Centrica plc - Summer Placement Newsletter - Volume 2 - Summer ...

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsMeet the students...Simon, Finance, StainesWhat are you involved with on a day-to-day basis?“I am involved with refreshing the data for a customer-related model. I obtainthe raw data from employees from all over the business whilst organising andattending meetings to discuss updates and progress. I need to understand theintricacies of the model to report back to my line manager and the team. Myday-to-day tasks are very varied and I am keen to explore the impact of mywork on other areas of the business. It’s not just sitting in front of the computerworking on a spreadsheet!”Lekha, Human Resources, WindsorWhat made you want to spend you summer with Centrica?“I applied to Centrica because I was really impressed by the position theyhave adopted concerning the environment as a leading energy company. Ialso admired the company culture when I came for my interview which was abig factor when I chose to accept a summer placement at Centrica.”Sam, Engineering, AberdeenDid you face any challenges early on in your placement?“When I first joined my team they had just begun work on a system that wasgiving some inconsistent readings. As we went through the process of investigatingthe problem we tested and checked the different sections of the systemfor faults but with no avail. Upon further inspection of the schematics wefound two wires had been crossed over during previous maintenance. Sometimesthe simplest of mistakes cause the greatest grief!”Bonita, Marketing, StainesWhen have you felt like you are ‘working in partnership, achieving together’?“I had to work with an external agency to provide a visual for a piece of workthat my team had produced. This involved a lot of collaboration with theagency to ensure that we were on the same track and that we ended up with afinal product that delivered against the brief. The finished piece of work is nowbeing used to make changes across the business.”Page 4

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsEmployabilityAs the UK begins to emerge from the recession itis essential for graduates to be equipped with firstclass employment skills, since they will beamongst those facilitating the economic recovery.The students on the summer placement schemeat Centrica have a unique chance to developthese skills, and enhance their understanding ofnot only the business, but also the commercialworld more generally.Today, a university degree no longer guaranteesa job opportunity, and employees now more thanever are seeking candidates who are proactivewhen it comes to their career. Centricaprovides its summer students with an arrayof opportunities to broaden their skillswith sessions such as one-to-one coachingto ensure that they are gaining thecore competencies required for the worldof work. Students are also paired up witha ‘Graduate buddy’ who offers impartialDevelopment@CentricaThe Centrica summer placement gives studentsan abundance of opportunities through which todevelop their competencies and employabilityskills. The Individual Performance Contract (IPC)provides a source of focus and reflection on developmentfrom the beginning to end of the summerplacement. Students are also provided with aday of coaching and presentation skill buildingadvice and support whenever necessary.There are multiple opportunities to shadow colleaguesduring your time at Centrica, and this canbe anywhere within streams such as Marketing,Human Resources and Engineering right throughto Geosciences. With such a high level of supportand such a brilliant opportunity to learn, developand achieve, Centrica’s summer placement studentsare well-equipped to graduate with a levelof employability that will outshine their peers.which is invaluable help during a time when studentsmust begin preparing to enter the world ofwork.IPCIn the first week of placement, students are introducedto their IPC and given the freedom to establishpersonal development goals. Feedbackfrom the assessment centre offers a starting pointon which to focus development. Students reviewtheir IPC with line managers throughout theplacement to ensure students reach their maximumpotential at the end of the ten weeks. TheIPC is a great way to set goals, focus on achievementand measure success during the placement.Page 5

