Dark Green occupationBusiness and administration
Community energy specialist
Helping communities work together to reduce energy use and costs. Promoting energy efficient heating.
Summary
“Community energy” is an all-encompassing term for people coming to together to reduce energy use and purchase, manage and generate low carbon heat and power. Community energy projects are often delivered collectively, with a focus on engagement, local leadership and strong positive local community outcomes. There are now around 5000 of these community groups UK-wide which often have distinct, specific localised goals with an overarching benefit of tackling climate change, energy security and the affordability of energy.
Typical job titles include
- Community energy specialist
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Technology: the workings of renewable energy and associated technologies, their relative advantages, and the ability to identify appropriate solutions for individual
K2:
Energy efficiency: of home and business efficiency measures and an understanding of fuel poverty, its causes, impacts, and
K3:
National and local grids: the workings of the National Grid, how energy generating technology is linked into the grid and the function of local electricity
K4:
Legislation, guidance and policy: the legislative and policy framework surrounding community energy initiatives and the requirements of energy production and sale
K5:
Financial support: the financial, administrative and advisory support products and organisations in the community energy sector and relevant financial
K6:
Project management: the elements and costs of community energy schemes, including operation and Knowledge of different project delivery models and the ability in a team to deliver a project from start to finish.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0092: Community energy specialist (Level 4) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0092
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £34,309 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3541/01 Energy advisers and assessors
- 7129/03 Sales energy consultants
S1:
Community and corporate engagement: Organise and coordinate meetings, workshops, and events with community groups and champions, enabling engagement with private enterprises, local, and national
S2:
Leadership: Demonstrate full familiarity with the community in order to coordinate all stakeholders in a community energy project and ensure the pogression of actions in the project through to
S3:
Negotiation: Engage and influence people on the telephone and in person, from community volunteers to those in executive positions, effectively handling objections and encouraging support for community energy
S4:
Communication: Generate a range of media appropriate to the community energy sector such as social media posts, blogs, flyers, newsletters, and briefs to effectively disseminate information and raise
S5:
Public speaking: Effectively deliver presentations and engage with community members and other stakeholders at public, internal, and stakeholder
S6:
Project management: Select and apply appropriate project management principles and techniques to the specific context of community energy to successfully run and complete projects as part of a
S7:
Risk management: Identify the risks and mitigating strategies associated with community energy
S8:
Financial management: Use community energy specific computer software to assist in financial modelling and accounting of projects, interpreting information from the financial models to drive community energy projects to
S9:
Project funding: Identify and apply the correct community funding approach to a project’s
S10:
Site and building evaluation: Identify the most suitable renewable energy technologies and/or efficiency measures for implementation on a community
S11:
Report writing: Develop clear, structured, reports of action to support the project, tailored for community energy audiences that may not have detailed knowledge of technologies and
S12:
Data analysis: Conduct market research, and collect and analyse data to justify projects and evaluate their outcomes, for example identifying local potential for community investment and suitable sites for
S13:
Problem solving: Anticipate issues arising from the changing community energy marketplace and use a range of problem solving techniques to to address challenges faced in the development of community energy
S14:
Administration: Provide administrative support for community business development and operations, effectively maintaining client records and project
S15:
ICT skills: Effectively use a keyboard, operate standard Office software and learn/use relevant other IT programmes as required
Technical Educational Products
- ST0092: Community energy specialist (Level 4) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0092
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £34,309 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3541/01 Energy advisers and assessors
- 7129/03 Sales energy consultants
B1:
Commitment: A personal commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability and stronger
B2:
Empathy: Ability to gain an understanding of the concerns and approaches of voluntary community groups in order to inform
B3:
Interpersonal skills: Ability to form strong professional relationships with a diverse
B4:
Teamwork: Ability to work cooperatively with individuals and groups to effectively achieve a defined
B5:
Personal accountability: Responsible and self-motivated, able to work with little
B6:
Conscientious and meticulous: Desire to perform tasks to the best of your ability and to ensure thorough preparation of
B7:
Adaptability: Ability to evaluate the merits of a situation and be open to alternative
B8:
Flexibility: Be flexible in your approach to work, adapting to changing market and policy
Technical Educational Products
- ST0092: Community energy specialist (Level 4) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0092
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £34,309 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3541/01 Energy advisers and assessors
- 7129/03 Sales energy consultants
