Proud to be an award-winning apprenticeship employer
At E.ON, we truly value apprenticeships and the benefits they can deliver for both the apprentices themselves but also for us as an employer. So, we’re proud to have recently been recognised with two awards for our apprenticeships.
The energy world is changing and we’re at the forefront of this change. We know that to thrive in the new energy world, we’ll need new skills. Apprenticeships enable us to develop and bring in these future skills, helping us to develop the workforce of the future with skills that can be embedded into our workforce today.
We’re proud to have recently won not one but two awards for our apprenticeship schemes: the Large Employer of the Year Award at the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship awards and the Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award at the East Midlands regional final for the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards.
And our apprentices agree too. Based on reviews and feedback our apprentices have shared with Rate My Apprenticeship, we’ve been ranked one of the top 30 apprenticeship employers in the UK and number one within the energy and utilities sector.
But just what makes our apprenticeships so special? Read on to find out.
Our commitment to apprenticeships
We’ve been committed to apprenticeships for 10 years and are going from strength to strength. We began our apprenticeship programme in 2014 and since then we’ve enrolled over 900 new and existing colleagues onto over 90 different programmes, ranging from intermediate level to higher/degree level apprenticeships. We currently have over 260 colleagues enrolled on an apprenticeship and this year we welcomed our largest intake of degree apprentices into the business.
Since launching our degree apprenticeship programme in 2019, it has grown from four roles across one programme to 31 degree apprentices across nine different programmes. We now offer degree apprenticeships across a range of disciplines, including digital marketing, digital technology, engineering, environmental practitioner and accountancy and taxation. We pride ourselves on offering quality on delivery, so all our degree apprentices have a unique experience, and we’re able to successfully offer them permanent roles at the end of their programme.
Providing a valuable and meaningful learning experience
We ensure all our apprentices have a supportive environment in which to learn. Our degree apprenticeship journey, for example, provides our apprentices with a structured programme and from day one they’re supported by a buddy, mentor, placement manager, business lead, the early careers team and their university or provider.
Our degree apprentices rotate placements every six months across our entire UK business which provides a fantastic learning opportunity. Gaining exposure to different business areas enhances our degree apprentices’ skills, knowledge and their professional network. Plus, the degree apprentice brings with them a wealth of skills and experience to each new placement, adding real value to the team they’re working in. Our degree apprentices are also actively encouraged to get involved in a huge variety of networking events across the company, further supporting their personal career journey.
We’re committed to providing all our apprentices with a comprehensive and rewarding experience that benefits both our organisation and them as individuals and our data shows that we’re achieving this.
The careers of our apprentices develop faster than their peers and apprenticeships significantly increase the productive capability of our business, according to our data. In fact, apprentices are 13% more likely to be promoted, showcasing their potential for growth within our organisation. Plus, our apprenticeship completion rate currently stands at 76% which reflects our commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for our apprentices.
We’ve successfully transitioned nine degree apprentices into permanent roles at E.ON over the past year. One such success story is Imogen Chippindale, who recently graduated from our Future Leaders Degree Apprenticeship and now works as a Campaign Manager in E.ON Next. Imogen expressed her satisfaction, stating, "I secured my dream job as a campaign manager, fuelled by the passion for marketing I discovered during the degree apprenticeship".
Success stories like Imogen’s highlight the positive impact of our apprenticeship programmes in helping individuals secure fulfilling careers aligned with their personal aspirations.
Offering opportunities for all
We recognise the importance of investing in our workforce and attracting new talent from diverse backgrounds.
Our apprenticeship programme is designed to provide exceptional opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and our current apprenticeship population reflects this: 23% are from a BAME background, 15% have learning needs, 18% are aged 16-24, 25% are from disadvantaged areas, and 45% of individuals in STEM apprenticeships are women.
This diverse representation ensures we have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and enables us to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. And we’re continually looking for new ways we can learn and improve to encourage even better representation of colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
To find out more about apprenticeships at E.ON, visit our Early Careers webpage and if you want to discover more about E.ON’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit eonenergy.com/inclusion