International Women's Day: Leading the Renewable Energy Industry at BSR

Did you know that women make up just 32% of the renewable energy industry workforce? That’s a low percentage. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, it will take 133 years to reach full gender parity. This is exactly why we fully support International Women’s Day’s #AccelerateAction theme.

The women at British Solar Renewables are leading the way in the renewables industry. We’re proud to say that over 38% of our team are women. While this is higher than the industry average, there is still much work to be done. We remain committed to increasing this figure and striving towards true gender equality.

From Planning Managers to the grid team, we’ve interviewed the women behind British Solar Renewables. Not only are they experts in their roles, but they’ve also proven how they’ve overcome systemic barriers and biases to get to where they are today.

Scroll through to find out more.

Natalie is our Communications Manager. From publishing spot on social posts to ensuring our website is fully working, she is responsible for getting BSR in front of the right people.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the renewable energy?

I’ve been working in sustainability for most of my career, having explored a range of areas from ocean conservation and food security to organic consumer products, transport and much more. As someone who is politically minded, renewables piqued my interest, particularly at a time where the Labour Government is in charge and is prioritising clean energy.

How are you leading the way in your role?

In terms of ethnic background, only 5% of PR professionals are Asian. Despite people around me pushing me to pursue medicine, finance or law, I worked my way up in communications. I want to show those with a similar background to me that it’s possible to succeed, thrive and lead in careers that aren’t typical for us, and hopefully inspire others to choose this route too.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women considering a career in the renewable energy industry?

Don’t be afraid to:

• speak up
• stand for what’s right
• and be yourself

It might feel like the energy industry wants you to fit into a box, but the right people will value authenticity and integrity.

Fran is our Deputy CEO ensuring the smooth running of the business alongside the rest of the BSR board.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the renewable energy?

My role in renewable energy was a happy accident. I initially started as a construction lawyer and was drawn to its practicality and being able to see tangible benefits of your work. I couldn’t be happier in renewable energy. The work is varied, fast-paced, interesting and provides opportunity to make a real impact on nature, biodiversity and the planet, bringing together all my passions - something I never thought was possible in a career.

How are you leading the way in your role?

Being on the main Board at BSR will give other women the push they need to see that anything is possible. The renewables industry has a huge role to play in nature protection and biodiversity, and I am proud to lead to be pushing these for the company

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women considering a career in the renewable energy industry?

The key qualities you need to succeed in any career are persistence and determination. This was advice I was given as a young lawyer and I believe it can get you anywhere.

Never lose your integrity and be open to change and opportunity. I imagined my life as a criminal barrister, qualified as a construction lawyer and metamorphosised into the Deputy CEO of a renewables company. My younger self would not have predicted that and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Serena works in Site Development team, scouting and analysing locations for new projects and helping turn clean energy ideas into reality.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the renewable energy?

My passion for the environment led me to pursue a degree in Geography. During my studies, I realised just how critical renewable energy is in tackling climate change and securing a sustainable future. After university, I saw first hand the impacts of climate change, whether it was the Great Barrier Reef struggling to survive in Australia or the deforestation in Bali. These experiences solidified my desire to make a real difference in the world, and I knew renewable energy was the sector for me. The prospect of contributing to a field that is fundamentally shaping the future, especially as a woman, was exciting.

How are you leading the way in your role?

I’ve been with the company for nearly a year and a half, initially as part of the monitoring team. Moving teams can be daunting, and I doubted whether I was capable enough in GIS and other aspects of site finding. However, I empowered myself and pushed myself to grow. I learned more about the industry, became more confident in my GIS and grid knowledge, and found ways to collaborate with others.

Being the only woman in site acquisition gives me the opportunity to offer fresh perspectives. It allows for a slightly different approach when speaking to landowners or bringing new ideas to the table. I’m keen to see more women join the renewable energy space.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women considering a career in the renewable energy industry?

Coming into a male dominated environment – especially the renewable energy sector, which might seem complex at first - is intimidating, and you might experience imposter syndrome. But there is a place for women in every part of the industry.

Firstly, believe in yourself and trust the process. Don’t shy away from technical roles if that’s where your interests lie; being a woman in this field is an asset.

Secondly, connect with other women. Find mentors and be proactive learning from those around you. I hope we can all become more confident and thrive in these environments.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to use your voice to speak up. We need diverse perspectives to drive change, and women bring great value to the table.

As the Grids Connections Manager, Ju makes sure our projects are plugged into the power grid, making sure everything runs smoothly and follows the rules.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the renewable energy?

When I was young, I watched a documentary about the technologies of sustainable energy. It was new and innovative at the time, and it opened my eyes to the importance for other alternative energies. We cannot rely on just one or two technology sources.

How are you leading the way in your role?

After completing my engineering degree in Thailand, I went on to study Renewable Energy Technologies in the UK. This program provided me with a solid understanding and foundation in various sustainable energy solutions. I then seized a great opportunity to join an international consultancy firm based in Thailand, where I worked on projects across Southeast Asia for three years. Later, I moved to the UK to continue my career in the industry, bringing my international expertise to work on diverse projects at different stages.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women considering a career in the renewable energy industry?

Keep pushing forward and never stop. It doesn’t matter where you're from or what your background is - what truly matters is your ability to do the job. Focus on building a strong network, seek out mentors, and don't shy away from taking on challenges.

Laura is the Planning Manager at BSR. She’s a certified puzzle solver, dealing with the entire planning process from start to finish and providing the project team guidance and advice around new sites.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the renewable energy?

I’ve always wanted to be part of something that has a direct and positive impact on the planet. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a key part of transitioning to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy and working for BSR means that I am contributing to that.

How are you leading the way in your role?

As the only Planning Manager at BSR, I use my knowledge and expertise to drive action for other teams. I provide advice and guide our development team on planning matters for our sites.

Being a woman and a team of one has been a valuable experience for me. As a people person, I prioritise developing strong relationships with internal teams and external consultants. I love the collaborative nature of my job and using social skills to help drive the achieve the results we need.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women considering a career in the renewable energy industry?

Don’t be afraid to speak up and share your thoughts and opinions. It’s common as a woman to second guess yourself, assume people will know better or not be interested in what you have to say. But engaging in conversations with others in the industry is a great opportunity to learn, grow, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Lucy is our junior spatial design engineer. She designs the sites to fit all parts of the business; smooth for O&M, simple for construction and considered enough to get them through planning.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the renewable energy?

I always knew I wanted to work in sustainability, and I got a lot of inspiration from studying engineering at uni. The most exciting and innovative designs I worked on seemed to go hand in hand with sustainable technology. For example, gas turbines seemed to have been designed the same way for years, whereas wind turbines were constantly being rethought and developed in new ways.

How are you leading the way in your role?

I’m very lucky and proud to be able to be my authentic self at work. I used to be reluctant to bring up the fact that I was gay, not because of shame, but because I thought it wasn’t important enough to be mentioned. I realised that being open about how I identify could be an example to another queer person that they don’t need to be afraid of being loud and unapologetic about who they are.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women considering a career in the renewable energy industry?

Know that there are always options, and there isn’t one set way to enter the industry. It might feel like you don’t have the experience or the qualifications, but if you don’t, someone else might not either, and it still won’t stop them from applying (and getting the job). Attitude and willingness to apply what you know and learn as much as possible can take you farther than you think.

There is no climate justice without gender justice. As an industry fighting the climate crisis, it is especially important that we work support gender equity and break down barriers and biases that women face - whether that's through offering internships or doing school talks to empower students to get into STEM.