Specialist Sector Support UK
Published on 08 November 2019
United Kingdom
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
In the UK, the community energy sector is supported by a number of organisations such as Energy4All, Mongoose Energy and Sharenergy, Community Energy South and Communities for Renewables. These organisations are themselves community energy organisations but provide consultancy support to community energy organisations within the sector in areas such as financial modelling, accountancy, community share issue, sourcing finance, and technical expertise around a number of different renewable energy technologies.
The services provided by these organisations help new starter community energy groups to plug any skills gaps they may have in developing their project, at reasonable commercial rates commensurate with community energy projects, and can relieve community groups of time-consuming burdens such as administration and accountancy.
Effect:
New inexperienced community energy groups can outsource aspects of running their organisations to one of these specialist co-ops, adding vital capacity and ensuring that all of the necessary elements of a community energy project are addressed
These specialist organisations can also help community energy groups promote their share offers nationally
The existence of these specialist groups adds a ‘backbone’ to the sector and stability to individual community energy groups
The services provided by these organisations help new starter community energy groups to plug any skills gaps they may have in developing their project, at reasonable commercial rates commensurate with community energy projects, and can relieve community groups of time-consuming burdens such as administration and accountancy.
Effect:
New inexperienced community energy groups can outsource aspects of running their organisations to one of these specialist co-ops, adding vital capacity and ensuring that all of the necessary elements of a community energy project are addressed
These specialist organisations can also help community energy groups promote their share offers nationally
The existence of these specialist groups adds a ‘backbone’ to the sector and stability to individual community energy groups
Resources needed
- A community energy group will need to find the money to pay one of these specialist organisations for their support. However, very often the specialist organisation can help the community energy group to bid for grant funding or other funding to enable them to do this
Evidence of success
- Organisations such as Sharenergy have been operational for many years, including during very difficult times for the community energy sector due to e.g. changes in Government legislation and financial support for the sector
- The majority of new community energy groups use the services of at least one of the specialist organisations to set up and run their projects and societies
- The majority of new community energy groups use the services of at least one of the specialist organisations to set up and run their projects and societies
Potential for learning or transfer
- These specialist support organisations very often began their lives as ordinary community energy groups, who have learned how to deliver projects and then begun to re-sell their knowledge via providing services to new start-ups
- In EU regions where community energy groups already exist, there may be potential for them to expand their business activities to supporting other new community energy start-ups
- In EU regions where community energy groups already exist, there may be potential for them to expand their business activities to supporting other new community energy start-ups
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Oldham Council coordinates
United Kingdom
Greater Manchester
Contact
External funding Manager