The full extent of job losses within UK solar was laid bare earlier this week when PricewaterhouseCoopers released the results of its installer survey. Respondents revealed that they had laid off approximately one-third of staff, leading PwC to estimate that as many as 12,500 jobs had been lost from the sector in the last year, and that figure is only expected to grow. There was however some solace available with one-fifth of firms stating that they expected to grow their workforce.
The publication of that survey coincided with a further report conducted by the Trade Union Congress, which argued that a thriving clean energy sector would be important for the UK’s post-Brexit economy and create thousands of jobs – provided the government established support on the policy front.
There have been further changes at the Solar Trade Association weeks after Jonathan Selwyn and Seb Berry were named as the organisation’s chairman and vice-chairman respectively. Former communications and public affairs manager Sonia Dunlop left to join Solar Power Europe at the start of the month and the STA is continuing its search for a successor. Full details of the role and how to apply can be found here, and the deadline for applications expires this Sunday (31 July 2016). Meanwhile industry veteran and STA head of policy Mike Landy has retired.
Quintas Energy is continuing to search for a head of asset management. The role is based at the firm’s office in Canary Wharf, London, and the successful applicant will be tasked with leading Quintas’ more than 60-strong back office team. Full details of the role and how to apply are listed here.
Ashurst counsel Mhairi Main Garcia has been elected as vice chair of the Clean Energy Business Council. The not-for-profit association welcomes Mhairi, who specialises in advising renewable energy projects, to the role having served on the CEBC board for the past two years. Mhairi will serve alongside CEBC chair Nasser Saidi. "I am delighted to have been elected as Vice-Chair of CEBC and I am grateful for the support of the board…It is a privilege to play a central role and be part of such an enthusiastic organisation which brings together key stakeholders in the renewables and clean energy sectors, particularly at a time where there are exciting developments across the MENA region,” she said.