I studied International Economics and Management at Bocconi University in Milan, graduating in 2023. During my undergraduate studies, I joined the Shipping, Energy and Geopolitics Society, which sparked my interest in the energy industry. Later, while writing my thesis on the feasibility of Norway phasing out its oil and gas operations, I became certain that I wanted to pursue a career in energy, particularly in trading. 

To build on that interest, I started my postgraduate degree in Energy Management in 2024 at ESCP Business School, studying across London and Paris. 

I first came across Centrica during a derivatives lecture on risk management, where it was used as an example. Shortly after, I applied for the graduate scheme, and the rest is history. I’m grateful to be part of the 2025 cohort. 

What has surprised you most since joining the graduate scheme? 
What really stood out to me straight away is how open and supportive the culture is.  

People are busy, of course, but there’s a genuine willingness to help and to teach. That creates a very personal and welcoming environment where you feel comfortable asking questions and being curious. As a graduate, that makes a huge difference. 

Is there such a thing as a typical day for you? 

I’m currently in my first placement, in Product Control, so mornings are usually focused on submitting our P&L, managing the books and making sure everything is accurate.  

Once that’s done, I try to be as proactive as possible. I’ll often set up informal meetings with traders, originators or people in other teams, simply to understand what they do and how their role fits into the wider business. 

Those conversations help me do my current job better, but they’re also invaluable in helping me understand where I might want to go in future rotations and learn from divisions which I might not be part of but will certainly impact my day-to-day tasks. 

What have you found most exciting or meaningful so far? 

I think the environment itself being so volatile makes each day unique, so it is always exciting to see what’s new today. How different people in the office are seeing the market, reactions to news and small details that shape the course of action across the normal routine.  

How has the graduate scheme supported your development? 
Starting in a supporting role has allowed me to build a solid foundation and reinforce my knowledge on the fundamentals, which I think is the best structure for long-term development. 

My second rotation, beginning in May, will give me the opportunity to move into a front-office role. By being proactive and engaging with different teams, I’ve been able to explore where I want to focus. The scheme is designed so that each rotation builds on the previous one: you consolidate your knowledge in the first, apply it in the second, and by the third, you can experiment with new areas or move toward the role that feels like the best fit. 

Overall, the scheme provides both a strong foundation and the flexibility to grow across different areas of energy trading. By the end, you not only gain insight into trading itself but also understand the broader elements that support a successful trading career. 

What advice would you give to someone thinking about applying? 

Be confident, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to know everything – you shouldn’t beat yourself up if you don’t know every commodity or market. The energy sector is always evolving—what’s a major focus today might not be in a year or two. A successful application shows genuine interest in trading and the energy sector, and above all, a willingness to be part of the evolution of the market. 

Centrica is an amazing place for that because learning happens every day. You’re not expected to know everything from the start. What matters is that you understand the basics, show curiosity, and are eager to develop. If you try to come in knowing it all, you risk limiting your own growth. Here, everyone is consistently learning, and the environment encourages you to do the same. 

Studied: History and Management at the University of Exeter 

Current Placement: 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. 

Sport: Professional Rugby Union Player

Role: Brand & Partnerships Executive, British Gas

Shaunagh is no stranger to British Gas, having previously completed her Apprenticeship with us, just over 14 years ago!

She worked as a Gas Engineer, before moving on to pursue a role as a Commercial Diver and then a Firefighter with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Shaunagh has always balanced her professional life with her sporting success.

In 2014, she represented England in the hammer throw event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Shortly after this, she began playing rugby – and made her international debut just two years later.

Playing for England and Harlequins, Shaunagh became one of the first women to be awarded a full-time professional contract.

Sport: Professional Netballer

Role: Performance & Growth Manager, PH Jones

Ama’s career began as a professional netballer, where she spent over two decades wowing crowds in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand – earning 100 caps for England as well as captaining the side.

Balancing her athletic career with academic pursuits, she has a law degree as well as a master’s in finance and management. She’s taken on solicitor roles across family, commercial, banking, and charity law.

In her post-sporting life, Ama has served as a board member for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and has presented for BBC and Sky in the UK and New Zealand. She’s dabbled in radio hosting and being a newspaper columnist and recently led Bupa’s Global Inclusion efforts.

