Energy and Climate Change Offering Employment Opportunities for Graduates

Source: EDIE Net/UK
[May 15, 2006]

Sustainable development within environmental consultancies is one example of the current market boom and experienced candidates who are seeking their next career move within this sector are in a very fortunate position.

They will likely receive job offers from several consultancies for the same role-their decision will come down to prestigious projects (within the UK and on an International level), cross training especially within renewable energy technologies, career development, financial gain and their perception of the client offering employment.

Within the past month I have received a number of calls from consultancies seeking to create, develop or expand their sustainability divisions in the past sustainability would have been a sub division of an environmental or building services division.

Due to increasing environmental legislation and greater corporate awareness of key issues such as climate change, energy policy and sustainable development this sector will carry on growing from strength to strength.

The same now can be said for the wind sector both on-shore and off-shore developments throughout the UK and worldwide need experienced candidates within the development (EIA, Ecology and Planning divisions), construction and operations (Chartered Civil, Mechanical and Electrical) again with such a demand our clients are competing against each other for leaders within their chosen field.

Last year this was being overshadowed in the UK by the financial and political restraints on some projects causing the over-running on the development of both onshore and offshore projects leading to frustration inside the industry.

The start of this year however has seen turbine manufacturers, developers and utilities recruiting professionals for projects in the UK and overseas but with the shortfall in experience in UK offshore development companies are looking abroad and even sourcing professionals in other industries where key experience can be developed and re-trained into an industry that will lead the renewable energy sector for some time to come.

Many graduates seeking to enter these markets are faced with the opposite problem, as demand is greater for experienced professionals who will be able to 'hit the ground running' on projects.

Graduates are faced with the chicken and egg scenario how do they get a position working within their chosen field if they have no commercial experience.

The answer is do your research - environmental consultancies, developers and utilities all have websites carrying information on their specialist inputs within climate change, sustainability and renewable energy development.

Make a shortlist of potential employers and contact them directly to discuss opportunities and whether they offer voluntary positions to graduates wanting to gain experience within these fields as this proves that you have a genuine interest, motivation and keenness to develop you career as an individual.