We’re on the lookout for exceptional graduates to join us and be part of our new Routeco Academy. It’s a full time salaried role and upon completion it will lead to excellent opportunities within the Routeco Group.
Two current Routeco associates share experiences of their development at Routeco :
Dulan joined Routeco’s graduate scheme in 2019 and is now an account manager for Routeco UK.
In July 2019, I graduated with a Master of Engineering (Meng) from the University of Manchester. I was keen to pursue a career in engineering and I wanted a role that would allow me to explore different aspects across the business both technically and geographically, and Routeco’s Graduate Engineer role was just the right fit. The role was a half sales and half technical role. I spent the first two months at head office in Milton Keynes, where I reported to Damian (Spall, now Group Technical Director) and was supported by the marketing team. I also spent at least a week with each of the head office departments: marketing, finance, and HR. This gave me a better understanding of how the different functions work and contribute to the company's success.
I joined sales engineers on customer visits and spent two weeks working in the assembly division. This gave me real, hands-on experience of populating panels, trunking, wiring, and point-to-point testing. This experience has been invaluable in my current role, as I can anecdotally describe the level of dedication and value that the assemblies division provide.
I had access to a variety of training opportunities, including online training from Routeco and other supplier partners. I was able to complete this training in any downtime I had.
At the time, the components manager was based in Manchester, so I spent time with his team and completed Industrial Control Gear White Belt Training. I was also included on the graduate scheme offered by Rockwell Automation, which allowed me to spend days learning with their graduates, learning programming and technical skills. Some of the workshops our customers attend now are the same workshops I attended as part of this programme! I also took part in Rockwell Automation's graduate project and won best project of 2022.
My graduate scheme was disrupted by the pandemic, but I was able to continue my training online and through mentoring sessions with Damian Spall. At the end of the programme, we discussed my skills and what team I would like to join to continue my development. It was agreed that I would join the PSS (Product Sales Specialist) team as a development engineer. During this time, I spent time with different specialist teams and worked on a range of projects. I was able to network with a variety of specialist engineers, which thoroughly bolstered my skillset. I was involved in the Water and Earth Cold-Calling Project and many other customer focused interactions where my sales skills were challenged and improved. I really enjoyed the sales element of the role and that it suited my style more than the technical side of the business.
In 2022, an account manager role became available in the South East and due to my skills and internal reputation, a colleague contacted me and encouraged me to submit an application. I did and was successful.
Outside of Routeco, I am a member of GAMBICA Young Council (GYC) and we develop develop activities within areas including education, sustainability, innovation, wellbeing, career development, and diversity, equality and inclusion. GAMBICA is the trade association for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology in the UK. The GYC have all applied to be STEM ambassadors and we participate in events to work with schools and to get inspire more young people towards STEM careers.
At Routeco, I’m a member of the Diversity and Inclusion focus group and we work together to raise awareness about the LGBTQ+ Spectrum and People of Colour, as well as championing the development of women and young people in an industry that is stacked against them.
I have had opportunity to develop in many ways at Routeco; I’ve been able to work with different people and explore a range of opportunities and forge my own path. I’ve completed Routeco’s aspiring manager passport and will submit an application to be part of the talent development programme this year.
Picture: In his role as STEM ambassador for the Gambica Young Council, Dulan spoke to students at the King Edwards School in Bath to share the benefits and passion behind having a STEM career.
Joris is currently the business development manager for Routeco Netherlands.
I joined Routeco in 2017 as an account manager with experience as an engineer. I had excellent technical knowledge of the products they sell. In 2020, I began a part-time Master's degree in Strategic Management. Routeco was incredibly supportive of my studies, part-funding my degree and allowing me to apply what I learned to my work.
At the end of 2021, I was promoted to business development manager. Despite being a small team in the Netherlands, Routeco is keen to challenge and provide opportunities and growth to its associates. The company's mission is to develop employees to become the best in everything they do. This mission results in customers choosing Routeco because it is the best organisation to do business with. So when you want to develop yourself and you are proactive and express you want to develop your skills, there are opportunities to do so.
Routeco provides its employees with access to LinkedIn Learning and product training on a regular basis. The training we arrange for our customers is also available for us to attend to keep our knowledge and skills up to date. Directors from the UK visit to share their knowledge and success stories. Everything we do is a team effort.
At Routeco, it's not only about the products we sell. We try to be an extension of our customer. We add value on a technical, commercial, and logistic level. This ensures that we have contact with the entire organization of a customer, from senior-level management to executive employees. This way of sales is called the consultative selling method, and it's a method that needs continuous improvement of the employees. Routeco is willing to invest in this continuous learning curve.
I recently completed my Master's degree, and it's been great to have an employer who has made it possible to study alongside my work duties and enabled me to continue to develop professionally.
Picture: Joris (second from left) celebrating his Master of Strategic Management. He is pictured with Luc Op den Buijsch (Regional Director of Routeco Benelux) and his university supervisors.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to apply to the Routeco Academy and see how your career and development can flourish while at Routeco.