At a Glance
- 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.
- Other info: Experience three rotations in Product Design teams for broad exposure.
- 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.
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
Sainsbury's is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees through the FutureMaker Graduate Programme. With a strong focus on mentorship, meaningful work, and a supportive culture, graduates will gain invaluable experience while enjoying a range of benefits including discounts, performance bonuses, and comprehensive wellbeing support. Located at our London Store Support Centre, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful projects within a trusted brand, all while being part of a diverse and inclusive team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate - Design
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Sainsbury's for a Graduate - Design, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Sainsbury's before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate - Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Graduate - Design at Sainsbury's, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Sainsbury's does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Sainsbury's. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Sainsbury's.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Sainsbury's, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Sainsbury's might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Sainsbury's!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Sainsbury's is looking for.
