Ten talented graduates have started work after fighting off fierce competition to gain a place on Wolseley UK’s new Management Training programme.

Over 2,300 applications - just one job for every 230 applicants - were received for the Management Training programme, which gives graduates the opportunity to join a FTSE 100 company and become part of the next generation of managers. A third of applications – 700 in total – were for the branch operations vacancies.

Due to the high volume of applications, Wolseley UK partnered with Discovery Graduates to shortlist the candidates following a telephone interview and assessment day.

From this shortlist, 48 graduates were invited to attend Wolseley UK assessment centres held in July, August and September.

Expectations were high and a team of occupational psychologists and senior managers from the business put the candidates through a series of competency based activities.

Candidates were also given an opportunity to learn about the business and to meet heads of department, regional trading directors, and other members of the senior management team.

Ten jobs were eventually offered – seven in branch operations and three in the head office support functions of marketing, logistics and product sourcing.

Nick Scott, head of employee engagement at Wolseley UK, said: “All of the graduates were put through an incredibly tough application process to win places on our Management Training programme.

“The standards were exceptionally high and it was difficult to limit the number of places offered to just 10.

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to those who were offered places and thank everyone else who applied.

“I am confident that our Management Training programme will help us achieve our aim of having the best branch staff in the industry and I am expecting great things from our new recruits.”

The ten graduates officially started work with Wolseley UK on Tuesday 8 October as part of a three-day induction, ahead of their placements within the Plumb and Parts Center, Drain Center, Integrated Services and William Wilson businesses.