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Familiarising interns with the energy sector
Our internship program that is promoted as an employer branding activity is called ‘Ibiza’, short for ‘Ipragaz Business Academy’.
2023 marked an important transformation journey for the Slovenian, Croatian, and Bosnian entities of SHV Energy as we began working as one Adriatic team, bringing unique aspects of our diverse cultures, expertise, and perspectives together.
As part of this unified approach, we reviewed our strategic goals and business opportunities, as well as optimised how we share resources and assets, to enhance our strength in the region. We believe that business transformation is not possible without strong leadership commitment. A new Adriatic-level management team – along with extended leadership teams at both the regional and national levels – was established to foster alignment with strategic priorities and initiatives.
Our Adriatic people strategy has been created with four key elements:
A multi-year roadmap has also been devised to achieve our priorities around the people strategy.
We conducted a region-wide engagement survey campaign to provide an opportunity for all white- and blue-collar employees to voice their opinions. Based on the survey results, focused workshops were organised to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between departments to identify areas for improvement. Altogether, employees proposed around 30 initiatives that were turned into action plans across 13 workshops.
Complementing the workshops, we enhanced a dedicated mailbox initiative to ensure that employee feedback is continuously heard and addressed.
To empower employees and enhance their core capabilities, we launched the Adriatic Lead Academy. This in-depth programme aims to build essential leadership skills and foster the ‘Courage to Lead’ mindset through workshops, coaching, 360-degree assessments, and development plans.
Strategic recruitment efforts – further employer branding initiatives with assessment processes – have enabled the organisation to recruit new talent and strengthen organisational capabilities. We have also updated our recruitment processes by including active candidate sourcing through LinkedIn and initiated an Employee Referral Programme to offer a reward to employees who recommend suitable candidates.
On both a quarterly and annual basis, all employees participate in breakfast meetings, providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and recognition. These gatherings foster a sense of community and camaraderie, reinforcing the region's commitment to employee engagement and well-being.
In conclusion, the Adriatic region's journey in talent attraction, development, and retention underscores its unwavering commitment to nurturing its best asset: its people. By fostering a culture of listening, learning, and growth, the company has taken bold steps to create an environment where employees feel empowered, valued, and motivated to excel. As the company continues this journey, it remains dedicated to driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and unlocking the full potential of its workforce for sustained success under the strong, dedicated, and visible leadership of Butan Plin management.
"I’m grateful to have initiated a region-wide people strategy, made possible by strong leadership and HR support."
Meltem Oktareskara, People & Culture Director, SHV Energy, The Netherlands
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