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsDevelopment@CentricaCoachingAll interns have the unique opportunity of attendinga focused coaching session with professionalCareer and Life Coach, Emma Ford. This providesstudents with an insight into what coachinginvolves and what it can do to aid their development.The session prepares students for a dedicated1 to 1 coaching session with an experiencedgraduate.“The coaching session enabled me to evaluatemy current position and identify what I need to doto achieve my goals. My coach really helped merealise that I need to think about my ambitions forthe future and highlight personal and professionalattributes that I need to work on in order toachieve these goals. Through identifying where Iwould like to go on a professional level, my coachsaid that I will naturally work towards achievingthese goals before even realising exactly how Iam going to get there.” Laura Peach, SummerPlacement Student, Analyst StreamPresentingIn preparation for a central presentation event, allinterns were given the chance to attend a workshopwith Adrian Kirk, a Personal Impact DevelopmentCoach. This was included in the programmefor the first time this year and helpedstudents feel more comfortable presenting beforethe big day. The workshop demonstrated the importanceof body language, breathing and tone ofvoice when presenting.Each intern must then give a final presentation ontheir time spent with Centrica, which gives thechance to put the theory into practice, and allowsthe other students and line managers to see howeveryone has progressed and developed over theten weeks. It also offers an opportunity for internsto gain a greater understanding of all businessareas.Working on the Centrica Summer PlacementScheme opens many doors upon graduation, asno matter which stream you join, students arechallenged every day and pushed to achieve theirpotential.“Being in this corporate environment where youare accountable for your actions and you havevery tight deadlines to work towards has givenme a new perspective on work, time managementand relations within a firm. I work in CE IS Communicationsso I have met and networked withmany people, but I have also been given a greatdeal of responsibility. This responsibility has putpressure on me, but has helped me to understandjust how important communication is andalso how to use it effectively.” Chris Elsdon, SummerPlacement Student, IS streamPage 6

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsLocation, location, location!“…Although there are only three of us basedin Leeds, it has been great socially and wehave had cinema trips, nights out and roadtrips to name a few! Being able to share thisexperience with like minded individuals hasbeen brilliant and it means we have a goodsupport network when we need it. The officeenvironment is great at Leeds, everyone isreally friendly and available to help me withmy work. The employees are all approachableand are interested in the project I amcompleting…” Amy, Leeds“…Living over 200miles from the officeand accommodationin Surrey I was initiallya little anxiousabout moving downfrom the rather quiethub of rural Yorkshireto the bright lights ofthe South. However,within the first fiveminutes of movinginto the accommodationat the Royal HollowayUniversity I feltquite at home…”Aimee, Staines“…I would now recommendCardiff toanyone who has nothad the chance toexperience it. The cityboasts a vast array ofshops, restaurants,bars and nightclubs,all of which are withineasy walking distanceof the British Gas office…”Richard, Cardiff“…Living together has meant being able to explore anew area which has resulted in days out to ThorpePark and even a Music Festival on the weekend! Theaccommodation is great and I even have my roomserviced and cleaned once a week! Fortunately weare close to all local amenities such as restaurants,cinema and the gym, all of which are great ways tobe recreational outside of work.We are located near the offices so the commuteis simple and stress-free…” Melissa, Windsor“...Any anxieties quickly disappeared on my arrival;the accommodation Centrica provided was of thehighest quality. The other summer placement studentsbased here were all friendly as well and wehave been able to spend time together experiencingwhat Leicester has to offer…” Craig, Leicester“…Lancaster has turned out to be a small city withtons of character and working at Heysham has allowedme to obtain a good overview of CEU operations.Even if I do not return here the experience hasleft me more employable for the future, and developedskills whilst giving me an enjoyable summer…”Martin, Heysham“...Living and working in Manchester is great. It’s a brilliant city with loadsgoing on and my accommodation is just 5 minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens...Being in Manchester has definitely made my experience with Centricaeven better and I’d recommend it to anyone.” Jack, ManchesterPage 7

