Glencore |

At which university do you study and what subject?

Lancaster University, natural sciences BSc

How did you find out about the Glencore Industrial Placement Programme?

My university careers team.

Why did you apply to the programme?

I wanted to be actively engaged in environmental work, either in the energy or commodities industries, rather than research to broaden my opportunities after university. I felt the experience and knowledge I could gain from working at the corporate level at a commodities giant would provide me with insights and opportunities for the future. I felt it would inform the kind of change I want to be involved in within the environmental sector.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

The opportunities are incredible! You can network and learn from people from all parts of the business, not just oil, who have a wealth of knowledge in their specialty and industry. Within assets, there is opportunity to travel; I’ve been lucky enough to visit several regions in South Africa for a conference and asset site visits, connecting and networking with people from all parts of this global company.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

HSEC, oil industrial assets – covering all aspects of health, safety, environment and communities. The team ensures operations perform safely, responsibly and reliably and looks towards improvement and innovation in these areas for the future.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

It varies week to week: from liaising with people across assets; consultant project management; research, data collection and analysis; creating and coordinating presentations and; generally supporting the team members where I can.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

Much like any induction starting a new role: initial basic training, facilities tours, meeting the team and getting to grips with what the company is about. A great inclusion in the induction period was the talks by people from both marketing and assets, which gave insight into aspects of the company you might not get exposure to otherwise.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

Since I’ve started, I’ve had environmental incident reporting and management training with people from all divisions and from the UN Environmental Programme on biodiversity environmental development. Throughout the programme generally training is available through Entrima for insight into commodity and energy trading, risk management and operations.

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

I have been able to develop my project management skills, communicating with a diverse group of people – both industrial asset personnel and consultants – as well as improving my technical knowledge around the environment and engineering.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

The department is undertaking an environmental and social knowledge base assessment of the operational footprint and area of influence for all operated assets. It is designed to identify key knowledge gaps with regards to the collection and management of baseline data and to inform specific department and asset risk-based targets for the coming years.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

Go into the placement having thought about what you want out of it and how you think you can get it. Be ready and willing to take all the opportunities when they come to you and share your ideas. Put yourself out there and be part of the conversation.

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study mathematics at the University of Reading

Why did you apply to the programme?

I’ve always had a profound interest in finance and particularly the commodity markets. With Glencore being a global leader within commodity trading, it was at the top of my list of companies to apply for.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

Glencore has a very fast-paced work culture, which is incredibly rewarding in many different ways. Unlike the majority of work placements, at Glencore you are treated as equal to the rest of your colleagues on your team. I was quickly given a high level of responsibility soon after I joined, which pushed me to learn so much about the business and the industry. Students who are motivated and ambitious will thrive and gain a level of experience that can’t be matched anywhere else.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I work as a risk manager. The risk team control and maintain exposure and profit and loss (PnL) within our specific books.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

I run the speculative book for my desk so each day I have to make sure exposure is correct and expected. I calculate PnL and book any trades made by the traders into the system. Part of my job is to try and improve processes on the trading desk.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase consisted of presentations from HR and the business and meeting the team we were assigned to.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

We have a consistent open dialogue with human resources (HR) and have a meeting every six weeks to catch up and make sure everything is going smoothly. The opportunity to learn is readily available, with access to training programs for learning about financial instruments, as well as the freedom to improve our knowledge of coding and Excel. I also have weekly meetings with the senior risk manager on my desk to make sure everything is going well and that there are no issues with both work and personal life.

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

During the program I have focused on improving my Excel and Python skills. Before I joined Glencore I had a very mediocre knowledge of Python, so having the opportunity to develop those skills further has really enhanced the quality of my work.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

In weekly meetings it is my job to provide analysis of movements within different energy markets. To visualise these moves, I built curves that showed the weekly change in prices with the help of another placement student on the data team.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

My advice is for students to come into the programme with an eagerness to learn. Skills in Excel and programming would be beneficial, as would a basic understanding of the industry, but the majority of these skills will be learnt on the job through training.

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study economics and politics at the University of Exeter.

Why did you apply to the programme?

