Marks & Spencer's futuristic Waterside headquarters on the Grand Junction Canal in Paddington, North London, is a powerful visual reminder of just how much the company has changed in the past five years.

This contemporary glass and steel structure — with its industrial architecture, external lifts and almost entirely open-plan office space — is a world away from M&S’s traditional image and its wood-panelled former head office in Baker Street.

Such a bold architectural makeover is just part of the complete reinvention of M&S that its chief executive, Stuart Rose, kicked off in 2004, when the company was still suffering from a deadly combination of falling profits, takeover bids and disappointed shoppers.

Rose’s revolutionary strategy has brought a new-found confidence to M&S and a dramatic improvement in its financial performance; it has helped to restore the company’s appeal in the graduate recruitment market, too.

“People can see that we’re moving with the times — working at a fast pace — and I think they’re keen and eager to be part of that,” says Linda Graham, the graduate recruitment manager at M&S.

“Our graduate applications are up by 14 per cent and we’ve already filled all our entry-level vacancies for 2007.”

Most of M&S’s new graduates start with an intensive 12-month retail training programme based at one of the company’s stores.

“A trainee will typically do placements in foods, general merchandising and behind-the-scenes store operations as well as a stint of HR. Once they’ve been signed off on all of these four areas, they can be appointed as a commercial manager,” Graham says.

That means taking responsibility for their own section in one of the large M&S stores.

“They could be in charge of a department such as ladies’ wear or food. They would be running everything from ordering stock to making sure that it’s laid out correctly, as well as leading and motivating a team of up to 30 people. It’s like running your own shop within a store.”

These positions are very much hands-on and so not what every university-leaver might want from their first job.

“All employers talk about people who are committed and passionate about their work, but here you really do need a passion for retail.

“It’s a 24/7 environment — face-paced, changing — and you have to be an inspirational leader because people are looking to you for direction,” she says.

“This is not a job where you’ll be sitting behind a desk: you have to be out on the sales floor. If you’re not comfortable with that kind of environment, then retail isn’t going to be for you.”

Martin Birchall is editor of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers

No 22 MARKS & SPENCER

What is it? Marks & Spencer is one of Britain’s best-known retailers. It is the country’s biggest seller of womenswear and boasts a 10 per cent share of the UK clothes market. Last year the company served more than 15 million customers each week at its 520 stores and generated sales of more than £7.7 billion. M&S employs 64,000 staff, three quarters of whom are women.

What graduate jobs are on offer? M&S recently recruited 135 graduates to work instore — either in a selling or a human resources role — and offered a limited number of head office roles in IT, food technology and buying.

Where are the jobs? New graduates joining the store programme are trained at stores across the UK. Graduates working in head-office functions are based in London.

What is the pay like? Salaries for those starting work in September are £22,000, while there is also a £3,500 allowance for graduates based in London.

What’s the competition like? M&S received more than 6,600 applications for places on this year’s graduate scheme.

How do you apply? Recruitment for this year’s graduate vacancies at M&S has already been completed, but you can register your interest in 2008 positions at www.marksandspencer.com/jobs

How has M&S done in the Top 100?

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers is based on research with more than 16,000 final-year university students. Order the 2006-07 edition from Times Books First for only £13.49 (rrp £14.99). Call 0870 1608080 or visit timesonline.co.uk/booksfirstbuy

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