When we catch up with Gary Foster, Project Manager at CorEnergy, he is at the controls of the lightweight drone he uses for much of his surveying work. It allows him to give in-depth updates to clients requiring both photography and live video footage of the renewable energy installations he is responsible for across the UK.

In this case Gary is capturing a series of Solar Car Port installations delivered to York St John University, part of a wide-scale decarbonisation project they are undertaking across their campus. It is one of several measures either already delivered or planned by them, including Solar PV panels, battery storage and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs), which will all help the University towards its 2030 target of an 80% reduction in emissions over 25 years.

Gary has worked in the Solar PV market for over 13 years, delivering projects for a number of industry leading businesses and advancing the scope of his knowledge and experience in the wider renewables market.

“The market has certainly come on leaps and bounds since I started. There was a strong period of growth around the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme in 2010, which flattened when it ended in 2019. But more recently business is really booming across a wider range of low carbon measures. The number of surveys I have lined up for potential projects means I’m on the go all the time. I’m just back from a week in Wales looking at a series of renewables projects, and today I’m in York with three separate visits, two solar PV installations and decarbonising a boiler.”

Gary has been at CorEnergy for three months now and has enjoyed the energetic pace of work and the challenge of delivering projects across the UK.

“It’s certainly an employee’s market. There’s a real need for experienced engineers in the renewables sector and companies are competing to attract a limited number of available professionals.

“Saying that, having the opportunity to work with a quality business like CorEnergy offers you a lot of value. There’s increased stability and professionalism with the way they work, it’s a long-term relationship, and that’s the way they work with their clients too. Plus, because they’re part of a bigger group of businesses, many in the renewables sector, you receive a range of benefits, like training, upskilling, additional accreditations, there are employee support groups, groups promoting wellbeing for the workforce and incentives to help you buy shares in the Group. It’s a great place to work and I look forward to being here as the company continues to grow.”

York St John was named joint 1^st for carbon reduction by People & Planet, the largest student network in the UK campaigning for social and environmental justice.

“The projects that we’re working on here and in other places are a small slice of what’s to come. It’s an exciting time and I’m happy to be with a business that wants to be a part of that future, and that wants to give me what I need to make the most of it too.”

To look at current employment opportunities within the Sureserve Group, visit our careers section.