We aim to be an employer of choice, empowering employees to plan and manage their own career is another way in which we look to attract and retain the right people. Our performance management process is key to this and helps employees to develop the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours they need to realise their ambitions. During regular reviews with their line managers, they use the performance management process to record and review their objectives, monitor their performance linked to reward, and identify development and training needs.

As part of an international group, we offer opportunities for career development on a global level. Our mobility programme encourages employees to work in different locations and improve their understanding of the business through the transfer of skills, knowledge and behaviours across the business. During 2006, nine employees took up positions across the E.ON Group and 15 colleagues joined us from other E.ON companies.

We also recruit around 40-50 new graduates each year into a variety of roles. Our aim is to create an environment where they can acquire key business skills through a series of placements in which they undertake projects or perform challenging operational roles. Some placements (six over the past year) are international to further develop the graduates' knowledge and experience across the Group. This development is complemented by a structured programme of core skills development modules, including a bespoke Graduate Development Centre.

In addition, we have a special programme to encourage new entrants to retrain for jobs in our business with 50 new recruits joining us in 2006, most of them with useful backgrounds in the utility industry. We are also encouraging older age groups and mothers returning to work consider careers in customer service, meter reading and contact centre roles to help address the high turn-over rates in our Retail call centres and our Energy Services business, which are both at around 23%.

We also offer a series of talent development programmes for individuals at key development stages in their careers. These combine tailored learning opportunities and mentoring with extensive opportunities for networking and exposure to senior managers, with the aim of helping individuals to achieve a role at the next level in the organisation.