Darragh O'Callaghan, Accounting and Finance Graduate at Applegreen

Why did you apply for Applegreen?

Competitive Salary, the rotation structure was a big draw. I didn’t really have a firm idea of where I wanted to end up, and with the rotations you get brilliant exposure to different elements of the business

What are you favourite parts of the programme?

The general day to day in the office. It’s a fast paced workplace meaning you always have something new opportunities to learn and contribute.

What is the culture like?

There’s a culture of striving for success and continuous learning. There is a high degree of understanding on the demands of the job and people are always willing to lend a hand if you ask.

What do other graduates/new starters enjoy when they start working here and what do they find most challenging?

Enjoy – the nature of the work, the community and the learning element of the job.

Challenging – Adapting to the pace, finding the balance between private and professional life, especially when studying for exams.

How have you found the training and development?

Very beneficial, because of the environment the need to develop skills quickly is a necessity. The quality of the training, especially from the IACT and other excel courses, has been delivered in very high quality.

What are the benefits of starting your professional career in the retail industry?

Only time will tell!

In addition?

What drew me to Applegreen was the sponsoring of the ACCA’s, the rotation structure within the company and going straight into industry. One of the best aspects of working at Applegreen is the general atmosphere and culture. There’s a keen emphasis on continuous innovation and improvement.

To facilitate this, standards are driven everywhere in the company. What makes this work, and an enjoyable process to be a part of, is the willingness of people to lend a hand when its needed by everyone in the business. The goal long term success and it’s felt throughout the company.

As Applegreen is in a rapid growth phase, there’s never a dull moment! Adjusting to the fast-paced work environment and all that is demands was definitely the most challenging element of the programme. That said, ample supports are put in place to help make the transition from university to work as smooth as possible.

Some of these supports being regular Excel courses with IACT, ‘soft’ business skills training days as well as a mentor system within the company.