Lawsons (Whetstone) Ltd
Graduate Future Leader
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Lawsons Graduate Future Leaders Programme – September 2027
Build Your Future Career with Lawsons
Lawsons Group is the UK’s largest independent supplier of Timber, Building, Fencing and Landscape supplies. Founded in 1921, we are a business controlled by a Non-Family Employee Benefit Trust with over 100 years of experience, 35 branches, 750 employees and an annual turnover of £175 million, operating across London and the South East of England.
As we continue to grow and invest in our people, we are looking for ambitious graduates to join the our Family and develop into the future leaders of our business.
Our two-year Graduate Future Leaders Programme
Our two-year Graduate Future Leaders Programme is designed to give you a 360-degree understanding of our business through hands-on experience, formal training, mentoring and real responsibility.
The Programme
From day one, you’ll be based at one of our key branches and gain practical experience across the business, including:
- 🌳 Yard & Operations – learn about our products, branch operations, logistics and customer deliveries. You’ll also have the opportunity to obtain your Forklift Truck licence.
- 🤝 Sales & Customer Service – develop your commercial awareness and sales skills through counter sales, telesales, and customer relationship management.
- 📦 Stock & Logistics – understand stock control, purchasing, deliveries and supply chain processes.
- 💷 Finance & Commercial Awareness – develop your understanding of profitability, costs, and commercial decision-making.
- 🦺 Health & Safety – complete IOSH safety training and learn how to maintain a safe working environment.
- 🏢 Wider Business Exposure – gain insight into support functions including Finance IT, HR, Marketing, External Sales, Group Transport and Purchasing.
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You’ll also complete a business-based project, giving you the opportunity to make a genuine contribution to the business and present your findings and recommendations to the Lawsons Group Board of Directors.
Your Development
Throughout the programme, you’ll receive:
- An experienced mentor and regular development conversations
- Accredited training and professional development
- A Management Diploma
- Exposure to senior leaders across the Lawsons Group
- Opportunities to work on projects with real business impact
- A structured pathway towards future management and leadership opportunities
Could You Be a Future Leader?
We’re looking for graduates who are ambitious, curious, resilient and ready to get stuck in.
You’ll need:
- To be able to start in September 2027, though some paid pre-work experience may be available before the programme starts.
- A minimum 2:2 honours degree in any discipline, graduating in Summer 2027 or prior.
- A strong interest in building a career in leadership and business
- A customer-focused and commercial mindset
- Integrity, drive, ambition and discretion
- Leadership and entrepreneurial potential
- An interest in the builders’ merchant and construction sector
- A full UK driving licence
- Flexibility to travel between branches and attend training and development sessions
- The confidence and resilience to embrace a hands-on, intensive development programme
We’re not looking for someone who simply wants a graduate job. We’re looking for someone who wants to become a future leader.
What We Offer
- 💰 Competitive starting salary, with a salary review ahead of Year 2 – starting salary is £32,000
- 🌴 25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays and an additional Celebration Day in the month of your birthday
- 🎓 Learning & Development
- A structured two-year development programme, accredited training, mentoring and a Management Diploma.
- 💚 Wellbeing
- Inclusive company pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and comprehensive staff wellbeing support.
- 🛍️ Employee Benefits
- Staff discount, access to Online GP services and our exclusive My Reward recognition platform.
- 🚀 Career Development
- Genuine opportunities for progression within the Lawsons Group
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Our Application Process
We want to get to know you throughout the recruitment process. The stages are:
- Telephone Interview – October 2026
- An initial conversation to learn more about you, your experience and your interest in the programme.
- Team Interview – November / December 2026
- Meet members of the Lawsons team and explore your suitability for the programme in more detail.
- Assessment Day – early February 2027, London
- Our final stage will be an in-person Assessment Day in London, giving you the opportunity to meet more of the team and demonstrate your skills, potential and approach.
Why Lawsons?
100+ years of history. A future full of opportunity.
At Lawsons, you’ll learn our business from the ground up — understanding our customers, products, people, and branches before developing your management and leadership skills.
You’ll be given the opportunity to learn, contribute, take on responsibility, and build a long-term career within a growing, family-run business.
Ready to build your future with Lawsons? Apply now….. Closing date is 31st October 2026!
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