Chantal Adams (27) is a proud Mancunian.
She studied human geography at university but after a short spell working in telecoms, decided her future lay in renewable energy.
“It was quite nice for me to be able to go into a job that was actually related to my degree, because we studied renewables and I always found it really interesting,” said Chantal.
“When I was at university I wasn’t quite sure what a job in renewables would look like, but an ex-colleague worked for SSE and always said it was a good place to work. So, when this job came up in Manchester, I thought, oh, that’s brilliant. I’ve got all of the experience they’re looking for. I know Manchester and I have all the local connections and know how.
“The real appeal was feeling I could make a difference to the place I come from. I hope that one day I’ll work on a project that I’ll be able to say to future generations, my own kids and grandkids, that I worked on that.
“A lot of the people that I worked with in my first role have gone into energy now. I wanted to do more than just recycling at home or putting on a colder wash. It’s generally accepted that the infrastructure needs to improve before we can fully transition to net zero so I wanted to do something that paves the way and makes it easier for everyone to do more. My generation has been raised to understand what climate change is as part of our curriculum, but I think maybe there’s a challenge with some people slightly older than us that didn’t have that education in school.”
As the business development manager for Manchester at SSE Energy Solutions, Chantal works alongside another Manchester local, Eve Ashby, social value co-ordinator for SSE in the region. Together, they’ve been working with local schools and charities to encourage more people to consider a career in sustainable energy.
“We’ve been into a few schools and colleges to talk to kids about STEM education and we’ve been working closely with the Blair project, a social enterprise in Manchester that provides opportunities for marginalised young people to develop hands on electrification skills. It’s a part of the role I really enjoy because it’s good to give back.”
Chantal embodies SSE’s commitment to communities, believing that it’s important that local challenges are met with locally devised solutions, and taking the community with them on the journey to net zero.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will unveil the details of its new five-year decarbonisation plan at this year’s Green Summit, but it is clear that it shares SSE’s view that collaboration at a local level is key if decarbonisation targets are to be met.
SSE’s director of regions and social value, Nehal Mehta, said: “We have long believed that working with communities is the best way forward and have developed a strong relationship with GMCA, precisely because they share that vision. I know their new five-year plan will be ambitious and our sponsorship of the 2024 Green Summit, our 3rd year of doing so, demonstrates our commitment to working with them to achieve their targets and drive low carbon investment, local supply chains, skills and jobs in the region.”
As for Chantal, who is excited about heat network, solar and wind projects she’s developing in the Greater Manchester region, she has big plans for the future.
She added: “I feel like every day I learn something new, which is a good thing. I think the day I stop learning is the day it’s time to leave. My ambition is to have so many projects in Manchester that I’ve got a team under me, and we grow so big here that we need lots more resources and create lots more local jobs.”
