Business Management Graduate Programme 2026 (Manchester)

Business Management Graduate Programme 2026 (Manchester)

Location: Manchester

Start Date: September 2026

Closing date for applications: Sunday 26th October 2025

Overview

Are you looking for a career that will excite, challenge and inspire you after you\’ve finished university? If so, a Zurich Insurance graduate scheme could be just what you\’re looking for. It\’s a great way to get real-life experience of working in insurance and discover what you enjoy. You\’ll get plenty of opportunities and support to shape your career and make a difference to our customers at a time when they need us the most.

Each Zurich graduate scheme is a permanent role and is just the start of your career with us. We\’ll continue to cheer you on every step of the way once you\’ve finished and will remain committed to helping you grow. Working in insurance is so varied – you\’ll find many different opportunities to explore.

What can I look forward to?

Get excited! Our 27-month rotational Business Management Graduate programme will give you unrivalled exposure to different parts of the business, learning what we do, and how we deliver for our customers. You will build on your individual motivation and natural skills, learning lots of new ones along the way, with the chance to meet new people and make great connections.

You will build a strong understanding of our business and how we deliver for our customers when they need us most, and you will be supported by a large network of people across the breadth of the UK business throughout to help you succeed. You can expect to get to grips with the complexity of claims, learn about underwriting, assessing risks, delivering reports to stakeholders, driving operational excellence, and potentially managing a team.

You\’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself, develop a range of skills and networks, overseeing projects that deliver value to our business and customers, and developing the commercial and technical know-how that will set you on a course to be a future leader.

You will need to have the drive and enthusiasm to develop an understanding of our business. Fantastic team working, communication, organisational and influencing skills are key, as is the desire to seize the initiative, adopt a continuous improvement mindset, embrace new opportunities. Be prepared to step outside your comfort zone to deliver for our customers and colleagues.

As part of the graduate programme, you will experience an in-depth learning & development programme that will support you throughout and into your future career. You will also complete a Level 6 Senior Insurance Professional Apprenticeship (equivalent to a bachelor\’s degree) which includes completing your Chartered Insurance Institute ACII qualification.

As this is a rotational programme, you are encouraged and will be expected to move locations to carry out your role/rotation responsibilities. Whilst we operate a hybrid working policy, office attendance expectations will be agreed with your line manager at the start of each rotation and must be within a commutable distance of the office. Financial relocation support is provided for each relocation move.

What\’s in it for you?

As well as joining a company that is passionate about our people, sustainability and our customers, we also have a competitive rewards and lifestyle benefits package.

• £30,000 starting salary with 2 performance related pay reviews a year
• 25 days holiday plus an additional 3 volunteering days
• You can request to swap UK bank holidays for days off that have cultural or religious significance to you
• Private medical cover
• 12% company pension contribution
• Annual company bonus
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounted gadget insurance
• Discounted technology offers

What you\’ll need

• Flexibility around location as this is a rotational programme and you work across the UK offices and must be within a commutable distance from your assigned office
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• The ability to build strong working relationships
• Willingness and commitment to learning and development
• Influencing & teamworking skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Drive and enthusiasm

Entry Requirements

• You must recently have achieved (within the last three years) or on track to receive a minimum 2:1 degree from your bachelor\’s or equivalent degree.
• At least 96 UCAS points from 3 A-Level subjects (or equivalent)
• A -C in English and Maths GCSE (or equivalent)
• You must have an indefinite, full right to work and reside in the UK. We cannot accept applications from those who require sponsorship to work in the UK. You must have resided in the UK for a minimum of three consecutive years in order to apply.

Are you ready to create a brighter future?

At Zurich our brand purpose is to create a brighter future together, for our customers, our partners, our employees and the planet. It\’s a promise that for our customers, we will put their needs at the heart of everything we do and for our employees, to grow and develop together. For our partners, to collaborate to create mutual value and for the planet, to drive positive impact by integrating our sustainability work into how we do business. We put our customers at the heart of everything that we do, and we\’re looking for like-minded people to join us.

We\’re passionate about diversity and inclusion; we want our people to bring the whole of themselves to work. You\’ll have every opportunity to use your drive and enthusiasm to innovate the future of Zurich. Everybody is made to feel welcome, different opinions are valued, personal needs are respected, and opportunity is equal for all.

So make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported, Love what you do. Work for us.

Please note

We are unable to progress your application if you don\’t meet our criteria listed above. Please ensure you have the right to reside and work in the UK before you apply as we are unable to provide sponsorship. You must have resided in the UK for a minimum of three consecutive years in order to apply.

Financials

• 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme.
• Annual company bonus.
• Income Protection.
• Life cover – four times your salary.

Time away

• 25 days holiday a year plus bank holidays.
• You can also request to swap UK bank holidays for days off that have cultural or religious significance to you.
• The option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday.
• Three days paid volunteering.
• Up to 16 weeks\’ full pay for maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Your health is important to us

• Access to Private medical insurance.
• Virtual GP appointments.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Free flu jab.
• Access to a wealth of support from our wellbeing partners.

We\’re making a difference

• Creating a brighter, more sustainable future underpins all that we do here in Zurich. We were the first insurer to sign the \’UN Business Ambition for 1.5 C\’ pledge.
• Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, has awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million.