Winter 2023

News
GREENSCAPE
L-r: Richard Cox, CEO of Effective
Energy; Richard Williams, MD of Aztec
Solar Energy; Chris Cowling, Commercial
Director of Aztec Solar Energy.
AZTEC SOLAR SET FOR
FURTHER GROWTH
Effective Energy Group Ltd has
invested in Aztec Solar Energy Ltd,
specialists in solar technology in
commercial and industrial sectors.
Aztec Solar is now the UK specialist
solar photovoltaic and battery
energy storage systems advisor and
installer for commercial and industrial
installations to the group, and says
this will accelerate its growth plans in
commercial PV installations across
the UK. This takes the business on
to its next phase of expansion, since
the company was formed in 2011
by Richard Williams, Aztec Solar’s
Managing Director. According to
Richard, Aztec Solar’s turnover is set
to double during the next 12 months:
“As engineering and energy services
experts, we’re experiencing an
increasing demand from medium-sized
through to high-capacity energy level
organisations to find the most effective
combination of energy solutions.
“We are now in a stronger position
to meet those demands and their
CO 2 emission targets, assisting them
to reduce costs without affecting
productivity. We’ve a strong team in
place to capitalise on the reputation
we’ve already established, and now
as the commercial solar arm of
Effective Energy this will open further
national opportunities and provide us
with broader corporate resource for
growth.” www.aztecsolarenergy.co.uk
JUST HOW DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE IS THE HORTICULTURE AND
LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY?
GRO Vice Chair, Chris
Bridgman recently attended
RHS Wisley for an industrywide
Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion (ED&I) event.
Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping
& Garden Media professions
EQUALITY,
DIVERSITY
& INCLUSION
CHARTER
In 2022, Chris signed the
ED&I Charter on behalf
of GRO, the Green Roof
Organisation, with a
commitment to breaking
down barriers in the
industry, increasing access
and progression for all, and to work openly
and respectfully with other chartered
members.
The Charter includes:
• Committing to create an inclusive culture
and measure how we engage and improve
representation.
• Supporting the development of the
industry from an Equality, Diversity, and
Inclusion perspective – regardless of area
of specialism, through the sharing of work
and good practice.
• Recognising and monitoring Equality,
Diversity, and Inclusion across the
industry, using a set format to benchmark
performance.
• Providing access to resources for
educating and upskilling colleagues and
members on diversity and inclusion.
• Promoting the industry as a fully inclusive
We commit to create an inclusive culture and measure how we
engage and improve representation.
Support the development of our industry from an Equality, Diversity,
and Inclusion perspective - regardless of area of specialism, through
the sharing of work and good practice.
Recognise and monitor Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion across the
industry, using a set format to benchmark performance.
Provide access to resources for educating and upskilling colleagues
and members on diversity and inclusion.
Promote the Industry as a fully inclusive and accessible environment
with opportunities for lifelong rewarding careers.
Signatories to this Charter confirm their commitment to progress the breaking down of barriers in the industry
and increasing access and progression for all. To work openly and respectfully with other chartered members.
and accessible environment
with opportunities for
lifelong rewarding careers.
Chris explained: “We have
the ability to be wholly
diverse and inclusive as we
encourage new entrants to
this growing industry. We
must not be intimidated by
ED&I, and with the toolkits
and support that will come
from this movement it will
ultimately strengthen the workforce as
a whole, create resilience and benefit
employees, employers and the wider
industry.
“An important step is to gain a baseline
understanding of how diverse and inclusive
the current Horticulture and Landscape
Industry is. A short survey has been
produced to be shared and completed
by anybody working in the sector. The
information provided in the survey will be
anonymised and the results shared across
the industry.”
Chris is urging people to complete the
survey and share with your contacts.
Take part in the quick survey at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/
e/1FAIpQLSd8EuLLk3UNJliLoJicM5Ac_
ifGyzAh8C_HaHuu0QE-8LnTqw/viewform
6 GREENSCAPE WINTER 2023 • www.greenscapemag.co.uk