Simon’s first priority when looking for a graduate scheme was the opportunity to make a difference. “I had an interest in energy issues through my PhD in Physics. I was also interested in the environment, making Ofgem the obvious choice to pull all of this together”.
“During my two years on the graduate programme I worked on some really interesting projects. One of the highlights for me was working in the Networks division. I was working on a project which assessed the financial stability of network companies and looked at how Ofgem would respond if they got into financial difficulty. As part of this we set up simulations and asked key teams what they would do in particular circumstances. This allowed us to highlight issues and make recommendations for improvement.”
“I also spent three months in the GB Markets team where I worked on Project Discovery, looking at factors outside Ofgem’s remit and their effect on security of supply. It was great to be involved in such a high profile project”.
Simon has now completed the graduate programme and took up his first permanent appointment in the Environmental Policy team. The role played to his interests but also allowed him to get involved in different projects across the organisation, encouraging teams to consider issues from an environmental perspective.
“The rotational nature of the graduate programme has prepared me well for the challenges of my current role. I have gained an in-depth understanding of Ofgem’s role and how the industry operates, in addition to having established valuable networks around the organisation. I have also learnt a lot about how to manage stakeholders in different contexts and with different views to achieve the most effective outcome.”