Welcome young talent

There are currently four generations of professionals in the world of work who contribute their skills, expectations and life experiences to the team. Whether you are defined as a Boomer (born between 1946 and 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), a Millennial (born between 1981 and 1996) or Generation Z (born after 1997), we all make our small contribution to creating diverse teams. To this end, in 2017 Cellnex Spain launched the Ignition Project, a programme to attract and develop young talent  through ongoing support and a series of complementary activities during their university internships in the company.

Over these years, the project has evolved and adapted to the needs of young people, with a greater commitment to their professional development and providing added value to their university internships. “For the company, the project allows us to develop a pool of young talent ready to cover future talent acquisition needs, while it provides them with experience in the business environment. This is a win-win situation” says Anna Bufí Gaig, director of People and Organization at Cellnex Spain.

The ongoing support provided helps to foster technical development and create soft skills such as teamwork, communication and resilience. Students enjoy the opportunity to work in a real work environment, experiencing roles and responsibilities that allow them to better understand what their studies entail. “In addition to this, we hold workshops to help them prepare a CV or learn how to cope in an interview setting. We also organise visits to critical centres such as Collserola (Barcelona) and Torrespaña (Madrid) or workshops where, for example, the general manager explains the various business lines of the company first-hand,” explains Anna Bufí. “All in all, we can affirm that the time they spend at Cellnex enhances their future employability”, assures the director.

A continuous assessment system detects which students stand out in their performance and these results are taken into account for filing future internal and external vacancies. “Our students are one of our main sources of recruitment. It is worth pointing out that student incorporations have been increasing over time, for example, with 10 students joining us in 2020; in 2022 there were 12; and in 2023, there were 15”, explains Bufí.

Each year the Ignition Project brings around 50 students to Cellnex Spain, 40% of whom are women, marking a higher percentage than those enrolled in STEM careers. “One of Cellnex’s values is diversity, and we also reflect this in the Ignition project by promoting gender and generational diversity”, adds Bufí.

Generational diversity is essential to ensuring that we have multigenerational teams, providing the talent and innovation necessary for companies to continue growing. The same is true of gender diversity, improving and increasing the presence of women in organisations. “Working from the outset allows us to balance this historical difference between men and women and ensure the rejuvenation of the workforce”, says Bufí.

Rebeca Cortés is currently Project Manager at Cellnex Spain’s engineering department but began her career in the company as an intern within the Ignition project in 2021. “My experience as an intern was very positive, since my tutor dedicated the necessary time to teach me and allow me to learn and contribute”, says Rebeca. “That is very different from some companies where interns just don’t receive that kind of treatment.”

Meanwhile, Josep Pieres holds a position in the Cellnex business area after participating in the 2022 Ignition project. “I rate the experience very positively. It helped me define my professional pathway”, he says. “The months during which I was doing the internship allowed me to discover my interest in the commercial branch. Furthermore, since it was my first work experience related to my studies, it allowed me to learn from inside the companies, the sector and the type of work for which I had studied,” says Pieres. And he concludes with a  few words of advice to people considering whether to opt for an internship in the Cellnex Ignition project: “Don’t think twice – seize the opportunity. It is the best way to gain experience and grow both personally and professionally.”