We’ve received fantastic feedback from readers of the blog and fans of our Kite Graduates Facebook page regarding the interviews we’ve shared. If you're interested in joining this year's program, there's still time to apply, and we hope these updates with our current graduates will provide some insights and inspiration!

Last week, we focused on the female graduates—Tara, Ams, and Emily—who work in Marketing, Compliance, and Sales. If you missed that post, you can read it here.

This week, let’s highlight some of our male graduate success stories. First up, we have David from our Portsmouth branch’s Commercial team, and guess what? Believe it or not, I was once a graduate too!

If you'd like to learn more about the graduate program, check out our dedicated page on the website or our Facebook page. There’s no complicated application process—just send your CV along with a brief cover letter explaining who you are and what unique skills you can bring to Kite. What makes you stand out from others?

The deadline is June 5th, so don't miss out!

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Name: David
Department/Job Title: Commercial Assistant
University/Degree: University of Portsmouth, Business Administration

Why did you choose to start your post-grad career at Kite Packaging?
There was a real appeal to working in a dynamic environment within a rapidly growing company, especially one that’s employee-owned. Plus, there was a lot of training and support available to help me build on the skills I picked up at university.

Describe your role—what does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day might involve handling various customer inquiries, negotiating optimal purchase prices for competitive quotes, and other administrative tasks. But because I’m in a customer-facing role, the work varies greatly—from working on large redesign projects to managing extensive resources or handling complex computer-based tasks. Every day brings something new, requiring me to collaborate closely with customers, suppliers, and colleagues.

How have you grown since leaving university?
As a business student, it’s been amazing to have the chance to apply what I learned in school across different areas of the business. The training I’ve received has significantly expanded my knowledge, especially in terms of improving my customer interaction skills and my ability to handle intricate computer projects.

What do you love most about working at Kite Packaging?
The positive work culture makes Kite a truly enjoyable place to work. The encouragement and support I’ve received have allowed me to explore areas that interest me and take ownership of my own ideas and projects. For a graduate, having this kind of supportive environment is crucial for both personal growth and job satisfaction.

Any advice for graduates considering applying to Kite’s program?
Go for it! Kite offers both engaging and challenging assignments while providing support from an experienced and friendly team. It’s also an incredibly exciting time to join a rapidly expanding company in a fast-paced, competitive industry.

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Name: Andy
Department/Job Title: Managing Partner, Compliance Division
University/Degree: Loughborough University, Automotive Engineering & Aston Business School, Master of Science (MSc) in Business

How long have you been at Kite Packaging?
Since the beginning! I initially worked for National Packaging and was part of the group of employees who decided to leave that business in 2001 to form Kite Packaging.

How did you first get into the packaging industry?
During my third year of undergrad studies, I completed a work placement for a year as part of the course. I worked at Esso, and it was an incredible experience—I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. However, it was there that I realized Automotive Engineering wasn’t for me. I had no passion for the subject, but I loved the business-related subjects my housemates were studying at the time—I even helped them with their homework! After graduating with a 2:2 BSc (hons) in Automotive Engineering—a reflection of my disillusionment with the subject—I decided to switch to business. I started looking for business schools offering MBA programs, but they all required 3-5 years of relevant work experience, which I lacked. Fortunately, Aston Business School offered an MSc course in Business, covering the same modules as an MBA. I applied and got in. While studying, I attended a careers fair at the university where I met a woman named Christine Twigg. She introduced me to the Charles Baynes Plc stand, and on the spot, she offered me an interview with Bruce McInnes, then Chairman of Charles Baynes. The Charles Baynes Graduate Program was his personal project, and it really intrigued me. Although I was completely unprepared, I must have done something right because I ended up with a second interview and ultimately a spot on the program. I remember hesitating a bit due to the starting salary compared to the investment I had made in my Masters. I didn’t immediately accept the offer. Bruce called me personally to follow up, and I expressed my concerns. He didn’t budge on the salary, but he gave me some invaluable advice about investing in my future. The company was investing in me—they would provide all the tools for a successful career. Was worrying about a temporary salary worth throwing that away? That advice made me reconsider, and I accepted the offer.

