We’re a digital business, driven by data, and using technology to create new services that transform customer and colleague experiences. Join this structured, year in industry programme and you’ll build the skills, knowledge and experience you need to embed the learnings at university into practical work experience but also understand where you may want focus on post-graduation.
You’ll have the chance to contribute to a variety of real projects, from agile working to supporting our digital transformation, automation, and developing a next generation contact centre. In short, you’ll play a key role in helping to shape our digital transformation whilst developing your coding skills.
Where you’ll be based
You’ll be based at our fantastic Bexhill office which is close to the seafront.
We’re committed to hybrid working, so you’ll have the flexibility to work some days in the office and some days at home.
Starting your career at Hastings Direct gives you the chance to make your mark in an ambitious, rapidly growing and digitally driven business. A company that genuinely cares about you as an individual, respects your opinions and listens to your ideas. One where you can make a positive difference, because you’re encouraged to look for growth opportunities and achieve your full potential.
During your placement, we’ll give you the experience and technical knowledge to start and progress your career. We’ll provide you with a nurturing and challenging environment to help expand your horizons, develop skills and make new connections.
Most of all, you’ll find all the support you need, from people at every level, so you can fulfil your ambitions. From managers who are approachable and supportive, to colleagues who are always ready to help each other out.
Over the one-year programme, you’ll gain extensive practical experience working on our core projects enabling our digital transformation working across all aspects of the software development lifecycle; supporting and delivering high quality software changes across Hastings Direct’s systems and platforms. It’s a great way to discover how technology supports every aspect of our business and to develop wide-ranging technical skills and understanding.
By the end of the placement, you’ll have a strong understanding of how our teams work together to enable the business to thrive. You may also be on track to gaining your first graduate role.
From the moment you join us, we’ll make sure you have access to a wide variety of opportunities for both personal and professional growth.
To support your technical placement, we can offer access to our training resources to supplement your practical learning. You’ll be able to tailor your learning pathway to match your career ambitions in technology. You’ll also have the opportunity to network and meet others in similar programmes across the business.
And our inclusive, supportive culture means you’ll have a strong support network around you. From leaders to mentors, buddies to our Early Careers team, you’ll always have someone you can talk to about anything. From your future career at Hastings Direct, to where to get a coffee!
We look for a combination of technical and personal skills, so you’ll need to be:
Qualifications
Currently studying a Computer Science degree
Interests
Passionate about technology and coding
Behaviours
Naturally curious and keen to learn and innovate
Collaborative, with strong communication skills
Hastings Direct is an insurance company that aims to digitalise their services by introducing cutting edge technology. As someone who is more than interested in learning about new technologies, Hastings Direct’s Placement provoked my curiosity, and I was intrigued by their interview task as it allowed me to put into practice the skills I have gained in university while also being relevant to what is expected of me in the role. I also came across Hasting Direct’s 4Cs values which I found to be unique but also aligned with my own values.
The appeal of being able to learn relevant industry skills in a company that is at the forefront of what it does is what attracted me to a placement role at Hastings Direct. Especially since Hastings has just completed a massive digital transformation, it was an exciting time to be working for them!
My highlight would be getting my first feature pushed internally. I did a refactor and redesign of a SonarQube page that is used by all the Dev team to create bookmarklets. I added a lot of functionality as well as made it look good, and it’s awesome to see that out and working on the actual site.
After each stage, we’ll let you know if you’ve made it to the next one and what to expect. If you haven’t, we’ll be happy to give you feedback.
Choose the right programme for you, then just answer a couple of basic application questions and attach your CV.
We’ll review your application to see if you have what we’re looking for in for your chosen programme.
Your chance to show us how you evaluate, reason and conceptualise, spot patterns, solve problems and use your numerical skills to draw conclusions.
An interview covering why you want to join us, with some technical questions.
From producing case studies and giving presentations, to group and role-specific tasks, this is your chance to shine.
If you’re successful, we’ll offer you a place on one of our programmes and call you to talk through the details.
Absolutely! If you meet our eligibility requirements, everyone is welcome. We suggest that you also speak with your Leader to help support with your application.
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to sponsor visas for our graduate programmes. You will be asked to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK during the selection process, and you must maintain and be able to demonstrate your right to work throughout the duration of your employment with the Company.
If you do have immigration permission (e.g. a graduate visa), this visa must cover you for the two or three-year programme and you’ll need to provide evidence of your course completion from your university before your starting date.
Yes, however throughout the recruitment process we may give you the advice that you're better suited to another programme - we always have your best interests at heart.
Yes, if you can demonstrate your suitability for the role through relevant work experience, projects or modules throughout your degree or additional skills and interests.
Yes – age is just a number although we do ask that applicants have graduated within the past 3 years.
Yes, so long as you meet the minimum requirements for the programme you’d like to apply to, and we do ask that applicants have graduated within the past three years.
This will depend on the programme you are joining. We do typically ask that you are within commutable distance to one of our offices so you benefit from in-person support when you join, further information on which office can be found within the job advert.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We can make adjustments and offer support throughout the recruitment process to ensure that you have the best chance of success. Furthermore, if you are made an offer, we can then discuss with you the adjustments you might need to get on with the job and develop your career.
Please refer to the recruitment process to find out more about the different stages during the recruitment process which will help you identify whether you will need any support or adjustments at any stage. Please contact us to discuss any support you may require at recruitmentteam@hastingsdirect.com.
Adjustments vary depending on the specific needs or circumstances of the individual and the best way to identify the most suitable adjustments is for us to speak with you, which will allow us to determine what adjustments would be most appropriate.
Examples can include additional time, breaks, adjustable font sizes and subtitles on videos.
Please contact us to discuss any support you may require at recruitmentteam@hastingsdirect.com.
We’ve moved back to face-to-face assessment centres. You’ll be asked to attend an in-person assessment centre, in one of our offices at either Bexhill, Leicester or London.
We will advise you of the scheduled dates for your programme nearer the time so that you can keep the date free.
Each programme will start in September 2024.
If you have immigration permission that will allow you to complete your two or three year programme, you must provide evidence of your course completion from your university before your starting date.
Are you ready for a graduate programme with a fast growing, digitally-focused insurance company? A business with huge ambitions to be the UK’s best and biggest digital insurer?
An organisation that focuses on profitable growth that’s truly sustainable, by doing the right thing for colleagues, customers, the community and the company – our 4Cs? Somewhere that celebrates openness and diversity by encouraging you to be yourself – and was ranked 4th in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List 2023/24?
Are you ready for a future with Hastings Direct?
Recruitment for our 2024 programmes is now closed – applications will open again in early 2025.
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