Marketing Graduate in Ashford

Welcome to the Sysco GB Marketing Graduate Programme! At Sysco, food is at the centre of everything we do. As a global leader in foodservice wholesale distribution, we operate with over 76,000 colleagues across 10 countries worldwide. Driven by our purpose to connect the world to share food and care for one another, we’re proud to supply the expertise, products and partnerships that power every corner of the industry - from independent high street cafes to large‑scale corporate customers, and from hospitals and schools to pubs, restaurants and fine dining establishments across the UK.

Our Marketing Graduate Programme is your opportunity to help shape how we tell our story, connect with customers, and champion the products that chefs and caterers rely on every day, all while building your career in a creative, fast‑paced, and commercially driven environment. Join us and play a part in bringing exceptional food - and exceptional experiences - to the tables and communities we serve.

You’ll gain hands‑on experience across the full marketing mix, working directly with brand, digital, content, and customer insight teams. Whether supporting national campaigns, crafting compelling product stories, or helping deliver engaging customer communications, you’ll collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to bring ideas to life. This is a programme for communicators: people who can think creatively, work collaboratively, and express ideas with clarity and confidence.

You’ll be balancing multiple priorities, applying insight to shape decisions, and developing the judgement needed to deliver marketing that drives value, differentiation, and customer engagement. We’re looking for curious minds and strategic thinkers who enjoy solving problems through creativity, data, and bold, customer‑focused ideas. If you’re ready to unlock your potential, influence real outcomes, and help bring our brands and products to life across the UK, this is the place for you. Your journey starts here - let’s make it extraordinary.

The Sysco GB Graduate Programme is designed to give you a dynamic and inspiring start to your career. You’ll gain hands‑on experience, take part in structured learning, and receive personalised mentorship to help you transition into the workplace and develop the skills and confidence needed to grow as a future leader. Through key business rotations, you’ll work on real projects, collaborate with a variety of teams, and gain valuable exposure to senior leaders.

You can expect:

• A structured learning and development plan – to build both your technical and professional capabilities
• Mentorship from experienced professionals – who will support, guide, and challenge you throughout the programme
• Business placements – that give you the experience and exposure to build your skills within Marketing
• Networking opportunities – with graduates, colleagues, and industry partners to help you grow your professional network, including workshops, training sessions, and access to learning resources to accelerate your growth
• Exposure to senior leaders – providing valuable insights and helping you build your profile across the organisation
• Clear opportunities for career progression – and continued development opportunities post programme

As part of Sysco’s Marketing Graduate Programme, you’ll rotate through key placements helping you understand how each part of our team works, how they connect to internal & external stakeholders, and how we communicate, promote and deliver value to our customers every day. Whether supporting customer campaigns, shaping brand propositions, analysing loyalty data or helping strengthen our digital presence, you’ll contribute to real projects that influence customer engagement and commercial performance.

You’ll be gaining experience in:

• Customer experience & customer marketing – Understanding customer journeys, shaping targeted communications and supporting campaigns that drive loyalty and retention.
• Commercial & pricing strategy – Learning how pricing, margin and merchandising insight influence marketing decisions and value perception.
• Promotions, loyalty & analytics – Using data to evaluate campaign performance, optimise promotions and strengthen loyalty programmes.
• Brand & proposition development – Helping build brand stories, craft product propositions and support content that inspires and informs our customers.
• Digital & e‑commerce – Supporting digital campaigns, online content, and platform optimisation to drive customer engagement and conversion.
• Cross‑functional communication & presentations – Bringing insights and ideas to life for stakeholders across the business.

You’ll also be fully supported to complete relevant technical training/certificates that support your placement journey. This is your chance to make an impact, learn from industry experts, and kick start your career towards becoming a Marketing Executive within one of our teams.

Key Info:

• This programme is based at our head office in Ashford, Kent
• Placement rotations will be a combination of onsite and hybrid working models
• 39hrs a week, Monday – Friday
• Some travel required (includes graduate workshops, Marketing or business events)

What you’ll need to succeed:

• A minimum of a 2:2 or above Bachelors degree (or equivalent)
• Right to work in the UK beyond a Graduate or Skilled Worker visa
• Strong interest in pursuing a career in Marketing
• Genuine passion for food
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment & independently
• Analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Proactive, adaptable, and eager to learn
• Initiative and a growth mindset

If you’re interested in joining us – apply now! Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and if you meet our entry criteria you’ll be asked to complete a short online assessment. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a strengths‑based video interview. If successful at this stage, the final step will be an invite to join us onsite for an interview/assessment exercise. Support and guidance will be provided throughout the process and further information about each step can be found here.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Support to undertake a Marketing Professional qualification
• Pension + life assurance
• Heavily discounted staff sales on Sysco products
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Volunteering hours

At Sysco GB everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Sysco GB and we recognise that Sysco GB can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We’ll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you.