Case studies : Corporate energy officer: Michael

Michael is a corporate energy officer working in the public sector.

While I was always interested in energy and the environment, I had an unusual route into the profession. Following my degree and a few stop gap jobs I commenced employment as an education officer in Trading Standards, using my media skills to successfully engage with school children on various projects.

Success in this role led me into a project officer role also in Trading Standards creating training packages and resources for shop owners. Based on my success in attracting publicity, and using elements of my media degree, I started work as a communications officer for a housing organisation and from there after working on energy related projects and also various environmental projects gathered in voluntary work I was successful in applying for the energy officer role.

My degree was not an essential part of me getting the job I’m in, although I have been able to use the skills learned at university to promote the energy agenda in my role.

My workload is very varied based on my current remit. My day can include organising schemes of insulation work, researching new heating technologies, developing sustainable transport plans for the organization and assisting in work creation programmes to develop energy advisor roles and developing environmental schemes for tenants.

I do a lot of work on publicising key energy messages which includes writing press releases on new energy initiatives or campaigns and creating informative DVDs on energy conservation for our customers.

My role has changed greatly since I started allowing me to use my media skills to promote my service area. I would like to see my role develop into an environmental communication role, promoting renewable technologies and environmental schemes to the wider community.

The best part of the job is that the team I work in are incredibly supportive and we work closely to develop new schemes of work. The job can be challenging though as the work is very reactionary as new grants become available, deadlines can be very tight and some projects are cancelled before they get off the ground.

The best things about working in the public sector are the flexible hours, the ability to create your own workload and certainly in my role being able to focus on topics that genuinely interest you.

I would give anyone interested in the profession the advice to look at the new courses that are becoming available as energy roles will become more common place across every sector and industry. Certainly within the public sector, you can enter the profession from virtually any background as long as you have a genuine interest in the subject area, and are prepared to keep up to date with new requirements and legislation.