Why work in the energy industry?

With the energy sector contributing more to the UK economy than ever before and exciting new innovations in green initiatives, there has never been a more exciting time to work in the industry.

With a huge range of roles available in the sector, a career in energy can be both fulfilling and rewarding, with fantastic long-term prospects. The industry is fast-paced and has plenty of opportunity for development, so it could be the career you’ve always been looking for.

How big is the energy industry today?

According to Ofgem’s latest statistics, the energy sector now services around 30 million electricity customers and 22 million gas customers. It transports over 1,029TWh of energy through almost 1.1 million kilometres of lines, pipes and cables – enough to go round the world six times!

In fact, by 2020, it’s estimated that £80 billion will have been invested in transmission and distribution infrastructure since the sector privatised in 2013/14.

The sector as a whole contributes around 2.9% to the UK’s GDP and directly employs over 180,000 people. With increased investment, ever-more challenging carbon emission targets and new energy suppliers emerging all the time to challenge the incumbent Big Six, there will certainly be no shortage of job opportunities over the next decade or so.

What the experts say about working in the energy sector

We spoke to a variety of energy sector workers, all with varied job roles, about why they chose to work in this industry and how they got there.

James Sutton is a Project Manager for EvoEnergy, the experts when it comes to commercial solar panel installation. James is passionate about the work he does and gets real job satisfaction out of knowing he is helping protect the environment.

His favourite project? The time he helped install 200 panels on the summit of London’s ‘Walkie Talkie’ building; “the views over the City were outstanding!”

While Daniel Jackson, a Process and Sustainability Consultant for Carbon Architecture, claims his favourite part of the job is working with “a wide variety of clients” from a range of different industries.

From NHS hospitals to breweries Jackson says he enjoys the problem-solving element; “I like to get to the heart of the issue and take the time to understand a client’s problem, assess their set-up and help them solve the issue to reduce energy use and cost. Seeing hundreds and thousands of pounds being saved for clients like the NHS can be very motivating.”

What background do I need to work in the energy sector?

If you’re starting from the ground up, apprenticeships are a great way of breaking into the energy industry as they offer a way to learn on the job while earning a salary. Although mainly focused on engineering, an apprenticeship in energy can also include supply chain, human resources and IT.

There are many roles, however, where previous experience in the industry is not a requirement. For example, our Managing Director at Love Energy Savings, Phil Foster – who eats, sleeps, lives and breathes energy — studied Physical Education at Loughborough University before making his foray into the energy sector. So, whatever your background, it’s safe to say that the energy sector’s doors are wide open for enthusiastic, ambitious people to join the industry.

If you’re thinking of making the switch, there are a number of general skills that employers in the energy sector are looking for in applicants, including:

• Being passionate and having a driven attitude
• Being flexible and open to change
• A willingness to learn
• Being able to deliver excellent customer service
• Knowledge of project management

We spoke with a number of current Love Energy Savings employees to see how they got into their role and what makes them tick. As well as telling us what it is they love about working at Love Energy Savings, they give advice for any prospective candidates looking to work in the energy sector.

Meet our energy experts:

Deborah Riley - Management Accountant

How long have you worked in your current position?

1-2 years.

How did you first hear about Love Energy Savings?

I hadn't heard of Love Energy Savings before accepting the job - I’m extremely happy I know them now!

What made you apply for your role?

I was working as a Commission Analyst and I was approached by my manager at the time. I met with her, spoke about the role and thought it would be the perfect fit for me.

What skills have you gained since working in this role?

Lots! I've been developed from my original role into a Management Accountant. Love Energy Savings has also supported in starting further qualifications in accountancy.

Has your role changed since starting?

Yes, I'm still within the finance team, however, my role has completely changed. I started out as a Commission Analyst and have progressed to a Management Accountant.

What has been your career highlight so far?

The progression I've had since working at Love Energy Savings.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in the energy sector?

Go for it, you'll never look back.

Sally Manning - Account Manager

How long have you worked in your current position?

2-5 years.

How did you first hear about Love Energy Savings?

A friend recommended the company to me.

What made you apply for your role?

As soon as I started to work at Love Energy I knew I wanted to be on the Renewals Team. I like the mix of sales and customer service and having my own customer base that I look after allows me to build really good relationships with them.

What skills have you gained since working in this role?

My sales skills have improved dramatically and I've learnt to be more resilient. It can be a tough job at times and you need to have a thick skin and bounce back.

Has your role changed since starting?

Yes. The industry has changed a lot since I started and increasing prices have made it a much more competitive market. It's more challenging but that makes it more fun!

What has been your career highlight so far?

Being promoted through the business so quickly has been amazing. I started on Lead Hub, 3 months later I was promoted to New Business Sales, and 12 months later I got the job I wanted from the start on the Renewals Team. It's the best career choice I've ever made.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in the energy sector?

Go for it! It's fast-paced and exciting and there are no limitations in terms of progression.

Hermina Duratovic - BI Development Manager

How long have you worked in your current position?

Less than 6 months.

How did you first hear about Love Energy Savings?

The company was recommended to me by a friend (now colleague) as an awesome place to work.

What made you apply for your role?

The chance to work on a greenfield data project which I can shape from the beginning.

What skills have you gained since working in this role?

Working in a new sector has meant I have further developed my skills in data and leading a data project. I have learnt how to prioritise work and manage stakeholder expectations better with the help of our great Business Analyst and Product Owner.

Has your role changed since starting?

There has been quite a lot of change from a technical perspective. We also moved into a new office with lots of space for us to grow and work in.

What has been your career highlight so far?

Completing the supplier portal from end to end.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in the energy sector?

Explore the opportunities available. It's much more diverse than you'd expect.

Developing lifelong skills

The energy sector is incredibly diverse, opening up many career paths in a number of departments. Love Energy Savings, for example, have opportunities in Sales, Tech Development and Marketing, to name a few.

Despite how varied jobs in the energy sector can be, there’s one thing that all career paths have in common: our training.

All our employees at Love Energy Savings have the opportunity to learn and develop their skill set, helping them become even better at what they’re already great at. Our training and development opportunities for our new team members start at the beginning with a full induction into the business, showcasing what we do and how we do it.

We know our staff are superstars, which is why we’d hate to see them plateau. This is why we regularly hold workshops and team engagement sessions to help keep our team on their toes and as knowledgeable as possible.

Why Love Energy Savings?

At love Energy Savings, we believe that our staff are our most valuable asset. We strive to make sure our customers are always happy and to do that, we need to make sure our employees are happy.

We’re committed to creating a fun, engaging and rewarding environment that allows our team to flourish and become the best they possibly can. Our staff receive top quality training from day one through our Bright Sparks Academy, as well as ongoing progression to ensure our teams are able to fully develop their careers.

We make sure that everyone feels heard at Love Energy Savings: you’re more than just a cog in the machine. Our CEO Phil Foster even runs a project called ‘Food with Phil’, giving people the chance to mingle with other departments, learn more about the organisation and have your say; all while enjoying a free meal.

But don’t just take our word for it, Love Energy Savings has won a string of awards since its early days, including the TELCA ‘Awesome Place to Work 2018’ award.

Want to refresh your career by working in the energy industry? Let us know and apply for one of our vacancies today!

Related Articles