Our industry knowledge, functional expertise and extensive networks ensure that our clients can trust us to deliver on one of their most important investment decisions – their leadership, both on a permanent and interim basis. We are strategic resourcing partners with a professional and open style. We aim to build a deep understanding of our clients’ operations and cultures, taking pride in our contribution to their success. We are creative and determined to find the very best Board and Senior Management talent, across a wide range of industries, including: • Energy – energy retail, smart grids & smart meters, nuclear, oil & gas, renewables. • Manufacturing & Engineering – aerospace & defence, automotive, building products, electronics, precision engineering, process & chemicals. • Infrastructure – construction, support services, utilities (power, water, waste). Our clients trust us to deliver on one of their most important investment decisions - their leadership Our Executive Search team delivers creative and far reaching senior recruitment programmes. We have experience of recruiting Chairs, CEO’s, Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Senior Technical, Project and Commercial Talent. We often support our clients with the redefinition of roles, building new organisations or divisions and positioning them to take advantage of market opportunities. Our multilingual research team is able to identify and engage a diverse range of talent globally, to ensure the broadest range of options from which our clients may appoint. Our Interim Management team provides proven sector specialists, who undertake turnaround, change management and project management assignments, as well as filling any significant “gaps”. Roles may be based in the UK or internationally – many of our Interims have advanced language skills and are comfortable operating across a wide range of cultures and geographies.
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www.veredus.co.uk
Our industry knowledge, functional expertise and extensive networks ensure that our clients can trust us to deliver on one of their most important investment decisions – their leadership, both on a permanent and interim basis.
We are strategic resourcing partners with a professional and open style. We aim to build a deep understanding of our clients’ operations and cultures, taking pride in our contribution to their success.
We are creative and determined to find the very best Board and Senior Management talent, across a wide range of industries, including:
• Energy – energy retail, smart grids & smart meters, nuclear, oil & gas, renewables.
• Manufacturing & Engineering – aerospace & defence, automotive, building products, electronics, precision engineering, process & chemicals.
• Infrastructure – construction, support services, utilities (power, water, waste).
Our clients trust us to deliver on one of their most important investment decisions - their leadership
Our Executive Search team delivers creative and far reaching senior recruitment programmes. We have experience of recruiting Chairs, CEO’s, Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Senior Technical, Project and Commercial Talent.
We often support our clients with the redefinition of roles, building new organisations or divisions and positioning them to take advantage of market opportunities.
Our multilingual research team is able to identify and engage a diverse range of talent globally, to ensure the broadest range of options from which our clients may appoint.
Our Interim Management team provides proven sector specialists, who undertake turnaround, change management and project management assignments, as well as filling any significant “gaps”.
Roles may be based in the UK or internationally – many of our Interims have advanced language skills and are comfortable operating across a wide range of cultures and geographies.
www.veredus.co.uk
Written by Aaron Webster
Renewable and non-renewable sources
Renewable versus non-renewable energy is a political and economic hot topic that can stir passionate views on either side. When considering the long term, the finite nature of non-renewable fossil fuels and the need to reduce our carbon footprint means that renewable energy sources will become more and more important. In the short to medium term however, there are positive and negative aspects to each.
Renewable energy sources offer a 'cleaner' energy that is less harmful to the environment. They can be relatively cheap to maintain and to run once installed but the installation itself can be costly. It can also be difficult to produce energy in the same quantities as that produced by non-renewable fuels. According to Chevron, worldwide energy consumption is projected to increase by more than 40% by 2035.
Even if the use of renewables was to triple over the next 25 years, the energy corporation claims the world will still depend on fossil fuels for at least half of its energy needs. So even with the best will in the world and with the onset of fracking it would seem proving technologies like carbon capture and storage are equally as important as driving the investment in renewable energy.
How can lines and grids be so complex?
One of my favourite books of all time is Catch 22. It is a brilliantly written and enveloping book where its storyline, characters and hilarious but terrifying logic can’t help but get your mind spinning. In the end I was left staring at a blank wall trying to figure out the great mysteries of life.
The energy sector lends itself beautifully to Catch 22. It is a sector that must have been purposefully designed to be complex but now strives to simplify itself around its customer. These customers want transparency and simplicity but the sector gets so tied up trying to explain why the system is the way it is trust cannot be built.
Where energy companies now strive to help its customers use less of its product and change their behaviour but because of the lack of trust between them this task is ever more difficult. Where something as simple as turning a light on has a chain of different events and data flow processes that number into the thousands.
Throw into this a healthy portion of regulation and competition reviews, the need to reduce our carbon footprint with increasing global energy use and the clear need for future infrastructure investment while customers call (or rather shout) for lower bills, my blank wall has become a good friend of mine.
