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Solar for Schools
Renewable Energy - Bonds
Forecast
return
Solar for Schools harnesses energy from the sun and turns it into benefits for schools, the planet, investors and students. With an excellent track record of installing solar on more than 220 UK schools, they’re raising finance to help them do more.
- Where your money goes
- Team
- Documents
- Updates
Updates
No updates.
Solar for Schools CBS Limited
Society no. 7364
Essex, UK
Incorporation date: 08 July 2016
Your money will
Create positive climate action by helping up to 22-25 UK schools cut their carbon emissions through solar panels
Provide sustainable education for pupils empowering them to understand their role in mitigating climate change
Save schools money on energy bills by generating their own clean energy, which is cheaper than mains electricity
Earn you a potentially tax-free return Your investment will target 5% and can be held within an IFISA for potential tax-free returns*
The bigger picture
Installing solar panels on schools just makes sense. It cuts their energy costs, enabling them to spend more on education. On top of generating cleaner and cheaper energy, students get a first-hand solar educational experience, inspiring them to take positive climate action. Solar for Schools CBS’ long-term goal is to equip every school in the UK with solar panels. And to date, they have an excellent track record. They have:
- Installed solar panels on 220+ schools, mitigating more than 6,684 tonnes of CO₂ to date.
- Provided energy education to over 115,000 pupils across primary and secondary schools, giving valuable insights into the future of renewable energy generation and inspiring more young people to join the fight against climate change.
- Raised more than £5m through bond offers, with an excellent track record of repayments to investors.
There are over 80 schools on the growing Solar for Schools waiting list. Your investment will help Solar for Schools with the upfront costs of installing solar panels for them and create a greener future for the UK.
*IFISA eligibility depends on investors' individual tax status and current legislation.
What your money will do
Every £1,000 invested over 5 years will :
- Save a school £2,000-£3,000 over the panel’s lifetime.
- Stop 1 tonne of CO₂ emissions.
- Educate 20–25 students on decarbonisation.
- Target interest repayments of £50 per year.
Paul Brett
Voluntary Director - Finance
Paul is a senior actuary with over 40 years of experience in international life and health insurance. He has held senior leadership roles in the UK and abroad, most recently as Director of Internal Audit for Life & Health at a leading international reinsurer in Zurich, where he advised the Board on risk, governance and business sustainability.
Robert Schrimpff
Founder & CEO of Solar Options for Schools
10 years’ experience in founding and building online businesses such as netXtra and hotels.com followed by nine years’ experience investing in renewable energy technology companies at TVM Capital and Greencoat Capital.
Ann Flaherty
UK Director for Solar Options for Schools
Over 12 years’ experience in solar development on schools using a variety of funding models and has helped set up three solar businesses in the schools market. Worked in education for sustainable development for over 15 years.
Co-creator and developer of an educational platform for HRH Prince Charles’ Rainforests SOS campaign, and for the HISTORY’s channel: The People Speak, led by Colin Firth.
Previous experience in journalism, media and brand marketing.
Peter Roberts
Company Director of Project Management Consultancy
25 years’ experience in the education sector overseeing the design and contract management of new schools and capital programmes and ensuring project delivery to specifications and budget. Has always been an advocate of sustainable construction and estates strategies.
Has been working with the DfE for the last 10 years as consultant project manager and technical advisor in the Free Schools programme and latterly the new further education estates initiative.
Sian Herschel
Parent and fundraising leadat a Solar for Schools CBS member school
Fifteen years of professional experience in grant making and investing for organisations such as Fairtrade, Comic Relief, Power to Change and the Churchill Fellowship.
Areas of expertise include social enterprise, ethical trade, strategy development and impact measurement.
Sian has lived and worked in the USA, Peru, South Africa, India and Germany as well as the UK.
MBA from the University of Cambridge and executive coaching accreditation from Henley Business School.
Craig Ellin
Senior Asset Manager at LocatED,part of the Department for Education
Craig has over 20 years' experience in central government property, including 8 with the DfE as Operational Sustainability Manager (Achieving Best in Government, 2010, for in-year carbon reduction) and then Finance Manager covering project management, benefits realisation, sustainability, finance business partner (property) and FM & Energy contracts management. At LocatED he is part of the net zero accelerator programme looking to help all schools decarbonise and achieve Net Zero by 2050. B.A (Hons) in Economics and Law from Birmingham City University, ISO14001 Lead Auditor and achieved Carbon Trust Gold Standard for the DfE Environmental Monitoring System (EMS)
Marino Charalambous
CEO of North Star Community Trust, CBS Chair of Directors
Oversees five schools in North London at the North Star Community Trust, all of which have solar panels managed by Solar for Schools.
Introduced sustainability as part of the Trust curriculum in 2016 and has developed a Trust wide learning culture with the future in mind. Previous experience in finance and project management at HSBC and Siemens Financial Services as well 15 years at Managing Director level experience in digital marketing consultancies and other businesses.
B.Hons Business and Marketing Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
NPQ in Executive Leadership (University College London)
Nathan Odom
Director of Estates & Place Planning, Discovery Schools
More than 13 years’ experience in the education sector, 10 of which have been with a large local authority working with its schools and academies.
A project manager delivering various capital build projects and expansion plans for schools across Leicestershire.
Currently, the strategic lead for DSAT’s capital strategy for school site improvements with a focus on improving the physical learning environment to support the delivery of high-quality education, ensuring school sites are safe and compliant.
Catherine Rohll
Legal & Governance
Catherine is a retired solicitor and a current CBS bondholder. Her family business installed solar panels for many years. Catherine started working for Solar Options for Schools on a pro bono basis a year ago, and during that time, she has helped improve the contracts between schools. councils, the CBS, Triodos and SOFS.
Paul Brett
Voluntary Director - Finance
Paul is a senior actuary with over 40 years of experience in international life and health insurance. He has held senior leadership roles in the UK and abroad, most recently as Director of Internal Audit for Life & Health at a leading international reinsurer in Zurich, where he advised the Board on risk, governance and business sustainability.
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Interest accrual and payment
Interest will accrue from the Interest Start Date (1 month after drawdown) and interest payments will be made annually on the 31st of October each year and paid to your account in the following month.
Getting your money out
The Bonds are transferable, but won’t be listed on any exchange. Bondholders may request early re-payment by notifying the CBS with at least 3 months’ notice. The CBS will deal with all requests in order of receipt and pay as many as it can subject to available funds and Directors’ discretion.
Investing on behalf of children
Applicants must be 18 years old or more. Investments cannot be made on behalf of children.
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