Building a career in renewable energy at UPOWA
At UPOWA, our people are at the heart of accelerating the journey to net-zero for our customers - the UK’s leading housing developers, construction companies and commercial businesses. But more importantly, as we scale-up to drive the UK’s energy transition to a zero-carbon future, we’re focused on nurturing young talent and providing access to career progression, industry leading training and support.
We wanted to share the journey of Emma Ellis, an exceptional individual who started her UPOWA career in 2016 as a Business Administration Apprentice. In summer 2023, she gained promotion to Head of Coordination. A remarkable success story.
We caught up with Emma to learn more about her experience of working within the renewable energy industry at UPOWA and her transition from Apprentice to her key role within the Operations Team. We delved into the vital green skills and experience she’s developed along the way, the challenges she overcame, and her future career aspirations within renewables.
Starting my UPOWA journey as an apprentice
In 2016, I turned down offers from universities in favour of starting a full-time job. I began my career at UPOWA through a Business Administration Apprenticeship Level 2. I learnt so much and gained the essential experience to build and strengthen my professional knowledge and key skills. By 2018, I advanced my abilities by working as the Directors PA and company receptionist.
I absolutely loved collaborating across all departments and providing support for day-to-day operations in the office. This later led me to assisting the Operations Team with their back office and solar PV handover documentation for homeowners.
Learning about sustainable technologies
I became a full-time member of UPOWA’s Operations Team in 2021. I was able to learn more about the end-to-end requirements for delivering solar PV, battery storage and EV charging solutions and the journey towards a greener future.
Organisation, coordination, and creating processes to improve efficiency and collaboration brought me a great deal of satisfaction and helped me develop trusted working relationships with the team, our clients and homeowners too.
Green career growth and personal development
In 2022, driven by a desire to take on greater responsibility, I made the jump to become UPOWA’s Office Manager. This was a faster-paced role where no two days were the same. It supported both my professional and personal growth, and it broadened my understanding of renewable and sustainable technologies and what is needed to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction.
Promotion to Head of Coordination
In summer 2023, I became Head of Coordination, my most exciting and challenging role to date. I make sure every department collaborates tightly with one another so that that our operational systems and processes run efficiently. This ensures our customers receive a high-quality product and service time and time again. A key part of my role is to make it easier for the team to forecast jobs and resource labour more accurately and effectively, which is essential for our expansion plans.
I'm confident these next few years will help shape my future green career within UPOWA. My journey is one I look back on with great pride. It serves as a reminder that with the right support and hard work, progress can be made. I am both excited and motivated to make my mark on UPOWA for many years to come and fulfil my career ambitions in renewables.
“This promotion is a testament to Emma’s hard work, great ability, and her accomplishments throughout her 7 years at UPOWA”. said Paul Terry, Managing Director. “We couldn’t be prouder of Emma’s progression, and to have Emma oversee the coordination of contract delivery will ensure that customers consistently receive our industry-leading service.”
