Are you looking for a meaningful way to contribute to tackling the climate emergency and addressing social injustice in the UK energy system? Becoming a trustee at the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) offers just such an opportunity.

CSE is a Bristol-based national charity that supports people and organisations across the UK to tackle the climate emergency and end the suffering caused by cold homes. We are one of the UK’s leading sustainable energy charities. And we have a 40-year track record of award-winning impact, innovation and influence (as detailed in our 2022-23 Annual Report).

Our board of trustees has been central to that continuing success. As the result of the planned retirement of a number of our trustees, we’re recruiting up to four new trustees. Their role will be to provide effective governance and support the development of the charity.

We are keen to widen the range of perspectives represented on our board. We’re welcoming applications from young people, people of colour, disabled people and people with personal experience of fuel poverty.

To encourage and support applicants with limited experience of organisational governance, we’ll offer a training scheme in which new recruits will be mentored by experienced existing trustees.

In addition, we are seeking individuals who can bring expertise in at least one of the following areas:

• Personal insights and lived experience associated with a key area of our work. This might be in empowering young people, supporting vulnerable households, community-led action and engagement, or influencing policy making.
• Commercial know-how in the financial and staff-management aspects of successful business development and operation. This would preferably gained from having a senior role in a business setting.
• Knowledge of smart energy systems and associated technical, commercial, regulatory and policy developments.
• Understanding of the causes and impacts of fuel poverty and associated policy realms and experience of relevant practical initiatives tackling its causes.
• Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of low carbon building retrofit (particularly in housing) and how they may be addressed.
• Good local connections with local authorities, health service providers, Local Enterprise Partnerships, or key public, academic, commercial or voluntary organisations in Bristol and surrounding region.
• Expertise in effective and influential communications, particularly about sustainable energy and the climate emergency.
• Understanding of the funding landscape for our work, with relevant networks and connections to charitable or other funding bodies.

Have you got the qualities we need?

All trustees have a strong interest in and commitment to CSE’s work and charitable objectives.
The role is voluntary, though reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be paid.

The time commitment required is on average less than a day per month.

For more information on the role, the full person specification and how to apply, see trustee role specification and information.

Deadline for applications is midday on Monday 4 December 2023.