Q: Tell us your background and when you first became interested in energy? 
A: I grew up in a small village in rural Somerset. I have always been interested in science and am passionate about the environment. At secondary school I had a fantastic physics teacher (later to also become my A-level tutor) who really inspired me to choose to read physics at the University of Warwick. I also wanted to do a degree which I would both enjoy but would not tie me to a specific career (at that point I was not sure which field I wanted to work in). However, I would say that reading physics was not easy for me and I did struggle at times with the pure maths modules on my course. It was my lecturer in energy during the second year of my degree who inspired me to go into the field of energy.

After I graduated, I was successful in my application to be an Energy Consultant at Kiwa Energy (then GASTEC at CRE). I was heavily involved in domestic and small-scale commercial field trials for the Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust on various technologies, including condensing boilers, advanced thermostat controls, air source and ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal systems.

After four years, we decided to relocate to Oxford and I started work at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA; then the Health Protection Agency) at Harwell campus in Oxfordshire. I worked as a Radon Protection Scientist, providing technical remediation advice to householders affected by high radon levels in their homes.

About a year later, I saw British Gas building a shiny new office in Oxford and applied for an Energy Data Analysis role in the Energy Performance Team. I joined the team as it moved into the new office and carried out benchmarking, data analysis and reporting writing for a range of NHS hospital sites where British Gas holds Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs). This allowed me to work with a wide range of teams internally, including learning some initial measurement and verification (M&V) skills from my then line manager. My line manager then supported me to complete my M&V training and qualify in 2014, and also at that time I was made MEI. I continued in M&V until earlier this year, when I started work as a Senior Commercial Analyst at Centrica Business Solutions.

Q: How did you first hear about the Energy Institute and what motivated you to join? 
A: I joined the EI as a graduate member after my line manager in my first professional job at Kiwa encouraged me to join. It was a brilliant decision, as this has allowed me to develop my professional career in the energy sector and subsequently gain full membership.

Q: How has being an MEI benefitted you in your career?
A: I needed support in broadening my knowledge of different technologies when I first started working and the EI helped me to do this. I have hugely benefitted from training and events run by the EI which have directly helped me in my role and in maintaining my PMVA (Performance Measurement and Verification Analyst) status through the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

For example, I completed a module from the L2 Energy Management Professional (Heating and Ventilation) to improve my knowledge in this area, which has specifically aided my level of engineering understanding on projects with ventilation measures. I am looking to further expand my technical knowledge through training courses and policy updates.

Being a member of the EI is particularly useful for keeping up to date with the latest news and trends in the industry, specifically the Energy Barometer, which is highly relevant to my current role in the commercial team. I also find the EI Live events really useful as often they are related to current hot topics in the industry.

Q: You took a very high-level route into the field of measurement, in the form of a physics degree. To what extent are high-end skills like yours required in, say, measuring/tracking emissions? 
A: Speaking personally, reading physics has been incredibly useful because I have a sound understanding of maths, data analysis and different technologies, for example combined heat and power (CHP) engines, solar PV and heat pumps.

I would say that the M&V field does not necessitate a pure physics degree, but it has definitely helped me pick up knowledge more quickly than some of my other peers who perhaps do not have that kind of educational background. The field is reasonably specialist, as whilst not too tricky most of the time, it does require a certain kind of mindset in order to ensure that reporting is accurate. I would say that the core skills required are data analysis, attention to detail, collaborative working and an ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders. You also need to be prepared to think outside the box, for example when meters break and you experience data loss, so a lot of problem solving is required.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

If you’re keen to follow in Laura’s footsteps, click through to find more about how to become a Member of the Energy Institute (MEI).