For several years, we have welcomed graduate talent to the K2 Management workforce. Many of these graduates have entered the renewable energy space from a wealth of different backgrounds, some with mathematical and science degrees and others with other analytical and engineering-based backgrounds.We believe that investing in graduate talent is an important move to secure the future of renewable energy, preparing a workforce that is able to drive further growth and innovation in an exciting sector that is expanding rapidly.
Three of our newest graduates, Rowan Goffin, Kate Seeger, and Prem Satjarak, sat down with us to share their experiences as graduates at K2 Management. As they go on to explain, our graduates aren’t kept at arm’s length during our time with us. In fact, our graduates work directly on a diverse portfolio of work, gaining hands-on experience with global projects that prepare them for the early stages of their career.
Hands-on from day one
“I found that K2 Management is one of the only companies that allows graduates to focus on technical analysis processes, which encouraged me to apply,” shares Prem Satjarak, Analyst in our Analysis Services team. “I have been able to complete in-depth analysis in the engineering field, all within my first two months of joining. I’ve also been able to contribute to tool development and found many interesting parts of my on-the-job training.”
Praising her early involvement in real client projects just as Prem has done, Kate Seeger, also an Analyst in our Analysis Services team, notes the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts in a supportive team environment. “My experience has exceeded expectations through hands-on training and involvement in diverse projects. The supportive culture encourages innovative thinking and teamwork, allowing me to apply my academic knowledge in real-world settings while developing valuable skills in the renewable energy sector,” shares Kate.
With access to K2 Management’s global projects, the graduates have enjoyed learning about the varying challenges and uncertainties that need to be navigated. Rowan Goffin, working in BU Due Diligence & Analysis Services, shares “Working on global projects has taught me about the lifecycle of a renewables project, especially early concept and proposals, errors and uncertainty in the context of funding and investment. It has also shed light on opportunities for new technology and analysis methods.”
Developing real-world career knowledge
From day one our graduates have the experience of applying their academic knowledge to their work, nurturing valuable career-long skills that will aid their own career progression. Kate shares how she welcomed this approach, commenting: “Right after my initial onboarding training, I was introduced to research and development tasks, which was technically challenging. This immediate immersion pushed me to apply my academic knowledge in a practical setting. By tackling complex problems head-on, I gained invaluable hands-on experience, honing my analytical skills and building my confidence in contributing to the team.”
Rowan adds how getting to grips with commercial software was an early challenge that encouraged them to grow. “In the first few months I learned how to use lots of different in-house and commercial software to gauge the effect of different variables on an energy yield. It’s an important part of our job - knowing how to interpret data correctly and explain its significance to the client, and to know how to use theoretical knowledge backed by data and analysis to communicate findings.”
For Prem, experiencing on the job training has helped them to understand how many parties are involved with each other when developing industry projects. “It’s not only K2M as a consultant that performs the analysis, but turbine manufacturers and the client. Working with these parties has broadened my understanding of the rationale in analysis processes, incorporating a range of different perspectives.”
The K2 Management experience
Over many years, our graduates have shared their praise for the depth of their experience at K2 Management, commending the freedom they are given to work directly with our in-house experts and wider industry professionals. For Rowan, it helped him “find and pursue areas which interest me and strengthened my passion for renewable energy. It’s also given me a new group of friends with similar interests.”
For Prem, the opportunity to learn from a wide range of people has made the experience valuable. “In my personal perspective, being a K2M graduate developed my strong foundation in the renewable industry, from both business and analysis viewpoints. And from a professional perspective, being surrounded by experts has meant I could grow my network, opening up new opportunities for further industry insights,” shares Prem.
“The K2M graduate community is filled with talented people who are always willing to lend a hand and share their knowledge,” adds Kate. “Professionally, I’m constantly learning from people who collectively have decades worth of experience in projects across the globe. Personally, I think they’re an inspiring group of people who are supportive in every respect, which is so rewarding.”
Taking the next step
The K2 Management graduate community is an inclusive, welcoming group of individuals - many of whom choose to remain with K2M for years to come. Our newest graduates find that many former graduates are more than willing to share their experiences and lend a hand. Sharing her advice for those considering applying to the K2M Graduate Experience, Kate comments, “My advice to future graduates is simple: if you have a passion for renewable energy and a desire to work with an incredible team of analysts, apply! This experience has been fantastic for launching my career in wind energy, offering invaluable insights and growth opportunities. Embrace the chance to learn and contribute in such a dynamic and impactful industry - it's truly rewarding!”
Rowan echoes a similar sentiment, sharing, “Absolutely go for it! The team and environment are all lovely and incredibly supportive and the work is engaging and fulfilling. It’s a great place to get high-quality training and commercial exposure early in your career.”
With the range of opportunities on offer, Prem recommends that all graduates fully apply themselves to get the most out of the experience. “Do not be afraid to allow yourself to explore detailed analysis,” Prem shares. “The more you question the processes, the more knowledge you will gain! The renewable energy sector is still young and fresh, and given it is not yet fully developed, there is so much scope for further research and development for you to truly make your mark.”
At K2 Management we welcome graduates from a range of academic backgrounds including aerospace engineering, renewable engineering, mathematical-based and other analytical degrees. Our programme focuses on helping graduates apply their academic knowledge to the exciting and fast-paced industry that is renewable energy, giving them autonomy to explore, collaborate, and contribute in whichever ways possible.
For more information about our Graduate Experience, click here