Glencore was appealing to me because of its entrepreneurial culture and focus on personal development. I thought the placement programme would be a great opportunity to learn more about the energy sector, which is something I have a particular interest in.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

I would recommend applying to the Glencore Placement because it is an invaluable opportunity to learn from people who are at the top of their game. You are given a lot of responsibility, which is a great chance to challenge yourself and gain first-hand experience.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I am part of the structured finance team - who are involved in long-term financial commitments. This often means bespoke debt and equity financing arrangements, where Glencore enters into an offtake agreement.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

My typical activities vary. For example, I often conduct research on companies for business development opportunities and assist with client pitch books/presentations.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase was very welcoming., I had the opportunity to go into the office the week before I started - to meet my team. On the first day, we had a series of talks covering the onboarding process. We then had regular HR catchups to see how we were getting on.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

I have received all kinds of support: from specific resources on structured finance, to access to an online learning platform, which specialises in the commodity markets. Generally, everyone is happy to help if you have any questions.

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

Developing my organisational skills has been the most valuable. This goes hand in hand with the level of responsibility you are given.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

I was involved in putting together a financing proposal. This meant I was able to learn about the process of structuring a deal; from putting together a pitch book and term sheet to internal discussions and sitting in on client meetings.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

I would recommend refining PowerPoint and Excel skills. This is often overlooked as it can sound like generic advice; however it is useful in your day-to-day role and can save you a lot of time.

Why should students apply for the industrial placement programme at Glencore?

One of Glencore’s core values is entrepreneurialism, which means you are always given the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts that could help your team move forward. It is unique to Glencore that even at such an early stage of your career you are able to have a voice and be heard in such a big organisation. From day one you are given responsibility and the freedom to learn about and work on a specific product in which Glencore trades.

The working environment at Glencore is friendly, fast paced and collaborative, and placement students have a huge opportunity to learn from some of the best professionals in the industry, all of whom have years of experience and a willingness to sit down and talk to those with the drive to succeed and learn at Glencore.

The flat structure at Glencore is something I believe creates opportunities for placement students to be able to discuss ideas with colleagues no matter their position – this openness creates a working environment for endless learning opportunities.

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study economics at the University of Exeter

How did you find out about the Glencore industrial placement programme?

Searching for an industrial placement programme within the commodity industry was hard due to the small number of opportunities that were out there. I found Glencore’s industrial placement programme from the targetjobs website. It was an easy decision to apply to Glencore, as I was actively looking for a placement programme within the commodity industry and Glencore is one of the biggest players.

Why did you apply to the programme?

After thorough research into Glencore and the commodity industry as a whole, it was a no-brainer to work out that Glencore had the perfect programme for me. I was focused on developing a career in the oil and gas industry and applied to Glencore so that I could start my career alongside the best in the industry. The job description matched exactly what I was searching for – a role within trading operations. It was Glencore’s core values and culture that convinced me that it was the best fit.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I am part of the financial operations team. Our team is divided into different desks within the London office and each team member is responsible for a certain product. We are the link between the finance department and operations so our tasks include creating and sending out invoices to our counterparties and processing all the payables on their respective due dates. We make sure we receive the funds from the trades and pay for all purchases of any product traded in the London office

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

As one of the financial operators, my typical activities include constant communication with the operator and risk manager to send out invoices for trades on time, while also making sure that we have received the funds on their contractual due dates. I also have to make sure that all payments are processed without delays. I am also responsible for creating a report that tracks our daily receivables, which is distributed to the whole team.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

Every day you are learning new skills and developing my knowledge of the industry. On day one, you are training on the job, carrying out daily tasks and learning from the rest of the team. In the first week that you join the company you are given a weekly introduction to all the different desks at Glencore, which is a great time to learn about what Glencore does and network with the heads of the desks. Glencore also provides all placement students with extra training on the commodity industry that can be done in your own time. Overall, there is constant support with everyone at Glencore providing advice and help when needed.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

The best way to prepare for the placement is to be yourself. You do not have to know everything about the commodity industry and Glencore at the start but do make sure you do your research into the field and role you are applying for. Most importantly, I would say be open to learning and developing new skills. You will be learning from some of the top professionals in the industry, which is the best way to get a head start on your career.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase at Glencore was a smooth process and everyone was really friendly and willing to help when needed. From the very first day we were given two induction presentations and then got the chance to join our teams. Even though the induction phase is now over, all placement students have regular meetings with human resources to talk about our experiences and how we are getting on at Glencore

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

I have had endless opportunities to develop key skills that are vital for any employee at Glencore throughout the industrial programme. One skill is being proactive – the ability to take charge of any situation and provide useful solutions to problems that come up on a daily basis.

Communication is the most important skill needed, not just at Glencore but anywhere, and being able to confidently communicate with members of different teams and in different positions within the company is key to making quick and thorough decisions.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

Being a financial operator, means that I am solely responsible for invoicing all the trades that have been placed. I send out all invoices to the counterparties and make sure all funds have been received. On the purchases side, I carry out calculations to make sure the price sent by the counterparty is correct. Once the price is agreed, I process invoices to guarantee payment is made on the respected due dates.

