Amelia joined Reheat as a Graduate in July 2024 after graduating from The University of Nottingham with a degree in Environmental Sciences.
Here, Amelia gives us her insight since joining us, and how she has integrated the skills and experience gained from writing her dissertation into her role as Graduate Consultant.
My role at Reheat is Graduate Renewable Energy Consultant. My work can vary depending on the projects I’m involved in. This includes communicating with external stakeholders, arranging site visits, writing technical reports, conducting data analysis, collaborating with colleagues, and attending both internal and external meetings.
When I was looking for a role, I was primarily seeking a company whose values aligned with my own – particularly one focused on environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. Reheat stood out as a perfect fit.
Since joining Reheat, my role has evolved significantly. As I’ve gained experience, I’ve been given more responsibility across projects. One project I’m particularly proud of is my work on the Church of England Energy Audit decarbonisation project, which I became involved in within two months of joining Reheat. Despite having limited experience with stakeholder communication and large-scale coordination, I took on the responsibility of organising church site visits across the project.
I coordinated directly with 80 churches, arranged and attended meetings with stakeholders, and scheduled visits as efficiently as possible. Beyond logistics, I also contributed to writing and assisting with over half of the project reports and have continued to manage communications with both churches and diocesan officers.
This project has been a steep learning curve and a major contributor to my professional growth. It’s helped me develop confidence in external communications, sharpen my organisational skills, and deepen my understanding of decarbonising historical buildings.
My work with the Church of England has piqued my interest in the role of renewable heat in decarbonising buildings, especially in rural or hard-to-heat areas. Through projects involving low-carbon district heating and the decarbonisation of historic buildings, I’ve seen how renewable heating can significantly reduce emissions while improving energy affordability and resilience. I have also developed a growing interest in biomass systems – observing biomass boilers in action has sparked my curiosity about their efficiency and versatility. I’m keen to continue learning about this area, given its vital role in the transition to low-carbon heat.
I have always had a keen interest in environmental sustainability & reducing carbon emissions, which is why I chose to study Environmental Sciences at University. My dissertation was based on assessing PM2.5 particles in Nottingham City Centre in comparison to other cities. As part of the project, I installed air quality sensors across Nottingham, which gave me valuable experience working independently and managing a field-based research project.
Throughout the process, I encountered challenges – such as sensors not functioning properly – which helped me develop strong problem-solving skills. I also gained significant experience in data analysis, which has directly supported the work I do at Reheat. The dissertation helped me realise that I enjoy working with data and solving complex problems, which confirmed that this was the direction I wanted to take in my career.
What makes it all worthwhile is the shift from theoretical work at university to being part of an organisation that delivers real, tangible impact. That’s incredibly rewarding.
Knowing that the work we do within the Reheat consultancy team directly contributes to reducing carbon emissions and helping organisations transition to a more sustainable future is incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s conducting feasibility studies for low-carbon district heating in rural Scottish communities, supporting the decarbonisation of historic church buildings, or analysing data and reporting on the performance of heat networks, each project has a real-world impact. It’s motivating to be part of a team delivering practical solutions that drive meaningful environmental change.
I would advise someone starting in this industry to be patient with themselves and give it time. It can feel daunting at first – there’s a lot of new terminology, and it’s easy to feel like you don’t understand everything that’s being discussed. But that’s completely normal. You’ll gradually pick things up and start to build confidence and understanding as you gain experience
My biggest piece of advice is to listen actively and never be afraid to ask questions – no question is too small or silly. Curiosity and a willingness to learn will take you far in this field.
