PEC (Community Benefit Society)
Our journey started with PEC as a Community Benefit Society. PEC Trust (charitable organisation) evolved from this and now operates most of our projects but PEC still exists to support new innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty.
Board of Directors
Our Board of volunteer Director oversee PEC's activities.
Lee Richards
Lee is a Senior Research Manager at the University of Plymouth. He has previously worked as Regen SW’s onshore renewables lead and managed work within the large-scale onshore renewables, micro-generation and built environment sectors.
He has over 9 years’ experience in the renewables industry and has developed the capabilities of businesses and communities to deploy more renewable and energy efficiency technologies. He has extensive knowledge of sustainable energy and low carbon policy, legislation, supply chain and technical development and deployment. Lee helped to develop and manage the £6.3M Ready for Retrofit programme, one of the UK’s largest European Regional Development Fund business support programmes, installing over 1700 domestic energy efficiency technologies.
Lee is from Plymouth and as keen advocate of developing the low carbon economy he wants the city to lead in community led renewable energy initiatives.
He was voted to the PEC Board in 2017 and was co-opted to the PEC Renewables Board in 2015. He is also the Chair of Ernesettle Community Solar Ltd.
Zoe Sydenham
Zoe is Plymouth City Council's Natural Infrastructure Projects and Partnerships Manager and leads work to drive innovation in the management of natural spaces, and in how it engages citizens and social enterprises within them.
Her previous roles included managing the Community Team at Groundwork East London and running the Youth European Volunteer Programme for the United Nations Association Exchange in Wales.
Zoe has a strong interest in the interface of personal well-being and the environment, and am currently studying for a Master’s degree in Public Health. She is passionate about engaging communities about their local environments and supports the board of Plymouth Energy Community in its new business planning work.
Zoe was elected to the PEC Board at the 2019 AGM.
Zoe Sydenham
Director
Chris Penberthy
Councillor Chris Penberthy (Labour and Co-operative, St Peter and the Waterfront) was a member of Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet from 2012-2016 and again from 2017- present. His portfolio has included housing, social enterprise development and support, community safety, neighbourhood working, child poverty, welfare policy and financial inclusion. Chris has spent most of his working life in charities including as Chief Executive of Volunteer Development England. He was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of his contribution to the voluntary and community sector.
Chris has held a variety of trusteeships and directorships in charities and social enterprises. He currently holds the Chair Plymouth Fairtrade Network, Millfields Inspired and the South West Council of the Cooperative Party. He has previously been appointed by Plymouth City Council to the Boards of the Millfields Community Economic Development Trust CIC, and Plymouth Municipal Charities. Chris is a Governor of Plymouth College of Art and is also Vice Chair of the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network and Chair of its Values and Principles Board.
Chris has been an elected member Director of PEC Renewables since 2014 and became a Director of Ernesettle Community Solar Ltd in 2015.
Chris Penberthy
Director
Governance Documentation
PEC Rules
The governing rules of PEC that detail our purpose, rules, membership and how we make decisions.
Directors Reports
The annual reports and audited accounts for each year. Please note, the 2019 report includes PEC Trust, the 2020 report includes PEC Trust and PEC Homes.
