Pure Leapfrog's workshop slides on accelerating your community energy project- particularly useful for anyone looking at setting up a community energy coop.
Pure leapfrog at GCDA co-ops event- accelerating your community energy project
1. How to accelerate your Community Energy project
Creating the right building blocks
February 2014
Pure Leapfrog registered Charity No. 1112249
Company No. 05534395 registered in England & Wales
2. Who are we …
Pure Leapfrog - the leading provider of social investment and
professional support to community energy projects in the UK.
We are a business led charity working with Government,
investors and communities.
We bring together affordable finance and accessible
expertise.
Our mission is to ensure that community energy becomes
a significant part of the sustainable energy mix in the UK.
“
“
– Finance is secured through a credit facility from Big Society Capital.
– Expertise is provided by our professional partner network.
3. Pure Leapfrog in numbers
Supported over 100
groups
Working with 4 local
authorities
Loaned £1m
Over 20 projects
financed
Over £6 of benefit for
every £1 loaned
5,000+ hrs of pro
bono professional
services
6. Aim of workshop
Understand what
the key
components are
in delivering a
successful
Community Energy
Project
PETRA (Havering), mission control
7. Green social impact
Can you combine renewable & energy efficiency
projects with delivering social impact?
8. Dummy scenario
You’ve joined your local group in Sunnyton
There are ~100k inhabitants in the locality
Mix of social housing stock, industrial parks and
large fields nearby
Your vision – Carbon neutral, lowering fuel poverty
9. 1. The Team
Working group 1
Working group 2
Task:
Build a dream team
Task:
Turnaround a team that
has run out of steam
Consider:
Skills required
How to recruit
Available resources
Addressing motivations
Consider:
Stock take
Result of weak team
What are opportunities
How to remedy
10. The Team a la Village People
The
Technician
Authority
figure
Law
enforcement
Local Hero
Commander
Logistics
Technical
expert
Chair/CEO
Professional
Services
Comms
Business
Process
Admin
Contracts
negotiator.
Technology
expert
Big picture.
Can round up,
marshal and
lead the team
Knows the
law.
Can work a
spreadsheet
Public
engagement.
PR and
Marketing
Planner.
Sees things
through to
the end
Attention to
detail.
Negotiates
risks
* You can mix and match
11. Mixed motivations
Tree-hugging
£ Bottom Line!
Politicking
What excites one person may or may not interest another.
What excites one person may or may not interest another.
Play to each others strengths!
Play to each others strengths!
Well-being
13. 2. Business Planning
Working group 1
Working group2
Task:
Outline the plan of action
Task:
Outline pitfalls of getting it
wrong
Consider:
Stakeholders
Risks
Value proposition
What does success look
like?
Consider:
What can go wrong?
Risks
Commercial vs volunteer
run enterprise?
What does failure look
like?
16. 3. Key Stakeholders
Working group 1
Working group2
Task:
Create a pitch to a local
authority
Task:
You are a local authority.
How do you respond?
Consider:
What do you need to cover?
Approach - community
group vs commercial entity?
What do you bring to the
table?
Who do you need to
engage?
Consider:
Who needs to sign off?
What are the risks?
What are the processes?
What are the pros and
cons?
19. Successful ingredients
Commercially savvy
Good story to tell
Addressing local
needs
A passionate team
with a long view
Adaptable
Keeping it simple
20. Team Building
Where to go:
Online: Project Dirt
Advertise e.g.
supermarket
Word of mouth
Town hall meetings
Local fairs
23. Eden House, 23-25 Wilson St, London, EC2M 2TE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7825 4141
www.pureleapfrog.org
Pure Leapfrog registered Charity No. 1112249
Company No. 05534395 registered in England & Wales
Hinweis der Redaktion
How many groups are there?
What sort of projects are they delivering?
Are you open about your motivations?
Is there a healthy mix in the delivery team?
Are the group’s motivations aligned with those of beneficiaries & key stakeholders?
Filling the gap can help strengthen the ability to deliver projects.
Remember, some projects take a long time to complete!
Who’s is going to pay the shareholders in 20yrs time?
Have you budgeted for an employee?
How long did Osney Hydro take? – 12yrs!
Team management and planning
What are risks? AND What can be done to mitigate them?
Legislation changes
Contractor goes bust
No support from Local Authority
Reliance on grants
Weak contracts developed & used
Are you credible?
Who is backing you?
What is your track record?
Why your group vs commercial option?
When will you turn a profit?
LA Point of View
It’s not just about red tape
Las have to be prudent and invest with a return
Examples of fwd thinking and backward Las
Useful approaches
What to look out for if being pitched to