development to data analysis. You'll rotate through insights gathering, brand development, and direct-to-consumer marketing.

With JCB, you'll gain experience in various business disciplines, with responsibilities including supporting new product launches and assisting the dealer network to achieve sales targets.

How much will I be paid on a graduate scheme?

As a guide, expect a starting salary of around £30,000 to £35,000 per year on a marketing graduate scheme in the UK.

Wages vary, as larger companies and those in sectors like finance or technology tend to offer higher pay, and salaries in London and other major cities are also higher than in regional areas.

For instance:

Nestlé offers a starting salary of £32,000
Volkswagen provides its graduates with £31,800 per year
Caterpillar offers marketing graduates a pay package of £34,800, including a £1,000 signing bonus.

Some companies also offer bonuses and other benefits, such as gym discounts, life assurance, and income protection.

Am I eligible to apply for a marketing graduate scheme?

Most graduate schemes require a 2:1 degree, but the subject is often flexible. Some recruiters will accept a 2:2. Employers typically don't consider A-levels or other qualifications.

For example, JCB, Virgin Media and O2's graduate schemes require a 2:1 undergraduate degree. Volkswagen Group and Aviva require a degree, but they are more interested in your potential and professional development than academic performance.

Employers generally don't impose age restrictions on graduate scheme applications. However, many programmes have a recent graduate requirement (e.g., within three years). Always check with the company or organisation for their specific eligibility.

Beyond academic qualifications, employers value skills like problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. Demonstrating your potential for professional development is crucial.

Discover what skills employers want.

How do I apply?

Marketing is a popular field, and many graduates aspire to start their careers in this area. This creates a lot of competition for a limited number of places on schemes.

Before applying for any marketing graduate programme, take the time to research the companies you're interested in. By tailoring your cover letter, personal statement and demonstrating genuine interest in the organisation, you can boost your chances of securing a place.

Companies often have a multi-stage selection process, including psychometric tests, video interviews and assessment centres. The last stage of the application is usually a face-to-face interview.

The window to apply for graduate schemes is usually from June onwards, with a deadline around November or December. It's best to apply sooner rather than later, because applications may fill up and close early.

Am I guaranteed a job after completing a graduate scheme?

A select few marketing graduate schemes, such as Aviva's, offer guaranteed roles from the outset. Most schemes, however, don't guarantee a job offer. Companies often run these schemes with the intention of identifying talent and hiring participants, making the selection process competitive.

Even if you don't land a job within the company, the skills and experience you gain will make you a more attractive candidate in the job market.

Find out more

Read all about graduate schemes.
Discover work experience opportunities with marketing internships.
Explore what the marketing, advertising and PR sector has to offer.

Marketing graduate schemes