What's the Commercial Graduate Scheme like?

Please describe what you do in your current role.

I currently work as Project Manager within the Business Change & IT area of the Business. My current role involves leading and co-ordinating Project Delivery for a whole host of diverse Projects that stretch the breadth of our organisation here at EDF.

How does your current role link to EDF’s ambition to help Britain achieve Net Zero?

My role involves working with a diverse range of Stakeholders, including our colleagues in Sales & Marketing (S&M). As part of my role, we work closely with S&M to deliver various Projects that are aimed at improving efficiency, making the organisation more lean, but importantly through implementing and delivering technological changes internally and for our customers, helping to transform Britain into a Net Zero nation.

How would you describe your career at EDF since completing your training programme? Have you followed the path that you thought you would?

I had an open mind and never closed the door on any opportunity, and this meant that I didn’t have a pre-determined path. The four rotations across various Business Units, whereby I was able to work in teams within Blue Lab, WMO, Renewables and Sales & Marketing have provided me with a fantastic insight into not only our organisation but also the wider Energy Industry.

How does your current role link back to where you started?

The skills I developed throughout my rotations on the Graduate Scheme have very much been transferable. My Stakeholder Management and Rapport Building skills from my first placement in Blue Lab whereby I liaised with and managed our client and partner relationships has been key to my current role as a Project Manager. The skills I acquired from WMO, whereby I liaised with Site Managers and our Trading Desk highlighted the value in understanding technical detail and relaying it as efficiently and effectively as possible. This is a skill that has been vital in my role as a PM, whereby I engage with a diverse range of stakeholders daily.

What’s your favourite thing about working for EDF / in the energy industry?

It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Energy Industry, with unprecedented change and a clear focus on achieving Net Zero, there are many opportunities in forward-thinking innovative and dynamic parts of the Business. EDF’s focus on Renewables, EVs and New Nuclear are just a few examples of the positive direction that both EDF and the wider Energy Industry are heading in.

What were the most valuable skills and experiences that you gained during the programme?

I gained a mix of both technical and softer skills. Diverse placements from Blue Lab through to WMO and Renewables through to Sales & Marketing gave me a fascinating and unprecedented insight into the Energy Industry. Liaising with such a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders allowed me to develop my communication skills further whilst also enabling me to develop a mindset of always challenging the status quo. My time at Blue Lab highlighted the value in ‘thinking outside the box’ and finding creative solutions to issues.

What’s your top tip for someone going through a graduate selection process?

Network, Network, Network. Networking will allow you to broaden your perspective, understand new ways of working and will open doors to opportunities throughout the business. Having a good Network is a good foundation to help guide your decision-making through the Graduate selection process. Understanding how different parts of the business will help you make the best choices for your career.

Where would you like to take your career with EDF in the future?

I would like to bring about positive change, to challenge existing ways of working and to find creative solutions to some of the most interesting challenges of our time. Ultimately, as Leader within the organisation, to support EDF’s and the nation’s vision for a Net Zero future.