We have all heard about management trainee programs that promise to groom and train you to become leaders of a company. In this article, we feature one such program from the British American Tobacco Company (S) Pte Ltd - The Challenge Initiative. The tobacco industry is a growth industry that operates in a complex and competitive environment. It takes more than intelligence and brains to make your mark. The Challenge Initiative is a demanding and well-structured program that challenges you to be the very best you can be. Read on and see if you're up to the challenge!

The British American Tobacco Challenge Initiative

Through British American Tobacco’s unique development programme, The Challenge Initiative, you will acquire the skill, competence and confidence to succeed in a complex business environment.

The objective of The Challenge Initiative is to create managers of the future to a globally consistent standard of excellence, although never at the expense of individuality, personal or cultural expression. At all times, support and encouragement will be provided to maximise opportunities for personal contribution. You are encouraged to discover just how far your potential can take you.

Throughout the two-year scheme you will be working to develop a sharp commercial focus and a balance of functional excellence and key managerial skills. Ultimately, you will build a bright future for yourself by consistently delivering business success.

The Big Picture

When you join British American Tobacco, priority is given to orientate you to the business. In a business of this size, complexity and ambition, it’s important that you gain an early understanding and appreciation of the corporate values and culture, the role of each function, industry issues in your country, the product, and how it is marketed. Regardless of the function you choose to join, you will be able to increase your knowledge of Marketing, Leaf and Manufacturing by accompanying a colleague who works in these areas. You will be asked to set your own objectives for the development period and given the tools to fully utilise your own preferred style of learning.

“THE PROGRAMME ALLOWS YOU TO ROTATE THROUGH SEVERAL ASSIGNMENTS IN VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. IT’S A QUEST FOR GROWTH THAT ENGAGES OUR PASSION FOR LEARNING, AND OUR DRIVE TO GET INVOLVED WITH A FASCINATING, REAL-WORLD CHALLENGE. IT’S JUST ONE OPPORTUNITY AFTER ANOTHER.” - Henry Quek, Marketing






Real Responsibility

At British American Tobacco, you are expected to work on issues that relate to the business as a whole. This will involve being a member of a multi-disciplinary team solving real business problems with intelligent, effective solutions of your own design. Short cross-functional placements will also enhance your general business knowledge.

The development programme details the technical skills and knowledge you will need. Expectations of your performance will be explained clearly to you. Working within a team in a real situation will help you to assume increasing levels of responsibility, and enable you to make a direct, tangible and highly visible contribution to the business.

“A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ME IS THAT, AS TIME GOES BY, I’M WORKING ON INCREASINGLY COMPLEX ASSIGNMENTS AND BEING GIVEN MORE AND MORE FREEDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS. IT’S A GOOD FEELING, BECAUSE IT TELLS ME THAT THE COMPANY VALUES AND RECOGNISES MY TALENT.” - Jason Khoo, Supply Chain






Your selection for The Challenge Initiative will involve an assessment of your managerial potential and latent management skills. Where necessary, you will be supported in your skill development with additional formal training.

As you prepare for your move to a managerial role, you will be provided with opportunities to put these skills into practice. You choose the function that best suits your strengths and The Challenge Initiative will structure your development around a clearly defined and mutually agreed set of objectives.

“THE TRADITIONAL JOB ROLE TELLS US WHAT WE ARE; THE CHALLENGE INITIATIVE ASKS US WHAT WE WANT TO BE. I’VE LEARNT TO DETERMINE MY OWN CAREER IDENTITY, AND HOW TO BEST BE MYSELF IN MY JOB.” - EddIe Chew, Corporate & Regulatory Affairs






Support and Encouragement

The Challenge Initiative will provide you with two important sources of support and encouragement. Your coach will be your line manager, working with you and guiding your assignments to ensure that you reach the standards expected of you and progress at a rate that reflects your potential. Your mentor will be an experienced manager from another function, sharing the benefit of his or her experience and supporting you in the achievement of your personal objectives.
Learning and Development

At British American Tobacco, you are encouraged to spend quality time thinking about your development and your career. The tools and the expertise are available to help you do this, but remember that you are expected to be an active participant in this process. Learning and development is not something that the company ‘does’ to you - it’s up to you to take the initiative and drive your own development. How far and how fast you progress is up to you.

“WHEN I LOOK BACK ON MY TWO-YEAR MANAGEMENT TRAINEE PROGRAM, TWO WORDS - NO REGRETS. AND WHEN I LOOK FORWARD ON THE POTENTIAL CAREER PATH AHEAD, TWO WORDS AGAIN - NO FEAR. THE CHALLENGE INITIATIVE HAS LAID A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR ME, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF TECHNICAL & MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES.” - Jimmy Toh, Marketing

The opportunity to learn will be around you everyday. Development can come from assignments to various departments within a function, working in different functions or even moving to a different country. Together with the company, you will find a path that promises to stretch your capabilities, build awareness of your strengths and weaknesses, and optimise your exposure to on-the-job challenges, internal and external training programmes and e-learning self-study activities.

To ensure that you remain highly qualified and motivated, you will be provided with opportunities to grow and develop. Continuous learning is the key to success in a constantly changing and ever-demanding environment. You need a mindset that can accept and build upon constructive criticism and a desire for knowledge and natural curiosity. British American Tobacco’s part of the bargain is to support and facilitate your learning and development throughout the course of your career.