National Grid

The overview

National Grid runs and owns the backbone of the electrical network in England and Wales, connecting electricity generators to the networks run by local distribution companies. It is also responsible for operating the central infrastructure of the electrical system in Scotland, but does not own it.

It’s not just about electricity. National Grid owns and runs the UK’s central gas distribution network, providing gas to local companies around the country, and is involved in the UK metering business.

This is an international business, with a significant role in providing electricity and gas to customers in the North Eastern USA.

Vital statistics

National Grid was born when the UK electricity industry was privatised in 1990, when it took over responsibility for the Central Electricity Generating Board’s transmission activities. It now has more than 5,900 employees, and achieved turnover of £14,343m in 2010/11.

Moving towards renewable energy

In the next few years, National Grid will have to expand its UK network as demand continues to rise. The move towards using renewable energy sources will need new transmission lines, as many of the new generating plants driven by wind and wave power are a long way from the existing network.

The company is also getting involved in carbon capture technology, using pipelines to send captured carbon dioxide to refill exhausted oil and gas fields under the North Sea.

Rankings and awards

• Largest utility company in the UK
• Listed in the FTSE 100 with a turnover in 2009/2010 of almost £14 billion and employs approximately 28,000 people
• Second largest utility company in the USA
• Rated Platinum Plus by the sustainability and corporate responsibility charity Business in the Community in 2009 for second year in row
• Ranked 75 in 2010 Stonewall top 100 employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual people
• Ranked 361 in 2011 BrandFinance Global 500
• Ranked 113 in the Guardian UK300 2011 survey, up 118 places from previous year

Salary and benefits

Starting salary for graduates: £24,750

Starting salary with a masters degree: £25,750

Perks

• 25 days’ annual leave
• £2,000 welcome payment
• Accommodation allowance for staff working away from home
• Salary weighting for those working in areas with high living expenses
• Pension scheme
• Share save options
• Leisure facilities and events
• Help with continuing education, including course materials, fees, study leave and professional membership fees

Culture and values

The cultural aims of the firm are what you’d expect any decent employer to have and to say they want to follow:

• Respect: staff should respect their colleagues and set store by the diversity of others
• Ownership: staff should take ownership of building the business
• Integrity: staff should show integrity and honesty in all relationships
• Teamwork: staff should work together as one team

The 2010 staff survey shows a small increase in the workforce from ethnic minorities (from 12.3% in 2008 to 13.5% in 2010). There has also been a similar small increase in the proportion of female employees (from 22.5% to 22.7%). The numbers aren’t huge but the company has been given an award by Opportunity Now (a UK-based organisation promoting inclusion in the workplace for women).