Graham joined the Moira Colliery Company, which became the National Coal Board and then British Coal after leaving school.  He continued to study at night and was given a scholarship by his employer to study for a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.  He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree and started back to work in the Scientific Department for the newly nationalised National Coal Board.  In the early 60s he moved to South Wales (Pontypool and Cardiff) where he moved in to Marketing.  After a spell in London 1970-73 he moved to Doncaster to become Deputy Regional Marketing Director  and then Regional Marketing Director.