We're Hiring: Business Energy Assessor

We are looking for an organised and personable individual to carry out high level energy assessments for small businesses in Surrey. You’ll need a basic understanding of how to improve sustainability through energy in buildings and the capability to learn quickly in the role. The role would suit someone looking to build experience and expertise in the commercial energy sector, with the potential to train as a Non-Domestic Energy Assessor. 

‘Energy Check’ is a new project run by Zero Carbon Guildford (ZCG) as part of our Sustainable Business Network. Around 30% of Surrey’s emissions are from commercial premises, and whilst SMEs are agile, and can collaboratively make significant reductions in Surrey’s overall carbon footprint, they often lack the resource, knowledge and funding to take action. This project aims to support 30+ small businesses by providing high level energy assessments which give actionable recommendations to reduce energy use, bills and improve sustainability. 

Zero Carbon Guildford is a Surrey-based charity tackling environmental challenges with practical, local solutions that make a real difference. From supporting energy efficiency in homes to monitoring water quality and reducing food waste, we’re helping to make Guildford and Surrey greener, healthier, and fairer places to live.

This role is part of the Community Energy People project, funded by the National Lottery. 

About the Role

• Contract: Fixed term to April 2027 

• Hours: 14 hours per week

  
  

• Salary: £12,621 per year (pro rata, equivalent to £31,553 FTE)

  
  

• Location: Based at ZERO, Riverside Business Centre, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4UG, with travel across Surrey required to carry out on-site business assessments. Flexibility to work from home in agreement with line manager.

• Start date: January 2026

  
  

Job description

The Business Energy Assessor will be the sole member of staff working on this project. The role holder will be responsible for booking and carrying out high level energy assessments for small businesses across Surrey, and providing recommendations and light touch follow up support to those businesses. They will sit in the Zero Carbon Guildford team, with support from both staff and the Sustainable Business Network volunteers. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide high level on-site energy assessments and written reports with energy saving and decarbonisation recommendations to micro and small businesses in Surrey.

• Manage the booking system and be the single point of contact liaising with businesses throughout the process, from registration to post-assessment feedback.

• Follow up with businesses after assessments to provide light-touch support to implement recommendations. 

• Collate feedback and learnings from the assessment process to support developing the project in future years.

• Understand and communicate current available grant offerings and any other appropriate support available to customers. 

• Work with ZCG marketing and operations team to promote the project to potential users and the general public. 

• Report project progress to the ZCG staff team and Sustainable Business Network core team. 

Training and development:

• Option to train and qualify as a Non Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA), funded by ZCG, with 50% of training time included in the role’s hours.

• If this option is taken up, the role-holder will be contracted to either stay in the role for at least 6 months following completion of the training, or to repay ZCG the cost of the training. 

  
  

Person specification

• Basic understanding of energy use and efficiency in buildings, and of the improvements that can be made to improve efficiency, reduce waste and improve sustainability.  

• Some understanding and experience of business sustainability strategies and opportunities. 

• Motivation to help businesses tackle climate change through improving energy in their buildings. 

• Willing and able to increase knowledge of commercial energy efficiency and management, as well as to quickly learn and use project systems and processes.

• Well organised and able to work independently and manage time effectively.

• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills, and able to convey complicated information in a simple and compelling way. 

• Good IT literacy, including the use of Google Drive, Teams / Zoom, and online marketing and customer management tools. 

• Ability to access locations across Surrey to conduct site visits. 

  
  

Benefits

• Travel expenses for site visits and any other work beyond your normal place of work.

• Expenses for work-related communications.

• Pension contribution.

• Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees).

  
  

Inclusive Recruitment Statement

At Zero Carbon Guildford we believe diversity makes us stronger. We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and be their authentic self.  We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic

status. 

Research shows that some candidates may self-select out of applying if they don’t meet 100% of the listed criteria. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we still encourage you to apply—you may be the right person for the job.

Privacy

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. Any

information you provide during the recruitment process will be handled securely,

used only for recruitment purposes, and never shared without your consent. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter to recruitment@zerocarbonguildford.org by midnight on Sunday 14th December 2025.

Your cover letter should explain:

• Why you’d like to join our team.

• What you would bring to the role and charity.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

We also invite all candidates to complete an optional equality, diversity and inclusion monitoring form. This involves sharing some information about your background. Providing this information is entirely voluntary. It will be used only for anonymous monitoring and reporting purposes to help us identify trends and ensure our recruitment practices are fair and inclusive. The information you provide will be stored securely, kept separate from your application, and will not be seen by the recruitment panel or used in any decisions about your application.

Applications will be reviewed, and shortlisted applicants will be asked to attend an interview in early January 2026. The interviews may be in the evenings/weekend to allow for a volunteer Trustee to sit on the panel.

If there’s anything we can do to make our recruitment process more accessible to you, please get in touch—we’d love to support you.