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 specialist 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 and meet environmental regulations, as well as developing 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'll need to be highly numerate.

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

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

It's essential that you're able to 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, then this may be the job for you.

2. You can be employed or go freelance

There are three main ways you can build a career as an energy consultant. One is to 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.

Alternatively, you could 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, you'll need to be adept at juggling a number of projects at once.

It's also possible to work on a freelance basis. You'll usually need lots of experience and have developed a strong reputation in the field before starting out on your own, as you'll have to attract clients by yourself. Discover more about working as a freelancer.

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

You may assume that the primary goal of a large organisation (whether you're employed by them, 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. In fact, energy or environmental consultants are often brought in to advise companies on how they can make their energy consumption greener.

You might, for example, be asked to report on how the business can use less energy, take advantage of renewable energy sources, or 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 read our guide to sustainable careers.

4. A relevant degree will help you get started

Energy consultants need to have knowledge of the industry and an interest in the challenges the sector faces. The best way to demonstrate this is by studying for an undergraduate degree in a related subject. For many energy consultant jobs, this is a minimum entry requirement.

For example, your degree could be in:

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

Other relevant courses include more general engineering degrees, plus architecture and surveying - read more about these two 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 that the pathway is aligned with the professional body's chartered energy manager designation.

The Masters from RGU also provides access to an optional 12-month work placement, extending the programme to 24 months in total. As with all graduate jobs, gaining relevant work experience will help you to get your foot in the door.

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 a lot of time working with data, carrying out research and putting together reports. However, a vital part of the role is communicating your findings and offering advice to your employer or client.

This includes being able to write your reports clearly and concisely, so that complex information can be understood by non-experts. It also means delivering presentations of your findings and being able to respond 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. It's no good producing a report for a client if your suggestions don't comply with the latest legislation.

To become a trusted expert in the field, you need to keep your knowledge up to date - for example, 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 what action they need to take, if any, in the most cost-effective way.

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

7. Not all energy consultant roles are the same

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

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

For this, you don't need previous knowledge of the energy industry and some telesales experience is usually the only qualification required.

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 £43,762.

Find out more

• Read about dedicated consulting graduate schemes.
• Explore renewable energy careers.
• Get an overview of the UK's energy sector.