Gwyneth Scott - Consumer Studies degree

What do you do?

I work in the Energy Services team of NIE Supply and look after a range of renewable energy projects which are funded by the NIE Smart programme. It is a very exciting and rewarding role as we get to develop programmes to support different sectors within our community who are interested in renewable energy. I'm not technically minded at all but it is surprising how much you learn just by being involved with different projects and because we have so many projects 'live' at once, I get to work with a wide range of people from different sectors in Northern Ireland.

How has your career developed?

I joined NIE Supply in 2002 as a placement student and worked in the Customer Relations team for a year which fitted in very well with my Consumer Studies degree. When I finished my one year placement I remained working with NIE on a part-time basis during final year in an administrative role but when a graduate position with the Energy Services team was advertised it seemed too good an opportunity to miss - the team was growing and the job sounded like it would be interesting and a new challenge and it certainly has turned out to be true! I applied for the job and was successful so I worked part-time until I finished my final university exams, then started full-time and I've been around ever since!

What skills?

Having the ability to work in a team as well as on your own is very important although good communication skills are also very useful when dealing with so many different types of people. Well developed organisational skills and time management skills help to make sure that all the projects happen simultaneously within timescales and to budget and it is also important to be enthusiastic so that people want to work with us on the various projects.

Most challenging?

Developing and looking after projects with new technologies or with different sectors is always a challenge but we have just had to learn to expect the unexpected! Our projects are getting more challenging as we try to go bigger and better each year so it is a very exciting and rewarding time to be involved in renewable energy within NIE.

Most rewarding?

Knowing that support from NIE has helped to make a renewable energy project happen within the community - there are so many success stories right across Northern Ireland of projects where people are actually benefiting from support from NIE - from schools and churches to householders and community groups.

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