Meet The Team
There are over 200 staff and volunteers at Changeworks across Scotland, from Shetland to the Borders.
Our dedicated team work across a multitude of projects and disciplines, from consultancy to project management, from research to marketing, and from partnership building to fuel poverty prevention
Below are just some of the inspirational stories from our team.
Marc Brammer
Name: Marc Brammer
Job title and brief description of your work: I am the Senior Retrofit Coordinator for the EcoCosi retrofit service. This means my role is to work with all the stakeholders in the process – householders, assessors, installers – to get the best possible result on time.
Tell us more about your background and how you came to work at Changeworks? For a long time I worked in the sustainable finance field working on research to help investors deal with climate change, bad labour practices and other societal and environmental problems. I then reached a cross-roads in my career when I moved to Scotland to get married.
I trained as a domestic energy assessor and started a solar PV and battery installation business. After seven years and bit of commercial success I realised that I wanted to have a bigger impact in this area and to do that I would need to work with a bigger team. So Changeworks seemed like an obvious choice given their extensive experience delivering for the social housing market.
Why is retrofit important to you?
I am a passionate practitioner for decarbonising the built environment. There are so many ways that we feel powerless to make real permanent change in our society, but retrofitting our homes is one way we can make a permanent, positive change. It’s one that has a win-win element to it because we are making better homes that are more comfortable and cheaper to operate, while at the same time permanently reducing their impact on the environment.
How would you describe your colleagues within EcoCosi and the skills they bring to the team?
My colleagues are enthusiastic, talented, smart and dedicated. We have such a wide range of skills in the team, from supply chain management to business systems and development. One thing that stands out to me is that everyone is a good communicator and we are all working towards the same objectives. I’m really excited by what we are building and I know my colleagues share this feeling.
Creating a warmer home, lowering energy bills and tackling the climate emergency are just some of the reasons to retrofit. What do you think is the best reason to be retrofitting homes in Scotland and why?
As the question indicates there isn’t just one best reason to retrofit your home. The best reason is the one that most fits the outcomes you want to see. We should, however, let people know that in order for Scotland to meet its commitment to climate change targets and ensure our children’s future, we need to be renovating tens of thousands of homes a year into low and zero carbon buildings and we are nowhere near that target.
Joanna Long
Name: Joanna Long
Job title and brief description of role: Senior Impact Evaluation Consultant. I design and oversee the delivery of projects evidencing the real-world impacts of energy efficiency improvements.
How long have you worked at Changeworks? I joined Changeworks in October 2021.
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks? Working on projects that directly address the climate emergency.
What has been the highlight of your time Changeworks? My highlight has been growing the Impact Evaluation team itself and our tight working relationship with the Project Management team.
How would you describe your colleagues? My colleagues are a funny, caring and driven bunch of people. They motivate and inspire me, but also keep my feet on the ground.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work? Staff are truly empowered in their roles while also being supported. I feel I’ve been able to achieve a lot in a short time because I could just get on with things, knowing that my colleagues and managers were there whenever I needed them.
Kehinde Moses
Name: Kehinde Moses
Job title and brief description of role: Energy Advisor, Home Energy Scotland
I give free and impartial advice to customers on how to be more energy efficient, and to help them save money to reduce fuel poverty by sign-posting those needing support or help to achieve this. I also help people save energy and help the environment by inspiring low carbon behaviours.
How long have you worked at Changeworks?
I started out as a volunteer in 2014, before leaving and then coming back in 2021 to volunteer again as a Food Waste Engagement Ambassador with the Edinburgh Food Waste Engagement project. I’ve been working full time as an Energy Advisor since then.
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks?
The best thing for me about working at Changeworks is the fact that I get to help people on a daily basis in my role. I love helping customers because it gives me a great sense of fulfilment when I help solve a problem or make them aware of something they can do differently which they’ve never thought of before.
What has been the highlight of your time Changeworks?