Sport: Team GB Sailing

Role: Low Carbon Homes Commercial Analyst

Having grown up in the Highlands of Scotland, Fynn moved to the south coast to study Aerospace engineering at Southampton University. Since graduating in 2011, he has been part of the British Sailing Team with the ultimate goal of representing Team GB at the Olympics.
 
Despite being ranked World number 1 in 2019/20, Fynn narrowly missed out on selection for the Tokyo 2020. 

Taking a break from full-time sailing, he worked with Monitor Deloitte as a Strategy Consultant for six months before returning to the British Sailing Team at the end of 2021.

The Olympic dream became a reality this year, winning the European Championships and finishing 7th in the 49er Sailing class at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Sport: Team GB Fencing

Role: Technical Project Manager, British Gas Energy

Kamal is a full-stack developer/software engineer, currently focused on developing cross-platform mobile applications. When he’s not doing that, he competes professionally for Team GB in the sport of fencing.

Kamal started fencing at the age of 10 – making his first England Team appearance at the age of just 14.

Since then, he has competed all over the world and, this year, won Gold at the 2024 British Senior Fencing Championships.

Sport: Team GB Rowing

Role: Field Operations Manager, Electrical Services

Sam Nunn has been a full-time professional athlete since graduating from Oxford Brookes University – and has been part of the Great British Rowing Team for the last four years.

Whilst rowing internationally, he is proud to have won the World Rowing Championships, European Championships, and World Cup Series.

Sam’s time as a professional athlete has taught him many lessons; including resilience, teamwork and having unwavering commitment to challenging goals.

Aside from rowing, he enjoys eating good food, listening to music and relaxing.

Sport: Paralympic Discuss Champion

Role: Change Delivery Manager, British Gas

For over two decades, Stephen has competed at the highest level, representing Great Britain in six Paralympic Games and winning three Paralympic gold medals. 

Beyond the track, he’s deeply passionate about inspiring others. Through his work as a keynote speaker and coach, he shares the lessons he’s learned from the world of elite sport—helping individuals and teams unlock their potential, embrace challenges, and cultivate a mindset of growth and possibility.

Away from the spotlight, he’s a proud advocate for disability sports and the founder of SMILE Through Sport, a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for disabled people to engage in grassroots sports. 

Sport: Team GB Weightlifting 

Role: Performance & Talent Consultant

Sarah initially studied to become a PE teacher but stepped away from that career to become a full-time athlete. 

In 2015, she was the first British woman to win the Under-23 European Championships.

She cemented her reputation with a Commonwealth silver in 2018 and after winning the same colour medal in the - at the 2021 European Championships, headed to Tokyo for an Olympic debut.

She finished 5th and, just three months later, became the first British person to win a World silver medal by taking silver in the clean and jerk. She followed this up with a Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham in the summer of 2022.

Alongside competing, Sarah also runs her own coaching business. 

Scheme: Business Management Graduate, Centrica Energy

Hi, I’m Tom, and I’m currently on the Centrica Energy Business Management Scheme. 
I love sport and I competed nationally in swimming with my best stroke being butterfly. Having now stopped swimming, I am a keen boxer and enjoy going to the gym. Outside of sport my interests include singing, gaming, and travelling. 

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

I studied history for my undergraduate and international law for my masters, a rare combination on a trading house’s business management stream. I have therefore been able to bring a unique perspective to my two placements so far.

For example, while my law degree has helped in a more direct sense within my roles, my history degree has also been surprisingly helpful. The energy industry is inherently global and is a highly politicised space. I feel that my history degree allows me to delve deeper into these political tensions and to understand why they have occurred and how they might develop in the future.

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

The most important lesson I have learned since joining is that it is ok not to know everything. Coming into a company like Centrica is daunting and I was guilty when I first started of trying not to show that I didn’t understand a lot of things. 

However, I have realised this is ok, and embracing this is the best thing you can do. Everyone, regardless of their level, is happy to help explain things and they have a wealth of experience they will share if you are open to learning. 

Why Centrica?

Aside from Centrica being a very successful and highly respected company, they give their graduates amazing development opportunities and within the team you are placed in you are treated like any other team member, not ‘just a grad’. Among other things, a couple of highlights have been that I was lucky enough to go over to Denmark twice to meet with stakeholders with my team and I spent a few days at Sandhurst for teambuilding with the other graduates. Overall, I feel like a very valued member of a community which is crucial, especially this early into my career.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying?
Although it sounds really cliché, I would say be yourself. Centrica Energy have worked very hard to create a particular culture that for a trading house is very friendly and where everyone is eager to help one another out. While I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and always feel guilty saying so when my friends from university are talking about the string of 15-hour days they have just worked, I think I enjoy it so much because I was very open about who I am in the application process. 

