Asda
Buying Graduate Programme

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Job Title
Buying Graduate Programme
Location
Asda House
Employment Type
Full time
Contract Type
Permanent Graduate (Fixed Term)
Hours per Week
37.5
Salary
Competitive salary
Category
Buying
Closing Date
10 December 2026
Ready to turn your passion for products, trends and customers into a career? At Asda, we're looking for ambitious graduates to join our Buying team and help shape the products our customers see on shelves every day. This is an exciting opportunity to kickstart your career in retail with a business that serves millions of customers across the UK. Through a combination of hands-on experience, structured development and exposure to key commercial functions, you'll build the skills and confidence needed for a successful career in buying and merchandising. No specific business degree is required. We're looking for curious, driven individuals who are eager to learn, build relationships and make an impact.
“Everything about Asda”
We are a values-led organisation. As such we, encourage everyone to be open and honest. We work creatively and collaboratively, valuing everyone's input.
Our collaborative culture, the size of our business and our belief in the empowerment of the individual means opportunities at Asda are abundant.
We conduct £300m worth of transactions every week. Our website handles over 2 million transactions a month. We have more than 145,000 dedicated Asda colleagues ensuring that our customers are at the heart of everything we do.
“Everything you'll love”
To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Over and above this, each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots.
You will also get an excellent benefits package including:
- Discretionary company bonus
- Company pension up to 7% matched
- 15% colleague discount in store and online
- Free access to wellbeing services such as Wagestream, 24/7 virtual GP, counselling, health and dental cash plans and a 24/7 employee assistance helpline, alongside discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking, enhanced to theme parks and cinemas.
- Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated
- Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves
Plus, much more!
"Find Your Role"
Our Buying Graduate role offers a structured commercial development journey, giving you the opportunity to develop deep buying and merchandising expertise while gaining experience across different areas of the Buying function and helping shape the products, promotions and ranges our customers love.
Throughout the two-year journey, you'll rotate across Buying, Merchandising and Category Planning, building a strong understanding of how our Commercial teams work together to deliver great quality products, exceptional value and profitable growth. Along the way, you'll develop the skills, knowledge and commercial awareness needed for a successful career within Asda's Commercial function while discovering where your strengths and interests lie.
As part of your development, you'll also spend time in our stores, giving you first hand insight into the customer experience and how decisions made within a commercial role directly impact colleagues, customers and store performance. This unique exposure will help you understand the full product journey, from supplier to shelf.
No two days are the same, but you can expect to:
- Support the management of product categories and trading performance
- Analyse sales data and identify commercial opportunities
- Assist with promotional planning and execution
- Build relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Attend supplier meetings and support negotiations
- Contribute to range reviews and customer-led decision making
- Support Profit & Loss performance across categories
- Produce internal sales reporting and commercial insights
- Visit stores to understand customer behaviour, product performance and operational execution
Let's Find Out About You
We're looking for graduates who are:
- Curious and commercially minded
- Analytical and confident working with data
- Strong communicators who enjoy building relationships
- Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
- Customer-focused and passionate about retail
- Eager to learn and develop their career
- Resilient and able to make informed decisions
- Excited by products, trends and understanding customer needs


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
A strong business background isn't required for success within retail. Buying and merchandising require a diverse range of skills, many of which are transferable. The most important qualities are curiosity, drive and an innate desire to continually learn and develop.
What You'll Learn
As part of your development, you'll gain valuable experience and build skills in:
- Managing supplier relationships
- Understanding market trends and customer behaviour
- Navigating supply chain challenges
- Delivering successful promotional activity
- Cost, margin and Profit & Loss management
- Planning and executing category strategies
- Using data and insight to drive decisions
- Maintaining a competitive edge in a fast-moving retail market
By the end of the role, you'll have developed a strong commercial foundation and a deep understanding of how buying decisions shape the customer experience across Asda.
"Find Your Everything At Asda"
We are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We're committed to attracting and developing diverse talent and creating opportunities for everyone to succeed.
Take your time completing your online application. It's your chance to make a great first impression.
If you're successful through our selection process, you'll progress through the following stages:
- A short, blended personality and numerical assessment
- Three, quick video interview questions
- A half-day assessment centre, where you will meet the team and find out more about the programme.
If you are successful, we will ask you to come and join ASDA in September 2027. You will need to work a minimum of three days per week in Asda House, Leeds. The three-day office attendance requirement may vary based on the specific team and its operational requirements.
Applications may close before the deadline so please register your interest as soon as possible.
All candidates must have the continuous right to work in the UK and any offer of employment is conditional upon this requirement. Asda do not provide sponsorship for our graduate and apprenticeship programmes.
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