Member News
Greener Solutions Group is celebrating the progression of Covid Kickstart recruits Lewis Tomaselli, Ryan Cotcher and Natalie Irwin, who joined the company in 2021 and are now in are in key roles.
Their journeys demonstrate the company’s commitment to investing in employees through training and a supportive working environment.
Established in 2015, Greener Solutions Group, works with local authorities, housing providers and national partners to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the UK. The company delivers domestic energy assessments, retrofit coordination, energy modelling and fabric-first upgrade planning, helping clients reduce emissions, cut fuel bills and support more sustainable communities.
The UK Government launched the Kickstart Scheme in September 2020 in response to Covid-19, funding six-month placements for 16–24-year-olds on Universal Credit at risk of long-term unemployment. The scheme ran until March 2022, helping thousands of young people gain work experience, skills and confidence while supporting employers to create new roles.
Following their initial placement, the Group recognised the potential of Lewis, Ryan and Natalie and retained them beyond the programme, providing further training and development to build long-term careers.
Ryan Cotcher, 28, from Wallsend, left university in 2019 and struggled to find employment during the Covid-19 period. Through Kickstart, he secured an interview with Greener Solutions Group and began as admin support in the sustainability team. With funding and encouragement from the company, Ryan trained to become a Domestic Energy Assessor and then a Retrofit Assessor. Nearly two years later, he qualified as a Retrofit Coordinator. He now models the energy performance of social housing properties using specialist software to identify the most suitable upgrades.
Ryan, said: "When I joined as admin support, I never imagined I’d be coordinating retrofit projects across multiple housing developments. Greener Solutions Group encouraged me to take every opportunity to gain qualifications—from Domestic Energy Assessor to Retrofit Coordinator—and supported me all the way. Now, I use specialist software to plan upgrades such as loft insulation and energy efficiency improvements. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the difference our work makes for residents and I’m proud to have grown alongside the company."
Lewis Tomaselli, 23, also from Wallsend, joined at 18, starting his first job after signing up to the Kickstart Scheme. Three weeks after being assigned a work coach, he secured an admin assistant position following his interest in computer-based work. Lewis quickly stood out for his calm approach, clear communication and organisational skills. By March 2022, he was promoted to admin manager and now leads a team of three, coordinating client communication, supporting admin training and managing invoicing and workflow processes. Having joined when the business primarily operated as an energy broker, Lewis has grown alongside its expansion into large-scale retrofit delivery.
Lewis, said: “The company has changed a lot since I started and I’ve learned to adapt with it. I enjoy being the steady point that helps keep things running smoothly in a fast-moving environment. I’m grateful the company took a chance on me at 18 when it was such a difficult time to find employment due to Covid and I have been given every opportunity to take on more responsibility and grow within my role.”
Natalie Irwin also joined in 2021 through the Kickstart Scheme and has established herself as a key scheduling assistant. Having recently returned from maternity leave, she continues to support assessment coordination, organise site visits and contribute to the smooth delivery of energy-efficiency projects.
Andrew Wilkinson, director, Greener Solutions Group, said: “Lewis, Ryan and Natalie are fantastic examples of what can happen when people are given genuine opportunities and support. Their progression has been brilliant to watch and highlights how motivated the younger generation is to succeed. The Kickstart Scheme gave us the chance to bring talented individuals into the business at a crucial time, and their progression shows just how valuable that investment has been.”
