Supporting the Next Generation of Professionals

Left to right: Ciara Edwards (student), Steve Jackson (Senior Treasury Manager, Kellas), Iain Wilson (student)

As a business, making a positive impact to our local communities is essential to Kellas. It’s part of who we are and how we operate. One of the areas we focus on is, Education. A core part of this is supporting young students who need to secure work placements. There are far more students than work placement offers, particularly ones that are a good match to the student. There is a lot to gain from supporting the next generation through opportunities like this and often our staff find it personally rewarding too.

This summer we had two strong candidates for placements so, to be able to give them both a chance, we decided to split the time and give each of them a four-week placement. Here’s what they had to say in their own words.

Iain Wilson (student placement)

“I worked in the Kellas finance team for the Senior Treasury Manager and Economic Analyst for four weeks over the summer. During this period, I helped further develop spreadsheets for the Company’s business plan, reviewed obligation registers and helped with admin associated with gaining financial approvals. I was also given the opportunity to research how the UK can reach its 2050 Net Zero Target, with a particular focus on offshore electrification and the OFTO regulations.

With minimal practical finance experience prior to starting this internship, the four weeks I spent at Kellas were hugely beneficial and have given me a great insight into how a company is financed and how new business opportunities are analysed.

Working at Kellas has allowed me to gain practical knowledge, complementing my degree. I also had the opportunity to learn about peoples’ roles and career paths. This knowledge has been invaluable - confirming my interest in working in finance and broadening my horizons when seeking job opportunities.

If I could give advice to other students, it would be to grasp every opportunity available. Whether you think it is relevant or not, all work experience is good experience, confirming interests you have, or helping you to realise that a role isn’t for you - either way, you will have gained fundamental skills that you can carry with you into future jobs. I also believe offering internships can be beneficial to employers, supporting education and enhancing their reputation as socially responsible employers.

I would like to thank Kellas for the opportunity, and in particular Steve and Howard for all their guidance and support over the last 4 weeks – I have had a really enjoyable and insightful experience that will definitely benefit me.”

Ciara Edwards (student placement)

“During the summer of 2021 I completed a four-week placement with Kellas Midstream in their Aberdeen office. The placement was well structured and organised with my supervisors. On my first day there was a full office induction and introductions to the team members.

I learned so much during the placement – I was given the opportunity to work on treasury and economic modelling tasks and learned a lot about macroeconomics. The team were all very supportive and there was always a positive atmosphere in the office. My supervisors always made sure I had something interesting and relevant to work on.

One of my highlights was helping the Kellas team paint a building for the Archway charity. I think it is amazing that Kellas supports children and adults with learning disabilities, and I really enjoyed taking part.

Overall, my experience at Kellas was very enjoyable and I learned so much. It has reinforced my desire to pursue a career in corporate finance and the knowledge I have gained will be valuable for my future.”

It’s amazing to see how much each of the students packed into their four-week placements and of course this couldn’t be possible without the commitment and enthusiasm of the Kellas team. Steve Jackson, Senior Treasury Manager, who managed both student placements said, “I’m glad that Iain and Ciara benefitted from their time with Kellas. They joined us at a very busy time for the company, and with disruption to working practices due to Covid-19. However, both of them embraced the opportunity and provided valued support to the team. Their commitment to the task and their work ethic is to be commended.

Our aim with these internships is not so much that the students provide assistance to us at Kellas but rather that we can help support them, give them some real-life experience and help shape their future careers. It seems clear that we achieved this and that’s what makes us particularly happy to hear their feedback. Kellas has some clear goals for future growth, including the recently announced commitment to develop H2NorthEast, a low carbon hydrogen facility based around our existing assets on Teesside, and we feel that the organisation is a perfect fit for ambitious students such as Iain and Ciara.

We wish them every success in their university studies and future careers.