Describe the marketing team in three words.
Very, very busy.
How do you come up with new marketing ideas?
Nothing beats a great customer insight.
What is the main marketing challenge you face?
There’s always the danger of trying to do too much. There are so many different things we’d like to do to improve our service and customer value, but we know that keeping focused on the big wins is essential to our success.
Is there a dress code?
No, but tank-tops are worryingly prevalent.
What are the hours like?
Our hours are certainly shorter than working agency side, but we start much, much earlier.
Does the team socialise outside office hours?
Not as much as we should, unfortunately. Contrary to what our finance department may think, it’s not all Champagne and agency lunches. The fish and chips on a Friday in the office canteen are pretty good, though.
What are the perks?
Working for a brand that is part of the fabric of the nation is truly rewarding. Everything we do can make the news, so it’s incredibly exciting. There’s also a fantastic team spirit and a great sense of creativity. And we get to work in the West London office, aka Staines.
What is British Gas like for training and career progression?
The opportunities for training and career progression are fantastic. The proof is in the number of people who have worked at British Gas for 30 years and more.
What about the salary and benefits package?
It is very good. Our incentive scheme genuinely rewards performance and boosts motivation. This is why we see more and more very talented people move from agency to client side.
Company facts
- The British Gas marketing team is based at Lakeside House, 30 The Causeway, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 3BY.
- The energy company has 26,000 employees of whom about 110 work across marketing, insight and research.
- Its market share is 33% and annual turnover is £12.2bn.
- Phil Bentley is chief executive; Chris Jansen is strategy and commercial director; Rick Vlemmiks is marketing director.
- British Gas has announced electricity price cuts of 10%, which it said will save about 4.5m customers an average of £43 a year.