New solar roadshow to boost rural business

ENGLAND, UK: Lightsource Renewable Energy, the UK's leading solar energy generator, is embarking on a ‘Solar Roadshow' this month. The new educational workshop and recruitment evenings will provide local landowners, farmers, businesses and residents with information on solar farms.

The organisation aims to boost rural business with understanding of the technology, highlighting the income and job opportunities in the industry. Just one solar farm can power thousands of households with green electricity and can be up and running in three months. The first in a series of free workshops will be held from 21st-24th of January in Coventry, Hull, Blackpool and Gloucester.

Lightsource's 80 solar farms currently provide clean, secure electricity to over 100,000 UK homes, and aims to double this capacity by December 2014. It is looking to add to its 160 strong team and recruit an additional 100 staff this year to meet its mission of powering the UK with clean energy.

Jobs available include roles for engineers, office professionals and asset managers. Approximately 20 of the vacancies are for engineers to manage the solar farms locally, both monitoring performance and managing the surrounding land.

The company also aims to find local suppliers across the country to provide services for the development of its solar farms, such as landscapers, ground workers and farming professionals.

Nick Boyle, CEO, Lightsource Renewable Energy, said: "Solar power is one of the UK's fastest growing industries. Our goal is to have as many people involved in this positive, low carbon sector as possible. Whether it's benefiting from land rent, fixed price electricity or working to build the farms, there are opportunities to be part of this exciting change in the UK's economy.

"We are absolutely focused on championing the rural economy and ensuring our schemes both promote the local supply chain and benefit local communities. The Solar Roadshow is designed to make sure this happens. We encourage anyone with an interest in or curiosity about solar power to drop by."