AkzoNobel is the world’s largest coatings manufacturer, the number one in decorative paints and the leading supplier of specialty chemicals.
With its global headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, AkzoNobel employs 60,000 people working in more than 80 countries across the world and provides opportunities for graduates to start in the UK and Europe.
Combined revenues for 2007 totaled around EUR 14.4 billion. Around a half of AkzoNobel’s revenues are made in Europe, with 30% in the Americas and almost 20% in fast growing markets in Asia. Our brands include Dulux, Cuprinol, Ekka, Glidden, Hammerite, Polyfilla, Sikkens and many more. AkzoNobel is a Global Fortune 500 company and a Chemicals Industry leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.
Graduate Development Program
Your development is as important to AkzoNobel as it is to you. We see you as a future senior business manager and can offer you the opportunities to challenge you to achieve that vision.
Your individual program will be unique, defined by your roles and supported by your ambition and motivation. Far from telling you what to do, we expect you to take the initiative and drive your career yourself. Alongside your functional and individual training you will be provided with development opportunities under our Graduate Development Program. This program has been developed to provide graduates with an understanding of AkzoNobel and a network of contacts throughout the company. Each training event aims to enhance your business-based knowledge and your management and team working skills.
At AkzoNobel we have a number of graduate opportunities across various different disciplines and across our various different business units and global operations. Opportunities range from Customer Business Development/Sales, Marketing, Research & Development, Engineering for Manufacturing, Human Resources, Information Technology, Purchasing, Supply Chain and Finance.
Customer Business Development/Sales at AkzoNobel
In a demanding, fast moving marketplace, our Sales Teams are key to driving our future growth through delighting our customers with tailored solutions. Our Sales Team operates in a dynamic environment and therefore each day will be exciting and varied.
As a Customer Business Development Graduate, you will gain experience across a number of functional areas within our Sales Team, including, account management, category management, sales operations, as well a placement in one of our Marketing Teams.
In our graduate scheme, you will be given real responsibility from day one and the opportunity to make a difference, with involvement in accounts which vary from the top retail names to strategic regional retailers, & local high street retailers. You will be responsible for developing successful long-term customer relationships, with your own key contacts. To be successful in your role you will need to work across our commercial team, and develop your network cross functionally with our colleagues in Supply Chain, Finance and Marketing.
Other opportunities
If you are an undergraduate you can develop with us by applying for the Summer Internship or Industrial Placement opportunities across our various different business units and global operations. Opportunities range from Customer Business Development/Sales, Marketing, Research & Development, Engineering for Manufacturing, Human Resources, Information Technology, Purchasing, Supply Chain and Finance. Industrial Placement opportunities vary from 6 months to 12 months. Our summer internship opportunities are for 12 weeks and usually commence in July.opens company web site in new window