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study materials science and engineering at Loughborough University.

How did you find out about the Glencore Industrial Placement Programme?

It was advertised through my university’s placement and careers network.

Why did you apply to the programme?

A lot of placements advertised to me were very focused on materials in a lab, and I wanted to see the business side of engineering and what other roles there are outside of my degree.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

Working for Glencore gives you great exposure to the corporate world and potential opportunities for after you graduate. You will have the chance to work with lots of different teams and the work you will be given is challenging. Not to mention that the location is fantastic, and you may get to travel. I have been lucky enough to visit Cape Town and will be attending a seminar in Paris next month.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I work for HSEC, specifically the climate change and enterprise risk management teams. Risk management looks at the key risks and opportunities in the oil department that could significantly impact the business, whereas climate change looks at reducing carbon and emissions in line with Glencore’s pledge to be net-zero by 2050.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

I support my teams and other staff with ongoing projects, be it research, presentation slides, data analysis in Excel, meeting minutes or engineering work – it varies from week to week.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

It was very informative. We also had weekly sessions with leads from trading desks and asset teams in the beginning to help us understand how the business works, which were very useful.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

Entrima (an online learning platform) sessions are run throughout the year on markets and trading, and you may also be asked to attend workshops/ training sessions by your team. In terms of support, everyone is more than happy to help if needed – they are not expecting you to be perfect!

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

My time management and organisational skills have dramatically improved, as well as my skills in Microsoft Office, especially Excel. More than that, however, I’ve learned about workplace dynamics through sitting in meetings and talking with my line managers and I feel much more confident in the work I produce.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

I’m currently analysing a carbon reduction project at one of the assets by plotting it on a marginal abatement cost curve (usually known as MACC), which compares the cost of the project compared with the amount of carbon abated from it depending on things like carbon tax, capex and emissions reduction etc.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

Do your research and be positive throughout the application process. Familiarise yourself with some basic skills such as common Excel formulas and effective note taking before you start, as this will help in the beginning. Most importantly while you’re here, remember that Glencore want you to get as much out of them as they get out of you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have them and seek out opportunities for yourself.

How did you find out about the Glencore Industrial Placement Programme?

After reading about Glencore, I thought that this would be a great place to work. I looked and saw that they had a placement programme and applied.

Why did you apply to the programme?

I applied to the programme because I was curious about trading and how the world functions on a fundamental level. I wanted to know what it took to become a trader and how it all worked. I thought a place like Glencore would be the perfect environment to learn; and see if this is the right industry for me.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

You should apply to the programme because from day one you are ingrained into your teams; and begin contributing as early as possible. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your skills and determine for yourself if this is the type of environment for you. It would be hard to find a place as willing to teach you, and willing to give you impactful tasks that affect the business’ day-to-day working.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I am part of the Quant team. The Quant team at Glencore works on a variety of projects: from assisting the traders and analysts with their market analysis, to building infrastructure that helps said traders and analysts to make informed decisions about the markets.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

A typical week for me involves working on my projects and assisting analysts with their analysis. It also includes fixing any issues or problems that they might have when either conducting their own analysis or using the in-place infrastructure. Because of this, you learn a huge amount about what each desk does and how they conduct their operations - which in my opinion is super interesting.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase at Glencore lasts the duration of your first morning. You are given responsibility from day one and are treated like any other member of the team. Although, no one is expecting you to be an expert on all processes and methods. Instead, you’re given tasks to learn and develop your understanding of the role you’re in. The tasks become more complex, the more of them you do.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

There is training and support available. This includes talks by the traders about their desks, and how they function and a subscription to a platform called Entrima. Additionally, your team will be more than happy to show you how things work and teach you the things that may be missed; from coding to analysis itself.

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

My coding skills have definitely improved, but also my understanding of how a trading house operates and the fundamentals of analysis that go into assisting the traders when making their decisions. A large part of my work has consisted of ‘I’ve learnt this, can I apply it to what I’m doing?’ which is great as you get to put new skills to the test almost immediately.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

One project I was involved in consisted of me analysing congestion and mobility data. The other analysts and traders would then use this to implement their own analysis to consider on a larger scale. This was my first time using SQL; was a great way to be introduced to the functions of my team.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

I think the best way to prepare for Glencore is to gain a basic understanding of commodities. You will be taught everything you need to know as you’re developing with your work, but it’d it would be valuable to familiarise yourself with these words beforehand. It is also important to be open minded and friendly. Glencore is so intertwined that you can always ask somebody for help. It is a team-focused placement, so make sure you make an effort with those around you.

