Apprenticeships
Community Energy Specialist
Level 4
Helping communities work together to reduce energy use and costs. Promoting energy-efficient heating & renewable energy sources.
Qualification
Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship
Qualification Level
Level 4
End Point Assessment Centre
DSW
Instruction Language
English
Qualification Duration
24 months (this does not include EPA period)
Included in
Our Green Skills Pathway
Employer Incentives
Employers could get £1,000 each for taking on an apprentice who is either:
- aged 16 to 18 years old, or
- aged 19 to 25 years old and has an education, health and care (EHC) plan or has been in the care of their local authority
What you can use the payment for
The payment is different to apprenticeship levy funds, so you can spend it on anything to support your organisation’s costs. For example, on uniforms, your apprentice’s travel or their salary. You do not have to pay it back.
To read the full Apprenticeship Standard: Click here
Who is this course suitable for?
“Community energy” is an all-encompassing term for people coming together to reduce energy use and purchase, manage and generate low-carbon heat and power. Community energy projects are often delivered collectively, focusing 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 energy affordability.
Roles & Responsibilities may include:
- Securing Funding for Projects
- Identifying Renewable Energy Sources
- Managing Return on Investment or ROI
- Marketing & Communications
- Providing Legal Assistance
- Monitoring & Managing Performance
- Community Representation
Role Profile (what the successful candidate should be able to do at the end of the apprenticeship)
A Community Energy Specialist works in a range of different organisations including community energy enterprises, local authorities, housing associations, grid network operators, and commercial energy companies, with all Community Energy Specialists employing the following disciplines within a community energy organisation context:
- Identifying appropriate renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies for specific buildings, sites and customers, working with local communities and site owners;
- Working with low-income/vulnerable households to advise on low/no cost measures and behaviour changes that can save energy and cost;
- Modelling the financial feasibility of projects, identifying the level of funding required and potential sources appropriate for community energy e.g. community shares/bonds, social loans, state aid compliant grant funding;
- Leading a team of volunteer directors to secure funding for the project, overseeing an effective marketing plan to ensure sufficient funds are raised;
- Organising a tender for installation work, and liaising with successful contractors and community members to create a project plan compliant with cooperative principles.
- Ensure that all necessary sector-specific legal agreements and contracts are in place between the community energy organisation, site owners, installers, and relevant authorities before project commencement.
- Using sector-specific expertise to monitor the ongoing functioning of the project, managing maintenance, the financial performance of their organisation and compliance with e.g. FCA requirements, and investor returns and community benefit pot if applicable.
- Proactively engaging in community and youth education around community energy, g. assemblies/lessons in schools, presentations at youth organisations and community centres.
- Assisting in the delivery of collective energy purchasing initiatives.
- Assessing the social impact of each project and potential for community
These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all energy specialists carrying out their roles
- Commitment: A personal commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability and stronger communities.
- Empathy: Ability to understand the concerns and approaches of voluntary community groups to inform actions.
- Interpersonal skills: Ability to form strong professional relationships with a diverse demographic.
- Teamwork: Ability to work cooperatively with individuals and groups to achieve a defined goal effectively.
- Personal accountability: Responsible and self-motivated, able to work with little supervision.
- Conscientious and meticulous: Desire to perform tasks to the best of your ability and ensure thorough work preparation.
- Adaptability: Ability to evaluate the merits of a situation and be open to alternative approaches.
- Flexibility: Be flexible in your approach to work, adapting to changing market and policy landscapes
Course Costs
Maximum Funding
£6,000.00
Non Levy Employer 5% contribution or Employer 5% contribution
£300.00
End Point Assessment Cost (Paid by Kiwi)
£TBC
96
Students saved up to 50% on their fees
96 Students saved up to 50% on their fees
Course content
OCCUPATIONAL BRIEF OF STANDARD
KNOWLEDGE
- Technology: the workings of renewable energy and associated technologies, their relative advantages, and the ability to identify appropriate solutions for individual scenarios.
- Energy efficiency: of home and business efficiency measures and an understanding of fuel poverty, its causes, impacts, and manifestation.
- 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 grids.
- Legislation, guidance and policy: the legislative and policy framework surrounding community energy initiatives and the requirements of energy production and sale.
- Financial support: the financial, administrative and advisory support products and organisations in the community energy sector and relevant financial subsidies.
- Project management: the elements and costs of community energy schemes, including operation and Knowledge of different project delivery models and the ability of a team to deliver a project from start to finish.
SKILLS
- Community and corporate engagement: Organise and coordinate meetings, workshops, and events with community groups and champions, enabling engagement with private enterprises, and local, and national government.
- Leadership: Demonstrate full familiarity with the community to coordinate all stakeholders in a community energy project and ensure the progression of actions in the project through to completion.
- 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 projects.
- 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 support.
- Public speaking: Effectively deliver presentations and engage with community members and other stakeholders at public, internal, and stakeholder events.
- 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 team.
- Risk management: Identify the risks and mitigating strategies associated with community energy projects.
- 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 completion.
- Project funding: Identify and apply the correct community funding approach to a project’s requirements.
- Site and building evaluation: Identify the most suitable renewable energy technologies and/or efficiency measures for implementation on a community project.
- 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 processes.
- 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 installation.
- Problem-solving: Anticipate issues arising from the changing community energy marketplace and use a range of problem-solving techniques to address challenges faced in the development of community energy schemes.
- Administration: Support community business development and operations, effectively maintaining client records and project information.
- ICT skills: Effectively use a keyboard, operate standard Office software and learn/use relevant other IT programmes as required.
TESTIMONIALS
Kiwi Education is an fantastic training provider who really does put it’s students at the heart of their delivery. Our staff have felt supported throughout their apprenticeship
– False Flag Tattoo
Area: Professional Accounting Taxation Technician AAT Apprenticeship
TESTIMONIALS
Our staff enrolled on courses have not only improved within their roles but with the support from Kiwi Education they have excelled and progressed from one level to a higher level. We are thrilled with the service from Kiwi Education.
– Costa Coffee
Area: Team Leader Supervisor Apprenticeship
Enrol and pay now
Maximum Funding
£6,000.00
Non Levy Employer 5% contribution or Employer 5% contribution
£300.00
End Point Assessment Cost (Paid by Kiwi)
£TBC
Any Questions
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