Amber’s Net Zero journey: Growing a team that’s changing the future

At Amber, we know that building a successful Net Zero strategy isn’t just about data, technology or compliance – it’s about people.

We caught up with one of our original team members, Wil Hocking, Lead Net Zero Energy Consultant, to hear how the team evolved from a small, passionate group into the thriving, expert-led force it is today.

The early days

“When our team first began, we initially collaborated with Net Zero partners to meet our clients’ needs. It quickly became clear that the best path forward, and the most exciting one, was to bring Net Zero consultancy in house,” Wil explained.

The original team was made up of Wil Hocking, Nick Proctor, and Huw Mitchell, each bringing a passion for clients and the planet to their work. Early efforts focused primarily on energy reduction and cost savings, though Wil recalled that Nick recognised from the start that the relationship between energy, money and carbon would become crucial.

“Our Net Zero journey officially began in 2020, with the three of us and our Net Zero Consultancy product. Keeping momentum high was vital to ensuring clients didn’t lose focus on their sustainability goals. There was a lot to learn and many savings to uncover, with carbon reductions quickly becoming just as important as financial ones,” Wil shared.

Growing with purpose

As Net Zero gained traction and continued to climb the corporate agenda, businesses increasingly sought honest, transparent guidance to avoid greenwashing. This also led to a rise in “green hushing”, where companies stayed quiet about their sustainability efforts out of fear of criticism. We knew our approach had to remain rooted in truth and accountability.

“It’s now becoming baked in rather than trendy. We’re at a point now where Net Zero is business-critical and something that has to happen by law,” Wil explained.

Andrew Walker, now our Net Zero Director, was the next to join the team. Around this time, our product really took off. The team prioritised ensuring Net Zero actions were always backed by quantifiable and justifiable maths. Reporting had to be straightforward, with a focus on Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Scope 3 was often daunting for businesses, but we were determined to tackle it head-on.

Fiona Douglas joined next, becoming our dedicated Scope 3 expert. After extensive research, she made the transformative decision to introduce a platform to handle our calculations. This revolutionised our approach, allowing us to make data-driven decisions to manage emissions across all Scopes.

Next came Amaad Ahmed’s team, merging with Net Zero to provide invaluable scientific expertise and an engineering mindset. This fusion connected our consultancy with the compliance services we deliver for SECR and ESOS, elevating the team to an impressive standard of industry expertise.

A team to be proud of

The growth hasn’t stopped. Amber is immensely proud of how far we’ve come, welcoming a wave of junior consultants eager to make an impact.

“The change in the team has been phenomenal. I feel like a proud Dad,” Wil said with a smile.

“With 2050 on the horizon, we’re seeing more urgency among our clients. We feel equipped to navigate the ever-changing Net Zero landscape, thanks to our team’s capacity and expertise. As legislation evolves, we’re confident we’ll stay ahead of the curve.

“Clients appreciate the guidance, but it’s really our ability to build long-term relationships that stands out. It brings reassurance on the journey,” Wil emphasised.

Celebrating our successes

It’s been an incredible journey so far, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our team. We’re especially proud of our recent promotions. Congratulations to Aravind Nair, Brogan Rogers, and Saima Haukelo, who have all been promoted to Associate Net Zero Consultants.