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Buying Graduate
Application closing date: 19th April 2026
Assessment centre dates: May 2026
Start date: September 2026
Location: Nottingham, Support Office
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Recruitment Partner: Anastasia Walker
About the programme
Our Graduate Programme offers an exciting opportunity to launch your career in Buying. From day one, you'll be placed in a hands-on role where you'll make a meaningful contribution to key business objectives.
This three-year scheme begins with a 4-week in-store placement, giving you valuable first-hand insight into our customers and the day-to-day operations of our retail environment. Following this, you'll move into a category specific role in our Nottingham Support office, taking responsibility for the day-to-day management of an area.
Over the course of the programme, you'll complete two role rotations, each role for the duration of 18 months, to broaden your experience across 2 of our core business units: Beauty, Healthcare, and General Merchandise. Each placement is designed to expand your network whilst give you real ownership and exposure. You'll collaborate with both internal teams and external partners to build and deliver category plans.
The programme will help you to develop skills, knowledge and provides all the stretch and challenge needed to accelerate a career at Boots. The programme will include functional specific and certified negotiation training to ensure you are set up for success.
You'll be supported throughout the programme by a dedicated line manager, alongside a mentor. You'll also have opportunities to connect with senior leaders, expand your network, and take part in development sessions to support your own personal and professional development.
The 3-year scheme offers a clear and structured development pathway, preparing you to progress into a permanent Assistant Category Manager or Category Manager role upon completion, depending on your performance
Key responsibilities
As you will be placed within a Category team, you will have a direct opportunity to influence category plans, performance and growth You will build relationships both internally and externally with our large supplier base, working collaboratively to negotiate the most sought-after products and brands in the market whilst ensuring you agree the optimum promotional and marketing plans for your category areas.
Demonstrating your team management skills, organising & prioritising multiple processes to ensure your category plans land in stores right first time.
You will also implement the commercial strategy working towards core Budget targets and managing the category Profit & Loss to achieve these targets.
You will work with the marketing team to secure the best possible plans and reviewing potential product and brand launches and deciding if they align with the Boots strategic priorities.
Work with your Category assistant to support their development and progression.
What you'll need to have (our must-haves)
A bit about us
At Boots UK, we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we're committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.
What's next
If you apply, our team will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application or to arrange next steps. Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options during the application process. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you to be at your best.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be Brilliant with Boots.
Assessment centre dates: May 2026
Start date: September 2026
Location: Nottingham, Support Office
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Recruitment Partner: Anastasia Walker
About the programme
Our Graduate Programme offers an exciting opportunity to launch your career in Buying. From day one, you'll be placed in a hands-on role where you'll make a meaningful contribution to key business objectives.
This three-year scheme begins with a 4-week in-store placement, giving you valuable first-hand insight into our customers and the day-to-day operations of our retail environment. Following this, you'll move into a category specific role in our Nottingham Support office, taking responsibility for the day-to-day management of an area.
Over the course of the programme, you'll complete two role rotations, each role for the duration of 18 months, to broaden your experience across 2 of our core business units: Beauty, Healthcare, and General Merchandise. Each placement is designed to expand your network whilst give you real ownership and exposure. You'll collaborate with both internal teams and external partners to build and deliver category plans.
The programme will help you to develop skills, knowledge and provides all the stretch and challenge needed to accelerate a career at Boots. The programme will include functional specific and certified negotiation training to ensure you are set up for success.
You'll be supported throughout the programme by a dedicated line manager, alongside a mentor. You'll also have opportunities to connect with senior leaders, expand your network, and take part in development sessions to support your own personal and professional development.
The 3-year scheme offers a clear and structured development pathway, preparing you to progress into a permanent Assistant Category Manager or Category Manager role upon completion, depending on your performance
Key responsibilities
As you will be placed within a Category team, you will have a direct opportunity to influence category plans, performance and growth You will build relationships both internally and externally with our large supplier base, working collaboratively to negotiate the most sought-after products and brands in the market whilst ensuring you agree the optimum promotional and marketing plans for your category areas.
Demonstrating your team management skills, organising & prioritising multiple processes to ensure your category plans land in stores right first time.
You will also implement the commercial strategy working towards core Budget targets and managing the category Profit & Loss to achieve these targets.
You will work with the marketing team to secure the best possible plans and reviewing potential product and brand launches and deciding if they align with the Boots strategic priorities.
Work with your Category assistant to support their development and progression.
What you'll need to have (our must-haves)
- On track to achieve, or already holds, a 2:1 degree or above
- A strong desire to problem-solve and adapt in fast-paced, changing environment
- Demonstrates excellent organisational and time management skills
- Confidently challenges processes and data to drive efficiencies
- Work well as part of a team, and to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Shows drive for self-development and continuous growth
- Has a genuine passion for our products, brand, and what we do
- Pension membership (PRSA)
- Partial paid maternity leave
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Generous employee discounts
- Flexible benefits scheme
A bit about us
At Boots UK, we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we're committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.
What's next
If you apply, our team will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application or to arrange next steps. Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options during the application process. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you to be at your best.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be Brilliant with Boots.
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