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsSocial SceneWelcome to the social section of this years newsletter!It is important to remember that other internsare in exactly the same position as you andthey don’t know anyone either, therefore the socialevents are a great opportunity to get to knowyour fellow peers. Whether you are based in theNorth or South there will always be something foreveryone to get involved in, if and when youwant.Networking DayThe first couple of days of your internship couldseem a bit daunting, but remember that thegraduate team are there to offer guidance andsupport and ensure that the transition into workinglife is as comfortable as possible. The graduateteam host several events to help you get toknow your peers, the first is a BBQ networkingevent, this is a great chance to get to know otherinterns that are working in other areas of the businessand build up contacts that you may wish tocall upon throughout your summer. This is followedby a further event at Windsor and is run bythe graduate team in order to answer any furtherquestions you may have. The graduate team arethere to ensure that you get the best out of yourplacement and are a point of contact for any furtherqueries you may have over the summer.Make the most of these events as not only arethey valuable to building up your network but theyare also great fun!What happens on the weekends?Whereveryou’rebased youwill find agreat socialscene. It iscrucial torememberthat whilstyou are working hard it is also important to takesome time to chill out, make new friends and relax.Silfest 2010:Silfest musical festival was held at Silwood Parkand was attended by several of this year’s interns.Although the bands weren’t main stream itwas a great chance to get to know each other.Students camped overnight and enjoyed greatfood and company. Some interns are alreadyplanning Silfest 2011!“For those ofus working inWindsor orStaines, theaccommodationwasaround 10minutes fromThorpe Parkso a group of13 of us paid a visit one Sunday. Although it wasvery busy we had a fantastic time and managedto get 50% off as a group discount. Working hardall week, you learn to appreciate your free time atthe weekends so it’s great to have other studentsto socialise with outside of work.” Mairi Henderson,WindsorPage 8

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsSocial SceneWherever you are placed there are loads of opportunitiesfor a great night out!“I have thoroughly enjoyed living in Leeds for thelast ten weeks. Sharing the experience with twoother interns has been great and helped my transitioninto working life and living in a new city.Outside of the office, we have experienced whatthe city has to offer: cinemas, restaurants, shoppingand bars. We have even been on road tripsto each other’s home towns! Although the majorityof students live in Windsor or Staines, living inLeeds has been fantastic socially and being in asmall group gave us a good opportunity to meetother colleagues outside of work. The people inour teams have been very friendly and we havehad the opportunity to socialise with them too onteam nights out.” - Jess Johnson“My brother’s band was playing in Camden, London,on one of the weekends during placement. Areturn train ticket to London was only £7 and tookabout an hour from Egham.. We were able tospend the day in Camden before enjoying the gigin the evening. Some of my friends had neverbeen to London and/or a rock gig before - so forthem it was a new experience. The gig was agreat success and the turnout from other internswas amazing. There is an eclectic mix of diversethings to do in London which provides a greatalternative to clubbing at the weekend!” SimonWhite“Myself and another intern are living in StrathclydeUniversity Halls which are self catered flatsof four and are right in the centre of Glasgow.University Halls has had the advantage that therehave always been people around and thereforelots to do. We have also had access to the Universitycampus gym which has been an extra bonus.Being so close to the city centre is great andthere have been many trips to the cinema, lots ofshopping, nights out to bars and clubs and also tolocal restaurants. We took advantage of our proximityto Edinburgh and enjoyed a day of sightseeing”.Bridgett TurnerPage 9

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsQ&A with the Line ManagersRich Jennings, Team Manager, LeicesterUmit Patel, Hedging Strategy Analyst, WindsorStuart Waudby, Commercial Manager, WindsorThis year’s theme for the summer placementis ‘working in partnership: achieving together’.We would like to get a feel for howthe relationship between the line managerand the placement student works...How has your summer placement studentadded value to the business?UP: My SP student has identified the current andfuture generation capacities of each of our competitors.This will allow the business to improvethe forecast accuracy of our competitors’ upstreamearnings.RJ: She has focused on delivering her project,which is to make recommendations around improvingvalue-adding activities for non-telephonebased agents.How did you find working in partnership withyour summer placement student?SW: Mentoring graduates and placements isalways a pleasure. It is great to be able to help ayoung person launch onto the learning curveneeded in their first job.UP: We have a good working relationship. MySP student has made a massive contribution tothe team, whether it be through the delivery ofproject-based pieces, or through helping theteam deliver key pieces of analysis at short notice.What skills do you feel your summer placementstudent has gained?SW: I hope she has learnt to address a problemfrom a wide perspective. Being able to visualiseand approach a problem from many angles atthe same time is essential for a business analyst.RJ: I can recognise a definite confidence in theway my SP student carries herself in meetingsand the office in general. She has also overcomehaving difficult conversations and focusedon delivering a project based on long term strategicrecommendations rather than “knee jerk”quick fixes.How did you support and facilitate the summerplacement student’s improvement?SW: I made sure the work-scope was just beyondthe capabilities of my student. I set veryclear targets and then began coaching my studenthow to approach the task. Continual regularconsultation and interaction enabled me to determinejust the right balance of encouragement,guidance and direct training.RJ: During her first week I set up lots of meetingswith contacts from around the business,thus enabling her to get to know people whilstmaking some vital links for her project!We regularly sit down together and I have askedher to keep a “work diary” so we can discuss hersuccesses and challenges throughout theweeks.Page 10

