Commercial Placement

Commercial Placement Programme                                               

Are you looking for a 12-month Commercial placement where you will learn invaluable Commercial skills and gain real-life work experience with a FTSE 100 organisation?  We have an exciting opportunity for undergraduates to join our Commercial team based in our office in Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire. Joining the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier, you will work alongside industry experts where you will build experience and skills that will help you thrive in your early career.

Howdens has been a great place to work for Placement Students for over 10 years.  We have vast experience in employing and developing our Placement Students ensuring that they feel that they are part of our business.  Our Commercial placement programme has been designed to give you the chance to gain highly valuable work experience and skills and potentially secure yourself a permanent position on completion of your studies.

What we can offer you:

As a placement within our Commercial Division, you will join us for 12 months, receive a £26,000 salary, and work onsite 5 days a week. You will receive 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays, employee well-being support, an on-site restaurant, shopping discounts, and be invited to exceptional reward and recognition events.

About the placement:

Our Commercial function plays a crucial role in shaping product performance, pricing, planning and customer value across the business. During your placement, you’ll gain hands‑on exposure to the full breadth of the Commercial team while developing analytical, commercial and business‑focused skills that will set you up for future career opportunities.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Get involved in real commercial projects that support category management, pricing, planning and supplier engagement
• Work cross‑functionally with teams such as Category, Supply Chain, Procurement to understand how commercial decisions drive business outcomes
• Build confidence working with data—analysing trends, identifying insights and supporting recommendations
• Contribute to planning and decision‑making processes that influence profitability, product performance and customer experience
• Learn how commercial strategy is shaped within a FTSE 100 environment and how this translates into day‑to‑day activity
• Develop communication, stakeholder management and commercial thinking skills through hands‑on exposure to specialists across the business

Am I Eligible for This Programme?

To apply for our Commercial Placement, you should:

• Be currently studying for an undergraduate degree in Business, Commercial, Economics, Supply Chain or a related field, and looking for a 12‑month placement year
• Have strong analytical skills and be confident working in Excel and handling numerical data
• Be highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Have excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders
• Be curious, proactive and eager to learn in a fast‑paced commercial environment
• Feel comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Have an interest in how commercial decisions influence business performance, customer outcomes and product success

How to apply:

• Submit your on-line application, CV and covering letter.
• Provide any additional documentation or examples of work which show your suitability for this programme. Please note this is optional.

Hiring Process:

• Closing date for applications Sunday 1^st March 2026
• CV shortlist W/C 2^nd March
• W/C 9^th March Online Assessment
• In-person Assessment Day at our site in Raunds, Northamptonshire on Wednesday 15^th April 2026.
• Commence placement in July / August 2026.

Location: Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire  

Closing Date: 1^st March 2026         

Salary: £26,000 + Benefits

Contract: 12 months “sandwich year” 

Good luck with your application!