Graduate Management Programme
Pros
Marginally better than standing in the dole queue. Only just. The company car (a Fiesta for anyone wondering) is a bonus and there are one or two other minor perks but nothing to go crazy for.
Cons
Absolutely zero structure and minimal organisation. The so called "Graduate Scheme" is basically a cost cutting exercise whereby potential Business Managers can be created only to be paid a fraction of existing Business Managers/Dealer Principals who are nearing retirement. Initial training consists of a few days down in Nottingham where you'll be told how to use email, telephones and approach customers. You'll also be told a lot about body language and undertake an MBTI assessment. Everything is common sense and not only patronising but mostly irrelevant. You will be told literally nothing about working in a dealership ironically because the people administering the training have never worked in one. Overall the Graduate Programme is a joke at best. Anybody looking to get into the industry is better off doing so as a Sales Executive where the commission is miles better even if the basic isn't as good. Your contract will say 40 hours per week but you'll be expected to work more in the region of 60 with no overtime paid. A standard sales exec is expected to do about 10 cars a month and on top of their basic will get £150 per car sold along with extra for add ons such as paint/alloy care etc. On average they'll come out with about £2500 after tax whereas as a Grad you'll be expected to hit the same targets, work the same hours and get paid about £1400 after tax. The automative industry also confirms to every cliche in the book. I had colleagues who complained about sexual harassment and were laughed at. That pretty much sums up Pendragon for me.