Rustlers Sales Graduate Programme 2026 - UK

Rustlers Sales Graduate Programme 2025 - UK

The Graduate Scheme is designed to equip participants with the essential skills, knowledge, and experience needed to succeed in the meat processing industry, specifically within our sales and commercial teams. Graduates will start by gaining hands-on experience on the factory floor, providing a solid foundation in operations before progressing into sales and account management roles.

Role Purpose: The aim is to develop well-rounded professionals who understand the full product lifecycle, from production to customer delivery, and who can drive sales while ensuring product and price alignment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Customer Engagement: Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers by understanding their specific needs and delivering bespoke solutions tailored to their requirements.
• Sales & Negotiation: Lead and manage sales activities, from prospecting to closing deals, ensuring both revenue and margin targets are met.
• Product Development Collaboration: Work closely with New Product Development (NPD) teams to ensure that products meet customer specifications and pricing requirements.
• Market Analysis: Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and market conditions to adapt sales strategies accordingly.
• Project Management: Oversee the implementation of sales and marketing plans, ensuring timely execution and alignment with company goals.
• Brand Ambassador: Represent the company at various industry events, maintaining a strong professional presence and promoting our brand values.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities for process improvements, both in sales and operations, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Key Competencies:

• Customer Orientation: Ability to understand and respond to customer needs with bespoke solutions.
• Commercial Acumen: Understanding of market drivers, profitability, and competitive forces within the livestock industry.
• Negotiation Skills: Capable of closing deals that are beneficial for both the customer and the company.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyse data and market conditions to make informed decisions.
• Resilience: Handle a heavy workload and frequent travel with a positive attitude, learning from failures and continuously improving.
• Project Management: Effective in planning, executing, and overseeing projects to successful completion.

Other Role Information: This role requires travel to various customer sites and company locations, offering a dynamic and varied work environment. Initial placement on the factory floor followed by office-based and client-facing roles.

Our Graduate programme allows dynamic, motivated, hardworking, and passionate Graduates an opportunity to start their career with one of Ireland & UK's leading meat businesses. The programme lasts 2 years.

You can expect:

• To be fully immersed into our Culture from day 1, working alongside key industry experts and Kepak leaders
• An opportunity to work in various departments across the business with a rotation plan tailored to your development
• Gain an in-depth understanding of our brands and products, and our relationships with customers and consumers
• To learn key aspects of our business, whilst you develop your skills and knowledge
• The opportunity to develop personally and professionally through exposure to key projects, tasks and development activities that challenge you
• A dedicated mentor and development program to support you both on the programme and into a role that best fits your skills

Start date: September 7th 2026

Starting Salary: £28,000 with an up to £1,500 increase at the start of Year 2 to £29,500

Role Location: Kepak Kirkham, Kirkham, Lancashire, England

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Who are we looking for? We are looking for hardworking and ambitious Graduates, who want to learn and grow in a challenging and fast-paced environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience: Prior experience in food service, FMCG, or a related industry is beneficial, but not essential. Strong abilities in channel and customer strategy, account management, joint business planning, and commercial analysis.

Personal Attributes: Team Player, Self-Motivation, Confidence & Assertiveness, Adaptability.

We will be looking for alignment with our Core Values: Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food, Teamwork.

Benefits:

• Employee Discount Scheme
• Service-Related Annual Leave
• Discounted Health Insurance
• Educational Assistance/ L&D
• Discounted Meat Products
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme