Consultant – Energy Economics and Utilities

Consultant – Energy Economics and Utilities

London, Bristol, Cardiff, Plymouth, Leeds or Birmingham

About us

Hoare Lea is a human-centric and planet-conscious engineering consultancy. We offer intelligent and sustainable solutions to complex design challenges for the built environment throughout the UK and further afield.

We provide a wide range of engineering and consultancy services, including acoustics, air quality, building services (MEP), fire, lighting, security and sustainability to name but a few. Together, our highly skilled teams use technical expertise and problem-solving skills to bring buildings to life. We ensure that whatever the building, its design is outstanding, and its operations meet the needs of the communities it serves.

We are as committed to providing an environment where everyone can realise their unique potential. So, in joining Hoare Lea, you will experience a business that enriches your knowledge, supports your wellbeing, and welcomes your individuality. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in our 9-day fortnight scheme, thriving community groups, varied social and networking events, and extensive professional and technical development schemes. We also offer an extensive benefits package, including private medical cover, an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, stock options, and days of annual leave (increasing with service), alongside flexible and hybrid working.

Whatever your ambitions or circumstances, our aim is to enable everyone to develop their knowledge, give their best, and enjoy what they do.

About the team and role, you would join

We’re looking for a Consultant with initial experience in utilities and economics to join our Advisory & Advocacy (A&A) team—working at the cutting edge of utilities, grid strategy, and the UK’s energy transition.

This isn’t a typical consultant role.

From day one, you’ll work across Grid Services, Utility Strategy, and Energy Economics, gaining exposure to how infrastructure is planned, secured, and delivered on major developments. A&A operates at the earliest stages of complex projects, helping clients unlock power, navigate constraints, and shape strategies that make development viable. You won’t just support design, you’ll be part of the thinking behind it.

You’ll gain hands-on experience across grid connections, utility diversions, and infrastructure planning, while learning how energy market, carbon and capacity can influence investment decisions. Working alongside engineers and designers, you’ll help solve problems that don’t have straightforward answers, on projects where utilities are often the critical path.

If you’ve had a year or so in industry and want to accelerate your learning and work on projects that shape how the UK builds and powers its future, this is where you do it. The primary areas you would be working in within the Advisory and Advocacy team are:

• Utilities & Infrastructure - Our team combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight to support clients in securing timely, cost-effective, and futureproof connections. We specialise in interpreting complex utility requirements, identifying risks, and negotiating favourable terms—ensuring infrastructure supports both immediate delivery and long-term asset value.
• Energy Economics - Achieving Net Zero Carbon is intrinsically linked to an energy transition that, depending on your outlook, presents challenge and opportunity in equal measure. One of the key challenges being access to power.
• Grid Services – Supporting the transformation of the UK to an all electric nation, working in a challenging environment to get the best form our electrical network. Liaising closely with the network designers and managers to develop innovative strategies to obtain grid capacity where traditional approaches may fail.

Due to the nature of our large-scale infrastructure projects you would also likely work with the Societal Insights team. They draw on expertise in psychology and the social sciences to provide clients with the best-in-class community engagement and co-production. They also deploy specialist knowledge and experience to help projects realise maximum positive social impact and offer a suite of methodologies and tools to measure and monitor impact.

About you

To be successful in this role you will need:

• A 2:1 degree or above in a relevant subject, you will bring strong analytical thinking and an appetite for solving complex problems.
• Proactive and adaptable approach, with the resilience to navigate evolving project requirements and client needs.
• Enthusiastic about engaging with the challenges of decarbonisation, infrastructure delivery, and the transition to low-carbon energy.
• Experience or exposure in utilities, in a related infrastructure field, and/or grid codes and connection processes would be beneficial.
• Familiarity with 2D/3D AutoCAD, Revit, or other relevant modelling software is an advantage.
• Self-starter and happy to learn on the job.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo and exploring innovative utility solutions for new connections and diversions.
• Happy to work across both EE and UI to help realise flexible new connections for electricity.
• Help us pioneer water neutrality and its benefits.