Coca-Cola European Partners to double intake of field sales apprentices in 2017
Coca-Cola European Partners’ Field Sales Apprenticeship Scheme returns for second time to recruit local talent in locations across Great Britain.
Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has today announced the launch of its 2016/17 Field Sales Apprenticeship Scheme which will see the business double its intake of field sales apprentices across London, Peterborough, Leeds and Manchester.
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon described the move as "brilliant".
He 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.”
The recruitment programme is returning for a second year following the success of a pilot scheme for 2016 which saw ten students offered year-long apprenticeships in a variety of inside or outside sales reps roles in London and CCEP’s Customer Hub in Peterborough.
This year, CCEP is looking to increase this to 20 new apprentices by extending the programme to recruit outside sales reps in the Leeds and Manchester regions as well.
The programme, which offers an alternative route for new talent to join the business, returned with a ‘Market You’ challenge for college and sixth form students aged 17+. Through this, students are being asked to creatively promote their hometown through any chosen medium such as a poster, video, song or blog.
To support students’ applications, CCEP in partnership with MyKindaFuture - an organisation that helps employers reach and recruit future talent from school, college and university - will be running a series of in school up-skilling workshops and Youth Event Days in London, Peterborough, Leeds and Manchester over the coming months. These events will bring the world of work to the classroom, and enable students to develop key business skills and insights.
During these workshops, students will be given the opportunity to take part in a range of engaging skills based exercises such as learning how to give a three minute elevator pitch and developing key interview techniques. Successful candidates will then be invited to several assessment days, where they can put into practice some of the skills and techniques they have learnt.
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.
“Here at CCEP, supporting the education and development of young people is a vital part of our work as a local business, and we understand the importance of providing valuable experiences to help educate and inspire the younger generation. 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.”
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