New chemistry technology will be critical to meeting the world’s challenges in energy, transport, chemicals and future manufacturing. That’s why we need the world's brightest talent to help drive our inspiring use of science and investment in innovation, so we are ready to tackle these challenges head on.
Our early career roles and programmes support interns, apprentices, and new college graduates through the transition from academia to industry. We are committed to developing our people and we know that playing to win starts early.
Direct entry route
Ready to get going right away? Join one of our business units directly to gain immediate exposure to some of the most passionate and highly skilled teams in the industry. As a direct entry graduate, you will remain within one business area as a core member of the team from day one, working on real customer challenges to develop deep expertise and technical ability in your chosen field. With outstanding training and development, we'll help you get your career off to a flying start and support you in taking it further along one of our many career pathways.
With opportunities across the globe, we’re confident you’ll find a place to grow.
We recruit for these roles all year round.
LEAD: JM's global graduate programme
Start your career rotating many business areas on a dedicated and fast track path to leadership. With ongoing development and 1-2-1 support you can choose your direction across each rotation and build a unique foundation to set you up for the future.
Ambitious for more? We recruit for geographically mobile and talented graduates to join our science, commercial and operations teams every year.
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UK Process Engineering Development Program (PEDP)
Enter directly into our Catalyst Technologies business where you will develop and enhance your chemical engineering skills and work on real tasks where your input is required and valued. You could:
UK Finance Graduate Programme
Our Finance Graduate Programme offers those with a degree or equivalent in a finance related field the chance to gain an accounting qualification and an early career advantage. This three-year programme includes rotations that will see you gain highly transferable skills and competencies in transactional, operational and specialist finance. Your rotations will take place across our London head office, and our research, manufacturing and service hubs in Royston and Sonning.
We will also sponsor your academic qualification (either CIMA or ACCA), and we offer a highly competitive salary and bonus scheme coupled with market-leading benefits. The programme is robust and challenging, but we believe strongly in mentoring and coaching partnerships and you will receive plenty of support and career advice along the way. No two career paths are the same; as part of this programme, you will forge a journey with JM that reflects your strengths, interests, and passion.
Graduate Engineering Programme (GEP)
Join a scheme designed to give you the experience and knowledge to become chartered in the future, whatever your engineering degree. The programme is multidisciplinary and open to chemical, mechanical, electrical, automation, control engineers and other related degrees.
The programme runs over two years with three assignments across operations, engineering and capital projects. At least one assignment will take place on a manufacturing site to build real world engineering understanding.
Potential for international assignments or work supporting projects outside the UK.
Graduates will be assigned a mentor from the relevant engineering discipline to support gaining the competencies required for later chartership.
"One of the most valuable parts of the LEAD programme has been the network I've developed cross-functionally and across different business sectors. My advice to those joining LEAD would be to try a rotation outside of your comfort zone to develop new business-relevant skills and to learn about different functions within."
"The grad program has set me up for long term success and flexibility in my career. Now, I have a better understanding of my future professional aspirations and how my three job experiences can help me tailor my future career in the right direction."
"I have always felt JM really values its graduates; we are an integral part of the overall vision and strategy of the company. JM knows that by sourcing and nurturing its’ talent it will position itself to best achieve its’ sustainability goals. My career development has been enhanced greatly at an early stage through the breadth of opportunity in my work and further study, which JM supports."
"You'll be hard pressed to find a graduate programme that offers such a variety of opportunities spanning from R&D to commercial roles and across four interconnected, but unique, areas of the business. JM was my first choice coming out of a Renewable Energy Engineering degree as we centre ourselves around growing markets in green technology which does make me proud to say who I work for."
"JM's attitude for continuous growth was what immediately attracted me to the programme. Their technology is continuously developing and employee growth is encouraged regardless of what level you are in the company."
"As someone who thrives on variety and new experiences, Johnson Matthey's rotational grad scheme has been the perfect start to my career. I've had the opportunity to live in new cities, work in different roles, and gain exposure to different areas of sustainable technology. The scheme is an idea platform to explore your interests and discover your career path while epxeriencing new adventures."
"Originally, I was attracted to the grad scheme due to the wide range of rotations and the ability to undertake a professional qualification. Now, I see that as the focus and challenges faced by the company change year on year, so does the experience each grad gains, making it unique to the individual."
"JM stood out to me as a company that is committed to delivering sustainable solutions to a real global problem through creative science and circularity whilst also promoting an inclusive and honest working culture."
Apprentices
You may be a recent school leaver, looking to change your career, or contemplating whether university is right for you. Wherever you are in your career journey, our apprenticeship programmes will give you the chance to get paid while training in a scientific, manufacturing or business support role. Plus, you'll be making a real contribution to the products we deliver for our customers all over the world.
Combining classroom-based training with developing on the job, and critical work-based skills, you will be supported by experienced managers and colleagues who want to help you realise your ambitions.
We have a number of different apprenticeships, from level two right up to degree level, designed to help you get a head start in your career. Our apprenticeships span the business, from science, IT, accountancy, manufacturing and lab technicians to multi-skilled maintenance or electrical engineering at various sites across England.
On completion of your apprenticeship, you'll be awarded a professional qualification recognised throughout the industry, having gained invaluable experience working for a global leader in sustainable technologies.
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Summer internships/placements
We hire interns and summer students at JM’s various locations across the UK, US, and North Macedonia. The scope of each placement is designed to promote team building, develop presentation/personal skills and develop your technical skillset. Our internship programmes are robust and challenging; they are ideal for individuals who are passionate about pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone.
To support you through this and ensure proper development, we believe strongly in mentoring and coaching. You will receive plenty of care and expert career advice along the way through those partnerships. You will also participate in a number of different workshops, specifically designed to assist you in building the critical skills needed as future leaders in the workplace.
Internship postings can be found at various times of the year on our vacancies page, but most commonly at the start of the calendar year for a summer start.
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"I’m grateful that I've been able to learn from and pick up on the different skillsets from so many people around me."
"Joining JM as a Trainee Scientist enabled me to get experience in lots of different technical areas from catalyst testing and scale-up to process chemistry. It certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it meant that I could gain experience in many different environments and take the knowledge and best practises forward in my career.”
"My JM apprenticeship shaped my career. It made me realise my full potential and gave me a breadth of experience that I couldn't have got anywhere else. I'm now in a role I love, for a company that has helped me to develop and supported me through the last 15 years."
"Working in such a large company with so many business units means that there are opportunities for progression. In the future I hope to become a full time Laboratory Technician and work in a business that pushes me to progress."
