[A]s it continues to strengthen its team, Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) has appointed Adam Philips to lead on the development of its community energy projects.
Fresh from his degree in Social Enterprise Leadership at Cumbria University, Adam joins the profit-for-purpose property company to support Head of Energy and Funding Joe Martin as Community and Energy Officer.
As a key member of the energy team he will play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of a pipeline of community energy projects. Adam, who lives close to the BEC HQ in Cleator Moor, will also support the company’s ambitions to develop a smart microgrid at Westlakes Science and Technology Park and ensure that the key North Shore development scheme in Whitehaven has the lowest carbon footprint possible.
Alongside his energy focused work, Adam will actively develop BEC’s wider involvement in the local communities and lead on the company’s Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) and volunteering activities. As part of this Adam is developing a live database of volunteering opportunities to help guide the BEC team as they seek to use the two days’ time off they receive annually for community activities.
Speaking about his appointment Adam commented: “I’ve been looking for a career opportunity that allows me to join forces with colleagues to make a positive impact in the community around me. I never imagined that such a role could be found in an office based environment, but I’m enjoying getting stuck in and every day I feel I am able to be a positive influence in both the organisation and the region we operate in.”
Over the past year BEC has invested significantly in developing its culture, behaviours and values. This was a key attraction for Adam when choosing to join the BEC team. “Before I went to University I was working in a gardening role and the culture was particularly poor. I could feel my own values being eroded. This compelled me to look at different options for my career following my completion of the Aspiring Leaders program that forms the Social Enterprise Leadership degree at Cumbria University. BEC is an organisation that is flourishing following major business changes and it owes much of that success to its culture. This made them a particularly attractive employer.”
Comment on Adam’s appointment his line manager Joe Martin added: “As BEC delivers its ten-year business plan we need to drive forward significant energy- and community-focused projects. To help us with this we needed someone with a natural desire to see low-carbon initiatives thrive – but who was also skilled in listening to, and engaging with, the communities who will benefit from these projects. Adam has undertaken a wide range of volunteer activities over the past 5 years and has excelled in his degree course. As a result, he brings third sector passion and private sector entrepreneurism into the BEC team.”
“We recruit based on values and behaviours as well as competencies,” concluded BEC’s CEO Michael Pemberton. “Adam brings a great blend of this and I wish him every success in his appointment.”
