Plymouth Energy Community

Plymouth Energy Community is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, a member-led organisation aiming to empower our community to create a fair, affordable, zero carbon energy system with local people at its heart. Its formal name is PEC Trust.

Objects of PEC Trust

We shall promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by:

Directors 2019
  • preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources;
  • relief of poverty and the preservation and protection of health by promoting the efficient use of energy and utilisation of renewable sources of energy; and
  • advancement of education in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and to promote study & research in such subjects provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large.

(Sustainable development means 'development with meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs').

Our Board of Trustees

All non-exec volunteers with a passion for change!

The PEC Trust Board is made up of one Plymouth City Council representative, up to six elected members and up to four co-opted Trustees (when specific expertise is required). They attend regular meetings on a voluntary basis and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and skills.

Ian Hutchcroft

Ian Hutchcroft web

Ian was elected to the PEC Board in 2016 and has over 25 years’ experience of working to deliver low carbon energy systems. He was Energy Saving Trust’s Head of Delivery (England) and Devon County Council’s Sustainable Prosperity Manager and now works independently to develop new ways of delivering low carbon buildings. All together he has brought over £20m of innovation funding into the local energy sector.

Amongst other work Ian has led the ‘Ready for Retrofit’ initiative, which supported 400 SW businesses, created 274 jobs and installed 1,300 energy measures. He also led the Zero Energy Building Catalyst, to demonstrate the possibility to achieve net zero energy retrofit without subsidy.

He worked as head consultant for North Devon Council’s Health, Housing and Energy Strategy and as south of England contract manager for the Government’s Energy Saving Advice Service. Ian has joined the Board to support PEC in the delivery of a low carbon future and in sustaining financial security.

Pam Buchan

Pam Buchan photo sml

Councillor Pam Buchan (Labour Party, Honicknowle Ward) was elected to council in May 2018 and is Plymouth City Council’s appointed member on the PEC Trust board. She is currently pursuing an ESRC funded PhD at Exeter University in the strand of Environment, Energy and Resilience, having also completed an MRes in the subject and MSc in Coastal Zone Management. Originally a marine biologist, Pam is researching citizenship action in relation to the marine environment. This interdisciplinary research is investigating in what ways individuals act to improve the health of the marine environment, and the motivations and experiences that shape these actions.

Following a career as a science communicator and volunteer manager, Pam is passionate about public participation and community-led initiatives, particularly those with an environmental theme. Pam is trustee (former Chair) of the marine conservation charitable trust Sea-Changers, trustee of Honicknowle-based youth charity, Commnet and has been mentoring with the Social Mobility Foundation since 2014.

Pam Buchan photo sml

Pam Buchan

Trustee

Dave Pearce

Dave Pearce

Dave is the Managing Director of Actuate Marketing, a successful and growing communications agency based in Plymouth. Actuate specialises in marketing strategy, research and digital media, all skills they brought to the table when helping PEC during their initial set-up through to continuing to support PEC currently. Through this process, Dave has gained a thorough understanding of what members want from the organisation, the challenges PEC faced and how they could be addressed.

He has lived in Plymouth for over 20 years and has over 30 years of experience in commercial and marketing roles at senior and director levels.

Dave is passionate about and committed to supporting the values and ethos of PEC and the transformation it can bring to the city and its residents. “PEC has started to make a real mark in the community and sustainable energy market with their award-winning approach: the future looks bright for the people of Plymouth.”

Dave was elected to the PEC Board at the 2014 AGM, served on PEC Renewables Board and was elected to the PEC Trust Board at the 2019 AGM.

Dave Pearce

Dave Pearce

Trustee

Jess Holliland

Jess Holliland

Jess has worked in Plymouth's country-leading, vibrant social enterprise sector for many years. She is the heart of Plymouth Social Enterprise Network, providing communications and member co-ordination for the rapidly growing network of socially conscious organisations.

Jess brings with her a sound knowledge about of communicating a more person-centred way of doing business, making social purpose the mainstream way of working for a fairer economy and has well-established networks throughout the south west. She is passionate about creating a sustainable and fair society by addressing the way we produce, use and share resources. She also works part-time for the School for Social Entrepreneurs helping people to develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems.

Jess was elected to the PEC Trust Board in 2019.

Jess Holliland

Jess Holliland

Trustee

Paul Hardman

Paul Hardman

Paul is currently the Manager of the Sustainable Earth Institute (SEI) and Deputy Director of the Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon project at the University of Plymouth. Paul is passionate about developing a sustainable future for our world and bringing researchers together with businesses, community groups and individuals to develop cutting-edge research and innovative approaches that build resilience to global challenges.

Paul has over twenty years’ experience in Higher Education and both the Private and Public Sectors, including over 7 years in renewable energy and environmental technologies at the South West Regional Development Agency.

'With climate emergency declared at Plymouth City Council and the University, I am certain that PEC's role in supporting our transition to a zero-carbon city, fit for future generations, will be ever more vital and I welcome the opportunity to contribute.'

Paul was elected to the PEC Trust Board at the 2019 AGM.

Paul Hardman

Paul Hardman

Trustee

Kieran van Bussel

Kieran

Kieran is a motivated and passionate participant in the energy sector, in his professional role as a solicitor advising a wide range of clients in the energy sector (from institutional investors to community groups) and in also in his capacity as a director of Tamar Energy Community. He has experience working with charities and other non-for-profit organisations, having served as chair of the Devon and Somerset Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society and as company secretary on the board of a charitable company.

Kieran has experience dealing with project development and financing of a wide range of energy projects across most current technologies, from a legal perspective.

The pressures of climate change are increasing, and Kieran joined the PEC Trust Board to utilise his skills and experience to assist with green and low carbon initiatives and help to deliver change in his home city.

Kieran was elected to the PEC Trust Board at the 2019 AGM.

Owen Ryles

Owen

As a chief executive of a local charitable organisation, the Plymouth Athenaeum, Owen contributes knowledge, skills and experience relating to the operations and management of charitable organisations. The Plymouth Athenaeum is a charitable society promoting learning in science, technology, literature and art and has many crossovers with PEC’s aims and objectives.

Owen is also a fellow of The RSA (The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and the Linnean Society, and is engaged in discussions and projects related to energy sustainability, climate change, the environment and natural sciences.

Owen started his journey with PEC as a PEC Pal and the Plymouth Athenaeum is a regular venue for PEC's events. He was elected to the PEC Trust Board at the 2019 AGM.

Owen

Owen Ryles

Trustee

Barbara Hampson

Barbara Hampson

Barbara has lived in Plymouth with her two sons for 13 years. She is a qualified teacher, with experience in educational settings for 30 years and has a keen interest in energy, the built environment and climate change.

Barbara is currently studying for an MA in Architectural Conservation (part time) and has a BA in Architectural Technology and the Environment and Business Office Information Systems from Plymouth University.

She is an active volunteer and community activist with Plymouth Energy Community, but also with Transition Plymouth; Stonehouse Timebank; Stonehouse Action; Take A Part; Food Bank; Friends of Ham Woods and Little Patch of Ground Efford.

In 2014, Barbara was awarded 2014 UK Community Energy ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award. Barbara was a founder Director of PEC and has served on the Board since 2013. She has been co-opted to the PEC Trust Board.

Barbara Hampson

Barbara Hampson

Trustee

Governing documents

Annual General Meetings

Click below to see what happened at each AGM, read the minutes & relevant documentation.

PEC (Community Benefit Society)

PEC Trust (charity) evolved from PEC (Community Benefit Society) in 2019. Click below to see previous governance documents and current governance.