From Fitter to Founder: Why Solar Needs Coaches, Not Just Consultants

By Justin Dring | Independent Solar Consultant & Solar Business Coach

Published: September 2025

1. Introduction: Building Lasting Solar Businesses

After **30 years on the tools** and **20 years delivering commercial and domestic solar systems**, I’ve finally reached the point of passing the reins. My journey was built from the ground up—one installer, then one team, managing MCS-accredited projects across the UK, and eventually exiting that operation. Rather than retire, I started again as a coach. Because solar doesn’t just need installers—it needs leaders.

Over two decades, I've guided NIC registrations, MCS audits, technical project deliverables, tendering, team leadership, and systems scaling. Now, I coach businesses through these same milestones, offering real-time, practical leadership rather than theoretical advice.

2. Coach vs. Consultant: Why the Difference Matters

Think of a consultant as someone who points at the map; a coach walks the path with you. Many talented solar installers are stuck in two-person teams, capped at £200K/year—hardworking but grinding in place. They don’t need blocks of PDF theory—they need someone who’s already navigated the minefield of scaling and leadership.

A solar coach is a guide for your entire journey—from your first proposals and NIC applications to securing multi-million-pound tenders—helping build a high-performing business, not just get installs done.

3. Case Study #1: From Contractor to Contender

One electrician client, technically outstanding but stuck, partnered with me. Through three months of structured coaching—including audit preparedness, strategic business planning, sales pitch training, and tender support—his business transformed:

• MCS accreditation achieved in under 90 days
• Now quoting over £2 million in solar projects
• Secured a six-figure commercial contract within months
• Expanding toward a four-person installation team

This wasn’t luck—it was tactical coaching, relentless execution, and leadership development.

4. Case Study #2: Scaling a Boutique Consultancy

A small solar consultancy wanted growth without compromising quality. I offered behind-the-scenes coaching, focusing on:

• Proposal refinement
• Design QA
• Supplier introductions

Within 60 days, they onboarded three new clients under strengthened systems and messaging.

5. What Solar Coaching Covers

• MCS Walkthroughs – Hand-holding from application to audit.
• Design Support – Roof layouts, string design, PVGIS & PVSyst modelling, compliance strategising.
• Sales & Tender Strategy – Pitch coaching, proposal development, pricing and win strategies.
• Install QA – Developing consistent quality execution and customer satisfaction.
• Networking – Connecting to trusted suppliers and collaborators.
• Operational Systems – Creating robust SOPs, internal documentation, and scalable workflows.

6. Why It Matters Now

The UK solar industry is surging:

• Over **172,000 certified installations** in H1 2025 — a 37% surge over 2024^[1].
• **57,000 rooftop PV installs** certified in Q1 2025 — the strongest spring since 2012^[2].
• More than **2 GWp added** in solar capacity in early 2025 alone^[3].
• **Solar generation broke records** with 9.91 TWh produced—up 32%—and a grid peak of 14 GW in one day^[4].
• The UK now has over **18 GW total solar capacity** in 2025, up from just under 16 GW the year prior^[5].

With this boom comes complexity—regulatory friction, staffing gaps, cost pressures, compliance risks, and quality challenges. Leadership and scalable systems are what make success stick. That’s where coaching steps in.

7. Seeing the Big Picture—Public Investment and Infrastructure

The government is also getting more involved. The newly established **Great British Energy (GBE)**—a publicly owned clean power company—received Royal Assent through the Great British Energy Act 2025 to accelerate decarbonisation^[6]. Meanwhile, grid-scale projects like **Cleve Hill Solar Park** (373 MW and 150 MW battery), now online as of July 2025, signal infrastructure-scale engagement^[7].

8. Sustainability and Profitability Aligned

Beyond business growth, solar also supports long-term prosperity. A 2025 Solar Energy UK report estimated that commercial solar and battery storage generated around £333 million in GVA and created nearly 5,000 jobs—establishing a compelling economic case alongside environmental benefits^[8].

Swift growth, high stakes, new policies—this is exactly the moment when solar businesses need coaching to survive, scale, and lead.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does a consultant do versus a coach?

A consultant may offer valuable advice—such as improving proposal language, forging supplier links, or reviewing design quality—but often stops at the deliverables. A coach embeds with your team: clarifying direction, restructuring how you bid for jobs, preparing for audits, and staying by your side as you strive toward consistent, strategic growth.

2. Why invest in coaching instead of doing another course?

Courses teach theory—often decoupled from your daily challenges. However, growth occurs when leadership adapts in real time. Coaching brings that adaptability: restructuring teams, optimizing workflow, training sales practices, and guiding client interactions—all while maintaining quality.

3. Is it realistic to scale from a two-person setup?

Absolutely. We’ve supported multiple clients scaling from solo operations to multi-person teams in a year or more—without diluting service quality. This transformation is powered by systems, sales discipline, and rigorous operational oversight.

