7 things you need to know about being an energy consultant

Whether you work for a government agency, energy company or a consultancy firm, it's your job to be clued up about the latest environmental legislation - get the lowdown on what it takes to succeed in this expert advisory role

1. You need to be a talented influencer

Energy consultants monitor the energy consumption of an organisation. Based on your findings and research, you'll be expected to advise managers on how to:

• improve energy efficiency and sustainability
• reduce utility bills
• meet environmental regulations
• develop strategies to put your ideas into practice.

This means you'll need to develop a range of skills. The job involves gathering and analysing data using technical modelling software and keeping accurate records, so you must be highly numerate.

You must also be a talented writer, able to compile detailed reports outlining your recommendations, and willing to present to an audience.

It's essential that you use the information you've collected to create arguments that will convince colleagues or clients to make changes, potentially at a cost to the business.

If you're confident you can influence others and justify your conclusions, this may be the right job for you.

Energy consultants often come from an engineering background. Consider the role of an energy engineer and the overlap with the engineering industry.

2. You can be employed or go freelance

You can build a career as an energy consultant in three main ways:

• Be employed directly by a large organisation in the public or private sector as an energy manager. You'll be tasked with developing a long-term energy policy that improves efficiency and cuts costs.
• Work for a consultancy firm as an energy specialist. You'll be assigned to several clients at a time, providing each one with reports and advice on how they can better manage their energy usage. For this highly competitive role, you'll need to be adept at juggling multiple projects simultaneously.
• Take on projects on a freelance basis. You'll usually need lots of experience and have developed a strong reputation in the field before starting on your own, as you'll have to attract clients by yourself. Discover more about working as a freelancer.

Leading employers that recruit energy consultants include:

• Accenture
• Capgemini
• Deloitte
• Guidehouse
• KPMG
• McKinsey & Company
• Oliver Wyman
• Shell Energy

3. It's about 'going green' as well as cutting costs

You may assume that the primary goal of a large organisation (whether they employ you or they're a client) will always be to reduce their financial costs, even at the expense of environmental concerns.

However, this isn't necessarily the case. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is taking a more prominent role in business decision-making, and a smaller carbon footprint is one way to improve brand image. Energy or environmental consultants are often brought in to advise companies on how they can make their energy consumption greener.

You may, for example, be asked to report on how the business can:

• use less energy
• consider renewable energy sources
• achieve a particular 'green' accreditation.

Therefore, energy consulting can be the ideal choice if you're interested in environmental issues.

Explore the environment sector and discover how to get a job in sustainability.

4. A relevant degree will help you get started

Energy consultants need to know the industry and be interested in the sector's challenges.

The best way to demonstrate this is by studying for an undergraduate degree in a related subject. This is a minimum entry requirement for many energy consultant jobs.

For example, your degree could be in:

• energy engineering
• energy management
• environmental management
• nuclear engineering
• renewable energy
• sustainable development.

Other relevant courses include:

• general engineering degrees
• architecture
• surveying.

Read more about these areas by exploring the property and construction sector.

If your first degree is in an unrelated subject, you may want to consider postgraduate study.

For instance, the MSc Energy Management at Robert Gordon University (RGU) is accredited by the Energy Institute (EI) and is open to graduates with a 2:2 or above in any discipline.

It also means the pathway aligns with the professional body's chartered energy manager designation.

The RGU Masters also provides access to an optional one-year work placement, extending the programme to two years. As with all graduate jobs, gaining relevant work experience can be crucial to securing your first role.

Search for postgraduate courses in energy management.

5. You must be a good communicator

Some elements of an energy consultant's job can be relatively solitary, especially if you're starting out as an energy analyst. You'll spend considerable time working with data, researching, and compiling reports. However, a vital part of the role is communicating your findings and advising your employer or clients.

This includes writing your reports clearly and concisely, so non-experts can understand complex information. It also means delivering presentations of your findings and responding to tough questioning - for example, if you're proposing a solution that will cost money.

To prepare for this aspect of the role, practise delivering presentations while at university.

6. Keeping up to date with legislation is essential

Regulations around energy, harmful emissions, and environmental policy are constantly changing, particularly as governments attempt to respond to warnings about the impact of climate change. Producing a report for a client is no good if your suggestions don't comply with the latest legislation.

To become a trusted expert, you need to keep your knowledge up to date - for instance, being aware of the implications of the Energy Act 2023. A key part of your job will be to respond to rule changes and advise your employer or client on what action they need to take, if any, in the most cost-effective way.

Keep updated with the government's latest energy efficiency consultations at Elmhurst Energy and follow Energy Live News.

You must have a strong eye for detail and understand complex documents to apply the information to your work and communicate your findings to non-experts.

7. Not all energy consultant roles are the same

When scanning adverts for energy consultancy roles, you'll notice that employers use the job title to mean different things. Always read vacancies carefully to ensure the role is what you're expecting.

Be aware that at non-graduate entry level, an energy consultant can often be referred to as a junior sales position. Paid between £16,000 and £22,000, you'll spend your time on the phone, cold-calling businesses to sell your company's services (such as brokering cheaper deals on utility bills).

You don't need previous knowledge of the energy industry; some telesales experience is usually the only required qualification. Read more about sales jobs.

However, this isn't typically a stepping stone to a graduate energy consultant role, for which you'll need a degree in a relevant subject.

According to Reed, the average salary of an energy consultant in the UK is £38,192.

Find out more

• Explore renewable energy careers.
• Consider a dedicated consulting graduate scheme.
• Get an overview of the UK's energy sector.