Towngas Graduate Trainee Programme

The two-year GT training programme not only gave me a strong foundation in gas engineering, it also provided me with a comprehensive view of the operation and management of a gas utility, especially how different units closely collaborate to bring success to an organisation.

There is no pure gas engineering discipline in the curriculum of the University of Hong Kong, nor is it common in universities in other parts of the world. Choosing a career in gas engineering was a new venture to most engineering students at the time I graduated. Nevertheless, realising that gas engineering is closely tied to mechanical engineering, especially my favorite subjects of material science and fluid mechanics, and that the booming economy and development of Hong Kong would require a strong supportive energy infrastructure, I considered that it would be a propitious and fascinating area for my career development. Interestingly enough, that was the only job I applied for after graduation as I had a strong feeling that I “belonged” to the gas industry.

After two years of graduate training, I was appointed to the Transmission and Distribution Department. I was lucky to be selected to get involved in standards and technical development of the department, vested with the responsibility of advancing the codes of practice for all important gas transmission and distribution procedures. This gave me the chance to go into the details of each step of the procedures, helping me to gradually acquire a strong technical competency to face future challenges and opportunities.

The gas industry in Hong Kong has had a dramatic trajectory in the past few decades, and offered great opportunities for all those who have devoted themselves to the profession. With continuing growth and the booming expansion of the energy market in China and other parts of the world, there would seem to be ever-more brilliant opportunities for young practitioners entering the industry today.

The Gospel of Matthew says that “…… as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty……” this is a good metaphor for the Towngas GT program as it is certainly one of the best grounds in which to nurture those who have a vision to develop a flourishing future career in the gas industry.

The Towngas GT program gave me solid professional knowledge and experience that I have found indispensable in meeting my various responsibilities working in gas operations and maintenance, IT development and control systems, business process reengineering as well as product design, production and marketing associated with the manufacturing arm of the company. The business portfolios of Towngas provide plenty of opportunities for developing a professional career not only in Hong Kong but also in the fast expanding energy-related and service industries in mainland China. Readiness to take up new challenges is the spirit of graduates from Towngas’ GT program.

I still remember one of the questions asked of me in my interview for the GT programme: “Do you have high endurance?”. My answer was a definite “YES” and this has always given me a strong determination to move forward throughout the days that have followed my acceptance on the scheme.

The training programme covered overall company operations and gave me a good understanding of the duties of different departments. Most importantly, it helped me establish a good relationship with colleagues and therefore gave me a deep sense of belonging.

Towngas offers many opportunities to GTs. After completion of the program, I joined the Corporate Supplies Department, and was immediately enmeshed in the establishment of a modern and efficient warehouse in Towngas. Right after that I was given the chance to take part in the reform of business flow and ERP system implementation; in 2004, I moved to the mainland and became absorbed in the development of Towngas China Company Ltd. Challenges do not stop in Towngas; today I am equally challenged with the growth of the Group’s new energy business which I have been involved with since 2008.

Towngas’ GT programme is a structured training programme approved by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers for developing future professional engineers. It is also a leader-breeder programme.

I have had opportunities to take part in a wide range of operations and projects of the Towngas Group including infrastructure development, quality management, business process improvement, research studies and so on. The knowledge, skills and experience I have gained have forged a solid route for my professional and leadership career development and firmly equipped me to face any new challenges ahead.

I have great memories of being a graduate trainee of Towngas. The GT program gave me invaluable experience through job attachments to various departments and functions of the company. The GT program aims to foster future leaders for the Group and there are always plenty of opportunities to develop yourself and take up challenges in different geographic locations.

Through the program you not only gain an understanding of gas business fundamentals but also meet many colleagues working in different aspects of the business, including mainland counterparts. This helps to build up your personnel network which is vital for career development. The various activities embraced by the program help enrich your skills and help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. As a result you are able to maximize your potential. Show courage and take up the challenge – join the Towngas family as a graduate trainee today!

The Towngas Graduate Trainee program is a well-established and sophisticated training scheme. The first two years of attachments helps you to build good relationships with colleagues all over the company as well as to develop solid groundwork that is beneficial to career development in the long run. On top of that, there is also the chance to participate in corporate events that ensures hands-on experience. Indeed, this training program built my confidence and readied me to take on whatever challenges I might come across in future.

After graduation, Graduate Trainee rotates jobs from time to time giving you the opportunity to explore the potential and encourage the drive towards excellence. Here you will gain lots of job satisfaction. Don’t miss the chance to join us! Here you will find your dream career!

The Towngas GT Program is a very comprehensive and knowledgeable training program. It provided me with a very precious platform to develop my professional growth, personal skills and particular China-specific qualities. From that foundation, and with plenty of opportunities given to me by the company, I have been able to liberate my potential through numerous challenging projects both in Hong Kong and mainland China. It’s been an amazing experience to witness the “golden ten years” of China’s rapid economic and social change. Look beyond the end of your fingers and you’ll find the world is a bigger place than you could ever have imagined.

The all-round Graduate Trainee program allows you to learn knowledge in different areas and helps build up a networking circle with colleagues and other parties, which greatly helped me when I transferred from an engineering background to the finance field. I am now into my 10+ year working with Towngas and it is the warmth and challenges that have kept me in this historically long-standing, yet energetic, company. I started as an assistant engineer in gas product development once I had finished the two-year GT training program, and was delighted to become a business analyst in the Managing Director’s Office. The experience of being involved in business strategy development and analyzing corporate management data broadened my perspectives as well as career horizons. Full support from the Company on training and further study has since equipped me well for any future challenges I may meet.

Founded in 1862, Towngas has grown from a Hong Kong-based city-gas utility to a national clean energy enterprise. To sustain growth, Towngas set up a GT training program to nurture young talent as future leaders of the company. Down the years, the GT program has developed exponentially supported by the right balance of training and direction. As a Towngas GT, the training program gave me comprehensive exposure to all aspects of the gas business as well as practical on-site experience. With all-round engineering knowledge and skills acquired in Towngas, I was awarded first prize in the Trainee of the Year Award organized by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers in 2004. After the completion of my GT program, I stepped out of the borders of Hong Kong and took up a challenging role in enforcing the proactive HSE management system in our mainland and overseas joint venture companies. Throughout the years, I have been involved in the projects of city-gas and water supply, gas-filling station, chemical plant, coal mine and on-shore oil exploration and production.

The 2-year GT training helped me develop into a technical engineer with an international perspective. By exposing me to a variety of sectors of expertise during intensive rotational attachments in different departments, and by giving me opportunities to participate in various engineering and leadership projects, including through secondment to our mainland joint venture companies, I have achieved my goal of honing the knowledge and skills required of a professional gas engineer, and being able to apply them in real-time scenarios. I have also worked on numerous corporate events and other external activities which have allowed me to fulfil my responsibilities as a socially-engaged employee while also contributing to my personal development; in return, this has shaped me into a well-rounded person. The GT programme has greatly nurtured and encouraged me to perform to the best of my abilities.

“Igniting your Future” is one of my favorite themes of Towngas as it perfectly describes the 2-year GT program. The comprehensiveness of the training scheme, from experience of company-wide departmental operations to gas engineering workshops and various all-round personal skills development, has furthered my professional growth and maturity. As a GT of Towngas, I have been encouraged to observe and learn from many different angles, to become involved in challenging yet interesting projects, and to explore and stretch my full potential. I must say “the 2 years GT program was a truly bright working experience and offered me the best fuel to ignite my future”.

The two-year Towngas Graduate Trainee Programme not only allowed me to acquire engineering and business knowledge but also provided me with an excellent platform to grow, develop and contribute.

Apart from having comprehensive training on Hong Kong Core Business and the opportunity to attend international energy conferences, I was able to learn in various projects of New Energy business through attaching at gigantic chemical plants in the Mainland China as a Graduate Trainee focusing on New Energy Business. I, like a sponge, kept absorbing throughout the process. My technical knowledge, interpersonal skills and business sense were enhanced.

The two-year journey is challenging, fruitful and exciting, which has built a very strong foundation for my future career development.