Energy economics tries to bring some sense to this conundrum and Veredus is proud to be sponsoring the annual Energy UK conference where the importance of energy economics to the UK is set to be discussed. Alongside key sector leaders the energy secretary Ed Davey and shadow secretary Caroline Flint will be among those discussing the topic on the 22nd October.
With the forthcoming roll-out of smart meters and the creation of the Energy Systems Catapult I hope the sector will open itself up and allow some bright sparks to radically transform and reshape it into something that doesn’t just think in ‘lines’ and ‘grids’.
But for the time being what does the future hold for the energy sector – and are we ready for it?
www.veredus.co.uk
Investment vs affordability
The demand for energy is set to continue increasing worldwide, spurred by an ever growing population (the United Nations estimates the global population will reach 8 billion people by 2024) and the continuing growth of emerging economies such as China, India and Latin America.
Investment in infrastructure is required on this global scale in order to match the demand that fuels economic growth but infrastructure at a more regional level is also important.
A 2013 report commissioned by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association claimed that the UK was lagging behind other countries in the developed world in terms of infrastructure – including energy infrastructure – and hinted that it could end up costing the country.
For every £1 billion increase in infrastructure investment, the report claimed, UK-wide GDP increases by a total of £1.299 billion. Furthermore, the cost of the UK running an infrastructure which fell short of typical developed economy standards was £78 billion each year between 2000 and 2010.
Investment in infrastructure and new technology is vital in both economic terms and in matching the increased demand for energy but there's also a question of affordability. Passing investment costs onto consumers has proven to be massively unpopular, as politicians and energy suppliers have both found out in recent months and years.
Reliability and security of supply
Headlines warning of potential power shortages if demand for electricity outstrips supply at peak times have made the front pages of many national newspapers. Many forms of renewable energy can be affected by the weather and domestic energy prices can fluctuate depending on socio-economic and political conditions elsewhere in the world. It's important for the economy as well as for individuals, that UK energy supplies are both reliable and secure.
The gradual move to a smart grid system could have a major role to play in increasing reliability. Electricity is difficult to store (although electrical storage technology does have a part to play) and the electricity that is generated can often be wasted, particularly that generated from renewable sources. A computerised smart grid can help by directing power to where it is needed based on usage patterns and current demand. Smart meters can also help consumers by letting them know exactly how they are using energy within their homes and businesses enable us all to take control of the grid.
All of these double edged debates require leaders to make some significant decisions at all levels from global agreements, long-term national policies, robust organisational strategies and personal behaviour changes. I am sure that there will come a time when we aren’t thinking in ‘Lines’ and ‘Grids’ but in innovative, flexible, two-ways flows that stimulate a different relationship with our energy system.
www.veredus.co.uk
Aaron Webster Director Head of Energy, Manufacturing & Infrastructure, Executive Search and Selection [email protected] +44 (0) 207 932 4251
Aaron joined Veredus in December 2012 to lead the Energy, Manufacturing and Infrastructure practice based in London. His 9 years' international experience has involved working with a wide range of organisations across both the public and private sectors that specialise in the Energy, Built Environment and Utilities sectors.
Aaron completed a BSc degree in Geography at Leeds University and is presently studying towards an MSc in Environmental Decision Making. He also holds the British Psychological Society’s Level A & B certificates of competence in psychometric assessment.
After working for two high quality boutique executive search firms Aaron moved to Penna Plc as Head of Practice. His five and a half years at Penna saw him work across the private and public sectors developing a strong network, deep experience and excellent knowledge base within the Energy, Manufacturing and Infrastructure sectors.
Aaron has recruited across all C-Level roles as well as vital specialist and technical positions. He has also delivered Chair and Board appointments as well as high profile Ministerial appointments for Government and Regulators.
www.veredus.co.uk
Meet the Energy, Manufacturing and Infrastructure team
Hannah has worked in global executive search as a senior researcher, and more recently in an execution and delivery consultant capacity for a number of leading executive search firms. She graduated from UCL six years ago and speaks French.
Hannah’s experience has covered both the Financial Services sector and now the Energy and Infrastructure sectors. Hannah previously worked cross-border between London and Hong Kong supporting two offices of a global search firm.
Her experience includes the full spectrum of Financial Services mandates as well as senior functional roles across many sectors for large corporate both in the UK and internationally.
More recently she has delivered projects to build the senior management team of Smart DCC Ltd and the Future Cities Catapult, as well as delivering programmes for some of the Big 6 and major Infrastructure Consultancies.
