Young talent powers Gazprom Energy into the future
Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 44, Issue 5
Gazprom Energy will recruit at least another six apprentices as it continues to support young people who want to work while taking a National Vocational Qualification training course to improve their business skills.
The company’s first apprentices joined in 2009. They have both completed their NVQ training and become permanent employees at Gazprom Energy’s head office in Manchester, Lancashire, England.
Kirsty Grange, who is now working as a contracts negotiator in the sales team after completing her apprenticeship and NVQ level 2, said: “I decided to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to work and learn at the same time.”
“I had not heard of Gazprom Energy before my interview but when I learned that it was one of the UK’s fastest-growing energy companies– in the middle of a recession – I knew that working there would bring me huge opportunities for career progression. My time at the company has been great; everyone is friendly and willing to help and I have had responsibilities and training that I am sure I would not have got elsewhere.”
Gazprom Energy now has eight apprentices across its sales and finance departments, which is equivalent to 5 percent of the company’s total staff at head office. A further two apprentices are working at Gazprom Energy’s sister organization, Gazprom Global Energy Solutions.
As a young business, Gazprom Energy wants to ensure that it has a dynamic team that can help it to meet its growth targets. Since entering the UK gas market in 2006, it has expanded into Europe and currently supplies gas and/or electricity to more than 40,000 industrial and commercial sites across the UK,Ireland, France and the Netherlands.
Staff numbers in Gazprom Energy’s Manchester head office increased by more than 65 percent in 2011 alone. A recent acquisition of a domestic power supplier in Germany added 35 staff and a further 75,000 sites to the company’s books.
Robert Ritchie, head of HR for Gazprom Energy, said: “We need people who match our values of teamwork, passion for excellence, excellent communication and innovation, and who can deliver on our promises. These characteristics can be hard to come by but we have been exceptionally impressed with the quality of our apprentices. Not only have they integrated into our company culture, they have also excelled at their roles and shown real commitment and loyalty to our business.”
Anna Mosley, HR advisor for Gazprom Energy, said: “Taking on apprentices is an excellent way to keep our business fresh while also giving young people the chance to gain valuable work experience and skills. We have been impressed with the caliber of apprentices that we have had working with us over the last two years, so we plan to continue our apprenticeship program for the foreseeable future.”
Jon Feingold, managing director of Gazprom Energy, said: “The apprentices that we have recruited already are a huge asset to our business and,along with our permanent staff, have played a key role in helping Gazprom Energy to be so successful over the past two years. We aim to give our apprentices a‘real’ work experience, while at the same time teaching them about our company, the industry and an energetic work atmosphere.”
