Do you want to earn a professional qualification at the same time as you develop your career? If so, then a role in one of our five functional specialist areas could be for you. Without BT's Functional Specialists, the company simply couldn’t operate. They provide a number of vital services for our business divisions and everyone else in BT. Whichever function you join, your development programme will be structured to help and support you while you train for your professional qualification.

Click on the links below to find out more:

• Finance
• HR
• Marketing
• Procurement and Supply Chain
• Law

Be part of something big

You’ll be joining a team that sits right at the heart of a major global company and which is involved in every area of the business. This means the type of work we expose you to is incredibly varied and a world away from the experience offered in a typical accountancy firm. It’s also fast-paced and challenging, but highly rewarding. For instance, you could be working on a deal worth over £750 million or providing financial insight for key customers or other areas of the business.

As a graduate on our three-year Finance programme, we’ll fully fund you through your CIMA qualification, which includes your exams, course fees and revision courses. We’ll give you time off work to study, and we’ll give you an extra bonus if you pass first time or if you win a CIMA award. By then you’ll also have a wealth of hands-on experience, core management skills and the chance to be a senior finance manager within two years of completing the programme.

ROLES YOU COULD EXPERIENCE INCLUDE:

Reporting, Planning & Analysis – this involves preparing monthly journals and business critical reports for key areas of the business. You’ll need an eye for detail, a head for business and an analytical mind.

Business Insight – focusing on financial performance and analysis, you’ll need to be confident and comfortable working with, and presenting to, some of our largest customers and keen to add value right across the business. 

Could you help BT prepare itself for the future?

HR supports our global organisation, developing a culture where everyone can succeed to the best of their ability. To excel in HR, you’ll need to be perceptive, good at communicating and commercially astute. You’ll need to develop strong business acumen, and really get to grips with all the different parts of BT’s business. You'll work on projects in areas such as resourcing, employee relations, benefits, training and policy development, helping BT to make the most of its people and prepare itself for an exciting future.

During the programme, you’ll either take on an all-round role as one of our HR business partners, or get the opportunity to specialise in areas such as learning and development, performance management and employee relations. You'll also be giving managers and their teams support and advice on a daily basis in areas like resourcing, training, and policy development. By the time you finish your programme, we’ll have supported you to become a full CIPD member.

Do you have creative flare and a sharp commercial mind?

Our marketing teams are responsible for the face and voice of our business. We have teams specialising in all areas of media communications, brand strategy, new product development, market forecasting and product management. Marketing is an exciting place to be, whatever you get involved in, and you’ll need to be able to think outside the box and have keen business acumen. Our graduate development programme will give you the business skills to thrive in this demanding environment. You can gain experience in various different roles, and in a number of different areas including insight and research, campaigns, communications, propositions and marketing operations. There are also opportunities to become a product manager or lead the development of new ones. As part of the programme, we will also fund your study towards a Chartered Institute of Marketing qualification.

ROLES YOU COULD EXPERIENCE INCLUDE:

Product Management – this role involves developing products both commercially and technically to meet evolving customer and market needs. You’ll need to be practical and able to persuade, negotiate and influence.

BT Business – this area involves defining propositions that generate revenue and working with external agencies to develop campaigns as part of a propositions team. You’ll need tenacity, leadership skills and a great understanding of BT’s customers.

Consumer Marketing – excellent personal skills and an analytical mind are essential to define, develop and implement marketing programmes and campaigns that create revenue and grow our business. Our most visible responsibility is for BT’s main advertising campaigns – we’re one of the biggest advertisers in the UK. You’ll need to be sharp, enthusiastic and energetic.

Good under pressure with a keen eye for business?

Procurement is at the heart of BT’s business, driving a radical commercial agenda by engaging with BT’s business units and its supply base in a dynamic and robust manner. Supply Chain is BT's in-house logistics providers and graduates joining this team could have a real line management position from day one.

As well as developing your knowledge of procurement and core skills, you’ll build relationships around the business, ensuring our suppliers act as socially responsible as we do. We’ll help you develop your negotiation skills and structure your programme to help you achieve your CIPS qualification. In Supply Chain, there are plenty of opportunities to gain experience at one of BT’s transport depots, in one of our warehouse operations, or as a business development and service manager. We’ll also help you get your Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in National Road Haulage Operations.

ROLES YOU COULD EXPERIENCE INCLUDE:

Procurement – you’ll make sure the products and services we procure are right for the business, of a high quality, and deliver maximum commercial advantage to BT. You'll need a keen eye for business, a creative mind and sharp commercial instincts as you negotiate the best deals and contracts with suppliers.

Supply Chain – as part of BT's in-house logistics team, you’ll enjoy problem solving that focuses on delivering great customer service. You’ll need excellent people skills and the ability to manage diverse teams and connect with people at all levels.

A legal mind and a head for business

Joining BT’s 600-strong law function team means you’ll be working in one of the world’s largest in-house legal teams. We handle the majority of BT’s legal needs including employment law, litigation, competition and commercial contracts. The teams work closely with the business to develop and enhance BT’s business. The ever-changing nature of our business and the services we offer means one of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring the law keeps up with the fast changing technology.

Graduates on our brand new Law programme will complete a part-time study training contract. This allows you to start earning whilst also studying part-time for your Legal Practice Course (LPC) qualification and commencing your training contract. Through rotational seats, you’ll gain experience in at least three distinct areas of English law. Litigation is a must, and other areas include Commercial, Employment, Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, Competition and Contracts.

You’ll have much more commercial involvement than you'd get in private practice, as well as more responsibility and autonomy earlier in your career. You won’t be alone though, as you’ll be able to draw on the vast knowledge, experience and support of a highly successful and award-winning team. And once qualified, you may even want to move into other parts of the business or other countries, where you can apply the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired during your training.

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