Ashford Borough Council - Climate and Energy Strategy Manager

Sophie Stiles

Climate and Energy Strategy Manager - Ashford Borough Council 

1. What interests you most about your work in the energy, climate change and sustainability agenda?

It’s all the interconnectivity and breadth of the work. I started off with a job role that I thought would be focussed on climate communications, behaviour change and decarbonising our assets and now I’m involved in fuel poverty action, energy strategy and thermodynamics. The variety makes it great work for a nosey person, fingers in lots of pies!   It’s a space for innovation, opportunity and shared learning, and it is energising to work with a network of committed people in a ‘can-do’ culture, finding ways through and looking for the possible - not always the case in a Local Authority context.

2. What are you looking to achieve through your work? 

My role tries to make the business case for climate action on any front, so its easy for people. There is a lot of satisfaction in changing perspectives, bringing people along and driving change. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if carbon reductions and the climate case are driven by environmental motives or saving money on bills, improving quality of life through better insulated, less damp and efficient homes, or creating a green skills economy. I’m not precious about how we get there or the hooks I have to use to get buy in.

3. What is the main factor supporting/driving your local authority’s work in this agenda? 

It has a lot to do with individuals: fantastic senior management, wonderful team of like minded whirlwinds and political support. It is also a working culture that is willing to innovate, lead by example and give things a go. But also key is access, sitting in the policy team I have the opportunity to put forward ideas and get them considered in the first place.

4. What is the main factor acting as a drag on your local authority’s work in this agenda? 

Time and capacity – not just in my team of 3 – but for all colleagues.  

5. Give an example of something (a project/policy/initiative) that your local authority completed that others can learn from?

A simple one is the team have a place at the table of our local health alliance, so we can join the dots between health and retrofit, signpost each other to funding pots we wouldn’t normally consider, get energy advice to those most in need and in fuel poverty.  

6. What do you think can be done at national government level to make the biggest change to outcomes in this agenda?

Consistency in messaging and courage of conviction. Still need better planning regulation around net zero, with a focus on delivering affordable living for inhabitants rather than focus on point of sale. Decoupling renewable electricity from gas pricing, so low operating costs are reflected and we drive adoption. Oh and please sort out rural public transport!  I’ll stop now!

7. How did you get to where you are now? (personal interest, qualifications, previous jobs, other experience)

Found my way into Local Government by accident, started in a temp job for the Borough Engineer in Camden in the 1990s and left as Assistant Head of Waste but specialising in anti social behaviour. This work had similarities, linking the environmental with the social. Then a stint at Keep Britain Tidy, working all over the country as a consultant advising  Local Authorities on Street Scene and ASB. Had a career break to bring up my children, while juggling own small business.  Re start at Ashford BC, where with great managers who supported the development of new ideas, set up our Climate Action Team

8. What do you do personally to support the agenda?

I’m lucky enough to have solar panels, but don’t have heat pumps or an EV yet, but am comfortable that I do what I can and that our set up is a work in progress. I bang on about environmental practice to family and friends and hope I have brought up children who will continue to fly the flag!

9. What's next on your list to change personally?

Tempted by an electric moped – with motorcyclists in the family this will be regarded as either amusing or embarrassing!