Sainsbury’s has announced the launch of a new two-year graduate programme in its Store Support Centre (SSC) designed to develop critical skills in areas such as AI and digital.

The supermarket chain’s FutureMaker programme, which will create nearly 50 roles at the Centre, also includes skills building across data and analytics, change and transformation, and business decision-making.

The programme is a three-part programme running for 24 months, split into eight-month rotations within a chosen SSC specialism. After this, participants will be able to apply for relevant roles within the business.

The initiative provides the opportunity to work on real projects with Sainsbury’s and Argos, with roles including buying, commercial operations, digital retail, merchandising, data science and analytics, food technology, logistics and fulfilment, supply chain, transformation, property and procurement, and product and innovation.

"We’re committed to investing in early careers and have spent time identifying the skills our future leaders will need to help us build a sustainable retail talent pipeline," said a Sainsbury's spokesperson. "The FutureMaker programme will nurture critical skills in digital and AI; data and analytics; change and transformation; and business decision making.

"By opening accessible pathways for graduates, we’re investing in both our business growth and a more inclusive workforce, ensuring our teams reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.”

The launch of FutureMaker will be followed by a broader range of early careers programmes across Sainsbury’s.

The retailer currently has nearly 600 supermarkets and over 800 convenience stores, while Argos is the third most visited retail website in the UK, with over 70 per cent of its sales starting online.

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