Pivoting Careers: From Netball to the Office

Four months ago, seven former athletes joined Centrica through our new Athletes Pathway Programme - a nine-month training programme designed to support high-performance athletes start new careers within the company.

It was great to catch up with Ama Agbeze about her first few months as a Performance and Growth Manager at PH Jones. Ama’s sporting career began as a professional netballer, with highlights including earning 100 caps for England and captaining a team that won Gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.

What’s the pathway been like so far?

“It’s been a great opportunity to come into an organisation like Centrica. As an athlete, I am hungry to learn and find people are eager and appreciative to have us as part of their team.

Being part of a welcoming and supportive team has really allowed me to use the skills I developed through sport and apply them to my new role. For example, communication and feedback. Feedback isn’t always easy to give or receive, but as an athlete you’re constantly striving to improve, so you take it on and respond to it; it’s an opportunity for growth.

There are a lot of transferable skills, but I have found that time management is key to success in business. You need to be punctual, juggle multiple priorities, and do the things you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do them.”

What’s been the best day since you’ve been here?

“Every day has been different, which suits my lifestyle perfectly because I love variety. I’m not great at picking favourites, so when people ask me which location I’ve enjoyed playing for the most, I usually say that each place has its own unique benefits. For example, I played netball  in Perth, where everyone raves about the beautiful beaches. While they are indeed lovely, our team struggled and lost most games, making it a challenging experience from a performance perspective, which in turn changes my perception of a location.

Whilst I find it hard to pick a ‘best day’, a couple of key highlights do come to mind. I am in the performance team at PH Jones, so I spent two days in Leicester learning about analysing and assessing our managers to help them carry out their roles more effectively. This was really interesting, as I could see the two different worlds of sport and work merging.

Another highlight was attending a Lamplighters workshop. Not many people realise there are still gas lamps in central London maintained by British Gas engineers. It was fascinating to understand the history of the lamplighters and their commitment to the company.”

Can you share an example of how you’ve applied your athletic mindset to implement change in the workplace?

"I support Liverpool Football Club, and they typically have a set corner routine. I recall  a Champions League game a few seasons ago where Alexander-Arnold was about to take a corner, however saw something was amiss. He read the positions of his teammates and the opposition and decided to play a short, non-planned corner. They scored a goal, went on to win the game and although it wasn’t one of their usual set plays, Alexander-Arnold recognised something wasn't right and so used his initiative, changed the plan and it worked out successfully.

With this in mind, I was in a meeting and we were discussing the importance of following structure and when it is right to challenge the norm. I understand that processes are in place for consistency but there are occasions when you may need to deviate from them, so long as it isn’t a health and safety risk. The Alexander-Arnold corner was an example where deviating from the standard produced a positive outcome. This has encouraged me question the current processes in the team and propose new ways to work towards targets."

How are you using our values in everyday life?

"At the moment I'm learning a lot, but I think something that shines through is how my colleagues really care about each other. The fact that so many people have been with the company for over 15 years highlights a real sense of loyalty and suggests there is a good reason to develop a career here.  It also emphasises that there are opportunities for flexibility and movement within different business areas.

I am quite performance driven and I want to be the best version of myself, so delivery is also a key value to me. In terms of doing the best for our customers, I want to deliver what they want and need."

What are your 2025 goals?

"I always want to make sure I have some clear goals for the next year to keep motivated. Now that I have settled into my placement, I really want to focus on my contributing efforts to assist PH Jones in becoming the most profitable business it can be. I feel there are specific areas I can contribute to this based on my background and I will keep note of my accomplishments to make sure I am hitting my objectives.

Our pathway roles are 9-month placements, so one of my goals is to secure a full time position here at Centrica. Something permanent would mean a shift in my current work portfolio so I need to be comfortable that it’s the right fit - the added ability for flexible working is a big benefit. 

Together, with a fellow pathway participant, Shaunagh Brown, we are keen to create an ambassador programme to support the company using the skillset that we have developed as athletes. I would love to assist in developing the skillsets of others!

On a more personal note, I would like to move house this year as I have lots of moving boxes waiting in New Zealand for a permanent home!  Also, I used to love cooking and over the years have lost the passion, so I’ve set myself a monthly goal of getting back into trying and testing new recipes.  As an athlete you learn that food is fuel, however I want to enjoy the process of cooking again."

What would you say to anyone considering a career at Centrica?

"Joining Centrica is a great move if you’re passionate about the future. The company welcomes innovation and offers the opportunity for growth and development – almost every job you can think of exists here. So, stop considering and apply... you may end up as one of the many colleagues who have called Centrica their work home for decades!"

Find out more about our Pathway programme here.