I am posting this on behalf of one of our recent graduates, James Rothwell, who has an amazing story to share with you.

Hi I’m James and I am one of the sales and marketing graduates at RB UK. I have been at RB for just over a year and the experiences I have had so far have been incredible. I would like to give you a quick insight into the fast and furious first 14 months of my career here. With unrivalled development and early responsibility, I really believe the graduate scheme here is second to none.

After just 10 months in my role as a marketing graduate at RB, I helped launch a brand new product in the UK and created a market. How many graduates get to say that?

In January this year, we saw an opportunity in the market for a new product. Within 8 months, we developed a completely new product. We worked with our R&D team in Brazil and had the product produced in Indonesia. In less than 3 months we created exciting new packaging, a full PR program and an online and press media campaign. After first presenting the product at a management team meeting in March, we had the product on shelf in major UK retailers by October – RB really is the only company where this could happen.

The product I worked on is Brasso Gadgetcare. It’s a revolutionary cleaner for gadgets such as touch-screen phones, sat navs, games consoles, iPads, digital frames, cameras, laptops and TV screens. The formula developed over only 3 months is one of a kind. It cleans and shines as Brasso has done for over 100 years, leaving an invisible anti-static layer to repel dust and is armed with silicone to prevent smears and keep your gadgets looking shiny and new!

I think this project is indicative of how we all work here. We had a simple idea which we brought to market very quickly with great support from the company. RB prides itself on innovation and Gadgetcare is the latest in a long line of incredible new products. The needs of consumers are at the centre of RB innovation .

The fact that we got it to market so quickly is a perfect example of why I love working at RB: If you keep pushing for something and really believe it’s a good idea, they will support you.
I didn’t have a lot of experience going into my role but I’ve really learnt and developed along the way. Seeing it on shelves and in the hands of consumers is a great feeling – it’s something which is really rewarding and something I’ll always be proud of.

After graduating I knew I wanted to work for a company where I could be in control of my career and where hard work would be recognised and rewarded. Since joining RB, I can’t believe how quickly I’ve been able to get stuck in and make a difference. I have led large projects; a fantastic opportunity at such an early level. I really enjoy working on tangible, visible projects where I can see results. I feel like I have an important role to play in my team and for this company and this sort of early responsibility makes my job very exciting! I have lived and studied in several countries so for me international opportunities were also very important, I have absolutely no doubt that after my graduate scheme it will only be a matter of time before I move overseas.

Working on Brasso Gadget Care has been an amazing experience. For me, the FMCG industry offers the variety of work, the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to work overseas which excites me.
It’s not the place to work if you need affirmation all the time – this is the industry to join if you like fast and furious, you like to be creative and insightful, you have the strength of character to strike out and show what you’re capable of and you like to work hard.
At RB there is a real sense that you are surrounded by liked-minded, ambitious, creative people and you get the feeling that anything is possible.

Here is a video of me talking about my experience working on Brasso Gadget Care.

If after reading all of this you think this sounds like the sort of graduate role you’re looking for, do a bit of digging around on this blog, on the FMCG career guide and on the RB jobs site and investigate further.
RB isn’t the place for everyone, so make sure the company’s core values and company culture fits in with you.
The graduate scheme gives you a real job with real responsibilities from day one and the sky is the limit when it comes to your career progression if you have the ideas and the ability.
And one day it could be you writing your success story here on this blog!

Many of you may have seen the media coverage on the freak dust storm that blanketed Sydney for most of Wednesday morning.

What was more exciting for marketers was the great opportunity to get caught up in an advertising storm with Vanish leading the charge.