What kind of work do our innovation graduate scheme recruits do?

Our 2020 Graduate Programmes are currently open for applications, recent Commercial grad Catherine praises the exciting opportunites of the scheme.

Catherine Finnes EDF Blue Lab Graduate

Catherine's childhood dream was to be a fashion designer but her practical brain led her to study Chemistry at the University of Sheffield

Catherine Finnes is on the Commercial scheme in the Customers Business Unit and has just completed her second placement, at our innovation accelerator Blue Lab.

She decided to apply for the EDF Energy graduate scheme because of the wholesale change within the industry and the range of placements she would have a chance to complete.

The Commercial scheme she is undertaking offers a broad experience to help recruits build both specialist and people skills.

Catherine said: “Each placement is completely different so in my first placement I was working as an analyst and that was a lot of number-crunching, spreadsheets, maths and stuff, whereas Blue Lab was a lot more about stakeholder management, communicating with people and planning and writing documents and writing reports. 

“So already, just from my two placements, I’ve done two completely different things in completely different cultures.”

“I’ve really enjoyed Blue Lab, it’s very different to any other part of the business. The culture is so fast paced and agile and every day is completely different.

“It’s hard to explain what you actually do because you just do so much different stuff and you learn so many different skills all of the time, which is an amazing opportunity, and everyone is so friendly. It just makes it even better to come to work.”

Graduate Catherine Finnes with Chief Financial Officer Rob Guyler

Catherine presented the results of her project to the Chief Financial Officer

One of Catherine’s highlights in Blue Lab was successfully delivering a Car Sharepoint trial at Barnwood. At the end of the pilot she personally presented the results to her sponsor, Chief Financial Officer, Rob Guyler.

Catherine said: “I’ve learned how to trust my own judgement quite a lot and plan a lot of things by myself, but the responsibility and independence I’ve had managing this project has been way more than I expected.

“Not many grad schemes out there give you such a broad range of experience. I’d encourage anyone to apply.” 

Watch video: EDF Energy Grad Scheme - Catherine

Watch Catherine, who is now working in I&C Export and Structuring, talk about her Blue Lab experience

Find out more

Commercial graduate programme

We’re looking for talented graduates with leadership skills and a strong commercial focus to join us at this exciting point in our journey to achieving this ambition.

Find out more about the EDF graduate programme.

Blue Lab

We’re here to make ideas and innovations come to life and to make energy better for the UK, our customers and our people.

Find out more about the Blue Lab innovation accelerator.