Tesco confirms commitment to graduate recruitment

Tesco has pledged its commitment to graduate recruitment despite the economic downturn leading some employers to reduce the number of jobs they are offering.

The supermarket giant said it would keep running its 15 graduate training schemes. Around 250 new graduates start work this month.

A number of City banks have told recruits offered jobs before they left university this summer that the vacancies are no longer available, while others have cut their graduate recruitment programme. But Tesco pledged it would be hiring a similar number of graduates next year, with the 2009 recruitment process now under way.

Lorna Bryson, head of resourcing for UK operations at Tesco, said: "While other employers are cutting back on hiring, we remain committed to hiring quality people who could end up going all the way to the top of the business. We're looking for graduates who want to join one of the few British employers that still offers jobs with enough training and development opportunities to provide a career for life."

Graduate schemes include HR, supply chain, legal services and product technology and offer a starting salary of at least £22,500.

Tesco is also a major student recruiter, employing about 60,000 in the UK. The company also hires school leavers who don't want to go to university with its 'A-Level Options' fast-track management programme. The scheme offers candidates the chance to progress to manager level within six months.