What is it? The A. P. Moller-Maersk Group (known simply as Maersk) is a global shipping company with interests in energy, shipbuilding, retail and manufacturing. Maersk is the world’s largest operator of container ships and offshore supply vessels. In the UK it handles around 300,000 containers a year, transporting goods by sea and road internationally, and employs more than 5,000 staff. It is also active in oil and gas exploration and production in the North Sea.

What graduate jobs are on offer? In the UK Maersk offers about ten places a year on its international shipping education scheme for graduates interested in general business or finance. The two-year programmes include hands-on work placements, theoretical training, a foreign trip on a container ship and regular courses at the company’s shipping academy in Copenhagen. At the end of training, graduates can expect to be posted to one of the 125 countries in which Maersk operates.

Where are the jobs? During training new recruits are expected to be fully mobile within the UK and can be based either at head office in Aldgate, East London or at its offices in Liverpool, Southampton, Felixstowe, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Birmingham, Dublin or Heathrow. After training, graduates could be based anywhere in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania or the Americas.

What is the pay like? Maersk offers to a competitive starting salary, private language tuition to prepare for overseas placements and subsidised company accommodation for those working abroad.

What’s the competition like? Firms in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers typically receive 25 to 50 applications per graduate vacancy. How do you apply? Recruitment for 2009 vacancies will begin in the autumn. See www.thevoyagebegins.com for more details.

The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers is based on research with more than 17,000 final-year university students. To find out more and to order the new 2007-08 edition for £14.99 visit www.Top100GraduateEmployers.com

Find out more about the best places to work in The Times Top 100 interactive table – timesonline.co.uk/top100grad

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