4. What support do you offer for technical design?

With several megawatts of solar experience, we offer:

• Detailed roof and layout planning
• Stringing and module arrangement optimization
• Accurate yield modeling using tools like PVGIS and PVSyst
• Adherence to regulations such as G98, G99, and MCS

Whether designing a 4 kW domestic installation or a 4 MW commercial project, we ensure plans are both buildable and bankable.

5. What’s the first step if I want your help?

Let’s start with a conversation. We’ll explore where your business is today, where you want to go, and what obstacles stand in your way. Based on that, we craft a practical coaching plan tailored to scale your brand and operations efficiently.

10. How Solar Coaching Supports Broader UK Energy Strategy

The UK’s energy strategy is increasingly focused on clean power. The government established **Great British Energy (GBE)**, a public investment body formed via the Great British Energy Act 2025, aimed at driving renewable energy deployment across the UK by providing capital and operational infrastructure support^[6].

On the infrastructure front, the **Cleve Hill Solar Park** reached full commercial operations on 1 July 2025. With 373 MW of solar generation and a 150 MW battery co-located on site, it became the largest operational solar-plus-storage project in the UK, supported by ground-breaking finance and long-term PPA structures including Tesco^[11].

11. Economic Impact of Solar & Storage

The solar and battery sectors are already delivering economic value:

• In 2024, the combined solar & storage sector provided **£1.9 bn in GVA** and supported 20,400 jobs^[12].
• By 2035, this could rise to **£5.1 bn GVA annually**, creating over 40,000 jobs^[10].
• Biggar Economics projects solar alone could deliver **£3.5 bn GVA**, supporting approximately 28,700 jobs—just at scale^[8].
• Employed roles in solar and battery storage are highly productive—**43% more productive than UK average**—making them economic drivers, not just green jobs^[4].

These numbers show that solar coaching isn’t just good for business—it’s essential to developing a clean energy economy and skilled workforce.

12. Facing Challenges: Policy and Workforce

Despite the opportunity, challenges persist. Political shifts—such as Reform UK’s proposed cuts to renewable support—threaten job security and investor confidence^[22]. At the same time, the UK's energy transition depends on workforce readiness: new apprentices and cross-sector job pathways are vital to sustaining growth^[26].

13. What April–August 2025 Shows Us

Mid-August 2025 also brought another landmark—solar generation had already exceeded the total of 2024, producing **14.08 TWh**, enough to power over 5 million homes^[23]. Solar is no longer an add-on—it’s now powering entire regions. The data is clear: leadership at scale is not a luxury, but a necessity.

14. Final Thought: Building Resilient, Scalable Solar Businesses

Solar isn’t just about panels and storage—it’s about people, leadership, and resilience. The projects that endure aren’t just technically competent—they’re well-led, scalable, and aligned with public and economic goals.

If you're ready to move beyond installation and scale as a business leader, solar coaching might be the next right step. Let’s work together to build your business and power the next generation of clean energy solutions.

References

1. ITV News – Record-breaking installations in H1 2025 (172,000+). Link
2. MCS Foundation – Strongest Q1 since 2012 with 57,000 rooftop installs. Link
3. Solar Power Portal – Over 2 GWp added in 2025 already. Link
4. Ember via SolarPowerPortal – UK solar generation hits 9.91 TWh and 14 GW grid peak. Link
5. PV Magazine – UK solar capacity at ~19.1 GW (1.8M installations). Link
6. Wikipedia – Great British Energy Act 2025 establishes public energy investment body. Link
7. Wikipedia – Cleve Hill Solar Park: UK’s largest solar+storage project, operational July 2025. Link
8. Solar Energy UK – Economic impact report 2025: £333M GVA, nearly 5K jobs. Link
9. Wikipedia — Great British Energy established by Act (May 2025). Link
10. Quinbrook / Solar Power Portal — Cleve Hill Solar Park enters commercial operations, largest solar-plus-storage project. Link
11. edie.net — Solar & battery storage delivered £1.9 bn GVA and 20,400 jobs in 2024. Link
12. The Eco Experts via Solar Energy UK — Growth to £5.1 bn GVA and 40,000 jobs by 2035 projected. Link
13. SolarStorageXtra — Solar GVA £3.5 bn and 28,700 jobs by 2035 forecast. Link
14. Biggar Economics via AtlanticRenewables — Solar & BESS jobs 43% more productive than average. Link
15. The Guardian — Reform UK’s renewable subsidy proposals may threaten green jobs. Link
16. Reuters — Skills gap risks derailing UK clean energy transition, new training passports proposed. Link
17. Financial Times — By August 2025, UK solar had already exceeded total 2024 generation (14.08 TWh). Link