“It’s good to help people keep on top of their energy bills” – Rob’s Story

Rob was a Trainee Energy Advisor on the Cadent Foundation Green Doctor Academy.

Before joining the programme, Rob worked as a mechanic but wanted to do something a bit different, something that reflected his interests in the environment and helped people. When he found out about Groundwork’s Green Doctor Academy, it felt like the right opportunity to make that change.

The training gave Rob a strong foundation of energy knowledge, which he was able to build on through hands-on experience in the field. By shadowing Groundwork’s experienced Green Doctors, he learned how to apply what he studied and gained valuable insight into supporting people in their homes.

As part of the programme, Rob and his fellow trainees worked towards an NVQ Level 3 in Energy Awareness. In the lead-up to the exam, they spent two weeks revising with support from their tutor, Karin, an Employment Trainer at Groundwork. Rob says Karin was always on hand to answer questions and make sure everyone felt confident and well prepared.

After passing his exam, Rob started accompanying Green Doctors on supervised home visits. He’s now been going out on his own, visiting households, fitting small energy-saving measures, offering advice, and helping people access additional funding or support where needed.

For Rob, the most rewarding part of the job is being able to help others. He says many people just need a bit of guidance to get back on track and stay on top of their energy bills. Knowing he’s making a difference to people’s lives, while also helping the environment, makes the experience even more meaningful.