Npower is one of the UK’s leading integrated energy companies, and part of RWE, one of Europe’s largest utility groups. As Britain’s brightest energy company, we give creative and ambitious graduates the chance to work on exciting projects, such as our recent renewable energy contract powering Wembley Stadium’s illuminated arch. Who we are We operate one of the largest portfolios of power generating plants in the UK and supply electricity and gas to more than 6.8 million residential and business customers. We manage flexible, low-cost coal, oil and gas-fired power stations and are developing innovative energy-related technologies. We take our role in the community very seriously and for the last three years we have been in the Business in the Community (BitC) Corporate Response Index top twenty. We also offer competitive prices, innovative products and excellent levels of service. Combined with our retail strength, we have the capacity to generate over 9,000MW of electricity from a portfolio of diverse, low-cost generation assets.Our expertise in improving power station reliability, efficiency and environmental performance underpins our commercial success, and is marketed to other power plant owners and operators. Through RWE Power International, we provide specialist services spanning the full range of generation technologies, fuel sources and mining techniques, to customers in the UK and Europe. Renewable energy We are also leaders in the search for viable, renewable power sources. We developed the UK’s first major offshore windfarm, North Hoyle, which supplies npower Juice – a pioneering electricity product resulting from a unique partnership between npower and Greenpeace. We operate hydroelectric power stations in Scotland and Wales, using advanced communications and forecasting technology to create new possibilities for one of the oldest methods of harnessing power. As a leader in the search for viable, renewable power sources, the firm developed the UK’s first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle, which supplies npower Juice – a pioneering electricity product resulting from a unique partnership between npower and Greenpeace. They also operate hydroelectric power stations in Scotland and Wales, using advanced communications and forecasting technology to create new possibilities for one of the oldest methods of harnessing power. What npower does Well, where do we start? We may be famous for supplying electricity and gas to business and domestic customers, but there’s a lot more to us than that. We operate one of the largest and most diverse portfolios of power generating plants in the UK. It includes coal, oil and gas-fired power stations, as well as renewables facilities such as wind farms and hydroelectric power stations. Not only have these assets enabled us to supply more than 10% of the electricity used last year in England and Wales, they have helped us establish ourselves as the UK leaders in renewable energy generation. One example of our commitment to creating renewable energy is our pioneering clean electricity product - Juice. A first in the UK, npower Juice enables customers to obtain electricity from clearly identified renewable resources at no extra cost. It has also helped speed up the development of Britain’s first major offshore wind farm, off the coast of North Wales, which started generating clean electricity in November 2003.We are also the exclusive supplier of green energy to the new Wembley Stadium. And in October 2004 we signed the world’s largest green energy deal with BT, providing them with the equivalent yearly energy needed for more than 210,000 homes.
The Engineering Graduate Scheme: Engineering the heart of our business The success of our power generation relies on the expertise and knowledge of our scientists and engineers. And as part of the engineering scheme we’ll ensure you achieve every qualification and absorb every experience possible. Throughout your placements you’ll receive all necessary training, experience and support to become an integral part of our business. From the outset you’ll be allocated an individual mentor, who’ll be a senior engineer or technical manager, to support you and guide your development. There’s a comprehensive induction programme covering the npower group as a whole as well as a finely detailed introduction to our power generation business. After that you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a wide range of development programmes with a mix of courses and placements in every area of the business. It’s not just technical experience, but personal competencies too. We want to give you all the skills you need to get to the top of your career. From day one you’ll be assigned a “home team” at one of our operational power plants or in one of our engineering functions. This gives you a unique opportunity to develop specific skills in your chosen field and make contacts that stay with you throughout your many placements. Fundamentally you’ll get involved with real business issues and have scope and opportunity to make a difference to the success of the business. As part of our commitment to you, we’ll support you on your way to a relevant qualification including IEng and CEng. You should also know that our scheme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and can form the basis of an individually planned development programme for other engineering institutions and professional bodies. These include the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Institution of Chemical Engineers, the Royal Society of Chemistry and The Institute of Physicists. One thing is always true: Your placements will be on high-profile projects with clearly defined objectives. You’ll be presenting your findings to senior management the moment you start. What we look for We’re looking for people who’ve completed a post-graduate degree in a relevant quantitative discipline, such as Quantitative Finance, Financial Engineering or Energy Markets. You’ll be highly numerate and adept at problem solving, and you’ll ideally bring relevant commercial experience obtained via an internship, or similar. And you’ll have a strong interest in applying your academic skills in an industrial field. You’ll also have the ability to understand and fulfil team goals, as well as listening to team members and acknowledging and valuing their contributions. And you’ll know how to set personal goals, achieve them, and encourage others to do the same. To apply: www.brightergraduates.com
What we look for To apply to the engineering graduate scheme, you’ll need a minimum of 2:2 (achieved or expected) in an engineering, metallurgy or science discipline, and bags of self-motivation. But that’s not all. We’re looking for people who can demonstrate the ability to plan, organise and deliver projects, including the ability to overcome problems or unusual events. You’ll also have evidence of successfully working with others on a project, and you’ll be able to show an interest in the application of knowledge to ‘real world’ problems. Your interpersonal skills will be first-class, and you’ll know how to set and achieve personal goals and encourage others to do the same. There are also a number of other opportunities within the Generation and Renewables business available to graduates with other numerate qualifications including mathematics or economics. See Our Activities for more information. Quantitative Risk This scheme is aimed at those with a highly specific postgraduate degree (based around financial mathematical modelling) and direct commercial experience in this area. Please read the following pages carefully for more information. The Risk Graduate Scheme trains future specialists in quantitative finance and risk management. Once the placements are finished you could be sent out to teams across the whole business from Generation to Retail to Corporate. You’ll help evaluate and manage the risks that come from our dealing on wholesale commodity markets. You’ll apply all your academic understanding of quantitative finance to real situations and face real commercial issues. And as well as being managed by a senior team member, you’ll be encouraged to network within your team and location. All graduates on the Risk scheme are mentored by a director, so you’ll have the opportunity to shine from a very early stage of your career. Day one. And when we say responsibility, we mean it. We’ll give you as much as we think you can handle. The more the better. That way you’ll make contacts quicker and learn how the business works. If you find your feet on the first placement, you may even have the chance to stick with it rather than move across the further three placements. We’ll accommodate you wherever we can. If coming off the schemeis right for you and right for our business – then we’ll do just that.