British Gas hosts visit from school pupils for Women in Industry day

Ten year 10 and 11 pupils from Pen-Y-Dre High School in Merthyr Tydfil recently visited the British Gas contact centre in Cardiff as part of a Women in Industry day run by Business in the Community. 

The aim of the visit was to demonstrate the opportunities that are available to women in a large company like British Gas, which was ranked 14th in the Sunday Times Top 25 Best Big Companies and 26th Best Place to Work in the UK.  It has also been recognised by the Women in Science and Engineering Awards and was named in the UK’s Top Employers for Working Families for 2011. 

I’m glad that we were able to support Women in Industry day.  British Gas is proud of its equal opportunities policy.  It is important that every young person, not just women, know the opportunities that are open to them.

During the visit, the pupils spent time with female managers from various departments from across the company seeing, amongst other things, how resources and complaints are managed at the 1,200-strong contact centre.  They also had the opportunity to put questions to general manager of the contact centre, Lynda Campbell, who joined British Gas 30 years ago and worked her way up to her current role.

Jessica Jones, pupil from Pen-Y-Dre High School, said: “I really enjoyed my time in British Gas.  It was good to see the all the different roles that are available and it’s certainly given me something to think about when I’m considering what sort of career I want when I leave school.”

Bonnie Hall from Business in the Community said: “As part of our education programme at Pen Y Dre High School, we aim to raise the aspirations of pupils and help them understand the wide range of options available to them within industry.  The day at British Gas both inspired and motivated the pupils to succeed and I would like to say a big thank you to British Gas for hosting this visit.”