Getting IT together for a research project

PLACEMENTS . . . Oldham College students (from left) Shahanur Miladi, Hassan Mahmood and Ashraful Haque who spent a week on work experience at Energi Mine

THREE Oldham College students have spent a week's work experience at a business which uses artificial intelligence to buy and sell energy.

Shahanur Miladi, Hassan Mahmood and Ashraful Haque had placements at Energi Mine, which recently set up its head office in Oldham town centre.

The students spent their week working on Excel spreadsheets, researching IT systems and putting together a research project which they presented to Energi Mine's senior management team of Omar Rahim and Momin Hashmee.

Energi Mine uses its artificial intelligence (AI) software to procure and trade energy for some of the UK's biggest companies.

Launched six months ago, its clients include a global law firm, the largest independent construction materials group in the UK and the country's largest privately-owned petrol forecourt operator.

It says it expects sales worth more than £1 million to be realised within the next 12 months.

Energi Mine's new office at Metropolitan House includes a City of London-style trading desk, described as the only one of its kind in the North West.

The trading desk monitors wholesale energy prices and analyses data from power station capacity and gas flows to international bond prices and weather patterns.

IT algorithms and artificial intelligence enables the business to process information much faster, which it claims leads to better quality decisions when buying energy and protecting clients from price rises.

Mr Rahim is chief executive while Mr Hashmee is chief operating officer.

Oldham College provides vocational services for students and employers, combining workplace and college-based training programmes.

These include work experience placements, traineeships, apprenticeship programmes, recruitment, interviewing and selection services for businesses, employee training and development programmes, and CV, job application and interview support for students.

The college has refocused its services around the priority skills needed in the local economy and across Greater Manchester.

A major part of the college's work this year has been around the new national Apprenticeship Levy.

This was launched by the Government in the spring to boost the number of apprenticeships across the UK and make training programmes tailored to individual employers' needs. Employers now have the buying-power to select the training organisation that suits them best and negotiate costs.

Oldham College helps employers find people for apprenticeships, and is focusing on SMEs. The new levy only applies to major employers with a wages bill of £3million and above. All businesses, large and small, can benefit from the new arrangements.