How a small graduate program is fast-tracking talent and winning Gen Z

By Dominic Horn, PXGEO’s Chief Human Resources Officer

Gen Z graduates have grown up online, know their way around technology, and want to work for companies that share their values; they're the talent shaping what's next.

Attracting them in a competitive global market presents an opportunity for businesses ready to adapt. Yet this same generation is reshaping the graduate labour market. They're ambitious, digitally fluent, but often reluctant to enter industries such as oil and gas, which have long been seen as traditional, hierarchical, and at odds with sustainability.  

When I look at our own graduate program, I've seen firsthand how important it is to create career pathways that meet the expectations of this new generation while addressing the industry's pressing skills needs. A few years ago, our business had almost no employees under the age of 30. Like much of the sector, we faced a looming challenge: an ageing workforce and a shortage of grassroots talent just as digital transformation and the energy transition were accelerating.

We knew we had to do things differently. That's why we designed a graduate program deliberately structured around Gen Z priorities, including responsibility, global exposure, and accelerated learning. Instead of a three-year pathway, ours is a two-year fast track.  

We've intentionally kept the cohort small, so everyone receives focused development, visibility, and the chance to make a real contribution from day one. As part of their journey, each graduate completes three rotations, most of which are international, exposing them to at least two, and often three, different geographies over 24 months.

Alongside placements, graduates engage in "experiences" which take them out of the office, such as attending trade shows, visiting offshore vessels, and leading project-based case studies. This approach offers graduates flexibility, a global outlook, and enhanced learning that encourages responsibility and exposure much earlier than traditional programs. Instead of waiting a long time for meaningful work, graduates are given opportunities to lead, experiment, and apply digital fluency from the beginning.

Our graduates have had a real impact, automating complex processes, becoming subject matter experts in niche industry tools, and contributing to company-shaping initiatives. By applying fresh thinking and more innovative methods, they're helping us work more efficiently and focus on innovation and high-value outcomes.

For many young professionals navigating a precarious job market, this program is particularly compelling. While some peers face underemployment or uncertain career paths, participants in PXGEO's graduate scheme gain hands-on experience, international exposure, and a level of responsibility rare at the entry level.

Beyond the main graduate group, we are setting our sights on localising fast-track development programs in countries like Brazil, helping to grow skills where the business operates. This shows that multinational companies can balance global operations with responsible investment in local talent.

In a market where degrees alone no longer set candidates apart, and where young talent increasingly seeks impact, responsibility, and mobility, graduate programs like ours show how a small, focused scheme can both attract Gen Z and equip them for the future of work while defying the broader trend of graduate underemployment. It's a blueprint for how industry can create pipelines of diverse, tech-savvy talent that deliver real value for the individuals involved, the company, and the wider sector.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of PXGEO by BIG Partnership. For further information, please contact Pam.Wilson@bigpartnership.co.uk or +44 (0)7772 287 588