Emily Black first joined the group as an apprentice, progressed in her role, and is now leading the way as the Emerging Talent Partner at IAG Cargo. We spoke to her to find out how our two-year Graduate Scheme works, what makes a role in logistics so unique, her advice for those looking to join the scheme, and more.
Tell us about your role.
I head up all our emerging talent schemes for graduates, apprentices, work experience, and interns. This involves running recruitment activities, such as onboarding and in-touch days, and overseeing the whole experience from start to finish for every individual on our schemes. I also look after community engagement, supporting local schools with career fairs, and arranging student tours of our office based at London Heathrow.
Tell us about IAG Cargo’s Graduate Scheme and how it works.
IAG Cargo’s Logistics Graduate Scheme is a gateway for our future leaders. It’s structured as a rotational programme, where graduates move between three different departments within the business over a two-year period. They have the opportunity to join our various commercial teams, from sales and marketing, to finance and revenue management, plus a placement in our operations. Each placement is decided based on the business needs and the individual’s goals for professional and personal growth.
The aim of this structure is to equip our grads with the skills and real-life experience needed to progress within the company. By the end of the programme, they should have an in-depth understanding of what the business does and how it all works together.
IAG Cargo’s 2023 cohort of graduates
What qualities do you look for when hiring graduates?
Those who are keen to learn and get involved, have a passion to create change, and are driven to succeed. The more you put into this scheme, the more you get out of it.
Tell us about the scheme’s new onboarding programme.
We have a bespoke five-week induction programme that’s tailored to graduates, so they get as much insight as possible into who we are and what we do before they start their placements. They network within the IAG Cargo community, meeting everyone from heads of departments to previous graduates and our executive team. They also spend two weeks within the operation, which includes a tour of our climate-controlled New Premia facility, and one week within commercial, sales, and marketing.
What happens after graduates complete the two-year scheme?
A lot of our grads stay in the business and most move into management level roles. A few months before the scheme ends, we deliver an off-boarding programme in which we support with CV writing and mock interviews to prepare them for applying to permanent roles within the company. We host networking sessions to ensure the business understands their individual successes, and that the grads know what opportunities lie ahead for them.
What are some success stories of previous graduates who have come through the scheme?
We have several experts at IAG Cargo who began their journey through our Graduate Scheme and are continuing to make a real impact on the business, including our current Head of Operational Planning and Head of Performance Optimisation. One of our previous grads relocated to our Madrid office as Head of Business Change.
Is there a lot of travel involved in the Graduate Scheme?
One of the initiatives of the scheme involves visiting our hubs in Madrid and Dublin, so they can see the operations and meet the teams based there. Other travel opportunities depend on their placements. We’ve had graduates visit everywhere from Amsterdam to Hong Kong.
IAG Cargo’s 2022 cohort of graduates visiting our Madrid Hub
How has the programme developed since you started as a Talent Manager?
The programme is in its second year since its pause during the pandemic. We’re constantly looking at how we can develop and improve it, building on top of the scheme’s unique selling point of rotating between operational and commercial placements. One development was introducing the graduate mentor programme, where each grad is paired with a senior manager so they can gain training and insights into leadership. Last year, our 2022 cohort of grads took part in the Million Maker Initiative, where they aim to raise £10,000 for the Prince’s Trust. We’re also exploring opportunities to expand our programme overseas to attract talent globally. At the end of each placement, we ask our grads for in-depth feedback and embed this into our next programme to ensure continuous improvement.
What attracted you to the logistics industry?
The variety. Every day is very different. It’s an industry that people don’t always navigate towards, but it’s so diverse and exciting. There is always a lot to do or a new challenge to tackle.
Having joined the industry as an apprentice yourself, what advice would you give to others
Take every opportunity and push yourself outside of your comfort zone to get the most out of the experience. Being reactive and resilient while still thinking strategically is key because the logistics industry is always changing, and building a strong network is equally important. It’s both challenging and extremely rewarding – there is just so much to learn.
Applications for IAG Cargo’s 2024 Graduate Scheme are now open and close on 31st January 2024. Head to our careers page to apply today: https://www.iagcargo.com/en/careers/
