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Energy Advisor

Pay:  £25,500 pro-rata per annum; work travel costs paid
Location:  Working from our Shrewsbury (Shropshire) office or Belper (Derbyshire) base, with options for hybrid working.
Hours of work: Part or full time, 21.75 - 37.5 hours per week

Job Purpose

Working directly with householders on low incomes and with vulnerabilities, you will provide impartial energy advice over the phone and in person at events and/or home visits. The advice will include fuel debt advocacy, heating controls, energy bills, energy efficiency measures, renewable energy options and grant funding. You will guide and support householders to achieve the best outcomes in the short and long term.  As policies and initiatives are often changing, you will be expected to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the various options and provide advocacy support for householders facing more complex personal circumstances at home.

Job Description

•  Provide sound advice across all energy advice topics including debt, heating controls, billing, energy efficiency, grant funding options, renewable energy options etc.
• Provide advice to clients over the phone and in person at home visits and/or events.
• Using materials provided, undertake simple home energy assessments for householders, advising on measures such as insulation, heating and help them to access funding streams, which can be very complex.
• Fit simple energy efficiency measures in homes such as draught proofing, radiator foils etc.
• Ensure all available options are explored for customers by taking the initiative, for example, seeking alternative solutions to support a customer.
• Ensure accurate and timely records are kept, logging all customer contact information on to MEA’s CRM system.
• Understand and work to meet funders requirements, for example, targets or record keeping ensuring claims are maximised.

For the full job description, please click here.

Hours of work: Part or full time, 21.75 - 37.5 hours per week
Leave: 24 paid days pro-rata per annum + bank holidays.
Duration: Contract to 30 Sept 2026, with extension subject to funding.

Application process:  Send CV and covering letter explaining why you are interested in the job and how you meet the person specification to Rose Noden [email protected]. Applications considered on a rolling basis, with a closing date of 1pm on 27 August 2024.

The successful applicant will be required to complete a satisfactory Right to Work check followed by disclosure of any criminal convictions and/or cautions not spent or protected (as appropriate to the post) in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subsequent legislation.

MEA is seeking new Trustees

Marches Energy Agency (MEA) is seeking 2-3 new compassionate individuals to sit on our Trustee Board. We are particularly looking for new trustees with health experience, but would welcome wider experience from the energy, community, youth sectors too.

Our work is becoming increasingly important as we navigate a way through the energy crisis, and beyond to support a just transition to net zero carbon over the coming 2-3 decades.

About MEA

MEA turned 25 in 2022 and during that time has been delivering practical help and impartial advice to vulnerable householders across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, West Midlands and Derbyshire. Approximately 15% of households currently fall into fuel poverty, and this is likely to increase substantially during the Energy/ Cost of Living crisis. Many of these householders have underlying health problems which are made worse through living in cold, damp homes, and MEA has been campaigning to have this link more widely recognised to unlock more funding and assistance for householders.

MEA delivers a wide range of projects focussed on energy, people, and their homes.  We work collaboratively with Local Authorities, the third sector, installers, and community groups.  We are currently undergoing rapid expansion: staff numbers have quadrupled in the last 3 years, and turnover has increased from £200k in 2015 to £1.7m in 2021-22.

MEA’s charitable objectives:

• Poverty relief and health protection through efficient energy use.
• Encouragement & awareness raising on environment & sustainable development.
• Education for public benefit: energy conservation, efficiency, and renewables.

Trustee Position

As a registered charity, it is a legal requirement for MEA to have a board of Trustees – volunteers who share the ultimate responsibility for running the charity.  As a company limited by guarantee, all our Trustees are also Directors. All operational management is delegated to a the Chief Executive Officer.  The Trustee Board meets once a quarter to oversee decisions, advise on strategic direction and ensure legal compliance. It may also meet for specific purposes at other times.

As a charity Trustee, you will bring and  gain experience in areas such as setting strategic goals, accounting, financial planning, employment practice and recruitment, or share these skills if you already have them.

As a Trustee you can be involved in work that you might not yet have had the chance to try as a paid employee. Given the correlation between health and warm homes, MEA would welcome especially welcome individuals with knowledge of the health sector.

If you are interested in finding out more about being a Trustee, please see our Application Pack here or contact Philip Towers for more information and to apply– [email protected]

General volunteering opportunities 

Volunteers are a vital part of our team. Whether you are looking to build your CV, or want to share your knowledge and experience through a trusteeship and help us grow, we hope to provide a warm welcome for you at MEA.

What is available at MEA?

• Internship placements
• Regular volunteering

To enquire about volunteering opportunities please email your CV to Chloe - [email protected]