Action Renewables is charity, which is financially supported by Action Renewables Energy Trading (ARET). My  time on placement has afforded me the opportunity to work with both the charity and ARET.

Most of my daily work is done within ARET’s Large-Scale Team. The Large-Scale Team offer full administrative services for generators who produce renewable energy from systems larger than 50kW. My main area of work revolves around ROC claim submissions and communication with Ofgem on behalf of clients.

I also assist with the Solar PV Support Programme, Action Renewable’s flagship charitable project. I liaise with potential applicants and maintain positive relationships and clear lines of communication with existing beneficiaries.

 

When did you start thinking about work placements and what did you do to begin the search?

I started thinking about placement at the start of the academic year. I attended the placement classes that Mark Gallagher and Dr. Michael Stewart ran to learn more about employability and the placement process. I found the lecture on creating CVs and the one-to-one CV session with Mark to be very useful. I made use of the placement portal and kept up to date with vacancies. I made sure to carefully read through the job specifications and see which roles and organisations aligned with me. I had a few meetings with Dionne Alexander about my options and she was brilliant throughout the whole process.

 

What was the application and interview process like?

The application and interview process for Action Renewables went smoothly. I initially saw the role advertised on the placement portal and the job specification aligned with me and my development. As part of the process, I had to send a cover letter and CV and I found that the former gave me a good opportunity to learn more about the organization and its goals. My interview took place remotely and I was interviewed by James and John (my now line manager and supervisor respectively). They did a brilliant job of keeping me at ease throughout the interview. During the interview itself, I found that it was good to use the STAR method that Mark had introduced to us during the placement classes.

 

How are you finding the placement so far?

Placement has been brilliant so far. It is clear that the organisation values its staff and their development. The Large-Scale Team did a wonderful job of integrating me into the team. They made a conscious effort to make sure that I understood each part of the processes I would be undertaking before I started them and they were always there to help and answer any questions that I had.

The whole team at Action Renewables has been so welcoming and kind to me since my first day. They value you not only as an employee, but also as a person. Everyone being so approachable really helped my transition into the organisation.

 

What insights have you gained from this placement?

My time on placement has given me a greater understanding of the renewables sector. It has allowed me to build my knowledge on areas that I wasn’t the most familiar with, for example, ROC trading and anaerobic digestion. The sector itself is very dynamic, constantly evolving to meet the net zero targets in Northern Ireland.

My placement with Action Renewables has been great for my personal and professional development. It has taught me the importance of a strong, positive culture in the workplace. Working with the Large-Scale Team has also given me an insight into client management and has allowed me to grow in this space.

 

Could you give advice to students who are considering applying to similar work placements?

One of the biggest learnings that I had from the placement application process is that it is important to have built up experience that you can talk about on your CV and during the interview. It is good to have sector specific experience, but having experience in other areas such leadership, teamwork and communication is very beneficial too. It is also very important to be yourself.

I would definitely recommend my line of work and Action Renewables as a placement provides to other students.

Key piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to ask questions – this helps you grow and learn.

 

Charles Rodriguez

BSc Environmental Management