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsQ&A with the Line ManagersWhat do you feel you have learnt from havinga summer placement student?A response from the students...RJ: It has been an excellent chance to understandhow to manage someone who essentiallyowns and refines their own project. The placementhas involved giving 1-2-1 coaching andclear direction but also having “hands off” approachwhich allows the student to go it alone,network, gather and analyse data whilst completingtheir project.UP: The improvement of my management skillshas been made a lot more enjoyable and rewardingthan it otherwise might have been.Would you recommend having a summerplacement student to a colleague?SW: I would, so long as they had sufficient time toinvest and were committed.RJ: Definitely, it has been a really valuable experienceand I have really enjoyed working withand watching my SP student develop her skillsand learn techniques during her time here.Ceara Lavey, Value-Add Manager, Leicester -managed by Rich Jennings“I have thoroughly enjoyed my ten weeks and I would say this is largely down tothe support and encouragement I have had from my line manager. He has introducedme to the relevant people to aid the completion of my project whilst empoweringme and giving me my own autonomy to take the project in the directionI feel works best. Weekly 1-2-1’s gave us both the opportunity to expressany concerns and discuss work for the upcoming weeks and these were invaluableto my learning and development.”Mairi Henderson, Hedging Strategy Analyst, Windsor - managed by Umit Patel:“My manager has been very supportive from the start. From day one he has mademe feel welcome in the team and has been available should I need any help. Mymanager and I have a one-to-one on a weekly basis to review the work I havecompleted and set out a plan for upcoming work. I think it’s important to be honestwith each other about what’s expected from you and what you expect to get out ofthe job so you can work towards the same objective together.”Melissa Ng, Junior LNG Analyst. Windsor - managed by Stuart Waudby:“It has been a great learning curve for me and my manager has been very supportivethroughout. He has assigned me a project which suits the business’needs and also satisfies what I want to gain out of my time with the team. Underhis guidance and through regular communication, I have been able to make progressin my project which involves analysing LNG importation variable costs.From this, I have really sharpened my problem solving skill and learnt how tomanage relationship with my manager.”Page 11

