24 Nov 2024
Towngas Group Management Trainee Programme nurtures new generation of all-round energy professionals
(24 November 2024) In an era of energy transition, businesses need fresh talent to drive innovation and development. Towngas’s Group Management Trainee (MT) Programme offers participants opportunities to rotate across different positions over a two-year period, gaining exposure to various aspects of the energy sector, including green energy and smart technology, laying a solid foundation for their careers in this challenging industry.
Tom Chan Yat-tung, who holds Bachelor’s and MPhil degrees in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, joined as an MT in 2020. His university research in fuel cells sparked his interest in Towngas’s developments in energy supply, new energy sources and energy storage, leading him to join the MT Programme. After completing rotations across various departments in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, Tom was assigned to a two-year posting in Weiyuan County, Sichuan Province, working on a natural gas contingency peak-shaving storage and distribution base project. “It was just a hillside when we started. I was involved in everything from initial design reviews and equipment selection to construction supervision and facility commissioning.”
Recently, Tom has been transferred to the Towngas’s newly established GBA Business Project Development Office. “Although the nature of work is completely different, the MT Programme equipped me with knowledge beyond engineering, including business development. The professional network and workplace culture I experienced on the Chinese mainland help me serve as a bridge between Hong Kong and the mainland, bringing Hong Kong’s expertise and successful practices to the mainland market.”
Rachel Yip Hei-lam, who joined the MT Programme in 2023 with a degree in Enterprise Engineering with Management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has just completed her first year of training in Hong Kong. “I was interested in the energy industry but wasn’t sure which specific area to focus on after graduation. The MT Programme offered me the perfect opportunity to experience different departments, plus the chance to work on the Chinese mainland, which is great for personal development.” During her Hong Kong training, Rachel spent four months in the Corporate Supplies & Administration Department. “Besides improving warehouse operations and learning technical skills in system development, I also participated in the Green Supply Chain Finance Programme, which enhanced my soft skills through coordinating with different departments and external organisations.”
Last month, Rachel was assigned to the Gas Resources Business Unit for her second-year mainland training, handling LNG trading-related work in Suzhou. She shares, “These two years in the MT Programme help build my foundation by giving me insights into the Towngas’s various operations. I aim to develop as a generalist, integrating experiences and knowledge from different departments to pave my way forward in the energy sector.”
The MT Programme offers not only comprehensive training and cross-business rotation opportunities, participants also get chances to attend industry conferences, building professional networks and establishing solid career foundations. Applications for the 2025 MT Programme are now open until 2 December.
The programme’s all-round practical opportunities demonstrate Towngas’s commitment to talent development. Mr Lam Ming-wing, Chief HR Officer of Towngas, says, “In this era of energy transition, we need young talents with innovative mindsets who are ready to take on challenges. The Towngas Group Management Trainee Programme provides comprehensive training opportunities, allowing trainees to rotate across different positions in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, participating in diverse project developments. We value young people’s potential and focus on nurturing their international perspective and professional capabilities.” He welcomes graduates passionate about the energy industry to join Towngas in igniting a smart, low-carbon future.
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Press photos:
Photos 1 & 2:
After completing the MT Programme, Tom Chan Yat-tung was posted to Weiyuan County, Sichuan Province for two years, where he participated in Towngas’s new natural gas contingency peak-shaving storage and distribution base project from its initial stage.
Photo 3:
Tom was involved in multiple aspects of the Weiyuan natural gas contingency peak-shaving storage and distribution base construction. The photo shows Tom at the top of the facility's 50,000-cubic-metre LNG storage tank. The first phase of the base commenced operations earlier this year.
Photo 4:
Rachel Yip Hei-lam (2nd from left), who joined the Towngas MT Programme last year, has just completed her first year of training in Hong Kong. During her training, Rachel rotated across different departments and represented Towngas at external events to expand her professional network. The photo shows Rachel attending the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Young Members Committee Annual Dinner with other MTs from her cohort.
Photo 5:
Rachel was recently assigned to the Gas Resources Business Unit, handling LNG trading-related work. The photo shows her attending an LNG industry networking event in Shanghai with Mr Zhou Heng-xiang (centre), Chief Operating Officer – Gas Resources.
Photo 6:
Rachel and other 2023 MT Programme participants have been assigned to different business segments and positions, beginning their one-year mainland training.
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The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited