With the economy and the jobs market still in the doldrums, car-maker Kia  Motors (UK) is set to capitalise on the large pool of university talent which has become available by launching a graduate training programme. The Hyundai-owned marque, which also claims to be Britain's fastest-growing automotive retail brand, is offering 12-month contracts in sales, marketing, after-sales and other areas of the business.

Head of Human Resources Gary Tomlinson tells ModernSelling.com: ‘As many as one in ten UK graduates failed to find a job last year and prospects for 2010 are just as gloomy.’

Growing opportunities

He says: ‘At Kia we have a growing brand, a growing company and consequently growing opportunities both for our existing staff and for potential new recruits. We have decided that we will launch a specific 12-month training and employment programme for new graduates who want to work in a challenging and exciting environment with one of the motor industry's rising stars.’

Kia, which provides the ‘Reasonably priced car’ for Top Gear’s test-track has enjoyed growth in the UK new car market during the last 18 months when many other manufacturers were struggling. The company says that ‘despite the impact of the scrappage scheme the brand's normal retail sales have surged even more during the first half of 2010’.

Reasonably priced car: the Cee'd.

In response, Kia is hoping its dedicated graduate employment and training scheme will ‘help some of Britain's young post-graduate talent get a foot on the working ladder’.

Tomlinson explains: ‘During the last quarter of 2010 we shall recruit five graduates specifically to join Kia on 12-month contracts with a view to providing them and the company with opportunities and support in vital areas of the business such as sales, marketing, after-sales and logistics, finance and our dedicated dealer training service.

Ambitious individuals

‘We are looking for ambitious and talented individuals who possess the potential to forge a career within our rapidly growing organisation. Candidates should posses the ability to work effectively within our team-oriented culture, be quick learners, with the capability to adapt to an ever-changing environment,’ he adds.

Graduates can find more information about Kia at www.kia.co.uk/grads.

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