Online trade supplier, Ironmongery Direct is celebrating the success of its graduate management scheme, which has seen the business recruit two new colleagues from its previous intake of newly qualified students.

One of the stand-out performers is Dimitra Koutsochera. She joined Ironmongery Direct in 2013 after completing an MSc in Business Management and, since starting as a graduate management trainee, has gone on to be promoted to supply chain and inventory planning manager.

Ms Koutsochera attributes her ability to excel in the scheme to the diversity on offer in her role and the opportunities she was given to realise her key strengths. She explained: “My university course gave me the tools and introduced me to the best frameworks for me to know what it takes to perform a job well.  However, you are only going to learn if someone gives you the opportunity to apply this into practice, make mistakes, and learn from them.

“This is the advantage of the Ironmongery Direct graduate scheme, as you have the opportunity to work in various departments, build business acumen, earn further qualifications, and at the end of it all, identify what you really enjoy doing and start a career. You understand how each department links to each other and the impact that your decisions may have. Graduate schemes give you the flexibility to choose what is best for you and your future career, compared to going down another route.”

Ironmongery Direct’s latest group of graduates includes Oliver Bull and Luke Scott. Mr Bull graduated from the University of Warwick having completed a Masters in MSc Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management and is already immersing himself in the new role. “I have just started my first three-month project, aimed at further enhancing customer experience,” he said. “I have been welcomed and already feel valued and part of the team.

“Ironmongery Direct offered the perfect opportunity for me to further expand my knowledge and experience in the field. It was clear the company invests time and effort into its employees, and despite its size, has maintained a family-like business environment, which has created a thriving workplace.”

Luke Scott, who graduated with a degree in Mathematics from Loughborough University also praised the wide-ranging nature of the graduate scheme: “The most attractive feature of the scheme was the fact that I would be working in lots of different departments throughout the programme, which meant I would be getting a full scope of how the business works.

“There is a great work culture here; the whole team is friendly and always ready to lend a helping hand, with everyone, including the directors, available if you need a chat.”