SAGA — Doing things properly

Name: Niccola Mignacca

Started scheme: 1994

Current position: Travel Services Director

“The Saga management training scheme gave me a fantastic opportunity – to learn about the business from the bottom up, to experience a variety of different roles and projects that I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to become involved in, together with the support of management training and development (we were assigned personal mentors and attended formal management development training).

The scheme gave me the opportunity to gain real responsibility at an early stage in my career and accelerated my confidence and promotion within the organisation.”

Name: Kathryn Vaughan

Started scheme: 1995

Current position: Operations Director

“The management training scheme gave me a fantastic overview of the business, structure and culture of the Saga Travel Division. The various placements helped me firstly, and most importantly, to gain an understanding of our customers and products.

It helped me to acquire skills in areas such as project management, negotiation, decision making and communication, as well as teaching me what excellent customer service was and how to deliver it. The scheme was hard work, but always challenging, and I loved being thrown in at the deep end and seeing whether I sank or swam!!

It was a very practical training scheme and involved answering sales calls in the Contact Centre, repping overseas and being thoroughly involved in every area you were placed in. I was very lucky to have been offered this great opportunity and the scheme undoubtedly helped in giving me a solid skill base which I have tried to build on during subsequent management roles.”

Name: Ross Clamp

Started scheme: 2002

Current position: Product & Marketing Manager – Saga Personal Finance

“The Saga Management Training Scheme provided the opportunity for hands–on experience of a wide range of business areas. This increased my understanding of the different departments and highlighted how each area plays an important role in large companies, such as Saga to succeed and grow.

The time also helped highlight my personal strengths together with areas for development. This has provided me with an excellent foundation to progress along my chosen career path.”

Name: Tina Kinns

Started scheme: 2008

"I began the IT Scheme in February of this year.

The first placement assigned to me was within E-commerce working in the team that produce the web pages for each of the Insurance products within Saga's current portfolio.

Already this placement has developed me on a personal and on a technical level. It has been a vast learning curve as I have refreshed my HTML skills, developed my JavaScript knowledge, and picked up some ASP as well as a number of other programming techniques.

I have had numerous opportunities to meet the Board members, Directors, and Managers of different departments across the business; I've even presented to the Board and the Chief Executive.

This scheme really does give you a number of opportunities to make a name for yourself and because of the focus on personal development I already feel more confident and ready to take on the next challenge, whatever that may be!"

Name: Hayley Pateman

Started scheme: 2008

"I chose to join the Saga Management Training scheme to gain valuable hands-on experience in a range of business areas and although I have only been on the scheme for 4 months this has certainly been the case.

My first placement is in the Holidays Finance department where I am working on an exciting new product. This has given me an excellent insight into Hotel Operations and the qualities that Saga looks for in their hotels. I have even had the chance to go and look at some prospective properties!!

I have also been involved in a separate project involving the Transport Operations areas of the business. This has provided me with excellent experience in Project Management and allowed me to gain further insight into even more areas within Saga's Travel business.

Alongside this we have been given great support with a programme of monthly training days on areas such as Time Management, Presentation Skills, Meeting Skills, Leadership Skills and monthly Management trainee update sessions.

Study towards my MBA along with my project and placement experience will create a solid skills foundation on which to build my future career."

Name: David Clapworthy

Started scheme: 2008

"I moved to Kent to work on the Management Training Scheme and Saga have been excellent to me, inside and outside of work, by helping find accommodation and assisting with my social network.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few months on the Management Training Scheme. I have a position in Human Resources for the first 6-month placement, giving me the opportunity to undertake a variety of projects.

Saga have assigned me a mentor for the duration of the scheme to assist my development, which balances well on the autonomy I am given on some projects allowing me to learn from both experience and advice.

Saga are very committed to improving its staff both practically, with different placements and challenges, and academically, by encouraging qualifications such as the MBA and having monthly courses ranging from presentation skills to IT. This encouragement to improve my skills and performance drives me to achieve the best results for myself and for Saga."

Name: Natalie Irving

Started scheme: 2008

"Already within 4 months on the scheme, the Saga Management Scheme has offered me several fantastic opportunities around the business as a whole. I have gained great insight into the business and culture throughout Saga.

My first placement is in Services Finance where I am analysing and remodelling the current reporting for the Services Division.

In addition to my placement, I have been asked to investigate the feasibility of setting up a new business area at one of our offices. This has given me fantastic networking opportunities together with using my business knowledge into a real life situation.

In conjunction with the work, we are also undertaking regular management training linking the theory into practise. This, together with my placement, project work, and the support from all Directors, will help build my future career within Saga."

Name: Liyan Shi

Started scheme: 2008

"I have been with Saga for over 3 months. It has exceeded my expectation by all means.

My first placement is in Business Consultancy.
As it sounds, I have been involved in many aspects of the business ranging from data analysis to contracts management. It has provided me with broad knowledge on running a real business and is a real eye-opener.
I feel that I have contributed considerably right from the beginning and being a Business Consultant involves working on new areas with new people all the time meaning there have been no two days that are the same.
I am feeling the same excitement as the day I joined the company.

My mentor and line manager are both really supportive and friendly. On the other hand, they do trust my ability and willingness to finish projects with high standards.
I have been given the opportunity to present my work to Director levels on several occasions.

The Saga culture is perfect for ambitious people; vibrant and encouraging. I feel judged purely on my work and attribute.
Meanwhile, there are endless social activities with such a big travel company such as quiz nights, charity campaigns, sports, trips, opera etc.

Saga is definitely the right company for me."

Name: Sophie Woodward

Started scheme: 2008

"Since joining the Management Training Scheme two months ago I have had a huge variety of tasks, experiences and work.

Within my first placement I have undertaken a sole marketing project with a high degree of responsibility, independence and autonomy.

Saga is fully committed to investing in your self development and the emphasis of the scheme is very much on learning. This is achieved through work experience, monthly training courses, mentoring , the MBA course, personal study and setting objectives which are frequently reviewed and reflected upon.

In the short time that I have been on the scheme, I have had insights in to the world of business and a large corporation that I would not have had through the normal channel of work.
Saga is a unique company due to the diverse range of products they have and that they do almost everything in-house. It is therefore an amazing place for the all rounder who lacks direction but knows they want a challenging, stimulating, rewarding job with good prospects.

It is an incredible opportunity to define and build on your strengths, work and improve on your weaknesses and find your areas of interest."

Name: William Howard

Started scheme: 2008

"The Saga Management Training Scheme has been an exciting adventure from the start. After a brief induction period you are put straight into various parts of the business into the middle of extremely important projects. Through this you learn about the whole of the company really quickly.

As well as learning the whole of the business from within there is great support from everyone all the way up to the Chief Executive who meet with us regularly to teach us business knowledge that they have learned not just from books but from the large variety of experiences they have.

The scheme not only provides a real learning experience but gives real responsibility at an early stage and challenges you to strive to do better."