What's our scheme
all about?
We'll take your passion for people and help you transform it into exceptional finance expertise and commercial understanding at the UK's leading hospitality business.
From Day 1 you’ll be instrumental in providing analysis that will inform and influence our strategic management decisions. You’ll be part of a wider graduate cohort, building working relationships and supporting each other through professional exams as you navigate the start of your career, helped along the way by our dedicated early careers team.
Watch Mike Armitt, our FP&A and Property Finance Director, give his top 3 reasons why our Finance Graduate Scheme continues to deliver our future leaders here at Whitbread.
How to apply
for this year's
scheme
That’s great you are interested in applying for our Finance Graduate Scheme, all you need to do is…
Step 1
Hit 'apply now' and submit your application on our careers site and upload your CV.
Step 2
You’ll be asked to complete our online testing which starts with two games-based assessments. These are quick and can be completed at a time when it's best for you. You can do this on your smartphone, computer or tablet.
Step 3
Next, you’ll be asked to complete a video interview. You'll answer a set of interview questions using your smartphone, computer or tablet to record yourself. These will be around a set of competencies and why you’d like to work for us. Also, don’t worry if you are unhappy with your first answer, you can re-record this if you’d like.
Step 4
If you're successful following the online assessment you’ll be invited to our in person assessment centre at our Support Centre in Dunstable. We expect this to take place in January 2026 and we’ll notify you if successful from December 2025 onwards.
Hit 'apply now' and submit your application on our careers site and upload your CV.
You’ll be asked to complete our online testing which starts with two games-based assessments. These are quick and can be completed at a time when it's best for you. You can do this on your smartphone, computer or tablet.
Next, you’ll be asked to complete a video interview. You'll answer a set of interview questions using your smartphone, computer or tablet to record yourself. These will be around a set of competencies and why you’d like to work for us. Also, don’t worry if you are unhappy with your first answer, you can re-record this if you’d like.
If you're successful following the online assessment you’ll be invited to our in person assessment centre at our Support Centre in Dunstable. We expect this to take place in January 2026 and we’ll notify you if successful from December 2025 onwards.
Your questions answered
Why did you choose Whitbread? What qualification did you choose to do? Is it what you expected?
We asked the people with the answers - our current Finance Graduates - to give us their take on life at the UK's leading hospitality business.
Click the link for the full video…
Our graduate benefits
Here at Whitbread, we show our appreciation to our team for all their hard work and continued commitment to us. One of the ways we do this is by providing fantastic benefits such as:
• Starting salary of £34k, with incremental increases as you gain experience and pass your CIMA/ACCA/ACA exams
• Rotations into different roles and areas of Finance to broaden your understanding of what we do - allowing you to explore what you enjoy doing and enabling you to make a true impact on our business
• On-going support, coaching and mentoring throughout the scheme to ensure you thrive; encouraging you to build relationships across functions and with other members of Whitbread Graduate Scheme community
• Annual Bonus Scheme up to 10%, Individual BUPA healthcare and Sharesave Scheme
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and contributory company Pension
• Up to 60% discount on Premier Inn stays and a regular 25% discount in our Restaurant brands
• Charity donations through our Give and Match and Raise and Match schemes
Meet the current grads
Nagma Hussain | Senior Business Performance Analyst
Finance Graduate from 2021 - 2024
"This has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. It’s given me the opportunity to explore a variety of roles across Finance, while building a strong network, including exposure to senior leaders who’ve helped shape my development.
One of the things I’ve valued most is the flexibility to manage my studies in a way that suits me, whether that’s choosing my exam board or setting my own timetable. It’s a supportive environment here that really sets you up for success. Following the graduate scheme, I’ve been successful in securing a role in the Commercial Finance Trading team which is exactly where I aimed to be when I set out."
Luke Godfrey | Operations Finance Manager
Finance Graduate from 2022 - 2025
"The graduate scheme equips you with broad knowledge and practical skills, preparing you for a post-graduate scheme role and the step up to a junior management position. My own journey through the scheme has been invaluable in helping me secure my current role and setting me up for future success.
"Over the past three years, I’ve gained experience in several key teams:
- Controls: I learned how robust controls are essential for maintaining the financial integrity of our business.
- Location Planning: I contributed to developing commercials for potential site openings.
- Restaurant Finance: I worked across all aspects of the drinks P&L line.
Each rotation brought new skills and knowledge, and I thoroughly enjoyed the variety and challenges each role presented."
Charlotte Nicolson | Operations Finance Manager
Finance Graduate 2022 - 2025
"I'd say a key advantage to the graduate scheme at Whitbread is the rotations. They provide exposure to diverse areas across finance, allowing you to broaden your knowledge and strengthen your skill set. Over the course of the 3-year programme, I have had the opportunity to gain valuable experience within the Property, Operations and Location & Commercial Strategy teams."
Rachel Phillips | Property Accounting Manager
Finance Graduate 2022 - 2025
"For me the best thing about the scheme has been the yearly rotations. I think it's because you gain that exposure to so many different areas of finance and, with the increased level of responsibility each year, you have the chance to develop a wide variety of skills that you wouldn't normally be able to over three years.
"The progress I have made on both technical and softer skills has enabled me to rotate off the scheme and secure a role in an area of finance I have not worked in previously where I can continue to develop."
Find out more on Whitbread
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