Three years, three careers, one starting point

Almost three years ago, the three of us joined HIVED's Graduate Scheme straight from university. Different backgrounds, different strengths and different ideas about where we’d end up. But what we shared was a curiosity to learn, a willingness to take ownership and the excitement of joining a fast-growing company building something genuinely different.

The outcome of that journey? Today, we've each built our own path at HIVED. Here's how we got there.

Learning the business before choosing a career

One of the things that sets the HIVED Graduate Scheme apart is that it isn't designed to put you on a fixed career path from day one. Instead, it’s about understanding the business as a whole, giving you the context, confidence and experience to discover where you can have the greatest impact.

Throughout the programme, we got stuck in early, seeing firsthand how parcels actually get delivered. We rotated across Operations, from forecasting and planning to customer service and live operations, each one giving us a new perspective on the business and how everything fits together. Along the way we had the freedom to try new things and the chance to build relationships across the company. 

As time went on, our paths naturally began to diverge as our interests and skills pulled us in new directions.

Lottie's journey: Graduate to Founder's Associate

Coming into HIVED with no previous operational experience, I quickly realised that what interested me most wasn't just how the network functioned, but how every operational decision shaped the customer experience.

That curiosity led me into Customer Experience, where I worked across teams to improve the experience for both retailers and recipients. Refining internal processes, responding to customer feedback, and collaborating with senior leaders on business-wide improvements gave me a much broader understanding of how different functions come together to deliver a great customer experience.

In turn, those experiences led me to my current role as Founder's Associate. That grounding across the business is exactly what helps me now, working on projects that span every part of HIVED, collaborating with leadership on strategic initiatives, and helping to turn ideas into action.

I would never have expected this career path when I joined HIVED, but stepping outside my comfort zone and being encouraged to take on new challenges is exactly what got me here. 

Saoirse's journey: Graduate to Operations Project Manager

I knew within weeks of starting my rotation in Operations that this was where I wanted to build my career. I loved the fast pace and being close to the action, where every decision has an immediate and visible impact on the network.

Since completing the scheme, I've continued to grow within the Operations team, taking on increasing responsibility as the business has scaled. Leading the launch of our South Coast operation and supporting one of the fastest-growing parts of the network has meant every new challenge brings a new skill and more experience.

One day I might be planning a new operational launch; the next I'm solving live challenges and working with teams across the business to keep the network running smoothly. Seeing a brand-new region grow from planning through to live operation has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career so far.

The level of trust and responsibility I've been given has exceeded anything I expected this early in my career, and I know that’s what’s helped me grow so quickly at HIVED. 

Yasmin's journey: Graduate to Brand & Marketing Executive

Coming out of university, I knew I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into a role before I’d even figured out what I was good at. HIVED felt like the opposite of that. 

Like everyone on the scheme, I started with a rotation in Operations. But it was helping out on brand projects on the side that made me realise how much I enjoyed thinking about how we could position HIVED as a challenger, and how we could communicate what makes us different to retailers, recipients, and future talent.

Today, as Brand & Marketing Executive, my role covers everything from social media and events, to award entries and employer branding. The learning curve has been steep, and I've loved every bit of it - every project asks me to pick up something new and fast. 

The scheme gave me real ownership early on, and that freedom to experiment gave me the confidence to work things out for myself, rather than wait to be told. That’s shaped how I approach my role today, blending creativity with commercial impact and backing my own instincts along the way. 

Reflecting on the past three years

Looking back, we don't think first about job titles or promotions. We think about the moments that pushed us to try things we never expected and to learn by doing. It was intense, challenging and fun in the best way possible.

Our careers have taken us to different places, shaped by asking questions, experimenting and being given the freedom to back ourselves. 

Alongside our careers, we also built friendships. Early mornings in the depot, rallying together to get through peak season, and celebrating each other's successes created bonds that have lasted well beyond the Graduate Scheme. Whilst our day-to-day roles have changed, that support has stayed constant. 

Where could your journey take you?

If this has inspired you, applications for the 2026/2027 HIVED Graduate Scheme are now open. You can apply here!

If you're curious, eager to learn, and excited about taking real ownership from day one, we'd love to hear from you. You don't need to know exactly where your career will end up. Some of the most rewarding opportunities are the ones you least expect. 

We can't wait to meet the next cohort and see where they end up!