Page 31 - Gi flipbook - November 2018

of technical and professional binds them together. No-one can afford
development events for young to stand still.
people in the industry (anyone under In summary, I encourage all
the age of 36). employers to grow their own young
Recent events have included engineers and technicians. Some of
technical tours of Swindon’s Advanced them will leave, but in creating an
Plasma Power facility, IGEM environment that encourages them to
Membership Workshops in Wales and grow, you will create a company that is
Scotland, and horizon broadening attractive to other young professionals
visits to Hinkley Point nuclear power just as skilled and motivated to join
station. These events provide you. It’s a virtuous circle that will grow
networking opportunities so young the entire gas industry, ensuring that in
engineers and technicians can connect future there is a wider pool of capable
and develop professional relationships engineers and technicians that can
with their peers and other members deliver on business opportunities and
of the industry, both junior and senior. make the future of gas a reality. So
Some of their new network of peers grow your own! ■
will go on to senior roles at other
companies and these will be valuable
contacts in developing your business
into the future as you try to stay NEXT STEPS
ahead of the competition. It is 3 TO TAKE
therefore a wise investment to
encourage your young engineers and ■ Get your young people to talk to
technicians to develop their own IGEM about how they can
networks and, by extension, your develop professionally, become
network. Additionally, hosting a YPN professionally registered and
event for young people is an what training and courses are
opportunity for employers to available, or invite IGEM into
demonstrate the interesting work and your office to talk to them.
attractive environments they offer to
fresh young talent. ■ Encourage and support them to
Thirdly, the Young Persons Paper attend YPN events in their area.
Competition (YPPC) provides a great Get them to report back or
opportunity for your young engineers present internally to share their
and technicians to present the work of learnings with colleagues, other
their employer, to marshal arguments, young engineers and technicians
make persuasive presentations, speak to develop their skills. Offer your
confidently in public, and in doing so company up to host one of these
reflect their employer in a positive events and raise your profile
light. What could make a better with young people.
impression on an audience of
customers, industry figures and other ■ Encourage and support them to
potential young professionals looking enter the YPPC competition by
for new opportunities than to see a circulating IGEM promotional
bright, enthusiastic young engineer or posters, suggesting suitable
technician from your company talking subjects and projects, offering to
applying their initiative. It gives you a about the interesting and impactful review their presentations and
competitive edge against companies work they have been doing to solve a by being a sounding board for
who have not invested in their staff problem or achieve a business goal? A their ideas.
and cannot demonstrate their YPPC entry shows that the employer
engineering competence to customers. invests in and is confident in its young
In addition, your customers’ customers people and expects them to achieve
will have requirements that go beyond great things. It also shows that the
the lowest upfront cost and will company remains relevant to do
expect to see a whole life service business with in a fast-changing
rather than simply a product. Think energy industry.
into the future as well; are the Most young people today don’t
managers of tomorrow going to be expect a job for life within one industry,
more or less interested in you being let alone within one company. But they
able to demonstrate the technical do expect an employer to commit to
proficiency of your employees? them as they commit to the employer;
Secondly, the Young Persons development in exchange for labour. In
Network develops and offers a range a fast changing world, this is what

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