Scheme summary
1. Salary - £30,987 + up to 10% annual bonus + annual pay reviews
2. Start date – September 2026
3. Scheme length – 3 years
4. Location – Stratford-upon-Avon
5. Criteria – minimum degree classification of 2:2.
About the scheme
We’ve made some exciting changes to the HR Division at NFU Mutual — and there’s never been a better time to be part of it. With future-focused capabilities, smarter technology, and clearer career paths now in place, we’re creating an environment where early careers talent can truly thrive. We are proud to be one of the few companies worldwide recognised by Gallup as an Exceptional Place to Work with our Human Resources Graduate Scheme all about developing future HR leaders, who will help us keep it that way. Based at our Stratford-upon-Avon Head Office, you’ll dive into all aspects of HR - from attracting top talent to ensuring our people are set up for success - while harnessing the power of data and analytics to drive smarter decisions.
You’ll be part of a close-knit team at the heart of the business that’s passionate about creating and sustaining a positive culture, embracing diversity, and building an environment that provides opportunities for employees to learn, develop, and deliver the best work of their careers. With data-led insights shaping everything from workforce planning to employee engagement, you’ll help us build a future-ready HR function.
What you can expect
Over the course of this three-year scheme, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills across our different HR functions. An initial placement with our HR Services Team, one of our primary interfaces with our employee population, will enable you to learn some of our key HR processes.
You’ll spend time in our Reward and Employee Experience teams, building your understanding of the wide and varied scope these areas cover supporting the delivery of some significant activities on employee engagement and employee remuneration/benefits, working on things like employee bonus calculations, pay reviews, and employee engagement surveys, gaining hands-on experience with data-heavy tasks and presenting insights to leadership. You’ll also work in our Employee Relations team, shadowing sensitive cases, guiding the business on policies as well as supporting with the development of new policies.
There are opportunities for further rotations in areas such as Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, HR Business Partnering and Learning Design and Delivery, with plenty of project work along the way. Alongside this experience, you’ll be supported in gaining your CIPD qualification supporting your career goals.
Your future
Throughout the scheme, you’ll strengthen your core skills, earn qualifications, and develop essential competencies to set you up for a successful career. You'll be fully supported along the way, with a dedicated buddy and mentor, plus a strong network of current and former graduates. As you near the end of the scheme, a careers coach will be there to guide you in planning your next steps.
It’s not all about work either. We encourage our graduates to get involved in extracurricular activities, from volunteering and organising charity or social events to representing NFU Mutual at industry events, all in line with our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework.
Application Process
If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to complete an online assessment designed to measure your potential for success, such as your ability to learn and solve problems. Should you be successful, you’ll move on to a short video interview. The final stage will be an in-person assessment centre, where you’ll participate in a variety of activities, including a group exercise, a role-specific exercise, and a skills-based interview. The assessment centre will be held on 24th November.
Please note this vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.
What we're looking for
To join this scheme, you’ll need to have achieved, or be on track for, at least a 2:2 degree. A degree subject with a people focus, such as Human Resources, Business Management, Psychology, Sociology, or other social sciences would be highly advantageous. We’re particularly interested in graduates who are curious about how AI can be embraced ethically to support people-centred solutions, while keeping human connection at the heart of what we do. If you have a passion for people paired with a genuine interest in data and analytics, excellent interpersonal skills, and a positive attitude, you’ll fit right in!
We’ll also be looking out for:
6. Strong communication skills – clear, confident communication is key when presenting data, guiding HR policies, or handling sensitive cases.
7. Teamwork and collaboration – HR is people-focused, so building strong relationships and working together across teams is essential.
8. Digital and data literacy – you’ll handle digital tools and data-heavy tasks that will inform decision making.
9. Initiative and proactivity – taking ownership and spotting opportunities for improvement is crucial for driving positive change.
10. Resilience and problem-solving – you’ll face challenges and complex situations, so these skills are vital for success.
11. Organisational and time management - Efficiently plan, structure, prioritise, and meet deadlines.
If you’re able to bring these, we can teach you the rest.
Work experience
If you’ve gained industry experience or completed a placement year that’s a big plus! But don’t worry if you haven’t, it’s not a must-have for the scheme. What we’re really looking for is some previous work experience where you’ve had the chance to interact with people and develop your communication skills.
At NFU Mutual, we support an inclusive workplace and value all the differences that make us unique. We celebrate the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences and share a common vision of doing the right thing for our customers and employees.
We recognise that some candidates may experience barriers during the recruitment process. So, we encourage candidates to discuss any adjustments or accommodations they need to be the best they can be throughout our recruitment process.
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a Race at Work and Women in Finance Charter signatory and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
Benefits and Rewards
When you join our team, you can expect a supportive culture and an attractive range of rewards and benefits including:
12. Salary £30,097
13. Annual bonus (up to 10% of salary)
14. Contributory pension scheme, up to 20%, including your 8% contribution
15. 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme
16. A Family Friendly policy that helps you balance your work and family responsibilities
17. Access to savings at High Street brands, travel and supermarkets
18. £20 contribution to a monthly gym membership – subject to T&Cs
19. Health and wellbeing plan - cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more
20. Access to voluntary benefits, including health assessments, private medical insurance and dental insurance
21. Employee Volunteering - volunteer in the community for one day each year
22. Unlimited access to Refer a Friend £500 bonus scheme
23. Life Assurance cover of 4 x salary
24. Employee discounts of 15% on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies.