Anna Power, Learning and Development Manager, shares her passion for helping colleagues grow and build their careers
What is your role in ESB?
I joined ESB in October 2020 in the middle of Covid as Learning and Development Manager. I collaborate with a wonderful team who want to build a learning culture across the organisation and provide inspiring and engaging programmes for everyone from early careers to senior management.
I am also a Learning Partner for ESB’s Engineering & Major Projects (E&MP). It is one of my favourite roles as I get to know and understand their business and in particular their specific learning needs.
Where did you work previously?
Before I joined ESB I lived in Dubai for 27 years where I worked for Emirates Airlines for 18 years and Dubai Airports for eight. Aviation was in my blood, but the most enriching experience was working with a broad range of nationalities and cultures.
What Learning and Development opportunities does ESB provide?
There are numerous learning stream topics while we also have a partnership with LinkedIn Learning. These include digital skills, management development, power skills, supervisory and corporate development with options for those in both early careers and at pre-retirement stage.
Make time for yourself to learn, put yourself and your career first. Block time in your diary to take your Learning Hour and enjoy it.
Why is it important to invest in your own Learning and Development?
It is important to take the time to plan and invest in your own professional development as we all need to learn and grow in our professional roles. In the current climate digital skills are critical and with the advancement of Artificial Intelligence this technology has the potential to change the way we live and work. For this reason, we need to keep pace with these technologies and learn to use and apply them in our daily roles. Ultimately this upskilling should help everyone build and advance in their careers.
How does your work align with ESB’s Net Zero to 2040 strategy?
Our Net Zero Strategy is an ambitious one and requires us all to be more digital and data driven in our day-to-day work. To drive capability in this area, we run campaigns such as Say Hello to Learning. The focus is on short, sharp sessions to upskill people in areas such as working with Data and MS Teams with this campaign another example of how ESB is leading from the front with respect to developing digital skills.
What is your advice to colleagues about embracing Learning and Development opportunities?
ESB has a strong learning culture where everyone is supported to learn, develop, and grow with a view to building their career and moving onwards and upwards to the next level. Get involved, meet new people, and learn from them. Our team are working to ensure training and learning is fun and meaningful to the work we do. Do not be afraid to learn new things it is always beneficial, my previous boss used to always say ‘Every day is a school day!’
