Successful candidates may be based in any of our office locations – Cardiff, Glasgow, or London. We especially welcome applicants from Cardiff and Glasgow.
Job Summary
Are you looking for a graduate programme with a difference? At Ofgem, we’re offering a two-year programme that will set you up for success in a public sector career where it really matters.
Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. We’re at the forefront of change across the sector, driving toward Net Zero whilst protecting consumers, especially vulnerable people.
This is a two-year graduate programme where you’ll gain experience across our organisation. You’ll complete placements in different teams, giving you the chance to explore where your strengths and interests lie while building a strong foundation for your career.
Across your placements, you’ll work in areas such as policy, strategy and analysis, with potential opportunities to get involved in operational delivery, project management and compliance. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to build your skills, learn from experienced colleagues and develop a fully formed idea of where you want to go.
From the start, your development will be a priority. You’ll be supported by a dedicated Development Lead who will guide your progression, alongside a work manager in each placement to support your day-to-day learning. You’ll also take part in a structured development programme, including targeted training, expert speakers and opportunities to build your professional network.
You’ll be part of a collaborative and inclusive organisation where people are encouraged to share ideas, challenge thinking and learn from one another. Our work attracts talented people with a wide range of expertise, giving you the chance to learn from experienced colleagues while contributing your own perspective.
This programme is a recognised pathway into long-term careers at Ofgem. Many of our graduates go on to take up permanent roles across the organisation, continuing to develop their expertise and shape how the energy system works for consumers.
We’re looking for people who hold, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:2 undergraduate degree. You’ll be a collaborative problem solver, a data and evidence person, and someone who is curious and motivated. Most importantly, you’ll have an interest in the energy sector and the role it plays in delivering Net Zero and protecting consumers, and the drive to learn and develop your skills.
We have a critical purpose to ensure the energy system works in the interests of consumers, now and in the future. Join us and start building a career that makes a real difference.
Read on and find out more.
Job Description
Ofgem works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in the UK can rely on a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply. We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system – a goal that everyone wants to achieve. Whatever your placement, you’ll be playing your part in creating new, secure energy solutions that are great for customers, and great for the environment.
With a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
We operate a Flexible Resourcing model led by professions. The graduate scheme is designed to give you placements across our key work areas, with a focus on Policy & Strategy and Analysis, while supporting your career development. We will consider your career interests and development needs in the way we manage your placements.
Purpose
Our graduate programme has played a critical part in developing people throughout the organisation. Like them, your career progression will be overseen by your own Development Lead with support from the Professions Leads, Human Resources and all your colleagues. Ofgem’s critical work attracts some of the best and most capable and there is a wealth of expertise to learn from across the organisation as well as through your structured learning programme.
Ofgem’s work attracts talented people with deep expertise, and there is a wealth of experience to learn from across the organisation. Alongside your placements, you will benefit from a structured learning and development offer, including targeted skills training, a central development programme, expert speakers and networking opportunities to support your professional growth.
You Will Be Someone Who:
- Has a keen interest in the energy sector, committed to delivering energy security, net zero and, most critically, ensuring consumer focus.
- Enjoys developing new skills, capabilities and being engaged across a broad range of diverse activities, including innovation, solutions generation, working collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders across the sector, research and governmental organisations.
- Hold, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:2 undergraduate degree.
- Come from any discipline, although we are particularly interested in subjects that develop skills relevant to policy development and analysis. This may include social sciences, economics, law, public policy, business, geography, environmental studies, STEM subjects, or other fields where critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning and data interpretation are central.
- Bring an inquiring mind, intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in the future of energy and regulation.
- Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills.
- Be comfortable working with evidence, data and analysis.
- Have proficiency in Microsoft Office products including Excel and PowerPoint; experience of tools such as R, STATA or Python is desirable but not essential, and training will be provided where needed.
- Show adaptability, creativity and a willingness to learn.
- Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
What You Will Gain From The Experience:
You will undertake placements of usually six months (dependent upon progress and business needs) each in a different work area. Placements will be focused on our core Policy and Strategy and Analytical work, with possible opportunities to work in Operational Delivery, Project Management and Compliance and Enforcement.
The scheme will be overseen by profession leads for our policy and analysis work. They will oversee placements, development activity and your professional growth to help ensure you are building the skills, knowledge and experience needed for a successful long-term career.
In each placement, you will be supported by a work manager who will provide day-to-day management, set objectives and help you learn from the team’s work and experience.
You will also have your own Development Lead, who will provide mentoring, career development advice and support. They will help identify the placements and development opportunities that best support your growth and progression.
The scheme includes targeted skills training and a central development programme for all graduates, introducing you to Ofgem, the scheme and a range of expert speakers sharing their perspectives, research and experience. There will also be networking opportunities across Ofgem to help you learn from colleagues and develop your professional confidence.
In summary, you can expect to gain experience in the following areas:
- Policy & Strategy placements will see you work in multidisciplinary teams to identify issues, solutions, draft and consult on proposals and ensure effective governance and decision making is supported
- Analytical placements will see you provide the analysis to support those decisions (and if you focus on analysis there will several placements to provide the analysis on a range of issues)
- Project Management will see you support programmes and projects to deliver solutions, achieve outcomes and realise benefits
- Operational Delivery will see you provide operational excellence across service delivery and/or business support either internally, or externally in the provision of our environmental and social schemes on behalf of government.
- Compliance and Enforcement will see you build cases where we consider and apply our powers as a regulator to tackle poor behaviour in the market and ensure customers are protected.
Ofgem works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in the UK can rely on a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply. We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system – a goal that everyone wants to achieve. Whatever your placement, you’ll be playing your part in creating new, secure energy solutions that are great for customers, and great for the environment.
With a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
We operate a Flexible Resourcing model led by professions. The graduate scheme is designed to give you placements across our key work areas, with a focus on Policy & Strategy and Analysis, while supporting your career development. We will consider your career interests and development needs in the way we manage your placements.
Purpose
Our graduate programme has played a critical part in developing people throughout the organisation. Like them, your career progression will be overseen by your own Development Lead with support from the Professions Leads, Human Resources and all your colleagues. Ofgem’s critical work attracts some of the best and most capable and there is a wealth of expertise to learn from across the organisation as well as through your structured learning programme.
Ofgem’s work attracts talented people with deep expertise, and there is a wealth of experience to learn from across the organisation. Alongside your placements, you will benefit from a structured learning and development offer, including targeted skills training, a central development programme, expert speakers and networking opportunities to support your professional growth.
What You Will Gain From The Experience:
You will undertake placements of usually six months (dependent upon progress and business needs) each in a different work area. Placements will be focused on our core Policy and Strategy and Analytical work, with possible opportunities to work in Operational Delivery, Project Management and Compliance and Enforcement.
The scheme will be overseen by profession leads for our policy and analysis work. They will oversee placements, development activity and your professional growth to help ensure you are building the skills, knowledge and experience needed for a successful long-term career.
In each placement, you will be supported by a work manager who will provide day-to-day management, set objectives and help you learn from the team’s work and experience.
You will also have your own Development Lead, who will provide mentoring, career development advice and support. They will help identify the placements and development opportunities that best support your growth and progression.
The scheme includes targeted skills training and a central development programme for all graduates, introducing you to Ofgem, the scheme and a range of expert speakers sharing their perspectives, research and experience. There will also be networking opportunities across Ofgem to help you learn from colleagues and develop your professional confidence.
In summary, you can expect to gain experience in the following areas:
- Policy & Strategy placements will see you work in multidisciplinary teams to identify issues, solutions, draft and consult on proposals and ensure effective governance and decision making is supported
- Analytical placements will see you provide the analysis to support those decisions (and if you focus on analysis there will several placements to provide the analysis on a range of issues)
- Project Management will see you support programmes and projects to deliver solutions, achieve outcomes and realise benefits
- Operational Delivery will see you provide operational excellence across service delivery and/or business support either internally, or externally in the provision of our environmental and social schemes on behalf of government.
- Compliance and Enforcement will see you build cases where we consider and apply our powers as a regulator to tackle poor behaviour in the market and ensure customers are protected.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Ability to analyse, understand and draw robust conclusions from evidence
- An ability to problem solve, generate options and communicate issues clearly and effectively, including effective presentation of data, written and spoken communication
- Able to plan-ahead, prioritise and sequence tasks, manage progress and deliver against deadlines
- An ability to build and maintain effective relationships and work as part of a team.
- Demonstrable interest in consumers, public policy, decarbonisation and/or energy.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Technical criteria for this role are detailed within the essential criteria
Alongside your salary of £29,500, OFGEM contributes £8,546 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
We will be hosting a free virtual recruitment event on Tuesday 21st April with the opportunity to learn more about the role and ask questions of the panel. Please register here https://app.tickettailor.com/events/ofgem/2153886
This is a great opportunity for you to meet us, find out more about our business and also ask questions to our existing Graduates on the programme
We are working to a start date of September 2026
Application & Selection Process
The first stage of our application process is for you to complete an online application form through our recruitment partner Cohesion, this enables us to capture information about your motivation, skills and strengths. In addition, you will also be asked to attach your CV.
On successful review of your online application form, you will be invited to complete online testing. This stage helps us ensure our graduates demonstrate proficiency in numerical, logical, critical reasoning.
Candidates who are successful at online testing will be invited to complete a video interview, which is a great way for us to get to know you better! It's not a live interview, instead we have pre-recorded the questions so that you can answer them at a time that is convenient for you (from your smartphone, tablet or laptop).
Our final stage of the process is an Assessment Centre which will be held virtually from w/c 15th June – w/c 22nd June.
If you’re invited to attend, you will complete a variety of exercises on the day – including an interview and presentation as well as a scenario and group exercises.
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].
At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : cohesion
- Email : ofgem@earlytalent.careers
Recruitment team
- Email : ofgem@earlytalent.careers
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Jon Townley, Head of Talent Acquisition (jon.townley@Ofgem.gov.uk) in the first instance.
We are working with our recruitment partners Cohesion, to apply for the role please use the link which will redirect you to their application page. Should you encounter any issues with submitting your application, please get in touch with Cohesion .
