Energy and utilities: Typical employers

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There are many different opportunities in the oil, gas, and petroleum industries. You may be interested in exploration, drilling, construction, diving supplies, transportation, petrol retailers or refineries. Opportunities in energy and the utilities include geotechnical, engineering, scientific, environmental and waste management roles.

Big players

There are 13 top global companies involved in the exploration and production of oil alone. Big players and major recruiters include oil and gas producers with presences in over 100 countries around the world, such as Amerada Hess, BP, Centrica, Chevron Texaco, Conoco Phillips, Exxon Mobil, Shell and Total. National Grid, an international electricity and gas company, is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. Most graduate training schemes are for scientific, engineering and technology roles, and also in business support functions, e.g. finance, human resources, supply chain/transport and marketing.

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• Shell does not recruit into a generic graduate training programme and instead matches individuals to specific roles according to requirements, skills and qualifications.
• The technology services provider Schlumberger recruits for many different functions, such as field engineers, research and development scientists and engineers, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, software engineers, petrotechnical engineers, business consultants and technicians.
• Centrica has training programmes in general management, finance, information systems, engineering and geosciences.
• British Energy’s graduate training schemes are in engineering, science, HR and finance.
• The Environment Agency has graduate training vacancies for geoscientists and roles in waste management.
• Other employers in waste management include local government, the NHS and other large public sector organisations and private firms such as Shanks.

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

SMEs are organisations with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of around £26million. Working for a smaller company can be rewarding because you are more likely to forge a path for yourself within the company, although opportunities to try other departments may be limited.

SMEs are unlikely to use the testing and assessment techniques of larger companies, or follow lengthy recruitment procedures. SMEs are more likely to advertise their vacancies through the local press, university careers service bulletins, local graduate vacancy listings, jobcentres, and word of mouth, rather than rely on their reputation and a presence at graduate recruitment fairs.

Your university careers service should have listings of jobs with small firms. Vacancies are also advertised in local papers and through relevant professional bodies. Also see the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Self-employment

A huge shortage of skilled engineers with some experience is expected for SME supply chain companies that are essential to the energy business. However, gaining entry without experience requires flexibility and perseverance.

Self-employment and freelance work is not very common in this sector. However, there are some freelance consultants and small consultancy partnerships that offer expertise in highly specific areas within the oil and gas industry, waste management and recycling and renewable energies. Find out more about self-employment.