John is based in our Head Office in Liverpool and started with us in 2016 on our Graduate Training Scheme. He has worked his way up through the business and is now a Channel Controller. He says:

I joined Princes on the Graduate Training Scheme and, over the years, progressed through the business to become a Channel Controller.

I look after Iceland, Home Bargain, B&M and the Co-op as well as some of our international customers as far as the Middle East. It’s quite a diverse portfolio.

I work with all the Princes and NewPrinces Group brands and it’s very exciting that we have lots of new capabilities such as being able to produce our own pasta in our factories.

Starting as a graduate was a great way to begin working in the FMCG industry and even now, years later, I pull on key skills I learnt in my early days. It’s a really good scheme and gives you such a grounding in the business.

In my first two years I spent eight months at a time rotating across Sales, Marketing and Buying and gaining real experience.

I quickly learnt everything from how to negotiate with customers, generate marketing campaigns and source new suppliers. The support network is brilliant and as well as having a direct line manager I was given a mentor. Now I’m a mentor to other graduates, passing my experience on and helping them to settle in.

I really value the company’s support and their ongoing sales and leadership training which is both on the job but also provided by external trainers. I feel my personal career path is bespoke to me and is being taken seriously.

My role is diverse and interesting and there are new challenges every day.

I came to Princes after completing a Business & Computer Science degree at Liverpool University. A friend of mine had done a sandwich course here and recommended it as being a great company to work for. It’s a brilliant organisation to start your career at and a great place to grow and develop it.