Gower Power Co-op CIC is an organisation championing sustainability, well-known and well-loved throughout the Swansea Bay region. Our commitment to seeing the economy of Gower transform in sustainable ways and provide more sustainable livelihoods to local people has seen us:
- Create Wales’s first community-owned solar farm
- Set up one of the UK’s first 100% green local energy tariffs
- Support the formation of Swansea’s first Community Supported Agriculture scheme, Cae Tan, which has gone on to inspire and mentor the development of further CSAs
- Take responsibility for numerous community benefit funds arising from the profits derived from selling green energy, which we use to support community projects which grow food, enhance biodiversity, and tackle health inequalities and social vulnerability.
As we move forward and our ambitions grow, we are keen to expand our board of directors. We are reaching out to people who share our vision of a fairer, greener economy, driven by the goal of well-being, in which people and nature are valued and supported. We recognise that diverse boards, drawing on different life experiences, skills and perspectives are stronger, so we would particularly welcome women.
Is this you?
We need board members who are committed to teamwork, and who have a good understanding of co-operative values, some of whom will be analytical, and some of whom will have a creative and entrepreneurial mindset.
We are building a board which, collectively, will have:
EXPERIENCE
- Experience of developing new projects and business planning
- Experience of contracting and of business negotiation, with strong commercial awareness
- Experience of reviewing financial models and accounts
- Experience of the renewable energy industry
- Experience of addressing environmental issues and reducing health inequalities
- Experience working in partnerships and delivering social impact
SKILLS
- Talent for developing partnerships
- Strategic decision-making skills
- Confidence to have robust discussions and make tough decisions
- Excellence in communication
- Ability to work with others to problem-solve
As well as guiding the organisation through important business decisions, board members will review monitoring and evaluation reports (renewable energy and social impact), and help promote the business offers. These may include investment offers (for example, when the organisation puts renewable energy assets into community ownership), volunteering opportunities and others.
Joining our board of directors will provide you with the incredible satisfaction of putting your knowledge to good use in visible ways, contributing directly to making our local area more resilient. Collaborating and connecting with like-minded people learning from each other, you will enjoy a close association with our great reputation and the benefits of giving your energy and skills to a positive cause.
If you have any of the above qualifications, and would like to hear more about this extraordinary organisation and how you could play a role in its future success, please get in touch with us.
There is room on the board for people with energy, time and commitment who may not necessarily meet the above criteria. Swansea / Gower community members – particularly women – without these specific skills and experiences are also very welcome to enquire.
This is an unpaid role, but all board members can claim travel and subsistence expenses.
Time commitment
While new board members get acquainted with the organisation and our key projects, meetings will take place every 3-4 weeks, later lengthening to 8-10 weeks.
Meetings will be a combination of face-to-face and online, at times that best suit everyone.
If you would like to find out more
Please email a CV as soon as possible to info@gowerpower.coop with ‘board member enquiry’ in the subject line.
