OREANDA-NEWS. BP, one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies, today opened a series of recruitment and career development programmes to further increase employee diversity within its Integrated Supply and Trading (IST) division. The programmes, specifically open to military leavers, school leavers and university students, will offer an alternative route into gaining relevant experience and potentially securing a career within the organisation. "We are making every possible effort to increase further the diversity of our business," said Paul Reed, CEO of BP’s IST organisation. "The recruitment programmes announced today are part of our commitment to recruiting a diverse workforce. From school leavers and university students, to ex-military personnel, we believe that a team made up of a variety of skills and backgrounds will be best placed to take on the many varied challenges that we face as a global commodity trading business. These programmes have been specifically developed to provide opportunities to individuals not historically associated with a career in trading."

The placement programme gives military leavers the opportunity to gain commercial experience within BP IST. The programme takes the form of a six-month paid placement, in which candidates will perform in a real role within BP’s trading business, such as working as a pricing analyst supporting deal executions and settlements, or as a project manager helping to ensure that trading operations are run as efficiently as possible. Selected individuals will be fully supported with access to learning and development resources, a dedicated BP mentor, and will be provided with guidance in how to identify and apply for permanent positions within the organisation upon successful programme completion. Placements will be offered in London, as well as in BP’s Chicago and Houston trading operations in the U.S. Applications for placements in London, starting in April, will open on the 21st January.

The IST school leavers’ programme offers students an alternative career route into trading whilst providing candidates with the relevant skills and experience needed to succeed in a business environment. The programme consists of a three-year structured training and development programme, two job rotations in front office, client-facing, roles, and the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of commercial activity in BP’s oil, gas and shipping sectors. At the end of the three years, BP will support those on the programme in securing permanent roles within the Company. For those interested in a career in trading, there is also the option to progress onto a further development programme, and have the opportunity to become a qualified trader after a further two years. The programme is now open for 2016 applications.

BP’s trading and business summer internship programme is targeted at penultimate year students, with the potential of the offer of a full-time position at the Company upon graduation. Applications are open to students studying towards degrees in all disciplines. Apart from trading, summer interns will also be exposed to the full breadth of the IST business, with the opportunity to experience many different and varied roles; from trading to market analytics, origination, commercial development and strategy. Positions are currently open for applications.