Meet Adam Elder, the new face of Green Shield Group in South Yorkshire, helping local businesses cut costs, lower carbon and take real steps towards a greener future.
When Adam Elder decided to change career direction earlier this year, he was looking for something that offered both independence and impact. Just a few months on, he has become Franchisee and Regional Director for Green Shield Group in South Yorkshire – and is already making important connections across the local business community.
“I can tell you that it’s been so far so good in terms of the community I’m getting myself involved in,” Adam says.
“Many of the people I’m speaking to are already very passionate about sustainability and doing their bit.”
Green Shield Group is a renewable energy consultancy that works with organisations of all sizes to reduce costs and cut carbon. From solar installations and battery storage to voltage optimisation and efficiency measures, the group takes a data-driven, transparent approach to helping clients make the right decisions for their business.
For Adam, the appeal lies in being able to make a tangible difference. “If I can help a few companies make positive changes, I’m not only helping them save money, but I’m helping them protect the environment around them. It’s a genuine game-changer.”
Originally working across Europe in IT and cyber security, Adam has been struck by the welcome he has received since turning his focus to South Yorkshire. “Super friendly – that’s how I’d describe the business community here,” he says. “If I’m talking about sustainability or renewable energy, everyone is super positive from the off and it makes my job much more enjoyable!”
That enthusiasm reflects the region’s reputation as a green hub. Sheffield is often described as one of Europe’s greenest cities, with its wealth of public parks, the Peak District on its doorstep and an outdoors culture that values sustainability.
For many organisations, the challenge of reducing energy bills and emissions can feel complex. Adam stresses that the starting point is always a simple conversation.
“You start off with baby steps,” he explains. “The first step is always a discovery call – a simple conversation about what the goal is. Is it carbon reduction? Is it to save money? Typically, nine times out of 10 it’s probably both. But it could also be supply chain pressure – a lot of big companies are asking their suppliers to show progress on sustainability, so SMEs need to get on board.”
From there, Green Shield Group looks at the data – from energy bills to half hourly usage – to design solutions that are genuinely tailored. “It’s about honesty and transparency,” Adam says. “We don’t preach. We make recommendations based on data. You should end up with a system designed for what you need.”
That might mean a solar installation, battery storage or voltage optimisation – a technology that reduces wasted electricity by matching supply more closely to actual usage. “Voltage optimisation can often deliver immediate savings of around 10 per cent with minimal disruption and relatively low implementation costs”, Adam notes. “For smaller businesses, it’s a really effective first step.”
One of the misconceptions Adam often hears is that solar doesn’t work in the UK climate. “That’s not true. Solar panels work on daylight, not heat. Obviously on a bright sunny day they’ll perform better because of the longer days, but even in winter they’re still generating.”
Another industry issue is over-promising. “You hear claims of guaranteed 40 or 50 per cent savings without even looking at the data, or whether the longer-term investment makes financial sense. That’s not how we work. We’ll give you the realistic analysis, based on actual usage and credible modelling; we design the systems that are right for your business.”
As a franchisee, Adam benefits from the backing of Green Shield Group’s national expertise – project managers, engineers and designers with years of experience. That allows him to focus on building relationships locally.
“If I didn’t have that support, it would probably take me two or three years to get to this point,” he reflects. “Instead, within a few months, I’ve got the resources to provide turn-key delivery of sustainable projects for South Yorkshire businesses.”
And while installations can be large-scale, Green Shield Group prides itself on being agile. “We don’t want to disrupt a business’s day-to-day operations. A typical solar project might take four to six months from start to finish, but downtime can be as little as a one hour.”
For Adam, the priority now is getting to know more businesses and making introductions. “My main aim is to have as many conversations as possible about why Green Shield Group can help,” he says. “If you’ve got an energy bill and you think, I don’t want to pay that much, it’s worth a chat, sometimes the simple solutions are out of reach if you aren’t aware of them – Voltage Optimisation is a prime example of this.”
He’ll be attending Chamber of Commerce events and local networking sessions in the coming months, with the aim of building his presence in the region. “I hope that I can become the go to name for renewable technology. I know what we do and what we provide – it’s solid business advice - it’s everything you need to make an informed decision.”
For South Yorkshire businesses facing rising energy costs and pressure to go greener, Adam Elder and Green Shield Group could well be the trusted partner to help chart the way forward – and it’s always worth an exploratory chat to see what’s possible.
Contact Adam
E: a.elder@greenshield.group
T: 07472623297
