What to expect: induction and placement information podcast and transcript
Updated 6 July 2023
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Podcast
What to expect on your induction for the Defence Commercial graduate programme
Transcript
Cohort 2019 graduate
The Defence Commercial Graduate Program begins with an induction, where all the new graduates assemble in Bristol for a few days. This is a great opportunity to meet everyone on the scheme and familiarise yourself with what to expect over the next 2 years.
The induction is run by the Defence Commercial Graduate Program management team, who are joined by first year graduates already on the scheme and a range of speakers. The induction covers lots of topics including an Introduction to the Ministry of Defence, what to expect from the role of commercial officer, how the graduate scheme is structured, and the training involved.
As the induction is residential, this offered a chance for us all to socialise and ask the current graduates questions about their experiences. They continue to be a great source of useful first-hand knowledge and tips.
The induction concluded with a day trip to the Defence Academy in Shrivenham. This put into perspective some of the equipment that we could be responsible for procuring and how this is used on the front line.
Following the induction, we each went to our respective sponsor Top Level Budgets, or TLBs, and started our first placement. Some graduates also receive a short TLB induction upon arrival, providing specific information on the commercial role in that department.
On my first day in my placement I met the team that I would be working in, including my placement line manager. I also met my buddy (a current graduate) and my mentor (who will stay with me throughout my career at the Ministry of Defence. My placement line manager briefed me on the projects that I would be working on during my placement, as well as setting objectives for me to complete by the end of the placement. The buddy system means that there is always someone on hand to help, from collecting my IT equipment, setting up accounts and answering any questions I have.
I started working on live procurements straight away. This was quite daunting, as I had never done anything like this before. However, the induction had briefed me well on what to expect and it has been a great experience, giving me an idea of what to expect over the next 2 years of the scheme.