Scheme: Commercial Analyst Graduate

Hi, I’m Ashwin (Ash) and I come from the Canary Islands. I studied MEng Aerospace Engineering at Bristol University and I’m currently a Commercial Analyst Graduate at Centrica. 

Outside of work, I have a passion for sports – especially tennis and football – and love travelling, which I try to do as much as I can. I also love to spend time with my friends doing anything that London has to offer.

Why Centrica? 

In my final year at university, I was already interested in the energy industry and its complexities – as well as all things data. So, combining all this, made Centrica the perfect fit.

I also undertook a nine-week summer internship at Centrica, as a Commercial Analyst. This programme helped me get my first experience in a large company and understand how they operate. 

One of the highlights was the amount of responsibility I was given since the very beginning. I was very surprised about this and was really proud of the work I did and everything I learnt in those two months. 

What is your favourite thing about your current role?  

I currently work in Centrica Business Solutions in the Net Zero Pathways team. The great thing about this role is that no one day looks like another. I can be creating a Net Zero Strategy for one of our clients and presenting it one day, or developing cost models the next, and be supporting our sales team with Net Zero proposals and financial analysis the following one. This has allowed me to collaborate with a lot of different people, which has been a great experience. 

Why should someone apply? 

I believe Centrica is a great place to start your career. We’re uniquely placed as leaders in the energy sector, with many different businesses doing everything from producing the energy we use at home, to storing it or selling it – all while accelerating the transition to Net Zero. 

The nature of the graduate scheme, with three different rotations across different business units offers a unique opportunity to gain a range of skills and experience. The culture is also great – since joining, I have received all the support I’ve needed and everyone is willing and happy to help.  

Scheme: DTS Software Engineering Graduate

Hello, my name is Zara and I am currently on the DTS Software Engineering Graduate Scheme at Centrica.
I went to Royal Holloway University, where I studied Computer Science. As part of my course, I also completed a Year in Industry here at Centrica, working as a Data Scientist. 

I am really interested in new up-and-coming tech, following the cricket and exploring new places. My hobbies include playing pool and cycling (which I self-taught myself at the age of 23 – It’s never too late!) I am also very interested in photography and carry a digital camera with me almost everywhere!

What does a normal day in your role look like?

I start my day off with the very first meeting of the day, our stand up, where my team briefly shares what they did the day before or any concerns they want to raise. Then, as a programmer, problems arise at any moment of the day and the rest of the day is then dedicated to solving them and creating solutions.
I have also started taking on an architectural and testing role where I get to participate in meetings, talking about current processes and how we can fix/improve them.

Why Centrica?

Centrica’s graduate scheme is very well-structured. Three eight-month placements are the perfect amount of time to trial your future career. Not only do we get three opportunities to find our most suited role but also eight months to really settle into a role and get the most out of it. 

Specific to DTS, Centrica allows us to try many opportunities, across the technology space. We get stuck into roles consisting of AI, Big Data, Software Engineering, Web Dev, DevOps, Cloud Engineering and many more! We can also choose the business area to trial it out in such as trading, group functions or retail.

What did you study at University and how has this helped you with your role?
I studied Computer Science which gives a great leverage and allowed me to get accustomed to a new role quite easily, as I already have the knowledge of the fundamentals. However, the scheme caters to those who have very simple programming knowledge as well and plenty of support is given. 

I already had programming knowledge prior to starting work in industry however I found it was completely different to university, and gained so much experience in the process such as a stricter coding style, working with git in an agile environment, regular stand ups and retrospectives, scum, kanban and much more!

What impact did you Year in Industry have? 

By doing the Year in Industry, it made my degree much easier to understand, especially in my third-year, since I gained a lot of the knowledge needed for my exams both practically and theoretically. 

I also gained a lot of personal skills such as many opportunities to present in person and online, which helped me with presenting my third-year dissertation and making it feel like a walk in a park. 

I also had many chances to meet senior leadership, creating exposure to them at such an early stage of my career and also finding out what their day to day looks like.

