Every so often we like to shine the spotlight on our members, and in this case one of the members of the Bristol Initiative. We sat down with Stephen to talk about their life at Solarsense and their relationship with the Bristol Initiative.
Sam Harrison: Tell us about your role – what do you have responsibility for? What does a typical day look like?
Stephen Barrett: As Managing Director my role varies on a day-to-day basis as I’m involved in all aspects of the business but, I oversee the company’s operations and provide strategic guidance to ensure we achieve our business objectives in line with our overall mission.
SH: What is mission at Solarsense? What does your organisation do?
SB: Our mission is to power the UK towards a clean energy future. We want to change the way UK plc is powered for the benefit of the environment, economy, and society. The company specialises in the design, installation and maintenance of solar panels, energy storage, solar thermal, heat pumps, solar carports, EV charge points and associated renewable energy technologies. We support our clients in their journey to Net Zero, helping them to reduce their energy costs and provide energy security for the future.
I launched the company some 28 years ago and our ethos has always remained the same, we operate on honest, expert advice and pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our customers. Over the years this has helped us to win more than twenty industry awards and work with clients such as The Duchy of Cornwall and Crown Estate. As well as driving the uptake of renewables forward, we are in the process of becoming a B-Corp and dedicate time and resources each year to charitable causes. This year we are working with The Brightwell in Bradley Stoke, which is the home of the West of England Multiple Sclerosis Centre. We have also partnered with Rainforest Concern to protect the rare rainforest habitat in the Tropical Andes, one of the most diverse but threatened regions on the planet. For every square metre of rooftop solar panels installed in the coming year, Solarsense will sponsor ten times the square metreage of rainforest to support the charity’s work.
SH: How many people do you employ in the region? Has your business grown?
SB: Our team has doubled in the past two years to 40 members of staff. We have recently transitioned to an employee ownership trust business model to benefit our team members. We sense a strong ambition that our employees see the opportunity we saw when started to grow Solarsense – a company that can be a force for good whilst creating a sustainable, strong livelihood, instead of a company just after the endless pursuit of high profits. Most people join Solarsense for more than putting food on the table, when CVs arrive there is a clear ambition to work in renewables. These applicants, mostly under 40, are the generation who’ve bought into the idea of clean energy and the urgency of mitigating climate change.
To date we have installed more than 20,000 renewable energy systems and in the last year we’ve witnessed a 234% increase in sales inquiries, fuelling a subsequent surge in orders. A growing number of businesses now understand the benefits of renewable energy and there are now more finance and funding options available to help those make the switch that may not have been able to do so before.
SH: Why have you joined the Bristol Initiative?
SB: We have joined the Initiative to increase our engagement with the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses in the local region. We wish to collaborate with other members, share best practices, and contribute to initiatives focused on sustainability, clean energy, and travel.
Our membership also offers the opportunity to be a part of the local business community and share our events and activities with other members. For example, we are hosting a free online webinar on Tuesday 3rd October which will cover the finance and funding options available for businesses in the region. The event will be hosted by former BBC Producer Dave Harries and include a guest panel of speakers from England Rugby, MC Group and other businesses that have financed their own solar projects. All businesses that are interested are welcome to join us at 9.30am to hear from those that have made the switch and ask them any questions. For more information or to register please click here.
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