Jennifer Fitzpatrick
Head of Business Change and Product Management, SSE Airtricity
Combining data-driven technologies with a targeted recruitment strategy can help energy providers deliver a cleaner, greener and more efficient service to their customer base.
Creating a greener environment while meeting rising demand for electricity remains challenging for energy providers. Utilising data-driven analytics and AI is important, but recruiting diverse personnel reflective of the customer base is pivotal.
Diverse recruitment and energy commitment
For SSE Airtricity, which provides energy and decarbonisation solutions for homes and businesses across Ireland, diversity is core to its processes. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Head of Business Change and Product Management at SSE Airtricity, says: “It’s important that candidates match their personal values to company values, and I am seeing that coming through.”
With SSE owning and operating over 30 onshore wind farms across the island of Ireland, she says the approach centres around building a net zero future. Safety, service, efficiency, sustainability, excellence and teamwork values underpin doing the right thing for people and the planet. The business works to support its customers to build a sustainable future with a growing low-carbon base as a one-stop-shop for energy upgrades.
Having a broad understanding of software
development, solution architecture or
product analysis is also a benefit.
Customer-centric approach
Through energy-efficient retrofits, the goal is to guide customers in investing wisely to lower emissions and embrace a greener future. “What is important across the company is putting the customer first; that is at the heart of the decisions we make and in the new products and features we are designing,” Fitzpatrick says.
Emphasising strong recruitment, SSE Airtricity looks to attract personnel at all levels, including apprentices, interns and graduates. Roles include product managers, data and digital analytics, data scientists and UX (user experience) designers at junior and senior levels.
“We need that mix within the team,” she continues. “We will invest in people if they are early in their careers but also those looking to upskill, and we welcome experience from different industries. Having a broad understanding of software development, solution architecture or product analysis is also a benefit.”
Inclusive professional and personal development
The company aims to develop its workforce professionally and personally. In-house training helps teams transition to more agile ways of working; data literacy courses support data-driven decisions; external diploma courses are available in AI, product management, software testing and data analytics.
With attractive pensions and share plans, healthcare packages and enhanced family leave, there is flexible working with two days in the office and three at home, plus part-time opportunities. “Diversity and inclusion is really important, so people can be themselves at work,” insists Fitzpatrick. “It’s vital to have a diverse workforce because, ultimately, that represents our customers.”
