Smarta Energy, based in Leeds, has created the Mid-Market Sales Training Programme to give people at the beginning of their careers an opportunity to learn about the energy industry in a practical environment, rather than relying solely on the traditional CV-and-interview recruitment process.
The programme comes at a time when starting a career can feel increasingly difficult for graduates, particularly when many entry-level roles still ask candidates to demonstrate previous experience.
Smarta Energy hopes the programme will give participants an opportunity to gain that experience, learn directly from people working in the industry and demonstrate their potential in a way that cannot always be captured on a CV.
Over five days, participants will be introduced to areas including the UK energy market, gas and electricity, commercial energy contracts, procurement, flexible purchasing, consultative selling, customer communication, objection handling, compliance and presentation skills.
Rather than carrying out productive work for the company, candidates will spend the programme learning through structured training, coaching, exercises and assessment.
Everyone who completes the programme will receive a certificate of completion, while candidates who demonstrate the required skills, behaviours and potential may also be considered for permanent paid opportunities within Smarta Energy's Mid-Market team as the Leeds business looks to grow.
A spokesperson for Smarta Energy said:
There can be a difficult gap between finishing university and getting that first real opportunity. People are often told that they need experience to get a job, but getting that experience in the first place isn't always straightforward.
βWe wanted to create something that gives graduates the chance to learn, ask questions and show what they can do beyond what is written on a CV.
βEnergy is a huge industry with a wide variety of long-term career opportunities, but from the outside it can sometimes look complicated or difficult to enter. Part of this programme is about making that first step feel more accessible.
Supporting early careers in Leeds
The programme has been influenced by Smarta Energy's recent experience working with interns and early-career talent.
Two young people have recently completed internships with the Leeds business. One has since moved into a full-time role within the company, while another returned to university to complete her studies with greater knowledge of the energy industry and the career opportunities available within it.
For Smarta Energy, the experience demonstrated the value of giving people meaningful exposure to a working business at an early stage in their careers.
The company now wants to take that principle further through a more structured training programme.
The spokesperson added:
We're a Leeds business and we think local employers have an opportunity to play a part in supporting the next generation of talent.
We want everyone who takes part to leave with greater knowledge, stronger confidence and practical skills that they can take into their next opportunity. It is a difficult world to step into at the beginning of your career. Where businesses are in a position to make that first step a little easier, we think they should.
The five-day programme will give all participants the same training and opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, with potential recruitment decisions made against agreed criteria.
Smarta Energy is looking to grow its Mid-Market team from October, with the programme providing a potential route into permanent employment for candidates who meet the required standards.
Applications close at 5.00 pm on Monday 21st September 2026.
Graduates interested in taking part can send their CV to Dan at enquiries@smartaenergy.com.
