What we do

Capacity building

Sometimes we don't so much build capacity as help you realise and use the great capacity you already  have.  We help you join the dots.  By the end of a project, you'll know what you need to do and how you need to do it, and you'll have confidence in what you can deliver.

SE² was a partner in the Carbon Trust's Collaborative Low Carbon Schools Service.  We worked with over 50 local authorities to build internal engagement between departments and secure buy-in to a programme of carbon reduction interventions at schools, holding stakeholder workshops to build project teams, develop action plans and address critical issues.

Communications

Messages on sustainability and climate change can feel complex and full of jargon. We can help you cut through the confusion and explain the issues and solutions in ways that resonate and inspire change.

Launched by SE² in 2013, the London Fuel Poverty Hub is designed to give colleagues in the sector the information, contacts and knowledge they need to play their part in helping to tackle fuel poverty.  It also includes a directory of all fuel poverty projects currently active across London.  You can follow the Hub on Twitter: @LDNFuelPoverty

Policy development

We want to make policy that delivers. We do this by taking all evidence into account, mapping that to policy goals and identifying the things that will make a real difference to your organisation.

SE² worked with Community Energy England to scope how a one stop shop for community energy – as announced in DECC’s Community Energy  Strategy – could be delivered.  We were commissioned to talk to the sector to find out what they really wanted and scope out what a one stop shop or information resource might look like, how it could be structured and funded and what it might include: the result is the Community Energy Hub.

Strategic research

Our thorough approach to research gathers academic, technical, social and financial quantitative data, alongside qualitative feedback from thought leaders, practitioners and other stakeholders, providing you with strong foundations on which to build action.

The Low Carbon Networks Fund saw investment of £500m in thirteen “smart grid” projects looking at demand side management.  On behalf of Citizens Advice, SE²assessed the projects in terms of their impacts on consumers, particularly looking at impacts on fuel poor or hard-to-reach households.

Action planning

Planning should facilitate action. We focus on your needs, outcomes, the resources available and the environment in which you work. We won’t make plans for an ideal world that doesn’t exist (although we may challenge you to do more) but we will create an achievable, realistic plan that has the buy-in of all those who will make it happen.

SE² worked with Hampshire County Council to help them future-proof services against the impacts of climate change. We developed departmental risk maps, a readiness tool and a management tool – all of which fed into an action plan that could be implemented using existing staff resources.

Behaviour change

Creating a sustainable future means driving change across society. We understand the fundamentals of behaviour change, and can help you to create successful behaviour-based projects and campaigns.

SE² is working with Reading University to create a series of behaviour change activities to reduce out of hours electricity use across campus. The University has made great strides on energy engineering and building management systems, but was still at the start of its behaviour change journey. With our help they’re now enthusing students and staff to save energy in fun, engaging ways.

Stakeholder engagement

Our talent is helping you understand the critical questions that you need to discuss with your stakeholders, and to then make sure that discussions give all participants an opportunity to respond.  We design facilitation processes that are realistic, make good use of everyone’s time, and genuinely allow stakeholders to discuss issues that matter to them.

SE² facilitated a VIP round-table dinner for the NHBC Foundation to discuss what new homes might look like in the future and what challenges the house-building industry will need to address in terms of social, climate, technological and demographic changes. The event fed into two Foundation guides for house-builders and the public.

Community engagement

Global change is often borne from local action. We galvanise communities around local priorities – from fuel poverty to sustainable travel – helping build capacity amongst those who can really make a difference.

SE² has been working with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and partners in the health and voluntary sectors since 2008 to design and deliver their fuel poverty referral scheme, Healthier Homes. We have delivered over 60 training sessions to raise awareness of the causes and effects of fuel poverty and to help people make referrals to the Healthier Homes helpline. 

Event management

A complete managed service for your event – whatever the scale - from programme development and speaker recruitment, to venue liaison and delegate management.

We have been the event managers for the Heat Conference since it started in 2012.  Working with both the Association for Decentralised Energy and the Energy Institute, we provide a complete events service, managing the venues, speakers, delegates and sponsors.  The conference has gone from strength to strength: Heat 2016 will be take place at the Hotel Russell on 23^rd November.