Job Overview

We’re seeking graduates who want to work in a values driven, fast paced and evolving workplace to join our Graduate Management Training Scheme, set to begin in September 2025. This is an opportunity to kickstart your career in one of the UK’s largest and most respected NHS Trusts, gaining invaluable operational management experience and insight into how our hospitals are run and how services are delivered.

As an internationally renowned NHS Trust and one of the largest teaching hospitals in England we employ over 13,000 people, serve 1.9 million patients within the Southampton and Hampshire area and provide specialist services to almost 4 Million people in central Southern England and the channel Islands. Our graduate program offers broad exposure to a complex NHS organisational structure with a qualification to support a management position within the Trust at the successful conclusion of the scheme.

Our graduates work in operational roles with exposure to departments which serve our patients. As an operational manager in our Trust, you will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where every day presents new challenges. You’ll be at the heart of service delivery, working alongside front-line colleagues to solve problems and balance competing priorities to ensure the best possible care for our patients. This scheme will prepare you to take on an operational manager position in the NHS – we work 24/7, 365 days per year supporting our patients and their families.

Main duties of the job

At UHS, we believe in creating opportunities for growth, as we know that developing our people is key to delivering world-class care. That's why a career here is an exciting and evolving journey with endless opportunities to learn and thrive.

Our two-year Graduate Programme involves two one-year placements: one focusing on operational management and the other on strategic planning.

During this time will gain hands-on experience within the NHS, developing essential competencies, including:

Leadership skills
Communication and collaboration within a complex organisation
Operational and performance management
Financial management
Strategic planning
Staff management
Change management, project management, and service improvement

You’ll receive mentorship from a senior leader at UHS who will guide you through the programme. In addition to the work-based experience, you will also complete a formal operational management qualification and leadership programme with one of our national training partners.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be ranked among the top 5 acute and acute community Trusts for staff having opportunities to develop their career at UHS and for having opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills, according to the 2023 NHS staff survey. Our previous graduates have praised our development approach and the wealth of opportunities available to them, alongside the vast networking possibilities.

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England and a major trauma centre, UHS is at the forefront of award-winning care, groundbreaking clinical trials, and numerous UK-first initiatives. As a University Hospital, our learning and development opportunities are unparalleled, and we are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential.

In addition to a fulfilling career, our staff enjoy a wide range of NHS-related benefits, including discounts from national retailers and local businesses across categories such as holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones, and more.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

What We’re Looking For:

During your recruitment journey, we will be evaluating your ability to:

Foster and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse teams across the Trust, with a strong emphasis on communication
Work effectively under pressure, supported by an encouraging and motivated team
Analyse problems and develop practical, workable solutions

The person specification document, attached, outlines the essential and desirable skills and experience required to succeed in this role. For a detailed description of the day-to-day responsibilities, please refer to the full job description, also attached.

Essential Application Criteria

You will have, or be predicted to achieve, a 2:2 or higher in any degree subject
You will demonstrate UHS’s core values of Working Together, Patients First, and Always Improving

Apprenticeship Criteria

These roles are funded by the Government Apprenticeship Scheme and do not offer visa sponsorship. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

You should have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the past 3 years
You must have permission from the UK government to live in the UK (for non-educational purposes) or hold pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

Additional Information

Key dates for our Graduate Recruitment and Assessment Programme:

Application deadline: 10 March 2025 (Please attach, in one file, your CV including evidence of how you demonstrate our values)
Online testing deadline: w/c 21st March 2025
Pre-screening interview deadline: w/c 7th April 2025
Virtual Assessment Centre : 29th April 2025
Final Interview Panel and UHS visit: w/c 5th May 2025
Programme Start Date: 1st September 2025 (non-deferable)

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT

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Graduate Management Training Programme