All About our 2021 Tech and Operations Internship

Behind the Octopus Vitality Equality Internship

We’re on a mission to make vitality inexperienced and honest for all. To do it, we’d like an ideal crew that represents everybody in our society. Research present that lower than 5% of the vitality sector is made up of black professionals. To offer publicity and expertise to an under-represented sector of the workforce, and showcase the unimaginable careers in the way forward for Vitality and Tech to the following technology, we created six internship roles open to candidates who establish with any Black, African or Caribbean background.

The internship was painstakingly deliberate by a cross-functional Octopus crew. We’ll let James, Jack, Suraj, Joe, Maya, Vania and Safiyah inform you a bit extra about it…

As soon as they’d been totally educated up, they have been embedded in core Octopus groups. The three operations interns sat alongside our award-winning customer support groups and spent just a few weeks residing “a day within the life”, taking care of clients by way of telephone calls and emails. Our tech interns joined groups of Kraken builders, attending to grips with the codebase by way of duties to make our platform higher for employees and clients.

After which we took a visit to Slough for a fairly unique peek at our Low-carbon Warmth R&D Centre, the place we’re creating reasonably priced, inexperienced warmth pumps for the UK and coaching 1,000s of engineers to put in them. (No photos right here because it’s genuinely a little bit of a secret).

The venture: creating an inside dashboard, displaying key metrics regarding funds and balances for vitality specialists as they assist clients. They researched meticulously and labored intently with specialists in our ops groups to find which metrics can be most impactful.

For a extra in-depth breakdown of the internship…

Gillian: I’m additionally tremendous all in favour of sustainability and tech that’s socially and environmentally moral. I simply do not need to contribute to one thing that’s dangerous to individuals or the planet so being part of this firm made excellent sense for me.

Gillian: I used to be naturally drawn to it and once I first began being on-line there have been only a few instruments or software program out there on-line for people to create issues themselves. I picked it up as a pastime once I was youthful and taught myself to code. I used to be then in a position to hone my expertise at Uni the place I studied laptop science. In the intervening time, Object Oriented Programming with Python and Javascript is my sturdy swimsuit. I even have expertise with HTML and entrance finish stuff like net growth as you want all these instruments to construct a well-functioning website.

Gillian: So, the primary week was spent getting accustomed to the software program they use, in addition to studying in regards to the vitality business. That is superb however requires lots of work and maintenance so we spent a lot of the 8 weeks cleansing up bugs to enhance the software program usability and hone our expertise set.

Gillian: I at all times felt tremendous supported as the very first thing we have been informed was the Octopus coverage of ‘we don’t need anybody to battle’. There was a lot assist out there and I used to be by no means anxious about getting caught, needing assist or probably making a mistake.

No person within the firm is on their very own, and we’re there to be taught in any case. I’ve at all times been a bit insecure about my coding expertise as I’m principally self-taught so getting extra tech expertise has been tremendous useful.

Gillian: It’s simpler than ever to get into tech now as a result of the later you get on the language, the extra doubtless somebody has already fastened the problems making it simpler to make use of. So regardless that lots of people suppose they may have missed out by not beginning earlier and are anxious it’s too sophisticated: it’s really the other.

Gillian: Information mining is a large situation. Folks typically consider the largest tech platforms because the worst culprits however even small, unbiased web sites knowledge mine. Whether or not it’s informational content material or kids’s instructional web sites, many web sites are very unethical with knowledge. And proper now, regardless that we now have GDPR, web sites make use of lots of sneaky methods to entry individuals’s knowledge. This consists of issues like making the settle for button look inexperienced, or placing the cancel button in an sudden place. In addition they typically make the method as complicated as doable so individuals don’t know what they’re agreeing to. So, I’m actually decided to not use tech in these kinds of unethical methods.

Gillian: I might inform them that they should not be so simply discouraged. I do know lots of people really feel like it’s inevitable however there are alternatives to guard your self on-line; you simply have to simply discover them. An important instance is Courageous browser which is Google Chrome with out cookie monitoring. There are additionally a great deal of free or reasonably priced VPN you should use.

Gillian: I can’t say it’s the largest factor that drew me to the internship however I appreciated Octopus Vitality following their Black Lives Matter assertion with concrete motion. I’m massive on firms being real once they have interaction with actions or activists and I don’t care a lot for empty statements or hopping on a development.

Range is a large downside in tech which is made worse by the actual fact individuals suppose Know-how is that this fully apolitical factor. I do know that is fairly necessary to Octopus and The World Head of Entrance Finish growth actually wrote a e book about tech accessibility so I hope we are going to see some business broad enhancements quickly.

Chime: I studied electrical and mechanical engineering so I used to be within the cool technical developments and innovations within the Vitality Trade. I’m additionally tremendous all in favour of Electrical Automobiles and Octopus is likely one of the UK leaders in that area so I needed the prospect to be taught extra about it.

Chime: I labored in Operations, coping with buyer queries by way of e mail and offering buyer expertise. In direction of the top of the internship we additionally obtained an opportunity to go to a number of Octopus places of work to look at and contemplate inventive methods to enhance the service. We labored with the tech crew to assist carry our concepts to fruition. We ultimately offered our concepts to Octopus Senior administration which was a bit nerve wracking however actually cool.

Chime: I actually loved working with the Ops and Tech crew, and all of us made an effort to assist one another. We had lots of enjoyable studying our means round Octopus collectively. Our mentors in Ops and Tech have been additionally very form and actually, actually useful which simply made the entire expertise nice.

Chime: There was lots of heavy idea to start with of the internship as we have been taught all in regards to the firm. I personally want a extra fingers on strategy to studying in order that was a little bit of a problem. Though, we did swap to sensible studying inside per week or two which was nice.