Scheme: Process Engineering Graduate

Hi, my name is Kian, and I am working at Centrica Energy Storage + as a graduate process engineer. I live in a small village outside of Glasgow for most of my life and attended the University of Strathclyde completing a master’s degree in chemical engineering.

I enjoy playing football, golf and watching most types of sports but mainly supporting my favourite football team, Aston Villa.

Why Centrica?

I applied to Centrica as the values and goals that the company has, aligned with my personal attributes. I’m really interested in the energy sector and contributing to making a difference for the future. It is such a challenging time for the industry, and I feel passionate about the choices the company is making. In university, I took a particular interest in Hydrogen modules, and I know this is being driven by Centrica in the energy market. I also knew that the company had a reputable graduate scheme that would provide me with the tools to develop in my career.

Why should someone apply?

The Centrica Graduate Scheme is currently ranked 5th in the Rate My Placement Student Awards. This position reflects on the scheme as you really do get the freedom to develop and work on projects with a real interest that you will enjoy. I have gained lots of experience already in my first year and developed in a lot of key areas much quicker than expected because the scheme encourages you to go out your comfort zone and work on your development areas. The scheme offers a lot of training and qualifications that you can keep with you which will only help you progress your career in the future and be proof of the hard work you put in!

Is there anything to get involved in outside of work?

I moved to Hessle in Hull for my first placement, and I didn’t really know the area or people as I have lived in Glasgow my full life, but I was welcomed into a host of activities to keep me busy after work. Each week I attended a 7-a-side football game with the technical engineering team at CES+ and I also took part in a golf league, which I’m not very good at but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I got to meet new people whilst developing work relationships too!

How did the programme help you to develop your skills?

The programme helped me develop a lot of technical skills through modelling, calculations, forecasting & project work but I also gained a lot of soft skills through my time on the summer placement. This is largely because of the cohort group that comes together to complete end of placement presentations in front of a large group, networking and being organised with all the various tasks going on. I appreciated the development I made throughout the summer placement, especially when I returned to complete my final year at university after already securing my Graduate scheme position as part of the summer program.

Scheme: Finance Graduate

Hi, I’m Faye Cousins and I’m on the Centrica Finance Graduate Scheme. I’m from Warwickshire and graduated from the University of Manchester in 2023 with a degree in Economics. I enjoy going to the gym, listening to podcasts, and socialising with friends and family.

What does a typical ‘day in the life’ look like for you?

I am currently in a Financial Control role in the Shared Services team at Centrica. A normal day for me may involve working with third parties on property budgets for next year. These may be budgets for the rent, rates and service charge of properties in Centrica’s portfolio. Or it may be the catering and facilities costs for each site which would take the length of lease, occupancy levels and use of the site into account. Checking these budgets against previous years and run rates is important to identify any anomalies. I may also work on preparing the month end reporting for property or reporting against in-month variances. Other aspects of the day may include answering queries on certain costs or providing information to different stakeholders around the business and in the Property Team.

Is there anything to get involved in outside of work?
The graduate scheme at Centrica is quite a large cohort and there are often people arranging different activities – anything from rounders to five-a-side football. There are often events arranged by HR for the whole graduate scheme and activities are also encouraged within teams. I arranged an event myself with two others on the Finance Graduate Scheme, as we organised a social in London for the summer interns, year in industries and graduates on the Finance Stream. I’m based in the Windsor office with the racecourse next-door so I have also gone there after work before with my team.

What about learning and development?

The Finance Scheme has three rotations across the three years – so you are in a different team in each year. I have had incredible opportunities and support to develop my skills and the work itself has gone hand in hand with the ACA exams I have sat. I’ve been able to push myself out of my comfort zone to improve both hard and soft skills. Each rotation is with an entirely different team which is such a unique and valuable aspect of Centrica’s graduate scheme, as it means you gain such a wide range of different experiences.

Scheme: Marketing Graduate

Studied: Politics & Chinese at Durham University

Current Placement: UX Researcher

Outside of work, I'm trying to keep up my Chinese language skills with podcasts, Duolingo, and the occasional Chinese soap opera. I also love saving up my annual leave days for big holidays and am getting into park runs.

Why Centrica?

I chose to apply for the graduate scheme at Centrica because I’m really interested in the energy transition. As the biggest energy provider in the UK, I saw working at Centrica as an opportunity to be at the centre of positive change.