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsApprentice Charity ChallengeFor the first time ever 2010 summer placementstudents were offered the fantastic opportunity toget involved with Corporate Responsibility activities.Perfectly tied to this years theme: “Working inpartnership; achieving together”, the ApprenticeCharity Challenge allowed students to enjoy somefriendly competition while also building networkswithin the business, developing core competenciesneeded for the graduate programme, and ofcourse raising money for an incredible cause.Jess Johnson represented British Gas at theGreat British Swim in London raising over £200for Make a Wish and Francis Vu put his footballfree-styling to the test and completed 2010 kickupsto raise £315. Group projects have rangedfrom producing Summer Placement merchandise,community carwashes, 10k team runs, bikerides, bake-sales, weekly office lotteries, andraffles with prizes from dinners out to weekendsaway.With over 8,000 votes British Gas employeeschose to support Make a Wish Foundation UK asthe 2010 Charity of the Year. Make a Wish is achildren’s charity helping to grant once in a lifetime magical wishes to children and young peoplefighting life-threatening illnesses. In 2010, around1,000 children will turn to Make-A-Wish to havetheir special wish granted. British Gas have committedto help make these dreams come true byraising £250,000, enough for Make a Wish togrant 25% more wishes to children and their families.Throughout the last 10 weeks, in teams of 7 or 8,Centrica Summer Placement Students have beenorganising exciting events across the country. Thetop three teams will present their activities to apanel of judges including senior members of Centricaand external guests on the 26 th August andthe deserving team win an afternoon of entertainmentat Cliveden House.“The charity task has been a real highlight of myplacement. As project manager of my group ithas been a great way to work with other placementstudents and network within the business.Initially I was really excited by the Apprenticestyle approach to fundraising and I credit oursuccess to the enthusiasm my team maintainedthroughout the challenge. Watching each eventdevelop from an idea into a success has beenincredibly rewarding.” Lydia Wright, SummerPlacement StudentAlthough not compulsory, most students on theplacement threw themselves into the challengewith great enthusiasm. Together we have provedthat by combining our efforts we are stronger andcan make a real difference, and the summerplacement students raised £18,127.53, smashingtheir £10,000 target!The effort displayed and the successes achievedhave exceeded all expectations. Graduate recruitmentmanager, Eva Malecki said: “They have nobudget and a £10,000 target, which is tough,given that they have full-time roles as well. Theircommitment does them credit.”Page 12

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsJourney to Grad SchemeSuccessful completion of the summer internship programme can give you a head start on beginninga career with Centrica if you are offered a place on the Graduate Programme. Current graduatesgive us an insight into the journey from being a 2008 SP Student through to the offer and completionof Centrica’s award winning Grad Scheme.Blae Quayle‘I began my career at Centrica as a summerplacement student in 2008. My role required meto work as a Reservoir Geologist, studying thesedimentology and reservoir quality of the Grovegas field in the southern North Sea. The schemegave me the opportunity to experience the workingenvironment at Centrica, as well as thescope of projects that I could be involved in. Ultimately,the scheme gave a boost to launchingmy career.My job currently is as a Graduate Geoscientist.So far the scope of the projects I have workedon has been much broader than on the summerplacement. I am currently working in exploration;the project is located on the UK Continental shelfand involves seismic interpretation on a regionalscale. On the graduate scheme, the expectationsof delivering results have grown. I am expectedto be more independent which has allowedme to have more flexibility regarding theorder and methodology to which I carry out mywork. I’ve found that the key is to ask a lot ofquestions, it’s definitely the best way to learnand understand new information.’Aymeric Delattre‘The 2008 summer placement gave me the opportunityto work in Information Systems; theproject was delivered as tasked. The highlightsof the placement were the design of a new“milestone chart” that was critical for communicationsaround the project. I also got the opportunityto visit the National Distribution Centre inLeicester and Centrica’s Power Station in Peterborough.Aymeric Dellatre, Service Delivery ChangeCoordinator, WindsorJoining the graduate scheme has enabled me todevelop further the skills gained during the summerplacement. I believe the summer placementscheme confirmed my interest to work in Centrica’sInformation Systems stream. Having metmany new people, I developed a network of contactswithin the business that provide valuablesupport to the work I do.’Page 13

