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- Tasks: Join our FutureMaker Graduate Programme and work on impactful design projects.
- Company: Sainsbury's, a trusted UK brand committed to your growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, discounts, and a range of employee benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Final year students or recent graduates with a degree in Digital Design.
- Other info: Experience three rotations in Product Design teams for broad exposure.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 34000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Graduate - Design role at Sainsbury's. Our FutureMaker Graduate Programme is where our leaders of tomorrow are grown. You’ll spend two years at the heart of Sainsbury’s or Argos, gaining the skills, capability and confidence to deliver our Next Level strategy and achieve your biggest ambitions.
Our graduate programme is open to all final year university students, those who have graduated since 2025, or are due to graduate by summer 2026. Salary: £34,000
What The Programme Offers
From day one, you’ll be immersed in the heart of our business. You’ll take on meaningful work, collaborate with experienced teams, and gain exposure to the tools, systems, and processes that drive our success. Whether you’re analysing performance, supporting transformation, or enhancing customer experiences, you’ll be challenged to think differently and grow your capability. Throughout the programme, you’ll be supported by a dedicated mentor and buddy, and take part in learning experiences focused on leadership, strategy, and essential skills. With regular feedback and a personal development plan, you’ll build confidence and clarity in your career path. By the end of the programme, you’ll be ready to apply for a permanent role and continue your journey with us.
Where You’ll Work
You’ll complete three rotations within our Product Design teams. Each area offers a tailored experience designed to give you broad exposure and deep insight into how we operate. You’ll build core skills, develop your leadership mindset, and gain the confidence to take on real responsibility, all while contributing to projects that make a genuine impact.
Essential criteria
- You are a current final year bachelor's student at university or have graduated from 2025 onwards with a bachelor's degree.
- Minimum 2:2 degree obtained or predicted in Digital Design (Graphic Design, Product Design, Interaction Design, UX/UI Design).
- You are proficient in Microsoft Office.
- You think critically, logically and analytically to solve problems, and you’re comfortable using all available information to draw out reliable and practical insights.
- You work brilliantly with others, sharing ideas and using everyone’s strengths to get the best results.
- You are eager to learn – whether that’s about our organisation, our customers, or how things work behind the scenes.
- You are proactive and confidently make decisions.
- You step in to keep things moving, even when things feel uncertain.
Application process
If your application is shortlisted, you’ll begin with an online assessment that will help us to understand you – including how you approach challenges, adapt to evolving situations and process information. If successful, you’ll move on to a digital job simulation, where you’ll respond to realistic work scenarios through a range of response options, including rank order, video and multiple choice. Following this, shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment centre where you’ll take part in a series of group and individual exercises, including a final interview with our team. Assessment centres will be held in March at our London Store Support Centre. The programme kicks off in September 2026.
Why you should apply:
If you're ready to make a real impact and grow your career with one of the UK’s most trusted brands, we’d love to hear from you. Please note that by proceeding with this application, you are consenting for your application to be reviewed and scored by a 3rd party provider to the extent that it is necessary and relevant to the assessment process. Please note that visa or immigration sponsorship is not available for this role. Our application window is scheduled to close on 23rd January 2026; however this could close sooner depending on volumes of applications.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new – whether that’s as part of an evolving team or elsewhere across the business – and we take development seriously and promise to support you.
When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 5% of salary, depending on how we perform. Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before payday) as well as access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme. Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave. For more details on our benefits, please visit www.sainsburys.jobs (note: length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
Graduate - Design employer: Sainsbury's
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate - Design
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know Sainsbury's inside out! Research their values, recent projects, and the Next Level strategy. This will help you tailor your responses during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Use mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on showcasing your design skills and how you can contribute to their projects.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. This can give you insider tips and might even lead to a referral, which can boost your chances of landing that role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, keep an eye on deadlines and be ready for those assessments – preparation is key!
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate - Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the skills and experiences that align with the Graduate - Design role. Highlight your proficiency in Digital Design and any relevant projects you've worked on, as this will show us you're a great fit for our FutureMaker Graduate Programme.
Showcase Your Creativity: As a design graduate, we want to see your creative flair! Include a portfolio or examples of your work that demonstrate your design thinking and problem-solving abilities. This is your chance to impress us with your unique style and approach!
Be Authentic: When filling out your application, be yourself! We’re looking for candidates who are eager to learn and grow. Share your genuine interests and motivations for wanting to join Sainsbury’s, as this will help us understand what drives you.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures that your application is processed correctly and gives you the best chance of being shortlisted for the next steps in our selection process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Know Your Design Fundamentals
Brush up on your design principles and theories before the interview. Be ready to discuss your favourite design projects and how they align with Sainsbury's values. This shows you’re not just a creative thinker but also someone who understands the importance of user experience.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since teamwork is key in this role, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in past projects. Highlight your ability to share ideas and leverage team strengths, as this will resonate well with their focus on collaboration.
✨Be Ready for Real-World Scenarios
During the assessment centre, you might face realistic work scenarios. Practice responding to design challenges or problem-solving exercises. This will help you demonstrate your critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for the Graduate - Design role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the programme and the company culture. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also your eagerness to learn and grow within Sainsbury's. It’s a great way to show that you’re proactive and genuinely interested in making an impact.