Ocean Job Board
Marketing & Communications · Part-time
Oxfordshire, UK
GBP 30k-35k / year
Westmill Energy is home to two pioneering community-owned renewable energy co-operatives in Oxfordshire and a charity. Westmill Wind Co-operative, established in 2008, and Westmill Solar Co-operative, established in 2012 as one of the UK's first community-owned solar farms. Together, the sites generate around 12.7 GWh of clean electricity each year, with the 8.2 GWh/year wind farm and 4.5 GWh/year solar farm producing enough renewable energy to power approximately 4,400 homes annually.
The Westmill co-operatives were established to inspire change, to show that ordinary members of the public can participate in developing new sources of renewable energy and help to combat climate change. The co-operatives are owned by more than 3,000 members, over 40% of our members live within 25 miles of the site.
Through the charity - Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust (WeSET), established in 2009, Westmill delivers educational programmes, site tours and outreach activities that promote sustainable energy and climate action. The site has become a nationally recognised centre for renewable energy learning, welcoming over 18,000 visitors and inspiring communities, schools and organisations from across the UK and beyond. Since its launch, Westmill has provided over £1,000,000 in community funding for local, national and international projects.
Both co-operatives work closely together and share big ambitions to demonstrate how community-owned renewables can improve the UK's generation and use of energy to help create a low carbon future. With substantial resources at their disposal, the Westmill co-operatives have the capacity to deliver transformational projects - from site expansion and development to pioneering new approaches in community energy. Through the sites themselves, and through the funding they provide to other organisations, they aim to encourage and develop a more sustainable way of life both locally and more widely.
Both the co-operatives wish to engage more closely with their members and the local community, and welcome in new members to support the co-operatives through new developments on-site and in the local community. This role will play a key part in the delivery of these ambitions.
Energy4All is one of the UK's leading social enterprises in the delivery of community owned renewable energy schemes. Founded in 2002, it has successfully delivered 35 operating community energy co-operatives, with more under development. Energy4All acts as the manager of both the Westmill Wind and Solar co-operatives.
We’re looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised Communications Lead to join our friendly team. This role will lead and deliver communications for Westmill Solar, Westmill Wind and WeSET, while bringing our recently refreshed brand to life and helping to establish a strong, consistent identity that reflects who we are and what we stand for.
The Directors of Westmill Solar and Wind have set the aim of establishing the two co-operatives as the UK’s leading and best-known examples of community-owned renewable energy generation. The new recruit should be happy to support these aims and to fit into this ethos.
This is a diverse and rewarding role for someone who enjoys working with people, communicating with a range of audiences, and contributing across communications and community engagement. You will help showcase Westmill’s work and impact, creating meaningful connections with members and the wider community through engaging and effective communications.
You will play a key role in creating engaging content from social media posts and website updates to newsletters, press releases and promotional materials. Working closely with colleagues, directors and community partners, you will help identify and share stories, project updates and case studies that demonstrate the impact of Westmill's work while ensuring communications remain clear and consistent with Westmill’s values and brand.
The role also involves supporting our digital presence by helping to manage social media channels, creating graphics and marketing materials using Canva and other design tools. Tracking engagement and gathering performance data to help measure the effectiveness of our communications activities will also be part of this role.
Community engagement and events form part of this role. You will help plan, organise and deliver events supporting everything from registrations and event materials to presentations, and promotional resources. You'll also work with venues and colleagues to ensure events run smoothly and collect feedback to help improve future activities.
We are looking for a positive, proactive and enthusiastic individual who is keen to learn and can communicate confidently both in writing and in person. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to build effective relationships with a diverse range of people are essential. You should be comfortable using digital tools and willing to learn new systems as needed.
Previous experience creating content for websites, newsletters or social media, or using Canva or similar design software is essential. Familiarity with WordPress and social media management tools would also be beneficial.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences who share our commitment to community engagement, sustainability and renewable energy.
The purpose of this role is to strengthen engagement with members, directors and the wider community by ensuring clear, consistent and timely communication. The role will help to raise the profile of Westmill’s pioneering community-owned renewable energy projects and WeSET, promoting the social, environmental and economic benefits they deliver. It will also support member engagement, strengthen links with local communities, and encourage active participation in the governance of the co-operatives. The role also plays a key role in sharing Westmill’s achievements, coordinating events and visits, managing digital communications, and showcasing the impact of community benefit funding, educational outreach and renewable energy generation to a wide range of audiences.
Communications:
Digital Communications:
Events and Community Engagement:
Administration and Team Support:
There may be occasional and ad hoc administration and team support duties such as taking minutes at an in-person meetings, writing reports for board or member meetings and preparing slides for AGMs.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support events.
The role calls for a broad range of skills and a degree of flexibility. The successful candidate will have a good number of the following skills and attributes:
If you feel you have a good number of the above skills, then we would be delighted to hear from you.
The role will report to Westmill’s CEO who is based in Oxfordshire. Forming part of a small team working on Westmill, there are no line management requirements for this role. There will be wider support from the Energy4All team.
This role offers flexibility to be either home-based or office-based. We currently have office space in Oxford and would ideally like to recruit someone who is local to Oxfordshire. However, we are open to applications from candidates based further afield and, where appropriate, would consider securing office space closer to the successful candidate’s home location.
Regular site visits to the Westmill facilities will be required, located at Westmill Wind Farm and Solar Park, Watchfield, Swindon, SN6 8TH. There will also be periodic meetings in Oxford and travel to other UK locations may be required.
A clean driving license is advantageous, although we ask staff to prioritise use of public transport where possible.
Employer: Energy4All Limited will employ the Communications Lead. The contract of employment will be with Energy4All.
Energy4All values diversity and inclusion and does not discriminate based on their age, race, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds.
Salary: £30,000 to £35,000 per annum (pro rata), depending on experience, skills and qualifications. If freelance, daily rates can be discussed.
Hours: Core hours are from 9am to 5pm, but the role requires occasional evening and weekend meetings.
Holidays: 25 days plus statutory holidays. Holiday entitlement increases by one day’s holiday for each full three years’ of service completed, capped at 30 days.
Contract: This is a part-time role, working 4 days per week, subject to a 5-month probation period. We offer flexibility in how hours are worked, subject to business needs.
Pension: Energy4All supports a stakeholder pension scheme and will pay up to 8% in salary if the employee contributes at least 4%. Staff are required to join the pension scheme on completion of the probationary period.
Office and Equipment: Energy4All will supply all necessary equipment including office space.
Expenses: All expenses are reimbursed at cost against receipts. Mileage in your own car is paid at 55p per mile but, wherever reasonable, employees are encouraged to use public transport.
We welcome applications that reflect your communication skills and creativity. Alongside your CV, you are invited to submit your application, explaining how you meet the criteria, in a format that best showcases your talents, whether that is a cover letter, presentation, video, portfolio or another creative approach. To ensure a fair assessment process, submissions should be concise and take no more than 10 minutes to review.
Interviews are expected to take place in Oxford during the week commencing 23rd or 30th November, although online interviews may be offered if required.