I had a conversation with a customer in my native language which gave us a common ground to interact well over the phone. The fact we can reach customers from diverse backgrounds and different ethnic groups stood out for me. I also recently completed a video shoot recording for one of our campaigns for the City of Edinburgh Council. I’d never been in front of a video camera before, so this gave me the opportunity to showcase my soft skills.
While working as a volunteer I was also involved in a similar campaign but this time on reducing food waste, which included having my photo used on the Changeworks website.
How would you describe your colleagues?
They are a lovely group of people, very caring and supportive. They helped me settle into the job very quickly and with much encouragement I passed my SQAs quicker than I expected. Every day someone checks on me to ask how I’m doing, and we also do a lot of fun things in the team like the vuddle catch up every morning before we start work, Kahoot and other games.
Away from work we all bond like a family and support each other through special occasions like baby showers and birthdays.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work?
The people have so much passion for what they do, everyone is always ready to work and always up to the task. Changeworks is a prestigious environmental charity which stands to deliver low carbon living solutions through energy and fuel poverty advice and behaviour change. They also help organisations cut down their carbon footprint through various forms advice.
This gives me an opportunity to explore different areas to work and develop my career by working for a company helping to fight climate change.
Donna Greenhill
Name: Donna Greenhill
Job title and brief description of role: Facilities Manager
I manage the facilities at our Edinburgh and satellite offices, and co-ordinate Health and Safety.
How long have you worked at Changeworks?
For over 30 years. Changeworks has not always been Changeworks… but that’s another story for another day!
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks?
It has got be the diverse range of skills and experience the staff who work here have, and how good we are at working together to take an idea and turn it in to something that has a positive impact on people’s lives.
What has been the highlight of your time Changeworks?
The one that springs to mind is getting to sit next to Doug Allan, the award-winning wildlife cameraman and photographer, at one of our staff gatherings. He attended as a guest speaker, and I had him totally talked out by the time he reached the stage! What an interesting man.
How would you describe your colleagues?
They are passionate about what they do and with this passion comes success.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work?
We work hard and appreciate and respect what each other do, but also realise that it’s nice to be a social bunch too. Whether that’s a wee chat in the corridor, kitchen or a full-blown night out in the local pub, we enjoy each other’s company both inside and outside work.
Jay Scott
Name: Jay Scott
Job title: ICT Support Technician
How long have you worked at Changeworks?
Coming up six years in April 2024.
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks?
The people. Most people I’ve had the pleasure of working with are very kind and very easy to get along with. This breeds productivity and helps maintain a positive working environment.
What has been the highlight of your time Changeworks?
My highlight would have been when I finished my one-year apprenticeship and was given a full-time contract within a team I enjoyed working for.
How would you describe your colleagues?
They care about the goals Changeworks have and are very passionate about it. They are all very positive, even when faced with adversity, and find ways to overcome this.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work?
Changeworks offers an excellent culture along with a great work-life balance. Each day I feel empowered to help my colleagues deliver excellent project to benefit people across Scotland.
Iain Davies
Name: Iain Davies
Job title and a brief description of role: I’m the Supplier Engagement Manager. I’m responsible for building and maintaining a high quality network of installers to support Changeworks activities in decarbonising homes. I’m also a touch point for the organisation across the retrofit supply chain with strategic partners, including manufacturers and skills providers.
When did you join Changeworks? July 2023
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks? Changeworks has a broad reach across the decarbonisation agenda and that has allowed relationships with many different organisations who are keen to collaborate with us in achieving our goals. I really enjoy building these relationships and putting words into meaningful action.
What does working at Changeworks mean to you? It means working to a strong set of values that are actively tackling the environmental breakdown our generation is experiencing. It’s also about recognising that we at Changeworks cannot do this on our own and that partnership and collaboration with other organisations is absolutely vital in achieving success.
