Programme Timeline

Months 1 - 3, Placement One: Transactional

After completing their induction to the business, graduates will move into their first placement. During these early yet crucial months, graduates will begin their Harrods journey in a fast-paced, high turnover department in order to fully understand the high demands of our business. Graduates will be learning about how to execute effective communication with focus largely on product. With the help of the Sales Academy, graduates will learn effective selling techniques in order to make the sale - every time.

Months 4-7, Placement Two: Luxury

Having recently mastered the art of selling, graduates will move to a slow turnover/high value department, where they will learn to transform customers into long-term clients. Harrods' Sales Associates are extremely fortunate to have long-standing client relationships, a highly specialised skill which graduates will continue to learn with the help of the Sales Academy.

Months 8 - 9, Placement Three: Support

In order to fully understand the needs of the business, graduates will spend their final placement in a selling support area. This will enable the graduate to understand how our business works behind the scenes, an important skill to acquire before embarking their career to a more senior level.

Months 10 - 16, Harrods Management Programme (HMP)

Graduates continue onto the Harrods Management Programme (HMP). This is where they begin to learn the necessary skills to support the shift to a more senior level. From the first day, graduates are appointed into a supervisory role or may even embark on a new career in a selling support area. Ultimatley graduates will be given smaller managerial responsibilities to support their development. Coupled with the support of their Line Manager, graduates will partake in 4-7 months of training on the HMP. The modules will train the graduates in various skills including successful delegation and coaching people effectively. Graduates will be expected to complete written course work as part of their development. The course work is specifically tailored to monitor the transfer of learning back in their department.

Graduates will be expected to identify an opportunity within their division of the business and complete a project that outlines how this opportunity can be developed. Each graduate will have their own HMP tutor - a trained Management Development specialist.

The programme has formal Periodic Reviews with line Management and the graduate will be measured against each of the management competencies that will be covered during the HMP. Each review must be passed in order for the graduate to complete the programme and be considered for management positions in the business.

"The HMP has given me the opportunity to develop my management skills and, more importantly, identify my own management style. All modules provided me with the confidence I needed in order to be able to successfully manage a business. I was pleasantly surprised with the freedom I was given to express my own opinions and I was able to provide honest feedback on any subject without feeling I was being judged.

During my project research, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Senior Management and I had to liaise with different departments within Harrods, which gave me the opportunity to explore all those different aspects within a business that lead to its success. As a result, I possess a better understanding and a broader view of the retail industry.
The HMP has been a fantastic journey and I will always be grateful for the doors that it has opened."

Feedback from one of our recent graduates on the HMP programme