How did your career progress from graduate to Managing Partner at Kite?
The graduate program was similar to the one we’ve recently launched at Kite, with rotations through each of the businesses under the Charles Baynes umbrella. I spent time at each business—National Packaging, National Flexible, Truflo Valves, and Thompson Valves—in locations like Enfield, Leeds, Birmingham, and Poole. I learned a lot—not just about business, but also about where I felt most comfortable working. It’s funny how you think you know what you want, but you really don’t until you try it. Rotational programs like this are great for figuring out what you don’t want to do. There was no guaranteed job at the end of the program—you just had to impress someone along the way who would advocate for you. I expressed interest in working at National Flexible because I loved the vibrant culture of the ‘National’ brands, and I was offered a position at National Packaging—close enough! After six months at National Packaging, mostly collaborating on projects with the Managing Director, I was thrown back into the deep end again. I moved to the Telford branch as Sales Office Manager to cover the manager who was going on maternity leave. It was a profitable branch, and the pressure was intense, but I absolutely loved it. Around the same time, Gavin Ashe—who is now one of Kite’s Managing Partners—was made a Regional Business Manager and took over five branches, which were then merged into one Regional Distribution Center. We relocated to a 40,000 sq. ft facility in Coventry, and I was heavily involved in the move. I was then appointed Logistics Manager for the region. The transition went smoothly, but we brought with us a collective turnover of £12 million in sales, presenting numerous operational challenges. It was incredibly stressful, but I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and learned a great deal in the process.

In 2001, National Packaging was due to be acquired in an MBO (Management Buy-Out) deal led by Bruce. The company was being restructured so that managers would receive a profit share, part of Bruce’s wealth creation philosophy, which remains a core value at Kite today. However, at the last minute, a competitor made a significant offer for the company, and the rug was pulled from under us. Shortly afterward, the seed was planted to start up an employee-owned packaging business from scratch, led by Bruce. I responded to an ad to join Kite and came on board in August 2001. Of course, since we had nothing—no customers, no stock, and no orders—our previous jobs were effectively redundant, so we all had to go out and sell! I remember securing my first big sale with Technicolor quite early on, and soon enough more customers began to move to Kite. In 2002, I was given the opportunity to set up a Packaging Regulations Compliance Scheme to help our customers comply with what is essentially a complex ‘packaging tax.’ It was while growing this business that I also took over responsibility for running our Scottish packaging operations in 2005, which I managed for five years. I was made a Managing Partner in January 2006, and I believe my experience shows that you can’t plan your career—it’s about taking opportunities as they come and learning as much as possible along the way.

What do you enjoy most about working at Kite Packaging?
It’s important to recognize that Kite is employee-owned, so the relationship between employees is that of ‘partners.’ Kite emphasizes autonomy with responsibility, meaning you can make decisions and act on them. Kite is strategic but not committee-driven—you’re very much in control of your own ideas. I like to get things done, and I think everyone at Kite feels the same way. This makes it easy to share ideas and help each other because there’s no culture of backstabbing to get ahead. Instead, we’re all on board with ideas that benefit the company, and that, in turn, benefits us as shareholders. Kite is very collaborative in that sense—we all work together to make things happen.

How have you applied your experience as a graduate to developing Kite’s graduate program?
I’ll always remember the advice Bruce gave me before starting on the Baynes program: “This is an investment in your future.” I think that mindset has shaped Kite Packaging’s graduate program. We’ll invest a lot in the candidates and their futures—they’ll get significant exposure to the entire business, and a great deal of support and contact from senior management. I don’t think there’s any doubt about what we’re aiming to achieve in return. We’re looking for smart, motivated individuals who will make things happen for themselves. The payoff for us is getting strong, talented senior management who will become shareholders with the rest of us in the not-so-distant future.

Any advice for graduates considering applying to Kite’s program?
It’s about working hard, working harder than your teammates, and achieving results. That inevitably leads to opportunities for career growth. Many of my peers from the Charles Baynes graduate program now have very successful careers thanks to it. Those who didn’t work hard just didn’t make it. Kite isn’t like other businesses—I’ve worked in them and been a client of them. We move fast, and Kite hasn’t stood still since the day I joined. So, it suits people who can adapt to change. If you want to work in a refreshing environment where you’ll never be bored, we’re the place for you. I work just as hard now as I did on my first day at Charles Baynes. You need a strong work ethic and the ability to consistently deliver, but we all pull in the same direction at Kite. Everyone helps without question, and there’s no hidden agenda. We share ideas, we learn from each other—and I think that’s pretty special.

Find Out More
If our current graduates have convinced you but you’d like more information, head to the dedicated graduate program page on our website. There’s plenty of information about the program’s structure, salary and benefits, and the full list of deadlines (including dates for assessment days and inductions).

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