Harbro, the Scottish-based livestock feed supplier, has opened its graduate development scheme to applications. The scheme aims to expose recruits to the whole business, support their development and place them in permanent positions that suit their talents and preferences.
The Harbro graduate scheme comprises two years of training with three to six-month placements across different teams in the business. These are spread across its Scottish sites near Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Aberdeenshire. Candidates outside these areas are still encouraged to apply if they can relocate.
Every trainee is put through the Lean Six Sigma green belt course. Additional courses are available to support each person towards their specific goals.
“We began the scheme because we wanted to bring talented young people into our business,” said Laura Anderson, head of continuous improvement and strategy at Harbro. “By providing placements across various departments, they get knowledge of all the different functions in Harbro. This has helped the trainees to find the most suitable role for them and has increased communication between our teams.
Someone who was able to discover what role they are most passionate about through the scheme is Anna McRae, who joined the graduate scheme in 2021 and has just begun a permanent position in Harbro as a transport planner and continuous improvement lead.
“I studied a business management degree, specialising in human resources,” she said. “After I graduated, I was looking for a role that would give me opportunities in various areas. I was aware of Harbro, having grown up on a farm that used their products, and I have a couple of relatives who work for them.
“Working in different departments gave us a broad understanding of the whole business and how some teams do certain things. It has also helped widen the communication and understanding between teams.
“Looking ahead to the future, I would like to progress my career in Harbro, ideally into management as a next step. The HGDS is a wonderful opportunity for the right person,” she said.
For more information about the Harbro Graduate Development Scheme, visit www.harbro.co.uk/careers