Freelance opportunity

Business engagement and project management specialist

Zero Carbon Guildford are seeking a freelance business engagement and project management specialist to support the launch of a new Sustainable Business Network project offering energy assessments to SMEs.

This short-term role (start ASAP with end date 31st October) will suit a skilled communicator with experience in engaging SMEs on sustainability issues and driving forward early-stage project delivery.

Skills & Experience Sought

• Demonstrable experience in communications, marketing, or project launch for SME or sustainability initiatives.

• Ability to work autonomously and deliver high-quality outputs quickly.

• Strong written, visual, and verbal communication skills.

• (Desirable) Experience and expertise in energy assessment.

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should email info@guildfordsbn.org with:

• A short outline of why you’re interested in the role.

• Examples of relevant experience.

• Your day rate or project fee for this work.

See below for full brief.

Deadline for expressions of interest: Monday 8th September 2025

Context

The Sustainable Business Network is a project run by Zero Carbon Guildford, a Surrey-based charity tackling environmental challenges with practical, local solutions that make a real difference. From improving energy efficiency to monitoring water quality and reducing food waste, we’re helping to make Guildford and Surrey greener, healthier, and fairer places to live.

The Sustainable Business Network aims to support and empower Surrey businesses to adopt low-carbon behaviours and operations. We have secured funding to launch a new project offering free energy assessments and advice to local SMEs. 

The project aims to support at least 30 small businesses over the next two years to identify and implement changes that improve energy efficiency and increase energy coming from renewable sources. We will do this by offering free energy assessments combining data analysis and on-site surveys, leading to recommendations and follow up advice to support businesses with implementation.

We will be recruiting a Non-Domestic Energy Assessor who will work on the project 2 days/week from autumn 2025 to spring 2027. Ahead of that, we have short-term funding available to employ someone to help us get the project set up, creating the materials, systems and marketing plan that will enable our Non-Domestic Energy Assessor to focus on conducting energy assessments and supporting businesses.

Role purpose

We need someone to support the launch of this project by a) developing the public-facing identity, creating engaging outreach materials and any additional material needed b) driving the first phase of business engagement, ensuring strong early momentum and effective use of the initial budget window and c) developing the templates and processes for the Non-Domestic Energy Assessor to use. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Project Setup: Work closely with SBN core team to clarify objectives, deliverables, and timelines for the assessment service. Develop the key documents, processes and MEAL framework to meet project objectives.

• Project Messaging: design clear, compelling messaging (including project name) and visual identity for the project, ensuring alignment with SBN brand, funder expectations and local priorities.

• Stakeholder Engagement Planning: Map out key audiences, develop stakeholder lists and suggest appropriate engagement routes. Identify delivery partners for specialist consultancy support.

• Marketing Strategy: Create a project marketing plan targeting priority local businesses in key sectors, using direct marketing, blogs, Zero Carbon Guildford and SBN social media, partner networks, and digital assets.

• Materials Development: Produce high-quality digital (and print?) collateral including web content, email templates, flyers, and presentations etc to support outreach and enable delivery.

• Network Engagement: Proactively connect with existing partners and identify options (chambers, local authorities, trade groups) for interest lead gen.

• Initial Business Engagement: Directly contact a shortlist of target businesses to promote the offer, answer initial questions, and put in place a pipeline for assessments.

• Energy Assessment Process Development: Develop or adapt assessment/audit methodology and related documentation/templates (using existing best practice, standards, or internal processes as appropriate). Note: we have experts in energy and business sustainability within the SBN team (these are volunteers who work in the sector) and can advise on the technical elements. 

• Reporting and Handover: clear handover at end of period, providing documentation, learnings, and recommendations for continued marketing.

Key Outputs:

• Marketing: Project name, narrative, website landing page, marketing plan, and digital assets.

• Stakeholder engagement: Business Audience, Audience map, initial engagement and dev.

• Project process: Finance process, Project agreement/ T&C (look at domestic energy surveys), Energy Audit process including templates, MEAL framework

• Pipeline: Initial engagement with networks, initial outreach to network's audience resulting in an initial pipeline of interested businesses.

If you have questions about the project or role, please contact info@guildfordsbn.org