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study chemical engineering at the University of Bath.

How did you find out about the Glencore Industrial Placement Programme?

My university’s careers department sent me the advert for the role on targetjobs.

Why did you apply to the programme?

I wanted a commercial/financial placement as opposed to an engineering role despite my degree. I spent some time working on a chemical plant during the Summer of 2021 and although this was a great experience, I realised I wanted to try something else. Glencore seemed like the perfect place for me to start working due to the fact that commodities were somewhat linked to my degree, but the company was very entrepreneurial.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

I get the feeling that a lot of people on placement elsewhere are not given responsibility or much work. That does not happen at Glencore. Here we are expected to contribute each day from the beginning. Although this can be challenging in terms of learning and improving, it is ideal. We are certainly not wasting time here and are treated like regular employees.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

Currently I am a part of the data management team. My team is responsible for the onboarding and validation of all market data. We also implement all curve methodologies into our internal data management software in order to automate the calculations and produce the forward quotes that risk managers use to mark the traders’ positions.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

I have a wide range of projects and daily tasks of varying lengths. Some projects take a few hours while others can stretch for months. This can include assessing the quality of data, process automation, data visualisation for presentations and system support to the wider teams.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase entailed a few presentations and some paperwork on the first day. After that we had training and got straight to it!

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

The first few weeks we had hour-long presentations given by senior risk managers on a variety of topics. These were super insightful and gave us a core understanding of some key areas in commodities. Another key part of our training were presentations given by the senior traders on each desk. In these they gave details on their specific desks and provided us an insight on what being a trader is like. Finally, we have this online platform that has pre-recorded lectures on all things commodities as well as Teams meetings with the creator of the platform who runs through specific topics in detail each week. We had plenty of training but, overall, the majority of learning is done on the job.

In terms of support we all have a catch-up with HR every six weeks to discuss how everything is going.

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

I would say my knowledge in the world of commodities has grown massively. I came in knowing very little about it and I am impressed with what I know now in comparison. I have also learned a bit of Python programming language and have improved my MS Excel skills. I have become very comfortable in using the internal data management software as well.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

Try and do as much research as possible and maybe develop some programming/Excel skills, but you will learn everything you need to learn on the job. Outside of that it’s just the usual cliché stuff: be ready to learn and work hard and it’ll be fine. I would add that as all the placement students end up in different teams it is good to get along with your peers as they will learn skills and know things you won’t, which is handy when you need to ask for help if needed (and vice-versa).

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study chemical engineering at the University of Birmingham.

Why did you apply to the programme?

I wanted to gain industrial experience in the oil and gas industry and apply the knowledge I obtained at university to a diverse range of projects. Based on my research, Glencore appeared to be an ideal company to do this.

Why should students apply for the Industrial Placement Programme at Glencore?

So far my placement programme at Glencore has given me invaluable experience and exposure to a range of different projects in the Glencore oil assets department. Glencore is unique to other placements as there could be opportunity for students to travel internationally; which is a huge advantage.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I am working in the oil assets engineering team - who are responsible for managing all of Glencore’s oil assets across the world; such as storage terminals and refineries.

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

During a typical week, I work on completing tasks for two or three different projects using a range of softwares: Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Aspen HYSYS, and AutoCAD. Sometimes I sit in on meetings for other projects that I’m not involved in to gain further exposure to Glencore Oil.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase was useful, as not only was I given talks from the HR and facilities team on protocols and general admin, myself and the other interns were also given several talks to broaden our knowledge of the different company sectors. This included talks from crude trading, gas trading, HSEC and biofuels - which I found very interesting.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

Everyone in the oil engineering team is always happy to help. They are keen to offload their knowledge in their field of expertise for my personal development.

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

During the programme I have developed many skills, both technical and interpersonal, through the wide range of projects I have been involved in. For example, my presentation skills have progressed by presenting to large audiences of people from other companies; so now I feel much more comfortable doing it.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

I am currently working on a project which involves producing a piping inspection plan for a petroleum products storage terminal located in Argentina, one of Glencore’s oil assets. Initially, this involved developing a line list by examining the P&IDs of the facility and working with the on-site team (and other members of the engineering team in London) to determine the most effective inspection procedure.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

I would recommend researching the company before starting the placement year - to get a good understanding of how they operate and the different sectors they operate in. This will create a better idea of the team you will be working in and how it fits into Glencore as a company overall. It is also important to go in with an open mind, be willing to learn and ask questions whenever you are uncertain.