A cleantech scale-up backed by some of the world’s largest renewable energy providers has increased its workforce by 55% following several new hires.
In an ambitious move to accelerate the global shift towards a net-zero society, the company has welcomed five new members to its team and appointed its first Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The new recruits include Ruth Finch, who brings over two decades of experience in the engineering and energy sectors and will serve as the marketing manager. Additionally, Cherish Brown has been designated as the office manager, while Jiaxin Zhang and Andrew Brown have joined as modelling and optimisation engineers. Devendra Dhokare, a computer science graduate from the University of Bath, has also been appointed as a junior full stack developer.
The recruitment drive follows a landmark year for the company, marked by the inauguration of a new head office in Newcastle and the launch of its highly anticipated software solution, designed to optimise the arrangement of wind turbines. This innovative software, known as the Wake Optimised Turbine Arrangement, leverages AI-powered technology to calculate the optimal positions for offshore wind turbines, thereby maximising energy yields and reducing wake losses. The development of this software was supported by funding from prominent organisations including InnovateUK’s FastStart Programme and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s TIGGOR programme. The latter was managed by the now-defunct North of Tyne Combined Authority and has been instrumental in fostering job creation.
Dr. Andrew Jenkins, the founder and CEO, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Our five new starters have joined at what is an incredibly exciting juncture for the company, so we are thrilled to have them all on board. Our software solutions have been used to help deliver some of the world’s largest and most challenging offshore wind farms over recent years, and the launch of the turbine location optimiser has only seen our project pipeline increase. Looking forward, productivity enhancing solutions such as those developed by us will be key to helping nations ramp up renewable energy production and increase grid capacity, and these new hires will be essential in supporting the global transition to a Net Zero society.”
Dr. Henna Bains, who was recently promoted to CTO after serving as a senior R&D and consultant engineer, also shared her thoughts: “It was a huge honour being appointed CTO as we embark upon our next phase of growth as a company. Our aim over the coming years is to continue developing new infrastructure optimisation solutions, be it for offshore wind or other renewable sectors, and Ruth, Cherish, Andy, Jiaxin and Dev will be key in helping us achieve that. They will all bring something different to the business and fresh, unique perspectives to the work we do, and we can’t wait to begin working with them.”
Utilising AI, the turbine arrangement software represents the company’s third major software solution. This suite of tools also includes optimisers for cable layout and export systems. Together, these solutions play a crucial role in tackling the challenges of renewable energy projects. The cleantech’s focus remains on reducing costs and accelerating the transition to a net-zero society, with its new hires poised to significantly contribute to these goals by offering their expertise and unique insights.
The cleantech firm’s expansion and ambitious growth plans underline its commitment to driving the global transition to renewable energy. The addition of highly skilled professionals to its team, along with the development of innovative software solutions, positions the company as a key player in the push towards a net-zero future.