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsJourney to Grad SchemeDarren Cartwright‘Last year I began a role on the summer placement,where I was working in British Gas Services,to improve productivity and efficiency ofthe operations. This involved working closelywith engineers and their managers on a projectaimed at reducing first visit cancellation rates.The role gave me the opportunity to manage aproject and gain vital business experience. The10 week internship was a great learning curveand helped me identify a role and company that Iwas eager to pursue a career with.Darren Cartwright, Propositions Assistant,StainesI am currently on the Customer OperationsGraduate stream. I have worked in 2 roles, firstlyas a team manager in Premier Energy, where Iwas responsible for 16 call centre agents. Thiswas my first leadership role and has been mybiggest challenge so far, since my team were allexperienced agents with more business awarenessthan myself. On top of this an extensiverange of knowledge is required to grasp the dutiescarried out as a manager, to ensure thatcompany policies and procedures are being followed.On the graduate scheme, you are responsiblefor driving results in each role whilst also developingyour career, which can often be forgottenabout in the day to day rush. Although busy, thegraduate scheme has been a fantastic experienceso far and a lot of fun.’Dusharan Kumaran‘My 2008 summer placement was in the InformationServices stream supporting the CommercialSupplier and Relations Team. My main dutieswere to be responsible for identifying issues thataffect the company strategy and providing quicktimefixes. The summer placement schemeproved an ideal stepping stone and laid the foundationsfor me to securing a position on thegraduate scheme. It enabled me to expand mynetwork and develop my business knowledge.I have now completed my second six monthplacement, each in different locations as part ofmy two year graduate scheme. My current roleas an HR Analyst has been enjoyable as well asinsightful and I believe is where I wish to expandmy skills further once I have completed thegraduate scheme. The exposure acquired fromthe summer placement internship gave meclearer insight as to the direction of my career.’Page 14

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsAward winningOn 23 March 2010, 145 guests from over 70different organisations across the UK gatheredat London's Merchant Taylors' Hall to celebratethe achievements of the 66 finalists for thisyear’s National Council for Work Experience(NCWE) Award.Centrica won the award for “Best work experienceprovider-Over 250 Employees- Short TermPlacements (0-3 Months)”Heather Collier, director of the NCWE gave heropinions on the award: “The sheer impact ofCentrica’s interns was highlighted throughout thebusiness with many of them returning as permanenthires, they were a clear choice for thejudges for the second year in a row.”‘‘Centrica has become an employer of choiceamongst final year students, as highlighted bythe firm’s new entry into the most recent editionof The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers listingat number 80. This is the highest positionever achieved by an energy utility firm during the11 years that the league table has been compiled- a significant achievement’. Yvonne Crew,A Special Thanks to the Graduate Teamfrom all the Summer Placement students!Page 15

Summer Placement Newsletter Volume 2 Summer 2010Summer@Centricaby the 2010 summer studentsAre you interested?We hope that this newsletter has demonstratedto you what the summer placement with Centricahas to offer. We believe it epitomises the commitmentthat Centrica consistently shows in offeringyoung people a head-start with their careers.The ten-week Summer PlacementScheme provides an opportunity to get real exposurein to the ‘World of Work’ whilst providingyou with the support and direction that you need.An extensive range of locations across the UKare available, where accommodation is fully paidover the entire placement and students receive acompetitive rate salary. You will be placed withother like-minded interns who share the sameaspirations with plenty of opportunity to movearound the company.The Centrica recruitment team have designedthe process with you in mind and therefore allsubmitted applications are read in full, so if youinvest the time in completing an application, thentime will taken in reading it. The competencybasedassessment procedure uses online applicationforms with ample opportunity for yourwork experience and interests to be submitted.Before starting your placement, you will immediatelyexpand your network as you are invited tomeet existing graduates, your line manager andother key stakeholders within the company. It’s agreat chance to form new friendships and linkswith your fellowSummer PlacementStudents.be the leading integrated energy company in ourchosen markets, then we want to hear from youfor our 2011 programme.Our assessment process is designed to identifycandidates who can demonstrate experienceand strength in the following core behaviours:•Focusing on the customer•Focusing on solutions•Managing relationships•Managing self•Adapting to change•Organising and planning ahead•Learning and sharing knowledge•Delivering resultsWe’re looking for self-starters who are assertive,hard-working, and ambitious. Being a teamplayer is very important, but you also need to beable to work independently.In return, we’ll provide the support, guidance andopportunities that can help you become one ofour future business leaders.Applications for the 2011 programme willOpen in October 2010.For more information visitwww.centrica.com/graduatesIf you believe youhave the skills and themotivation to furtherenable us to deliverfirst class customerservice, more efficientprocesses andachieve our vision toPage 16