How our talent transfer programmes provide employees with a holistic view of the business

“In the summer of 2018 I joined the Calor Gas UK graduate development programme. The scheme is made up of four- and six-month placements, with the third placement being international. For my international rotation, I was offered the opportunity to join the Biofuels team of SHV Energy as a commercial analyst. Initially I was drawn to this opportunity because it gave me the chance to participate in an area of the business that is vital to SHV Energy’s future, whilst allowing me to personally develop through working in the head office environment in Hoofddorp. The prospect was made even more exciting as this is an area of the business that I have had little involvement with previously; I therefore welcomed the opportunity to change that.”

“With the role of SHV Energy being so different to Calor, I was provided with a new and invaluable perspective from day one. Professionally, I developed a much clearer understanding of how we operate as a business, the role of parent companies and the importance of strong cross-functional relationships. Personally, my confidence grew: I increased my skill set and developed my people skills due to interacting with such a diverse range of colleagues.

Women account for only 22% of the workforce in the traditional energy sector worldwide. As a young woman, it was extremely empowering to have such a broad development opportunity, providing me with the right skills to advance my career. Alongside the positive impact this has had on my development, I also see great benefits to businesses of schemes like this – colleagues who participate are able to spread knowledge and experiences of different functions across the business, and offer a holistic view across a range of activities. I had an amazing time completing this assignment, and living in Amsterdam is a period of my life I will always remember with fondness.”