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Graduate experiences

• Previous graduates
• General programme graduates

Previous graduates

Andy Eadsforth

I joined BUPA's graduate entry programme after completing a business management degree at Newcastle. I'd been interested in the public health sector but following the BUPA assessment centre I became sure that this was the company I wanted to join. I was impressed by the way it was run and organised. There was a good atmosphere, and the assessors made us feel relaxed. I felt very positive afterwards, and it was obvious BUPA was a company whose values fit with my own and a company I knew I'd enjoy working for.

It's been valuable to experience different business units and different working cultures in different parts of the BUPA group. There's a wide range of management practices and working styles, which mean you're constantly challenged and have to learn quickly.

The graduate entry programme is truly a programme of continuous learning. My three placements taught me many things but in particular they taught me the value of establishing a wide range of contacts and learning about all areas of the BUPA group, the importance of effective planning and clear communication and of using your initiative! I also learned the importance of listening: customer service is not giving people what we assume they want. I also learned a lot about myself and my style of working - being self-aware is a key skill as it means you recognise the need to be flexible and adaptive.

I've ended up where I wanted to be, in a role which is people-focused whilst operationally-based. I'd like to develop my career in operational management or human resources. In the not-so-distant future I'm hoping to expand my own skills by gaining front-line operational experience therefore allowing me to keep my career options open.

[Andy joined the programme in 2000 and provided this profile in 2002. He is now Customer Intelligence Manager in UK Membership, our insurance business, based in Manchester.]

Kate Lodge

As I approached the end of my human sciences degree, I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my career other than work in the health sector. The general graduate entry scheme seemed an ideal opportunity to experience a wide range of placements across the organisation before moving into a final role.

For me, a large part of the scheme's success lies in its provision of challenging placements in the business. As a graduate, there is recognition that you have potential despite your limited experience and the projects or roles usually have a high level of responsibility attached to them. Support, training and mentoring help maximise your chances of success and ensure you gain first hand experience.

Development forms a key part of the scheme. This includes core business skills such as project management as well as development more suited to your current role or need. This can include externally recognised courses; I have completed a certificate in management studies and am currently working towards a diploma in business analysis.

There is a real effort to help you establish and maintain links with current and previous graduates and senior managers, providing you with a large network very early on in your career. I have found the support network I developed during my placement extremely beneficial. I have made some true friends on the scheme and together we raised over £5000 for Age Concern partly by completing the Great South Run in Portsmouth. This is something I was unlikely to have entered on my own before; being part of the team gave me the motivation and commitment I needed.

Placement selection is tailored to the individual based on availability within the business. My first placement was an operational role within the business development department at BUPA Hospital Cardiff. This was in contrast to my second placement which was project based and involved a large amount of change management, giving me the chance to experience two very different ways of working.

This has all contributed to a much better understanding of myself, such as knowing my strengths and weakness and preferred style of working. I've also gained a better appreciation of the different business units and departments. This has resulted in the ability to make an informed decision about my career and provided me with an excellent development platform for my current role as a business analyst and future opportunities.

General programme graduates

Abedul Hussain

Placement 1. BUPA Group Property, Facilities and Purchasing (six months)
My major accomplishment during my placement was developing BUPA's environmental management system (EMS), which is currently being implemented by the various businesses units of BUPA in the UK. The purpose of the EMS is designed to help control the impact the business has on the environment.

My role during the project was three-fold. The first was to assess and capture how BUPA managed environmental issues within the business. Capturing this data involved a range of techniques including audits, interviews, meetings and so on. Once the data was captured and analysed, my second role was to produce an EMS document that explained how environmental impact of the business can be controlled. My third and final role was to present my findings and promote the EMS to senior managers in the business.

The EMS has since been signed off by members of the Group Executive Forum and it has been publicised in the BUPA Today newsletter and on the BUPA intranet.

Placement 2. BUPA Group Hospital, design and development (seven months)
Working within the design and development team has given me a greater insight and understanding of the challenges and issues that currently face BUPA Hospitals. I have been involved with several projects of various sizes during the placement and each one has required different skills and qualities to be demonstrated.

My first project involved calculating the likely demand that would be placed on the proposed network scheduling system. I was required to quickly grasp the technical issues and systems that impact on the scheduling system, and the information was gathered from a variety of sources including hospital staff and technical specialists in Exchange Quay.

My next project involved baselining the administrative processes involved in a typical NHS patient journey. Using Bushey Hospital as my source of reference, I arranged several days at the hospital and spoke with a number of staff members. This project provided me with a greater understanding of how BUPA Hospitals operates to provide patient treatment.

Placement 3. BUPA Care Services, e-purchasing support team (five months)
I am currently helping to oversee the rollout of the e-purchasing system to BUPA Care Homes with the aim of implementing e-purchasing to all care homes by the end of 2006.

Philippa Mardon

Placement 1. BUPA International, Healthcare Services (six months)
During this placement I undertook two projects; one leading a pilot for direct settlement for out-patients with nine hospitals in the Middle East; and the other, a feasibility study relating to medical evacuations.

Both projects were high profile and communication was key on all levels from front line to senior management, working with different teams across the business unit. I enjoyed building relationships, both internally within BUPA and IHI Denmark, and externally with the providers in the Middle East and our supplier.

Overall, this placement provided me with a thorough understanding of the international market from an operational viewpoint, working in competitive service-oriented markets and recognising the importance of adapting our services across different countries and cultures. It gave me valuable experience in the use of project methodology, data analysis and management reporting.

Placement 2. BUPA Wellness - London Docklands (six months)
During my second placement I was the operations manager of a physiotherapy and dental clinic in Canary Wharf. I was also responsible for writing a process manual to guide people through setting up an on-site wellness clinic.

This placement has given me the opportunity to develop my people management and financial skills. I enjoyed running my own team and helping the employees through one-to-ones, team meetings, as well as being accountable for the wellbeing of a centre. It was a valuable experience to be on the frontline, dealing with customers and clinical staff every day.

The process manual project gave me a thorough overview of Wellness, as it was fundamental to meet people in all departments to gain an in-depth understanding of their roles.

Placement 3. IHI Denmark, alarm centre (ongoing)
I am currently working on a project in Denmark, which resulted from research in my first placement.

It is an extremely challenging role, with multiple stakeholders across dual locations and cultures. It involves detailed work with all departments including sales, IS, finance and operations. It has given me the opportunity to continue to develop my business acumen, communication and project management skills.

I am really enjoying this dynamic role, the opportunity to be based at IHI Copenhagen, to understand their culture and business and the way in which we can work as one company in the future.

Richard Pennington

"I was made to feel welcome at BUPA right from the outset, including at the interview. Having an interest in the clinical side of the business, I was looking to pursue placements that allowed me to use my previous experience and develop myself. The flexibility of the graduate entry scheme was perfectly suited to meet these requirements, and enabled me to find a challenging and fulfilling role when I left the scheme."

Sarah Brown

"The BUPA graduate entry programme has been an excellent platform to develop skills and competencies and increase business knowledge and experience. It challenges you to constantly focus on learning and developing, enabling the delivery of the high standards expected from graduates, whilst being supported and encouraged throughout. The variety of placements I have had have allowed me to experience different aspects of BUPA, working with a range of people in contrasting environments."

James Vivian

"I am genuinely impressed by the range of opportunities the programme has offered me. The close support of the other graduates has been a real bonus to the experience. It's great to work around so many people who really believe in what they do."

Next steps...

• Find out how to apply and about the selection process
• Find out about the benefits of working for BUPA
• Read about previous placements
• Send an email enquiry

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