Why BG Group?

I was attracted to BG Group by the opportunity to join an organisation that was changing rapidly and, at that stage, just beginning to define its international aspirations. If I’m honest, I wasn’t sure where my career would lead, but I was excited at the thought of being part of something new from the outset.

During my career at BG Group I’ve been able to apply and develop my skills across a broad range of roles. I’ve worked in fairly diverse business areas including business analysis, project finance and treasury. Most recently, I’ve been working in human resources, managing a review of BG Group’s global remuneration practices including our share plans.  This was a great opportunity to combine my knowledge of the business and corporate finance in a completely new area.

Where do you fit in?

Performance and reward is responsible for ensuring BG Group delivers pay, incentives and benefits that meet the needs of our diverse employee population and continue to drive business performance. This includes not only developing the global remuneration policies and plans that apply across the world, but also supporting the delivery and adaptation of these plans to meet the specific needs of particular areas of the business.

What would I need to do your job?

I would say that BG Group is a great place to have a job and an even better place to have a career.  If you want life to be predictable, then BG Group is probably not the right company for you. But if you are flexible enough to enjoy the challenge of adapting to the changing needs of a growing business and ready to make the most of the opportunities that this throws up, then I would not hesitate in recommending a career at BG Group.

And the highlights?

For me, the best thing about working for BG Group has been the scope to work in different areas, both geographically and in terms of role accountabilities. I have worked for BG Group for over 15 years, but have enjoyed a diversity of roles that I could never have seen had I moved between companies. From a personal perspective, the opportunity to spend three years living and working in Rio de Janeiro was a definite highlight.  I was also fortunate enough to be able to take a year’s sabbatical five years ago to study full-time at London Business School. It was great to be able to step away from the demands of a job for a year and concentrate solely on learning. It was even better to know that I had a demanding role to come back to at the end of the year.     

What’s the work environment like?

I’m currently working in BG Group’s head office in Reading. The office is on a business park, set next to a nature reserve on the outskirts of Reading. I feel genuinely privileged to be able to work in such a pleasant environment. Working outside of the city-centre also reduces commuting times. The office is open plan, which I think really supports collaborative working, and the facilities are everything you’d expect from one of the largest companies in the UK.

Has BG Group met your expectations?

I’m not sure what my expectations were when I joined BG Group 15 years ago, but I am pretty certain that, as a maths graduate, I never saw myself working in human resources. That just goes to show how much opportunity there is here at BG Group. And, if you make the most of it, there really is no telling where a career at BG Group might take you.