How would you describe your colleagues? Changeworks is a fantastic group of diverse individuals who are both committed to an overall strategic vision, but at the same time thoughtful and not afraid to contribute to how the organisation approaches what can sometimes be thorny issues.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work? The organisation is an amazing blend of expertise and knowledge which combines in an exciting way to deliver meaningful work to decarbonise our built environment – very inspiring!
Cat Gear
Name: Cat Gear
Job title and brief description of role: Facilities Officer
I’m the face of Changeworks for the general public, visitors and lug for callers. I work in the Facilities Team so you’ll often find me fixing stuff around the building (usually singing as I do – sorry not sorry!).
We look after the maintenance of the building, the company fleet and the general day-to-day running of the Orchard Brae House office. For the most part, if you have a problem/query about the office, you can pop over to find the Facilities Angels. Alternatively, you can fire us a Teams message or give us a ring and we’ll be happy to help out.
How long have you worked at Changeworks?
Seven years.
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks?
The culture. At Changeworks you’re not a number on the payroll, you’re a real person and folk are interested to get to know you. While of course there is a managerial/directorate structure at Changeworks, everybody speaks to each other as equals; I’m as likely to chat with our Chief Executive about their weekend or holiday plans as I am anyone else in the building.
Behind closed doors, Changeworks stands by its values and the advice we give out – we’re not encouraging folk to reduce their food waste, giving advice on reducing energy bills or reducing carbon footprint without also doing it in house.
What has been the highlight of your time Changeworks?
It’s hard to pick an individual event, but being a part of the Wellbeing Group has, and continues to be, a highlight for me. I’m passionate about improving the working environment, striving for inclusion for all and bolstering the general wellbeing of my colleagues.
We’ve introduced so many fantastic additions in the last couple of years – free sanitary products, all gender toilet, fertility policy, and Mental Health First Aid training to name a few. We continue to bring forward ideas to the Directorate from across the voice of the entire organisation.
How would you describe your colleagues?
They are a phenomenal bunch. I love that there is such varied life experiences and lifestyles which are brought together under one roof. It’s so inclusive and there’s no judgement about who you are or what your background is. We’re all working towards the same goal.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work?
Something I find quite unique about Changeworks is communication. We are kept in the loop with the goings on in the organisation from the board and Directorate through email, the monthly business brief or when we all get together at our All Staff Gathering (a great day!).
It’s refreshing to know that everyone is being included in everything that is happening as and when it does rather than be told A is happening on B date with no warning.
Bruce Wares
Name: Bruce Wares
Job title and brief description of role: Marketing Manager, Home Energy Scotland
I manage marketing and communications for the Home Energy Scotland advice centre in the Highlands and Islands, which Changeworks operates under contract to Energy Saving Trust. Our typical campaigns vary – from Facebook, digital, local press and email to promoting events.
How long have you worked at Changeworks?
I joined Changeworks back in June 2009. It’s a long time to work on a brand like Home Energy Scotland but the work on this contract changes every year so it’s always been interesting. Scotland’s journey to Net Zero will drive a lot of our work in the years ahead too.
What is the best thing about working at Changeworks?
The freedom to share ideas, be innovative and help householders have a better life, whether that’s by having a warmer home and lower energy bills or by inspiring them to live a greener life through installing renewables, using low carbon transport or adopting active travel behaviours.
What has been the highlight of your time Changeworks?
The first lockdown in March 2020 was incredibly challenging. The world we knew had turned upside down overnight. Working collaboratively and remotely with colleagues, we very quickly developed a new key message – ‘we’re here to help’ – for local media, emails and partnerships.
How would you describe your colleagues?
They have a wealth of expertise in different areas of work, and they are incredibly committed to doing their absolute best for our customers and partner organisations.
What makes Changeworks a unique place to work?
It’s small enough to get to know your colleagues and make friendships. However, Changeworks is large enough to make a real, lasting impact on thousands of people and the communities and organisations we work with across Scotland.
Current vacancies at Changeworks
Check our our latest vacancies and join us today to help tackle the climate emergency.