What does a typical day look like?

It’s really amazing how the marketing graduate scheme lets you rotate across such a diverse range of roles. I'm currently working as a UX researcher, which is a product design role. I'm working across our Net Zero and Services business functions, and I conduct research with customers and members of the public to see if our products are usable and meet their needs. I love how my current role is all about bringing a human element to product design. Talking to the people who will be using our products and turning insights into practical recommendations is really nice, especially when they make the user experience more inclusive.

What is the culture like?

Centrica is a friendly and welcoming company where everyone is invested in your development. There’s lots of exposure to senior parts of the business and opportunities to develop new skills in a supportive environment.

What's your proudest moment so far?

My proudest moment so far was coming to the end of a placement and hearing from my team how much of an impact I had. It was great realising I had added value.

Studied: Law, The University of Law

Current Placement: Employee Relations

In my spare time I enjoy baking, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Tell us about the culture at Centrica?

Centrica’s culture is centred around a purpose driven and value-based approach. They are committed to energising a greener, faire future for colleagues, customers, and communities. The work environment is one that is inclusive where every colleague is valued and can be themselves at work. Centrica is dedicated to empowering colleagues with future skills and building a more inclusive workforce to reflect the diversity of societies they serve. When thinking about the culture at Centrica three words come to mind: respect, flexibility, and inclusion. 

Do you have any top tips?

I would say research the company and understand Centrica’s role in the energy sector and its commitment to sustainability. Think about how your personal values and career aspirations align with the Centrica’s mission and culture. Finally, enjoy the application process and be yourself. Whilst the process is aimed at assessing whether you are a good fit for the role, it’s equally important for you to assess whether Centrica is a good fit for you. 

What does energising a greener fairer future mean to you in your role?

Energising a greener fairer future is not just a slogan, it is embedded in everything that we do and guides our actions. For me it means actively contributing to the creation of a sustainable and equitable workplace. In my previous placement as a people generalist for CES+ I have seen how integral our vision is in my day to day through work on diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). In my current role as an employee relations manager, I see how this plays out in our policies and procedure where equity is at the heart of everything we do.

What is your proudest moment since working at the company?

In my first placement in CES+ I led on our DE&I strategy where I completed an inclusive workplace audit on all 3 CES+ locations. This opportunity allowed me to make a real tangible difference whilst working on something I am incredibly passionate about. Another highlight was my offshore training which is a sea survival weeklong training course that all colleagues need to complete before going Offshore. 

Scheme: Business Management Graduate 

Studied: International Business and Strategic Management at the University of York

Current Placement: Fleet Account Manager 

What made you choose to apply to Centrica?

I applied to the Business Management stream as it offered a robust training program and career progression paths. I was intrigued by being placed in a fast-paced role and managing a team within the front line of a leading energy company. As someone coming straight out of university it seemed demanding and challenging which I thought was an excellent opportunity to embark upon for the long run of my career development. 

Would you recommend the Centrica Graduate Scheme?

Centrica’s graduate scheme offers diverse career paths, structured development, and strong support in a reputable company. Graduates benefit from clear career progression, excellent networking opportunities and exposure to innovative and sustainable projects. Coming straight out of university Centrica provides a robust start in the energy sector and a solid foundation for personal and professional development. 

What advice would you give to someone considering applying?

I would say be yourself and let that personality shine. Make sure to do your research and understand the core values. Be clear on why Centrica and why the graduate scheme. Make the most it, be switched on and ask questions. Nerves are normal, everyone is going through the same process so just crack on and learn from the experience.  

How would you describe the culture at Centrica?

Centrica is people orientated, inclusive and an innovative business. Rooted in emphasising sustainability, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting renewable energy for a greener fairer future. The culture is dynamic which aims for business success while positively impacting people, society, and environment. 

What about personal development?

Centrica offers ample opportunities for personal development and continuous learning. The business encourages a culture of continuous improvement and innovation which I found rather motivating as a fresh graduate keen to acquire new skills and knowledge.  Since the start of the graduate scheme, I have been involved in training programs, workshops, and development days. Few months ago, I was enrolled onto a project management apprenticeship which is an excellent opportunity to drive my own career path. 

What does energising a greener fairer future mean to you personally?

Personally, it reflects a commitment to ensuring that our actions today create a sustainable and equitable world for future generations, where the benefits of a greener future are accessible to everyone.