Chime: community. I learnt loads about being in an expert atmosphere, attending to know individuals with totally different approaches and experiences. It opened my eyes to totally different alternatives which I appreciated.

Chime: Sure, the office tradition actually stunned me. Everybody was so form, open and prepared to assist. On a Friday night, everybody would keep within the workplace and you’d find yourself chatting with the CEO or different senior administration in a really informal means.

Chime: Completely. The primary motive I utilized to the internship was to get business expertise however the deal with variety was an enormous plus. I actually loved working with individuals who come from an analogous background and it was a beautiful, supportive environment.

Aissa: I used to be really Octopus as one of many firms I needed to use to sooner or later once I noticed the internship. I used to be actually impressed by the optimistic suggestions that I learn on-line about what it’s wish to work right here. I utilized to the internship as I’m new to tech and with an engineering background, I actually needed some sensible tech expertise. I’m at the moment doing a really theory-heavy laptop science Masters conversion course, so this was an ideal alternative to work on actual tasks.

Aissa: Sure, I used to be actually drawn to the truth that it was an equality centered internship. Previously, I’ve been anxious that I might get rejected for a job software regardless of having the expertise, as a result of I’m a black lady. With this internship, that worry was eliminated and I knew I might succeed or fail based mostly solely on my talent stage.

Aissa: Our focus was fixing bugs and points within the system that have been flagged internally. Largely, that concerned coding which was an ideal studying expertise. For the ultimate few weeks, I labored along with the opposite interns on our personal front-end venture to enhance the system for the customer support crew.

Aissa: I learnt lots of very helpful, sensible expertise I can switch to different areas. Notably, studying to navigate such an enormous codebase and getting comfy with advanced formulation. I additionally gained expertise navigating working alongside a giant crew and collaborating with others to brainstorm and full tasks.

Aissa: It was completely not what I anticipated, in a good way. Usually internships simply embody doing the roles no one else needs to do however with this internship, we have been essential to the venture and we have been handled like individuals and colleagues. We weren’t handled in a different way than anybody else, which was actually beautiful.

Aissa: I feel simply me, myself and I. I typically felt like I didn’t know sufficient and was placing an excessive amount of strain on myself to have all of the solutions. A number of the different interns had extra tech expertise than me, which was a bit intimidating. Nonetheless, I realised that it’s regular and tremendous frequent to really feel like that. Plus, it isn’t useful to dwell on what you don’t know, when you could possibly spend that point focusing in your duties and enhancing your expertise.

Aissa: I obtained an internship in an AI analysis heart, the place I look into methods to enhance the expertise. Notably, my focus is on human – robotic interactions and what must occur for people to belief autonomous home equipment and autos.

Aissa: It’s not very correct. Do not get me incorrect, AI is able to some unimaginable feats however individuals typically overestimate what it is at the moment able to. There may be nonetheless lots of analysis and growth wanted to perform a few of the concepts you hear individuals discuss.

Aissa: Fortunately, there are such a lot of free and accessible assets on-line. Why pay tons of cash for a course, when Youtube is free? I’ve additionally used Code Academy which may be very newbie and user-friendly, in addition to Black Ladies Code.

Liban: I’ve simply accomplished an built-in Masters in Chemical Engineering at UCL. The course taught me all about renewable vitality and environmental programs and the way they work together with each other. I learnt loads in regards to the growth and broad scale adoption of electrical autos which I discover fascinating, and which is what drew me to the corporate.

Liban: I’ve been extra drawn to it the previous few years, as it’s the means of the longer term. Renewable Vitality is among the many most forward-thinking industries, and on track to overhaul all the vitality sector and different industries as in addition they transfer in direction of inexperienced vitality. It simply is sensible to pivot my profession in direction of this business.

Liban: After I graduated, I used to be wanting arduous for work expertise on this business earlier than wanting into graduate schemes. I needed some helpful profession expertise and to get a way of what it’s like working within the Vitality Trade. I’ve learnt loads about sustainability, vitality and the big selection of jobs and alternatives out there on this business.

Liban: Sure, I feel it is actually necessary to have a various workforce if you wish to have a very international enterprise. I do suppose Octopus is heading in the right direction with the inclusive recruitment strategies getting used throughout Discovery Days and this internship is one other step in the proper course.

Liban: I actually favored working with all the crew and so they have been all very supportive and useful regardless of the actual fact I used to be working remotely. We have been all checking in on one another often and there would at all times be somebody to supply a pleasant bit of recommendation or perception.

Liban: Undoubtedly, the folks that I’ve met throughout this course of. Everybody was so beautiful and I’ll completely keep in contact with the individuals on the Recruitment and Range crew, like Safiyah and Vania who have been so supportive. My mentor, Josh, was additionally nice and launched me to some superb individuals at Octopus within the consulting and Renewables Departments which allowed me to additional study my future profession selections.

Liban: We spent a while dealing instantly with buyer queries to get some first hand expertise which had some challenges. There may be such a big selection of data on this space which was a bit overwhelming however we did get lots of assist and recommendation. Often, we might cope with complaints or advanced queries so it was a problem ensuring to fulfill the entire buyer’s wants.

Liban: It has proven me the sort of work atmosphere I want to work in. There was such a snug and straightforward environment, crammed with assist and useful recommendation. Any questions have been rapidly answered and we have been put comfortable throughout the entire course of. These are the sorts of environments that foster studying and encourage arduous work which is what made the expertise so nice. I’m so grateful I obtained to participate and it was an excellent optimistic, instructional expertise.

Liban: My foremost objective was to expertise and showcase myself in an expert work atmosphere, which I obtained to do. All of the coaching on knowledge, sustainability and renewables can even be related in any future profession path I take so I gained lots of transferable expertise.