Welcome to the June newsletter!

This month we have updates from various community energy events, plus a welcome and farewell to Energy Local team members.

What’s the latest in community energy?

It’s community energy conference season and our team have been busy criss-crossing the country!

Our club development manager Temi Omojola attended the Co-op Congress 2026 where she had the chance to chat with co-operative leaders, community organisations and sector partners.

Then a few days later she was in Birmingham for the Community Energy England conference, which gave her much food for thought as you can read in her blog here.

Meanwhile our founder Dr Mary Gillie headed over to Wrexham in north Wales for the Community Energy Wales conference, which included discussions on the importance of favourable market conditions (a subject close to our hearts) and Energy Local’s district heat project in Tanygrisiau.

The conference also heard from the new Welsh Government’s Minister for Business, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, who reiterated Plaid Cymru’s commitment to community energy and a wealth fund. Those of us in Wales are all looking forward to hearing more about that and we will keep you posted.

Welcome to our new Regulations, Markets and Operations Manager

We're delighted Paula Woodman has joined us to oversee the growth of our local energy clubs, as well as engagement with key sector stakeholders and regulators.

Based in Bath, Paula is an experienced professional with a track record of creating new policies, networks and support systems to enable social and community enterprises to thrive, both in the UK and internationally.

In the last few years she has focused on sustainability both in her work on low-income housing innovations at Habitat for Humanity's Innovation Center and through her MSc in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition at Heriot Watt University, Scotland. Her work earned her a WISE100 award, which recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business.

She also holds a Senior Executive Leadership certification from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Farewell Ros!

Sadly it’s farewell to our Temporary Development and Operations Executive Ros Allcott who joined us to cover long-term leave in the team last Autumn, although she’s not ruling out the occasional reappearance!

Thanks Ros for all your energy and organisational skills and all the best with your expanding consultancy practice.