I've been in the Maintenance Team now for nearly 4 weeks and time is just flying! I have new projects to help facilitate and new procedures to learn. It's none stop! The team are great and I will hopefully get to go out on site and see some of the electricians and mechanics at work.

I had a great development opportunity to practise my presentation skills at Hull University. I was invited to do a presentation to future graduates interested in the Yorkshire Water Graduate Development Scheme. I had lots of support from one of the graduates in their second year of placements and managed a very successful presentation and question session.

During my last placement I found that I needed to update my Excel skills so I organised an Excel training course for some of the Graduates. The day went well and gave me some new skills to put into practise. It was really good to have the opportunity and resource to make the training happen. 

The new Graduate Recruitment process is in full swing so I have been invited to help marshal at a couple of the screening days. It will be a really good experience to see how things are run from 'the other side' this time.

Simon

I've just started my new placement in Maintenance. Maintenance has just been brought back under Yorkshire Water's management after being contracted out to another company for the past 15 years. This means I am the first Graduate to be placed with this team, fingers crossed it all goes well! I'll be working with the team for the next three months and will work out my placement objectives and ideals with my new line manager this week.

I have just completed 3 short placements with the business support teams of HR, Business Finance and Business Reporting. They have the role of providing information and specialist knowledge to various people and teams across Yorkshire Water. They are very useful bunch of people to know when you get stuck and are in need of a little bit of guidance.

I have decided to volunteer on a scheme called 'Right to Read.' Colleagues are encouraged to take an hour to visit a prearranged local school and spend time reading with children to help their development. It will give me the opportunity to give a little something back.

Simon

The winter break has been great but it is all change now. I have just finished my first placement, based in the Energy Team. It has been really interesting and an amazing learning curve. I've just handed over all my projects and work so that the energy audits I have been working on can be finished and the data analysis can continue. The only thing I have left to do is my end of placement review.

Just before the winter break I took part in a presentations skills workshop and a time management workshop. They were really interesting and gave some good advice which I will be able to put into practice throughout my placements. It was also a good opportunity to catch up with all the other Grads again and see how their placements are going.

I'm off to do three short placements next, a week each in HR, business reporting and finance. I've no idea what to expect but I am looking forward to a new set of challenges.

Simon

I have been working with the Energy Team for just over 2 months now. I can't believe I'm already so far through my first placement. We have just started to carry out energy audits around the big waste water treatment sites. This is giving me the opportunity to meet lots of the Energy Process Technicians and see all the major sewage works. I have also been on a Digester training course, learning about how sludge from waste water treatment sites is processed to produce methane, which can then be used to produce electricity on site. This process is really important as it reduces the electricity bills that Yorkshire Water has to pay. There is so much to learn!

I went to Sheffield Hallam University last week as part of my own personal development to give a presentation about CVs, cover letters and application forms. I was nervous beforehand but it was a good experience and great practise for future presentations.

The 2010 Graduates decide to put a team into the Water Aid Curry 'n Quiz Night in Bradford. We had a great time but our enthusiasm didn't unfortunately materialise into points. We can only do better next year!

Simon

Hello again....It only feels like 5 minutes ago that I wrote my last entry but so much has happened.

I am beginning to settle into the Energy Team.

They are all really helpful and have given me a project to review, update and then help implement an energy audit of the 18 shining star waste water treatment sites. It is a rapid learning curve but I am finding it really interesting. I'm just preparing a presentation to update a number of managers on the progress I am making.

The 2010 Graduate intake went on their first training course this month, an Assertiveness Course aimed to give us the confidence and skills needed to fully integrate into the company. It will certainly be useful when presenting my audit update!

Being on the Graduate Training scheme gave us the opportunity to go to the Institute of Water Innovation Day at Esholt. There were presentations and information from a number of different water companies and contractors all showing how new innovative ideas are driving better service and supply of water.

Anyway, I'm off on a laboratory tour now so I'll update you again soon!

Simon