Audio version

17

October/November 2013 www.esb.ie/em

BSC & Electric Ireland

SWIVELSECURE MOBILE PHONE SOLUTION

Page 20

Ready for the challenge

» Accountant Jim Dollard joined ESB in 1992 on its Business Graduate Programme. He has worked in all of the ESB Business Units, including “seven very happy years” in Business Services/Shared Services between 1998 to 2005. From 2007 to 2012, he was Financial Controller of ESB Energy International and was appointed GM Electric Ireland in July 2012 before his recent appointment to Executive Director, BSC and Electric Ireland. Jim tells EM he is really looking forward to his new role.

Jim, what are the key challenges facing the business?

“Both Electric Ireland and the BSC are service providers with a strong track record of delivering in an increasingly competitive environment. The next few years will be challenging as the pace of change will continue to grow.

“Competition in the Energy market has been particularly intense over the last three or four years. While we have responded very well to these challenges, it is clear that competition is about to increase even further over the next 18 months or so. The sale of BGE to a new buyer, the entry of PINERGY and Prepay Power and the growing competition from Airtricity and Energia mean that there will be increased focus on cost and service.”

What effect will technology have on the business?

“We now live in a digital age and technology is changing at a very significant rate. It is changing how services are provided, what services are provided and the cost to provide them. This is true of the BSC and Electric Ireland. In Electric Ireland customers now can pay bills by Direct Debit, receive bills on line, buy products on line and solve their queries on line. Smart Metering will have a fundamental impact on the market when it is introduced. It is clear that a strong IT function within the ESB is key, therefore and utilising and building on the skills we have within our ITS business is critical for the future.”

We now live in a digital age and technology is changing at a very significant rate

Is the BSC changing?

“Business models continuously evolve and it is important that ESB is at or ahead of those changes. When one looks at the evolution of the BSC from Business Services through Shared Services it has mirrored changes in the market. Equally, the One HR, One Finance models and indeed the changes in the Services business are key steps forward and we need to ensure that we follow through on the good progress already made and embed them fully into our business.”

Our knowledge and skills and how we use them are our primary assets in competing

How important are our people in maintaining and building our business capability?

“In both the BSC and Electric Ireland our knowledge and skills and how we use them are our primary assets in competing. If we are to be a success it will be our people and their knowledge that will make us a success. As the demands facing our business continue to change we need to ensure we continue build on those skills.”

Are you optimistic for the future?

“Yes. While I envisage very significant change in the energy market and indeed how internal services are provided in industry, from my short time in the role I believe we are well set. Of course we will be required to continuously change and to maintain a string grip of our costs but that is something we have done before and I know we will do again.

“I am looking forward to meeting staff right across the business in the coming months and hearing the challenges they face and how they are facing them.

“Both EIectric Ireland and BSC have made huge strides in recent times. They have clear business plans into next year which have been widely communicated - the key for us now is to go and deliver on those plans. The message is drive on!”

Contents »

▪ Your new way of accessing Staff Services

ESB are changing the model of delivery of staff services to our customers (current, future and past employees). With all the changes in ESB and changing technology we needed to look at new ways of delivering our service.

▪ YouTube access

ITS, Business Service Centre, has now enabled YouTube for educational and business purposes for staff with internet access.

▪ Microsoft Upgrades Programme update

Great progress has been made by the BSC since our first communication to staff a year ago regarding the major upgrades to technology across ESB. By March 2014, we will remove all Windows XP devices from the ESB network and replace with Windows 7.

▪ Number 29 secures a Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award

Trip Advisor recently selected Number 29 as an award-winner. The museum re-opened in June after renovations, with a very positive response from our visitors to the new set up.

WIN A LUXURY BREAK AT THE LYRATH ESTATE HOTEL

Page 28