Mabanaft in the UK bids farewell to exceptional undergraduate interns
We bid farewell to our 2023/24 interns, Aryaan, Ivor, Louie and Alistair and wish them much luck as they head back to university to complete their studies. Mabanaft has supported an internship programme for several years, and the team enjoys each cohort’s fresh perspective and ideas.
Caroline Watkins, head at Mabanaft UK, comments: “The internship program serves as a talent pipeline, allowing us to identify and potentially recruit top talent already familiar with the company’s operations and values. This has proven successful in the past. They bring an energy and enthusiasm to the workplace, as well as fresh perspectives and new skills.”
During their time with Mabanaft, the interns gain hands-on experience, exposure to industry-leading practices, and the chance to contribute to significant projects.
The fuels industry is a complex and dynamic one. During their year in industry, the interns have worked closely with experienced colleagues to gain a deeper understanding of the regulatory, technical and operational challenges we face daily and why we take a rigorous and precise approach to how we conduct our business. They leave a deeper understanding of the energy sector and a network of professional relationships supporting their future endeavours.
We asked this year’s cohort to share their experiences at Mabanaft and reflect on what they will take away from their time with us…
What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of working in the fuel industry for Mabanaft?
“I found the biggest challenge was learning to navigate an industry I have no prior experience in.”
Aryaan Din
“Getting used to the industry area and understanding the reason behind the tasks I performed was challenging but rewarding.”
Alistair Morris
How did the internship help you to develop skills and knowledge?
“Working in operations and closely with the sales team has given me a broad understanding of the UK downstream industry, including pricing cargos, vessel operations, managing inventory, and downstream business insights.”
Ivor
“The experience improved my cold-calling/emailing and my ability to speak to businesses we have relationships with professionally and utilise my Microsoft skills in a professional environment.”
Aryaan
The undergraduates all commented on the vast learning they gained during their time at Mabanaft. They highlighted the numerous skills they developed, from honing their analytical and problem-solving abilities to enhancing their communication and teamwork skills; the interns will leave with a well-rounded experience that will undoubtedly benefit their future careers.
Their time at Mabanaft deepened their understanding of the fuel industry and equipped them with practical skills and insights that will serve them well in any professional setting.
Culture at Mabanaft
“The welcoming culture at Mabanaft was crucial as the industry was new and complex to me in the beginning. The commitment to making my placement valuable was evident and my concerns were consistently taken into consideration.”
Alistair
“The culture at Mabanaft is very supportive; everyone is happy to help and teach, but most importantly, they trust you to do things your way.”
Louie
“Mabanaft’s relaxed culture allows interns to approach any team with questions to develop their understanding. If an issue arises, people don’t hesitate to help out, this provides a great way to network and learn from all departments.”
Ivor
Opportunities to collaborate with different departments at Mabanaft
Mabanaft is a highly collaborative team environment. Working on a cross functional basis, the interns learn to hone their teamwork skills and develop an understanding of why and how to communicate in a business environment . Aryaan noted significant improvement in his communication skills, Ivor gained hands-on experience in the Ops department where cross functional team work is vital.
“The extensive collaboration within departments has expanded my skillset beyond risk management. I always felt comfortable asking for clarification, making new work areas interesting learning opportunities rather than stressful challenges.”
Louie
Applying Skills Gained from the Mabanaft Internship in the Final Year of University
The skills and experience gained during their time at Mabanaft will benefit the interns as they complete their studies and give them a competitive edge as they enter the job market.
“I am taking an international trade module in my final year, so the knowledge gained by talking with the trading team and working in the sales department will provide invaluable context to that module. Additionally, I’m confident that the business knowledge acquired will significantly contribute to my dissertation.”
Alistair
“I will incorporate the insights and experiences I have gained from Mabanaft, particularly the downstream sector into my dissertation.”
Aryaan
“Organisational skills are one that immediately comes to mind. Within Risk, daily reports must be completed, so a daily structure is required, which is the most common pitfall for most students. The level of detail at which I now understand the application of market analysis will be used for my dissertation, not just the growth of my understanding but also the software we use to supplement our daily work, such as Power BI.”
Louie
“My aim is to channel my new-found knowledge and skills learnt at Mabanaft into my dissertation, this will give me the opportunity to write about something I have been actively involved in and hold a genuine interest in.”
Ivor
What Mabanaft says
As our latest cohort departs, Mabanaft extends its very best wishes for their future endeavours and completion of their studies. We hope to see them again!
At Fuel Oil News, we enjoy seeing the industry through the eyes of the next generation. If your company has a programme that helps bring future talent into industry roles, please share their stories and your approach to this challenge: margaret@fueloilnews.co.uk
Image credit: Mabanaft
