It’s been one month
since I joined E.ON as an Undergraduate Trainee for my year placement, and what
a month it has been! I’ve clambered inside a power station boiler, visited our international
operations and met some of the leading authorities in the sector. A varied, but
incredibly exciting, month and I can’t wait for it to continue! And to think,
all this came from sitting down one Sunday afternoon to complete an
Undergraduate of the Year application, which I honestly thought would just be a
useful experience of applying for a job…
When I arrived for
my first day at E.ON HQ I was incredibly nervous, but the first thing that
struck me was the kindness of the people at E.ON. Every single person I have
met has welcomed me and taken the time to talk to me; this really has made it a
very approachable environment and has meant I haven’t been nervous about asking
a question that may appear silly! The offices in Coventry are brilliant with
large atriums, flexible meeting spaces, open plan offices and a very relaxed
feel, but it all makes for a positive working environment.
Week 1:
(picture: E.ON HQ, Coventry)
Week 2:
The heart of our
business is the generation fleet and the people who manage these complex sites.
E.ON has been very supportive; they understand it’s an advantage for
undergraduate trainees to understand what happens outside of the office! As a
result, I was sent to spend a week at one of our CHP sites in Liverpool. This
was a great opportunity to comprehend one of our power stations, as well as
understand operational requirements from our colleagues on site. While the trip
was great fun and extremely interesting, it also highlighted the importance of
operational safety within our company, as there was a lot of onsite procedures
and personal protective equipment (PPE). This raised the distinct difference
between a conventional ‘office’ job and a more ‘hands-on’ role. I certainly
enjoyed visiting a site; it’s going to be exciting to complete projects in the
office, which I can see have a direct impact on site – a great balance of the
two areas.
(PPE - No pic of me in my overalls unfortunately!)
Week 3:
Week 4:
This really was a
week like no other; electric bicycles, power plant tours, presentations and
valuable networking! As part of my Engineering Undergraduate of the Year award,
a friend and I were sent to Sweden for a week to view E.ON’s international
operations. It was a brilliant opportunity to see another side to the global
E.ON business. We were really well looked after by both E.ON UK and E.ON Sweden
with a lovely hotel in Malmö centre, presentations from global energy experts
and personalised tours around some exciting sites. A highlight in the trip was
a chance to tour the district heating network, which is part of the
world-recognised sustainable city of Malmö. E.ON has heavily invested towards a
sustainable city and eco-homes; these work directly with the consumer so they
can understand their own energy usage. It was the small things that made a
difference, such as iPad apps to show energy usage, and user-friendly interface
control systems; a real insight into what could happen in the UK soon! I’d like
to thank all those from E.ON UK and E.ON Sweden who made this such a valuable
and enjoyable trip.
To conclude:
And so, earlier this year I was frantically applying for placements and
wondering where I would go, and now I’m working for a forward-thinking and
innovative global company. I’ve met like-minded undergraduates (Many who are
also now working for E.ON), made some brilliant friends and, very importantly,
I believe I’ve found an industry I could see myself working for in the future.
All those who have actually read this far (I’ll be surprised if many!), should
not consider the possibility of not succeeding; enter the Undergraduate of the
Year awards and you could see yourself having a very enriching experience! Once
again, thank you to E.ON and TARGETjobs for such an opportunity
If you think you can win the engineering
undergraduate of the year award then pre-register today. You could be joining
Jake next year at the E.ON Headquarters.