What it does: Swire Group is a joint Hong Kong-British holding company, operating subsidiaries in the following sectors—property development and management; airline; sea vessels; shipping; biodiesel production; and drink bottles.
Mission: To deliver sustainable growth in shareholder value, achieved through sound returns on equity over the long term, and to return value to shareholders through sustainable growth in ordinary dividends.
Best known for: Cathay Pacific and Swire Coca-Cola.
Size & presence: More than 100,000 people worldwide.
The good bits: Swire Group is an influential company in the United Kingdom and China—making it a great place for any American students who are interested in pursuing a global career outside of North America.
The not-so-good bits: To advance your career in Swire Group, you’ll need to be able to communicate well in Mandarin or Cantonese; not just English.
Swire Group was originally an import-export company called John Swire & Sons Limited, established by John Swire in 1816. His sons—especially John Samuel Swire, was the one who expanded the business to China, laying out the foundations of what Swire Group would become today.
One of the businesses that remained in the company’s portfolio since the 19th century is the China Navigation Company, a deep-sea shipping company that transports goods between ports worldwide. Although the firm had a setback during World War II due to increased tensions between the two nations, eventually leading to the seizure of many of its vessels by the Japanese navy, China Navigation Company eventually bounces back and continues to serve the same route as it has over the past century.
Aside from China Navigation Company, other businesses that are part of Swire Group’s portfolio include Cathay Pacific, Swire Properties, Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings, John Swire and Sons, Swire Energy Services, and Swire Coca-Cola.
As one can imagine, Swire Group’s operations are extremely global; spanning various regions across the world. Thus, you can expect to work in an international environment, no matter where you are—but especially so if you are placed in the parent company.
Swire also actively offers learning opportunities to its employees, highlighting its importance in ensuring that the company stays competitive in the business sectors they operate in.
Swire Group actively seeks out recent university and college graduates to join programs that are specifically designed to attract talented recent university graduates. These programs are Swire Management Programme, Swire Human Resources Leadership Programme, and Swire Finance Programme.
The Swire Management Programme lasts for several years, and in the first five years, you’ll be rotated to various job functions each year, and may be placed in different countries depending on the needs of the company. You can expect a similar arrangement for both the Swire Finance and Human Resources Leadership programs, albeit the rotations for either program, would be limited only to finance and HR roles.
Aside from programs for recent university or college graduates, Swire Group also has an internship program open every year for a summer placement, for students who are in their final year of study. However, most of these roles are only available for individuals who have work permits in Hong Kong or Mainland China.
Swire Group’s recruitment process for these programs is slightly different from those of other companies, mainly since the process is handled by the parent group based in Hong Kong. Thus, instead of applying to their career page, you’ll be sending your application via email, or reaching out to them directly via their social media pages such as LinkedIn or WeChat.
Aside from that, however, the rest of the selection process is not that different from that of other companies in the U.S. If you pass the screening process, you’ll be invited to do several online aptitude tests. You’ll then undergo several rounds of interviews, and would also be invited to do a virtual group business case discussion. In the end, if you pass, they’ll reach out to you with an offer.
If you work in the company as a Management Trainee under any of their program schemes intended for recent university or college graduates, then you can expect to receive a basic salary between $30,000 to $40,000 per year. You’ll also receive free housing or an additional housing allowance of around $15,000 to $18,000 per year. Interns also receive pay when working at Swire Group—you can earn around $10,000 to $20,000 per year while working in Hong Kong.
Other non-cash benefits that you’ll receive when you work in Swire Group are the following: parental leave, health insurance, and paid time-off,
Swire Group is engaged in a myriad of philanthropic initiatives, with most of them conducted through their trust companies, the UK-based Swire Charitable Trust and the Hong Kong-based Swire Group Charitable Trust.
Each of Swire Group’s subsidiaries does have its own specific corporate social responsibility programs, but Swire Group itself also has its own set of initiatives. Most notably, Swire Group has been providing scholarships for students studying at various educational levels—from primary schooling to even doctoral degrees. These scholarships are offered throughout the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.