BLOG – Bright Futures – Meet our new Green Doctor Energy Advisors

Kennedi

Before joining the programme, I was volunteering to build experience in the green and third sectors while applying for roles in charities and environmental organisations. I’ve always been passionate about environmental issues and helping people, and I was keen to find a role where I could make a direct and meaningful impact. When I saw the Green Doctor Trainee role, it really stood out to me as an accessible entry point into the sector. I had already heard of Groundwork and was interested in working for the organisation, so the opportunity felt like a perfect fit.

During course, I learned how to take accurate meter readings, identify damp and mould, including their causes, use heating systems effectively, explain energy bills, assess heat loss in the home, install small energy-saving measures, and advise on larger retrofit measures, including funding and eligibility for government grants and schemes.

Even though there was a lot of content to learn, I felt prepared going into the exam. The small cohort and class sizes meant that the lessons and revision sessions could be tailored to meet everyone’s needs.

Starting was nerve-wracking at first, as every day is different and you meet lots of people with varying needs, which requires you to problem-solve and apply your knowledge in practice. Shadowing colleagues helped me build confidence while getting to know different working styles and approaches.

The whole experience has been very eye opening for me. It can be easy to get wrapped up in your own reality, so being able to help someone and give them the time and support they need feels very rewarding. What I enjoy most about my role is seeing how small actions can make a big difference to people. It’s rewarding to have the tools to help others and make a real, tangible impact.

I’ve been able to take a step into a new career path that better aligns with my values. This opportunity has helped me gain direction, grow in confidence, and feel positive about building a long-term future in this sector.

Ivan

Before I became a Green Doctor I had been unemployed for just over a year following the completion of a degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management. I was extremely keen to put my degree to use in some form – I went to university as a mature student, so that choice was to facilitate a career in the sustainability sector. This role seemed like a perfect opportunity to develop a practical understanding of what I had previously only studied.

I learnt a wide range of things on the course, such as all the different types of meters I might expect to find in someone’s home, how to break down an energy bill for a resident to help them understand what they are spending and how it can be reduced, and how to set people’s heating controls for them to maximise their efficiency.

Now I’m working full time I like the variance day-to-day – the week is nicely split between going on home visits and office-based admin such as making bookings and follow-up calls with residents we’ve previously been to see. It keeps things feeling fresh and keeps both my brain and body active. In addition, I’ve met some really great people who it’s been a delight to be able to help. Knowing you’ve been able to make a real difference to the quality of someone’s life is fantastic and I’m looking forward to carrying on as part of the team.

It’s been great to take the first step of a career in the sector I want to be in and care a lot about. It’s a really rewarding role and I’ve learnt a lot of valuable things that I didn’t know before.

Josh

Prior to joining Groundwork I’d primarily done work that involved writing, however the advent of AI had changed the nature of these roles significantly and I decided I wanted to do something different.

I’ve always cared about the environment and was keen to make my next role something that involved helping others and making a positive impact. The opportunity at Groundwork seemed to be the perfect fit in this respect. The work of a Green Doctor is people-focused but through giving the correct advice, we help to improve the energy efficiency of individual homes and, by extension, reduce carbon footprints.

The training was really useful in providing the sort of information needed to help customers when providing energy advice. We learnt about different kinds of heating systems and controls, energy meters and general building physics principles that explain heat loss across a range of properties. We also covered the types of insulation and technologies that can be applied to improve the energy efficiency of a property and the schemes through which those on low incomes can gain access to them. As a large part of our work as Green Doctors involves helping those who may be in fuel poverty, we dedicated some time to learning about the financial support schemes available to those in such circumstances and how we can assist those who may be in debt.

We had a practical assessment, which replicated a scenario that you might encounter when doing an energy advice visit, followed by two exam papers. Everything covered across the exams was relevant to our role as energy advisors, so I didn’t feel like I was just learning something to pass an exam that I’d never need to think about again. As we were training, we were shadowing other Green Doctors and I noticed that I was gradually able to provide a better level of advice on these visits as we were progressing through training. Although there was quite a lot to remember for the exams, we were given adequate revision time to make sure we were fully prepared.

Now I have completed my training and am able to carry out home visits on my own, I really enjoy providing people with the help and support they need. When you leave the job knowing you’ve helped someone and made a positive difference it’s a good feeling.