Degree Apprentice Dialogues: Millie Betteridge

Our degree apprentices gain valuable hands-on experience across a variety of E.ON departments and locations, all while working towards their degree.

We spoke to Millie, who is aged 22 and in her final year at the University of Derby studying for a Business Management degree. Millie shares how she’s getting on as she starts the final placement of her Future Leaders apprenticeship, including her advice for anyone considering a similar academic and career path.

Why did you choose E.ON’s degree apprenticeship?

E.ON appealed to me due to the structure of the degree apprenticeship scheme, rotating roles every six months, and because of its pledge to creating change within the energy industry.

I chose business management as I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do when I left school and I thought it would be a good opportunity to understand which areas of the business I love, and which maybe aren’t right for me. Being able to move around every six months has definitely allowed me to figure this out and gain a range of skills from numerous different business areas – all of which I use day-to-day.

Can you tell us a bit about where you have worked within E.ON, including your current placement?

I’ve worked within customer service, marketing, business improvement, leaning and development, procurement / supply chain, events, social and PR in npower Business Solutions and I’m now back to marketing within E.ON.

Every one of my placements has been centred around my passion for marketing – so it felt natural to come back to the External Affairs team for my final placement. Here I’m working alongside our social team and working on numerous exciting projects, most notably the New Energy Academy which has recently launched.

What are the elements you enjoy the most about your time at E.ON so far?

The people and culture at E.ON can’t be matched – everyone I’ve come across is so welcoming and willing to help us learn. Nothing seems to be too much of an ask which is so crucial in our development in these early stages of our careers.

What are the main challenges about working at E.ON, if any?

The organisation is so big that it can feel very overwhelming at the start, but after a while you get used to it, and everyone is very approachable so if you don’t understand what an area do, you can always ask!

What are the key things you have learned from your time at E.ON?

I learned very quickly that there is a lot more to the energy industry than just gas and electricity and that we have a huge role to play in creating a better environment for future generations. The softer skills I’ve learnt have been paramount in my success on the apprenticeship scheme. When I joined I was always scared of ringing people or sending emails, now it comes as second nature.

What advice would you give to someone considering a degree apprenticeship?

Definitely think about whether a degree apprenticeship is for you. It can be hard balancing so many different plates, but we have a lot of support and the rewards definitely make the effort we put in worth it.

How have you found the experience of working while studying?

It can be tricky at times to balance the two and to jump from being in a workplace environment to then writing uni work. However, we get a lot of support and dedicated time to complete our uni work, so as long as you’re organised it isn’t too difficult.

What are your views on green jobs and skills?

I think it’s incredibly important to strive for green jobs and develop green skills in order to have the opportunities to create a more sustainable world. We spend a lot of time at work and it’s important to remember the impact that has on our planet, and to ensure we’re doing our bit by choosing to work in spaces that also have climate change as a key driver to business outputs.

Do you think E.ON is helping to create a new energy world – if so, how?

E.ON’s recent campaigns, notably Action For Climate and It’s On Us, have showcased how important it is to be at the forefront of the change within the energy industry. They are working on real, tangible projects in order to create a more sustainable society and working on a few of these within the marketing team is a privilege.

If you had to describe your time at E.ON in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, challenging, growth.