With world focus on the well-being of the earth and its environment, a tidal wave of interest – and more importantly, investment – is pouring into energy initiatives. In the UK, which is fast becoming a major hub for the industry, the demand for skilled professionals has led Lohbus Search Group, renewable energy specialists, to open a new office in Cambridge. Lohbus, an affiliate ofMRINetwork®, one of the largest executive search and recruitment organizations in the world, has two other locations in Denmark that also serve the renewable energy market. MRINetwork President John McDonald and Lohbus Managing Director Allan Buus are available to discuss the new venture and its impact on the renewable energy business community in Cambridge.
Lohbus’ Cambridge office makes MRINetwork’s sixth location in the UK. The opening of the new office comes as MRINetwork celebrates 50 years in business, now with approximately 600 worldwide offices in over 40 countries. A division of Philadelphia-based CDI Corporation (NYSE:CDI), a leading engineering and technology services firm, providing client-focused solutions and professional staffing services through its global business operations, MRINetwork is focusing on global expansion in the near term.
“In the history of investment capital, trends that have garnered the largest influx of capital have been those that affected multiple areas of world culture – professional, personal and economic,” says Allan Buus, managing director of Lohbus Search Group. “As energy becomes front and center in politics, in the scientific community, in academia, in business, and even in the world of entertainment, the stage is set for enormous progress.”
Cambridge is a logical place to launch a new branch of Lohbus’ renewable energy business, Buus believes. “The area has seen a proliferation of green technology companies in all facets of the industry,” he notes. “Wind power, hydropower and solar energy all have a growing presence, and the critical mass of bioenergy researchers now working in Cambridge, along with collaboration with the University of Cambridge, enhances the appeal of the area.”
Buus says that a deep shortage of ideal candidates to staff the burgeoning industry already exists and the demand for this talent is growing every day. Companies place a premium on candidates already working within the renewable sub-sector, as well as people who have the requisite functional skills but presently work in the general energy industry. “The interesting underlying difference is the ‘passion’ factor,” he observes. “Generally, people who are interested in renewables were interested in the environment even before there were renewable initiatives. Now that there are many initiatives, they have an outlet for their passion and can’t think of anything better than working on something in which they totally believe and endorse.”
Investment and consulting firms that analyze and recommend new technologies also continue to strengthen their energy groups. “They are looking for graduates of top business schools, with undergraduate degrees in science or technical engineering disciplines like materials science, chemistry, physics and environmental engineering,” says Buus. “This puts even greater pressure on the candidate supply.”