Graduate Procurement Specialist, Centrica Energy Storage +

Hi, I’m Aengus and I’m currently on the Procurement Graduate Scheme. I really enjoy anything to do with history – whether that’s books, films or games. I also enjoy travelling and exploring other countries, with some of my favourite experiences including, Greek Island hopping and travelling across Italy, from North to South.

What did you study at university and how has this helped you with your role?

I studied history for my undergraduate degree and management for my masters – and these work in combination to support my day-to-day role. My studies in history focused on source analysis which in procurement relates to reviewing contracts and scopes of work or picking out key details and points that we may need to change. Management has given me a wider sense of how businesses work and an understanding of some theoretical business concepts.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt so far?

The most valuable lesson I have learnt is to always be willing to try new things. If you are given the opportunity to do an interesting piece of work or visit a supplier or site – take it. These could provide you with a greater understanding of the wider business, increased confidence in certain skills etc. You can then bring these learnings to your different placements and provide valuable input to different teams.

Why Centrica?

As a large organisation Centrica has a huge range of opportunities that you can engage in. For example, my first placement was focused on procuring consultancy in Windsor whereas my second is keeping offshore gas storage facilities up-and-running in Hull, with all the equipment and labour needed including helicopters & ships all the way through to water and lifejackets. The graduate scheme is also designed in a way that allows you to connect with other streams on a regular basis, fostering friendships across the business and sharing knowledge/skills.