Jamie Hall is the CSO at energy and environmental consultancy Zenergi. The company’s core value is in making a positive difference to the world of energy, which the company calls the ‘Zen Way.’ Hall joined Zenergi in November, and Sustainable Future News spoke to him about his role, goals and ambitions.
How did you get into the role of CSO at Zenergi?
I’d heard nothing but great things about Zenergi, so I didn’t take a lot of convincing to join the Group when the opportunity presented itself. The positive culture and the passion to deliver an exceptional service, combined with the expertise we have across the business really does make Zenergi a very exciting place to be.
As for the role itself, I am always excited by opportunities where I can make an impact and, with sustainability now being such a fundamental part of our daily lives, both personally and at work, it’s great to be at a company which has such an impressive track record and is so focussed on tackling big issues, such as climate change.
What attributes made you an excellent fit for the role?
Well, I certainly wouldn’t say that I’m the finished article as everyday is a school day in this sector, the pace of change is incredible, but I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by an excellent team and some very intelligent and supportive professionals.
I’ve spent my career working in the energy and sustainability services sector over the past decade, where I’ve held a range of leadership roles, from operations to sales and technology. Throughout that time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in a sector that I am passionate about and to have supported many organisations, in the UK and globally, shape and deliver their sustainability objectives.
What are your key responsibilities and performance benchmarks?
I have a dual role in the business, so as CSO, my key responsibilities are to drive Zenergi’s social value strategy and to identify ways in which we can innovate as a business, by moving closer to net zero, for example. I also lead Zenergi’s Technical Division, Briar, where our team of 80 engineers deliver valuable carbon, consumption and cost-saving solutions, such as mechanical and electrical engineering, low carbon and renewable design, and energy management.
My performance benchmarks combine traditional business performance KPIs, with longer term planning, ensuring we are delivering on our promises, and we have a clear, strategic timeline to work towards for years to come.
Who do you report to?
Zenergi’s CEO, Graham Cooke, but as a board we collectively answer to the whole business and our range of stakeholders. We recently announced our social value strategy, ‘Powering a Sustainable Future’, outlining how we are committing to make a difference for our Planet, People, Community and Customers.
We are proud of our contribution to tackling some of the biggest challenges facing society and the planet, such as setting near and long-term company-wide emission reductions with the SBTi, rolling out Electric Vehicles and becoming a Real Living Wage Employer. It is a very exciting time, and I am proud to be a part of it.
Was it an ambition of yours to take on a role such as this when you started your career?
Looking back at my own journey, career planning has been most effective when I’ve focussed on short and mid-term goals. However, throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to have held roles which have challenged me and to have been mentored by some incredible people who helped to shape my career.
What are the best aspects of your role and why?
Seeing ideas and conversations become a reality. Whether it’s educating the energy users of the future through our network of 3,000 schools or helping to provide heating and reduce energy costs for those in society who are most vulnerable, I’m glad to be doing my small part, alongside a team of experienced, talented and passionate people across the Zenergi Group.
Tell me what Zenergi does to make it stand out from the rest in its field?
It’s an interesting time for businesses like ours working in energy, sustainability, and carbon reduction as there is clearly a lot to do, but I’d like to think that Zenergi is leading the way.
To support their transition to a more sustainable future, customers need good data and advice they can trust, and once they have a strategy in place, they then need partners to help them with implementation.
A lot of the decarbonisation solutions necessary to achieve net zero across scopes 1 and 2, for example, are specialist from an energy or engineering perspective, so Zenergi’s capability means we are perfectly placed to provide that support.
What advice would you give to people who may want to become a chief sustainability officer or similar?
Put simply, go for it… it is a very exciting time to be a CSO, as organisations around the world are increasingly recognising the need to take proactive action to enhance their reach and reduce their impacts. This does mean there is never a quiet day in the CSO calendar, but the job satisfaction makes it all worth it.
