Graduate and LEAD programmes

Nineteen potential future leaders were taken on in 2016 through a newly launched graduate scheme and the latest intake for our well-established Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) higher apprenticeship programme.

Learning and development manager Karen Wright said both programmes were vital for the future. “We have an ageing workforce and these two programmes are designed to bring new blood into the business with a view to becoming our future managers, alongside development of our current employees.”

The 11 graduates will spend time in all business areas and tackle special projects as well as having day-to-day responsibilities. They will be supported with training and one-to-one coaching from managers and mentors.

The latest eight young people on the “earn while you learn” LEAD scheme, first run in 2012, complete a distance learning foundation degree with the University of Derby over three years, with the option of a further two years to gain an honours degree in mineral extractives management.